Monday, Oct 25, 2004
The Word World
- Rani Iyer"I trained as an ecologist and worked blissfully in forests of Western Ghats. Since then I have lived in many places in North America. I currently reside in Washington State. I find nature to be eternally fascinating and resilient. Likewise, places and people constantly renew their acquintance. Deep within each of us resides a new community of thoughts that have the power to uplift or pull us down as we process our daily reactions to events. In this series, I attempt snapshots of those moments."
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Courtyard Vistas Series 9
Today I learnt that a word could change the world. I mean from bad to better. Why do elders make those silly spelling mistakes and become miserable for it?
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I was sitting in the backyard, watching Mahadev and other boys play monkey by scrambling on the trees, when mother and Eswari aunty came there in tears.
They sniffed and looked at each other sadly.
“How did this happen to Lingamma?’ sobbed mother.
“Is the life of a widow a dead end?” asked Eswari sadly with her eyes filled with tears.
“You have no idea,” said my mother wiping her eyes with the edge of her saree.
“Will they make her shave her head?”
“May be not. Times have changed…”
“Do you think that she can continue to study?”
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“It depends on her in-laws,” said mother with a heavy sigh.
They were silent for a few minutes.
“Imagine Lingamma as a widow!” said my mother and they began to sob again.
They calmed down after a long bout.
I thought about it when they were silent. There was something missing in that word. I had learnt that word in English class.
“One letter is missing,” I announced.
“What!” they cried in unision.
“I know this word. I think no word like widow. You must be mistaken,” I said confidently.
“What could it be?” asked mother at once, blowing her nose like a trumpet.
“The word is Window,” I corrected them.
“Window?”
“Like our house window. Windows that open to outside…,” I began.
Mother rudely interrupted me, “What does windows mean?”
“Lingamma needs a window!”
“Window of opportunity!” shouted mother happily.
“Window of options!” yelped Aunty Eswari. They were smiling as they linked their hands and went indoors.
Usually, there is no sense in speaking to elders. Why do they make those silly spelling mistakes and become miserable for it? Ever heard of a word called widow? And to think people took time to cry about it! All it needed is the small repair to set things right. Imagine not knowing that!
Courtyard Vistas Series 8: The Mind Of A Garland
Courtyard Vistas Series 7: Pass It On
Courtyard Vistas Series 6: Top Class
Courtyard Vistas Series 5: Amrosia For Boredom
Courtyard Vistas Series 4: Questions
Courtyard Vistas Series 3: Bathing Rituals
Courtyard Vistas Series 2: Bestowed Names
Courtyard Vistas Series 1: Courtyard Vistas
Photo Credit: http://www.steigsplace.com
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