The Beach in Mangalore

Ahana is lying on the small round bed, with her three-year-old daughter, Via, in her arms. Feeling her podgy tummy rising and falling, fondling her curly hair, kissing her fast-shut naughty eyes, she gets nostalgic… reminiscing the bliss of motherhood she had first tasted, at the beach in Mangalore.  But, the older nightmarish memories also come back, uncalled, giving her shudders–the grief and trauma of being diagnosed with Ovulation Disorder… and those months of acute depression – hallucinating, eating her heart out for a baby. Once Dr Payal had established that she wouldn’t be bearing one, she shunned kids with all her might.

That winter, Akshat had to take Ahana along on his business trip to Mangalore, to ease her despondency. He even hired an attendant to keep an eye on her while on the beach, as he went about his meetings. Ahana was trying to relax, when a huge colorful ball came crashing towards her; she cringed and let the ball pass, and gave a cold look to the plump little girl in a blue bikini, wobbling past her, with sand-smeared curly hair and naughty eyes. Ahana was determined to be indifferent towards her cuteness. After some time, the plump girl came back with her ball, signaling her to play. Tired of showering love on other peoples’ kids, Ahana didn’t mind being rude; “No baby. Go find your mum and pa.  Run!”  While walking towards the coconut shack, she bumped into a short buxom woman –shouting for her kid who was nowhere to be seen.

Ahana scowled; then suddenly recognized her, “Mona! Never expected to see you here of all other places on earth.” Mona –the snob –smirked, slided her shades onto her head, and posed one of her typically impertinent questions, “Heya! What are you doing here, Aana?”

Ahana was reminded of Mona and Vinay’s big fat Punjabi wedding; hurriedly solemnized even before she had finished her college –for obvious reasons. Trying to be courteous, she asked, “Where’s Vinay… and the little one?” Mona rolled her eyes and twisted her lips, “We lost Vinay last year; he met with an accident….” Mona seemed to have moved on, but Ahana’s heart was razed. Vinay’s handsome face flashed through her mind, his deep soulful eyes suddenly came to life!

Mona shook her roughly by the shoulder and continued in her Punjabi accent, with over-stressed r’s and d’s, “Aana… You remember Chetan? I’m marrying him next month and moving to USA. And I’m giving this imp in adoption. He doesn’t want her; moreover, she is naughty enough to drive anyone mad.” She complained, grabbing the plump little girl in blue bikini, with sand-smeared curly hair and naughty eyes! Heart-broken, Ahana gave an anguished cry, pounced upon the little girl, cuddled her close, kissed her intently, and passed out, wailing.

She had immediately discovered destiny’s plan! Actually, bliss – clad in a blue bikini –was chasing her on the beach –to be adopted and cherished!  Via had claimed her mother…  And life had reclaimed Ahana… at the beach in Mangalore.

Ahana pulls Via closer and drifts off  to sleep.