Relationships

 It was around eight in the evening when Tomy and Tiger,the street puppies were waiting eagerly for their dinner feed outside Shruti's gate.Even if Shruti got late by a few minutes, they used to become restless. Shruti heard the tapping of feet on the gate as if they were calling her.'Coming, coming ' shouted Shruti. Lost in her thoughts, as soon as Shruti opened the gate, came in running, Tomy and Tiger, started jumping on Shruti, snatching the freshly cooked chapaties to satiate their hunger.

'No,no,don't misbehave,mind yourself  Tomy,' chided Shruti as if she was reprimanding her own children. Saying this she went out with chappaties in her hand and the puppies followed her like obedient children. Outside was standing Sharma auntie. 'I had fed them but they seem to be hungry '

'They always remain hungry, auntie ',said  Shruti laughingly and started feeding morsels to the puppies. Tomy and Tiger kept on wagging their tails as they devoured their dinner. They always seemed to be showing their gratitude by wagging their tail.'Shruti, Tomy has become healthier, isn't it?',beamed Sharma auntie. 'Auntie, they are being served  egg and lassi everyday',said Shruti. 'Okkk,that's why ,they have become much more active than before. God will definitely bless you, 'commended Sharma auntie, 'please give me some yogurt to set the curd .' 'Sure auntie,' saying this Shruti brought the yogurt.

        Both of them started  enjoying Tomy and Tiger's activities. They tried to lick both of them,ran around Shruti again and again, shimmered their bodies as if to express their satisfaction and happiness. Suddenly Sharma auntie asked,'How is Kriti performing?''Doing very well, auntie, nothing to worry, 'said Shruti pacifying the concerned grandmother. 

   One month ago only,auntie 's elder son Aashish had shifted his family to Azad nagar because the relationships had turned bitter .So it was auntie who put her foot down and decided to separate her son's family to attain peace. 

'Kriti had neither called me nor visited us even once',auntie started venting out her suffering heart,'I have always loved her very much, 'saying this her eyes welled up with tears.'Actually  auntie ,she might be busy preparing for her exams,'Shruti tried to console auntie. 'I had no issues with Gauri, it was Aashish who used to  turn violent after being drunk.He had broken the doors,window panes,LED,dining chairs,crystals, music system and what not.Even after a lot of treatment, he didn't improve even a bit.I don't know what people think but i have taken this decision after keeping stone on my heart.',sobbed auntie making Shruti feel miserable. 

  Shruti started remembering,two years ago,auntie was euphoric while telling her son's decision to resign from army as a major and shift with them. Although shruti had tried to convince auntie not to do but auntie felt that Aashish would become their old age staff but hardly did she know that her expectations would be dashed and this decision would result in nightmares.

'Actually, Aashish is not a bad man but he loses his control after being drunk',said auntie,''Even today he had visited us and brought icecream for us.I don't know what happens to him after he drinks ,'saying this,tears started rolling from her old eyes baring  a bereaved heart of a mother.

Shruti felt touched but was helpless in consoling auntie. 'Auntie, everything will be all right, don't worry. Have faith in God,' Shruti tried to apply balm on her bruised soul and soothe her.,'Hmmmm,' accepting her destiny,Sharma auntie plodded back to her home.Shruti also returned back .She suddenly remembered Rahim's doha,'rahiman dhaga prem ka mat toro chatkai

Jode se phir na jude

Jude to gaanth pad jaaye'

She thought to herself that sayings should be changed and restructured according to time,'rahiman dhaaga prem ka

Tor do chatkai

Jab apne hi apne na rahe

Phir kaahe ko ghabrai'