A Matter of Right [SHORT STORY]

Neha stood by the window watching the sun rise. She was lost in a sea of thoughts. It was a new day; not just another day but a marker of a new beginning. It was her daughter’s wedding that day. A bitter sweet smile crossed her face as she remembered all the dreams she had woven around this day. She wanted it to be the best day of her daughter’s life. She had enthusiastically planned everything and she would leave no stone unturned to make sure there wasn’t any glitch in this plan. She had thought out the smallest details; from the design of the jewellery to the colour of saree to what gifts the guests should be given. She wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfection! 

But the rising sun that day didn’t symbolize the new hope which she longed for. Time passed but she stood there watching the sun rays painting the sky. Slowly people started gathering and things began to gain momentum. Preparations for the big day started and there was laughter everywhere. But Neha remained untouched by this. She was lost in thoughts of her husband, Vikram. He was as excited about the whole day as she was, probably more. Their daughter Reema was the apple of his eyes. Seeing her happy on this day was what his heart yearned for. But destiny had different plans in store. Three weeks before the wedding, he had died in a car accident while returning from a shopping errand.

Life had drastically changed for Neha ever since. The wedding had been postponed but she no longer had a say in her daughter’s wedding ceremony. She was considered as a bad omen as her husband had died. All her plans, all her dreams, they didn’t matter anymore. She couldn’t participate in any of the functions; it was supposed to cause bad luck for the bride! But what was her mistake? Wasn’t she Reema’s mom still? What made the difference? If the roles were reversed, would Vikram suffer the same fate as hers? She didn’t think so! Then why her?! Why couldn’t she enjoy her life like everyone else! Sure, Vikram had died, but she was alive! Of course she loved him but did it mean she had no right to lead a life after his death? Dressing up in colorful sarees or wearing jewellery was out of bounds now. But why! Wasn’t she doing all these even before Vikram came into her life? Then why not now! The questions remained unanswered, for there was no one who had real answers for them. It was all a false belief and she was a victim of the beliefs that society nurtured.

She wanted to stand up and defend herself. But this was the matter of her daughter’s life. If people were indeed right, which she doubted, she didn’t want to take chances and become the reason for her daughter’s unhappiness later! After all, a mother’s heart can never take chances when it concerns her child. So during the ceremony, she stood far away from the Mantap, amidst the crowd, draped in a white saree. She blessed her daughter a happy life and prayed to God ardently that her daughter would never have to face the kind of situation she was going through.

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