Pahli katha
(Lucknow in 2023)
It was the spring season, and flowers were blooming. It was the time for nature’s new awakening .The excitement was filled throughout the city of Nawabon, Lucknow—the capital of Uttar Pradesh—Meena lived in a small apartment with her family. Her husband, Suresh Gupta , was a corporate worker, and he loved his nine-to-five job. You must be thinking he is crazy, but he belonged to a poor family, and growing up, he didn't have much of the basic needs. Therefore, he was grateful for his job. Meena had a ten-year-old girl named Samaira. She was fond of listening to stories, and her mother would tell her stories every night.One night, as Meena was folding clothes and arranging them, Samaira came and started being adamant about telling a story to her. As usual, she started with these words:
Meena: "Hmm. Today, I want to tell you a wonderful and adventurous story... you may sit in the ma's room. I will come after doing my chores."
Samaira: "Sure, Matashree!!"
Laughing hilariously, she went to the room. After some time, Meena came and sat near Samaira and started the story with these words:
"In the year 1970, a girl was born and her name was Mayavati. She became a seventeen-year-old young girl in 1987. People considered her as not very beautiful as she had a dusky skin tone with beautiful features.In that era, girls were taught only about household chores and marriage.”
(Lucknow in 1987)
In a small VILLAGE, a family resided in a house that was not so big, but it had space for enough people. The house had a backyard which was also not very large. In that house, Kishori Lal's family lived, and he made his income from a small garments business.
He had inherited it from his father, and his father had inherited it from his forefather. He made an average income out of it, and he also had some hens in the backyard from which he sold eggs to people. He was seen as a respectable person in his village as his his father, built an all-boys school with all of his earnings. This school was the first school in their village.One afternoon,Kishori lal ,
received a good news about a marriage proposal for Mayavati.The ones who were bringing the proposal were supposed to come on Sunday.When the day arrived, the parents (Mayavati’s) were delighted and busy preparing for what they hoped was a good omen.The backyard was cleaned twice. Garlands were decorated at the entrance of the house. Meera was wearing a yellow-colored saree, draped elegantly in SEEDHA PALLU style, and had put vermillion in her 'maang'. Kishori Lal was wearing a green kurta and dhoti.
Kishori Lal called for Mayavati. She came out of her room, her "payal” (anklet) making a melodious sound, like a rhythmic beat.
Kishori Lal (in a tough voice): "Go and apply tonnes of powder and cream to hide your face’s 'Kalapan' (darkness). You girls are only meant for marriage and doing household chores. But look! You aren't ever getting a groom."
Meera: "Sahi kaha aapne (You said it right); she is only a burden."
Kishori Lal believed that girls should not be educated and should only take care of 'grahasthi'.
(Seema,Mayavati’s friend , enters the house )
Seema:"Aunty ji,I have come to get Mayavati ready, she has to look beautiful today, bol (speak )Maya?"
She smiled at mayavati.
Meera:"Haan jao " (Yes)
[Mayavati and Seema are talking in Mayavati's room]
Seema started a conversation while getting mMayavati ready.
Seema: "Behn, I know that this time you will get married. Remember how you helped Ramu Kaka with his farming? He gave you his blessings for your marriage."
Mayavati: "Oh, I know that I got his blessings now, so everything will go smoothly."
She smiled and her black eyes were shining.
Mayavati turns her head towards her mandir, which was set up in a corner of her room. Looking at the mandir, she said to God:
Mayavati: "Dhanyawad! Bhagwan ji."
Then the boy's family arrived. They belonged to a wealthy family and had a thirty-acre land and numerous businesses.
Kishorilal: "I hope you didn't have any difficulty coming here."
Then the boy replied (his name was Sumeet, and he was 30 years old):
He was not a boy,but a grown man.
Sumeet: "No, no... obviously not! I am just too excited to meet my wife... oh! sorry... to-be-wife."
He giggled afterwards.
Sumeet: "I want a girl who...is young and can do every household chore, and would eventually become the mother of my four children... oh, my mistake, my future children!"
Kishori lal greeted him neatly.
Kishori lal:"Please sit.The (chairs) are for you!!
Meeraaa... Bring some snacks and tea!!!!"
Meera:"ji haan"
Meera brought snacks and tea on a white tray and kept them on the table arranged for mehman (guest).
Meera (calling Mayavati): "Ooo... Mayavati! Look, your groom has arrived!"
She said this while adjusting her saree.
Mayavati comes with her friend, Seema. Seema was holding Mayavati by her hand. Mayavati shyly enters the room where everyone was sitting.(The hall)
She was wearing a red saree, and her ears were decorated with silver jhumkas.
As soon as she entered, Sumeet screamed and angrily said:
Sumeet: "Ewww... she looks so ugly. How did you expect... ugh!"She is KAALI!I am GORA!
You want me to marry her? I am rich, handsome, and what not. I can't stand her for one second. You embarrassed me, Kishori!"
Sumeet stormed off angrily and, with his family, left the house. Kishori Lal tried to stop him but was not able to stop him.Kishori grabbed his legs but nothing could stop him.
Kishori Lal turned towards Mayavati and grabbed her hand and took her to a dark room. He hit Mayavati with a rod and started cussing her.
Kishori Lal: "Why can't you be pretty?"
Kishori Lal slipped on something, and Mayavati panicked. She tried to help him stand up, but he was angry and pushed her aside, locking her inside the room.
She was afraid of the darkness, she cried and begged her father to open the door for her sake, but her father was determined. Her mother supported him, and her friend Seema was pushed outside the house BEFORE she could even speak.
When all this was happening, someone was going somewhere. That someone was Neer Sharma. He was coming to Lucknow from Mumbai. Seema was his sister. He was returning to Lucknow because he had been sent to Mumbai for his studies.
After completing his studies, he was coming back to meet his family after all these years. His father lived in Mumbai for work. His mother and sister lived with his paternal grandfather. His dadi (grandmother) was no more. His dada , MAHENDRA VIKRAM SHARMA , (grandfather) was the Sarpanch of the village where Kishori Lal lived.
