Non-erotic The Scarface I Hated by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Kiana said in a low tone, "Meher, Sumitra has made Imran so very dependent on her. This needs to be corrected. Don't you think so?"

I thought for a while and agreed. I put my arm around her shoulder and said, "Maa, Sumitra owes her life to Imran and her devotion to him is beyond question. No one can replace her in this family. She will feel insecure if I say anything and even Imran will feel bad. I cannot let that happen."

Kiana kept staring at me, trying to decipher what I just said and then ruffled my hairs and said with a twinkle in her eyes, "Why are you so worried? What's Sumitra to you?"

I smiled at this odd question but by now the reply was known to me, "Maa, Sumitra is the saviour who preserved Imran for me." And after a pause added, "and for you. And we both must never forget that!"

I never saw her turn so emotional. She said, "Meher, I have a small gold trinket, my last remembrance of Indra. I had brought that for you. But, maybe we owe that to Sumitra as our humble gratitude. Can I, Meher?"

Even I became emotional, I could only whisper, "Yes, you must". I said. "Though we can never repay our debts."

Kiana's face glowed with happiness. She kissed me tenderly on the forehead and brought out a small box that held her last valuable possession. She pulled me along to the room and faced Sumitra. She was surprised being caught red-handed for doing something for which there was a prohibition order. She looked down, fidgeting in silence. Kiana was not a woman to waste words. She took out the thin chain with a minute pendant and put it around her neck and hugged Sumitra tightly.

Sumitra openly cried, Kiana, nuzzled her nose in Sumitra's hair, trying her best not to be weak. My eyes were wet. I was surprised at my own capacity to cry. In the last few days, I had allowed my tears to flow often. Was I transforming into a warmer person, I wondered!

The price of that thin chain was beyond any market value. It was a living witness to the difficult times and the love of Indra for his wife. His wife, in turn, devoted her entire life to that great remembrance. For a normal onlooker, the emotions that were expressed for that tiny bit of ornament would have appeared absurd but for Kiana and Sumitra, it was a defining moment. It was a crucial responsibility that was being transferred from one to another. From one great to another. And I was the witness to that.

Perhaps, unknown to all of us that single piece of cheap jewellery somehow designed our future. Of responsibilities and eventual sufferings.

The next two hours passed in a sombre mood. Even Kiana appeared to be in deep thought and so was I. However, it was Sumitra who was affected the most. For her, it was a test by fire that she had passed with flying colours. She was not only accepted into the family but was accorded a status of great importance.

I suddenly had a bizarre thought. Was Kiana actually preparing to dissociate herself from the family for a final goodbye? It was possible. I could ponder over it but could I change it?

Kiana could be predictably unpredictable! And her decisions were usually irrevocable.

Slowly, we all returned to normalcy and Kiana seamlessly reverted to her funny quirky self. As usual, Sumitra was the sole recipient of her funny pokes. She continually fell into traps one after another till she wept, out of sheer frustration. I was careful and avoided them.

Kiana thoroughly enjoyed. Sometimes I had serious doubts about her sanity.

Imran returned in the evening. He looked shattered.

End of Pt 04