I used to be friends with a girl next doors, when I grew up. We played, giggled, walked to school together. Watched movies in the colony theater.
The oldest, with two siblings, she shouldered the burden of the family. She cooked everyday, looked after her little brother and sister while parents were away.
But she was fun. She cracked funny jokes, made me laugh. I liked her.
I watched as she kneaded the atta, pounding on it like mad to make it soft. I found that funny. She washed the dishes, cleaned soiled clothes, swept the tiny rooms and mopped them sparkling clean. They had no maid. Her dad was especially hard on her, I noticed. Harried with his work, he took his ire on my poor friend for silly reasons. She did sneak out to play when they weren't around. But fearfully got back in once they returned back.
The moment she turned sixteen they got her married. So young? I couldn't believe. She went off to the city to live. One day I met her. I asked her how she was. Now with hubby and two tiny kids in tow, she smiled. But her overworked, slimmed down body, her wane expression gave her away.
In her twenties now, she had given up school, stopped playing and even got married...just because her old fashioned parents deemed it right for her.
I had another friend living nearby. About the same age as mine, we played bhandikundi..playing 'house' with tiny clay pots and pans. We 'cooked' and 'drank', had fun. She was friendly and sweet, took a special liking for me. Her dad doted on her. He wept when the doctor prescribed her glasses for her weak eyesight. She looked pretty in dresses her mom got her stitched. We parted ways years later.
I couldn't help comparing them in my recollections today. One had old fashioned parents, the other had modern ones. One cooked for the household, while the other did that as part of a game. One was scolded often, the other pampered sore. One was forced to relinquish her right to education, while the other had her uncle come all the way from his native town, just to teach her and be by her side during her boards. One was married off early..considered a burden, the other had it definitely easy.
Two friends, both so very nice...but worlds apart!
