Knock me down

This story is part of a novella – A girl was born

Do check out the first and the subsequent chapters – https://firsttimemommy.net/category/a-z-blogging-challenge-2018/

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Image: pexels

When she informed her parents of the latest development, they were very worried. Her mother, the next day, took her to an astrologer that her friend had recommended. After a wait of almost an hour, he was a busy man if the long queue outside his house was any indication, he took them in. He studied her birth chart for quite some time and then shook his head.

“This is a very poor chart. She was born on Amavasya (no moon), also the day of surya grahan (solar eclipse). Donate black lentils on every no moon night to avoid the evil eye. The sun and venus are in the same house. Because her sun is very strong, it is making her relationship planet venus very weak. She needs to wear a diamond on the ring finger which is the stone for relationships to strengthen her relationship house.”

So, the next day, her father talked to her mother’s brother who was a jeweller and within a few days, she got a bright twinkling diamond on her finger. Meanwhile, her neighbour suggested her mother that Tara should observe fasts on Mondays. So, Tara started fasting on Mondays. Some other person told her to fast on Sundays by eating only rice. Tara, in the desperate attempt to set things right in her relationship, fasted on Sundays.

Three months went by, when they decided this was not working. So, they went to another astrologer, who asked her to wear an emerald on her middle finger. They got an emerald ring made. Tara decided that she liked the dull green stone better than her solitaire diamond.

Meanwhile, Himanshu was ever so busy in his work and colleagues. He had made some new friends at work and spent a lot of time with them outside work. Tara took care to avoid any mention of wedding or their future. However, every time she talked to Himanshu, she felt as if she was walking on egg shells, she didn’t know what would make Himanshu upset. This was a side of Himanshu absolutely unknown to Tara and she realized she didn’t like it quite that much.

By the end of another six months, Tara was sporting a pearl and a yellow sapphire on her little and index fingers beside the diamond and the emerald. Also, she was now fasting on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Very soon, her friends stopped calling her, her numerous fasts got in the way. Tara was one very unhappy person. And in turn, she made life miserable for everyone around her.

Do keep on reading to know what happens next in Tara’s life – will all this fasting and wearing different stones work for Tara?? Will Himanshu come back? Read in ‘Let Me Drown‘!

 

27 thoughts on “Knock me down

    1. True that. Tara is just 22-23, at this age girls’ vision is usually clouded with handsome men. I remember one of neighbors telling me, there is more to life than men and marriage you know. Now, I know when I am close to 40. 😉 If only we can have wisdom at that age, we can avoid so many follies. Sigh!

  1. Agree with Shalini. Suddenly I am not liking Himanshu. But Anshu you didn’t reveal anything and have us glued to your story. By virtue of being your friend , can I have a sneak peak ?

    1. Agree Deepa. In Hindi we say, behte ko tinke ka sahara. That roughly translates to a drowing man holds onto a twig to save himself. Tara is finding herself in a similar situation. Thanks for reading the post. Please keep coming for more 🙂

  2. Tara and Himanshu should break up, they are just not made for each other. Unlike others I am not hating Himanshu but Tara. I am finding her too clingy and nagging. She is just not getting the message that Himanshu needs space. Ideally she should move on in life and forget him. But she is getting obsessed with him.

    1. You said it right Balaka – she is holding onto Himanshu as if he is her only saviour. That is bound to make guys run away. She needs to learn that sometimes its better to let people go, they are just not meant to be.

  3. Paapam Tara! I feel her slipping into depression. I hope she can see that she has changed herself so much for a stupid fellow like Himanshu and take her life back. I wish for a friend for Tara!

    1. Meena, you are so bang on! That’s what happens in real life too – girls change themselves for men and in the process many a times lose their identity. Thanks for sympathizing with Tara!

    1. Akshata, that’s what Indians do best. Consult astrologers and fast like crazy as if that would make things alright. Tara is different, I am sure she would realize this is ridiculous very soon.

  4. Welcome Ryan! I hope you like the others too, they will give you a perspective on Tara, the protagonist. Thanks for reading and commenting. Will check out your post too!

  5. That is so sad. But, one does anything and everything within his/her reach to set things straight. I know a lot of people around me who are highly inclined towards astrology. I am not going to say if it’s not modern or an orthodox one. Hope is the biggest influencer behind every step.

    1. You said it, hope is what drives us all! When a person is desperate, they try it all in the hope that something would click. 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting…I appreciate it a lot.

    1. I agree with you, Meha! People say girls talk in circles, but my experience says men can’t talk straight too. They can avoid a lot of heartbreak if only they would be honest. Thanks for sympathizing with Tara! <3

  6. Recollected the character “Mogambo” from a Bollywood movie who sported rings on each of his fingers! Poor Tara, could see that shine is long gone from her. How I wish, I could tell her, “This too shall pass”. At the same time, wish she finds joys in things other than Himanshu in her life. There is so much more to lie than just one special person.

    1. Mogambo, ha ha, didn’t think of it, now I can picturise him in my mind. At young age we think love is the end of the world, Tara is at that stage too. Hope she recovers too.

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