The Fault - Part 2
"Tara.."
"Mmm...", Tara was rolling in her bed. She was creating just enough sound so that she would not wholly wake herself up but would inform her mother that she was not asleep. She had wanted to enjoy the pleasant moments before the day began its hunt on her. She wanted to sleep more. She was trying to slow the time.
Maybe I need a time machine just to sleep more. But, wait...
Her sleep was now half disturbed.
Why do I want to sleep more? Summer mornings would be easier to wake up right?
Why is it this much cool?
It must have rained in the night.
"Is there any rain yesterday Mom?", her eyes half closed.
"Yes yes. There was a sudden rain the night."
Does it mean...
"But thank God it is cleared now. Now, come on. Don't you want to go to school?"
Why they don't give holidays in these situations?
Why the holidays should be given on those specific dates every year?
Are we meant to feel happy during a holiday or to take a holiday when we are happy?
"It's getting late, dear."
She made a grunting noise and finally got off the bed. At least she did not need to deal with mood swings and cramps today.
Within no time she got freshened up and appeared before her Mom in the kitchen for the breakfast. She was explaining her to-do list on that day so that if she forgot, her mother would remind her. Her mother was telling back some of the gossips about the neighbours. Tara was listening to every word her mother spoke. She laughed at every joke made.
Maybe Tara's mother made up some jokes just to see her daughter smile. The smile would remind her of her childhood. The smile is as pure as her love.
After her breakfast had been completed, she prepared to leave for school. Tara kissed her mother goodbye and reached the school bus stop near her home.
***
"Now everyone, open the class notes and read it", said the class teacher.
It was exam time. There was less scope for teachers to explain. So there was less scope for teachers to turn towards the blackboard. So the scope was less for Tara to take power naps.
Suddenly the class had become silent. There were only sounds of pages getting turned. The absolute silence waked her inner spirit. The spirit of the sleeping Goddess. Tara was getting tempted.
No, no. Don't get distracted.
She started to close her eyes.
Hey, wake up, girl...
Wait, wait, what is it?
Her sleep was half disturbed. Again.
What is this feeling? Why am I feeling uncomfortable?
She opened her eyes. Looked for the teacher. No, he was talking to other staff outside the classroom. It was not him.
Is someone watching me?
She was getting tense. She looked around. She looked at the boys' and girls' sides. Every head was buried into the book.
You know it won't work that way. Maybe I am just overreacting?
She could not describe her situation. She did not know what to do. Only one word is going through her mind - Uncomfortable.
After some time, the class teacher returned. He called some random person and asked some questions. Then followed all the drama of scolding, crying, and laughing. By the end of the class period, she became normal.
***
It had been disturbing her. It was almost a week. She was feeling insecure.
Why don't you leave me to myself?
She wanted to scream in front of that person who had started to make her feel afraid. She talked to her best friend about the issue. Even she was clueless about how to proceed. Tara knew that she could not file complaints against all the 60 members of the class. But she was sure that it was one of her classmates. She was not having this feeling elsewhere.
Can we talk to any of our madams?
She was afraid of their judgement. She would get ridiculed. Her teachers would feel way more disturbed talking about those kinds of "things".
She observed her teachers explaining the menstrual cycle. They said it was normal. They said it was natural. They said every woman would go through it. But they had explained all this with such a lower voice as if they were discussing national secrets.
Maybe someone was watching them too.
She considered talking to her Mother. But she worried her mother could not handle that much information without having a panic attack first.
For the first time in her life, she wished for the exams to occur quickly so that she could leave school and spend her vacation peacefully. Just herself. No one spying on her.
***
"Tara..."
"Mmm...", Tara was rolling in her bed.
What's taking this much time to invent the time machine?
Half of my life is wasted waiting for those scientists.
"Yeah, waking up." She confirmed her husband so that he could go manage other things and meanwhile she could get another two minutes of sleep.
After a few minutes (definitely more than two), with a grunting noise, she got off the bed. She went to the kitchen to get an update on the status of the lunch. Her husband said he had completed it. Her maid took leave for a half day.
Once she freshened up, she went to the kids and shook them awake. She was understanding how her mother would feel waking her up. She had surely underestimated her mother.
She made the kids ready and served them breakfast. She asked them about the school environment. She was reminding them about their homework, assignments and the dates of their exams. She made up some jokes so she could see the kids laugh. The smile is reminding her mother.
Once the breakfast ritual was completed, the kids went to bring the schoolbags and Tara went to take her school bag. All of them reached the parking spot. She pressed the car key. The unlocking sound echoed throughout the parking space.
***
Tara dropped the kids at school and went to her school, where she had been working as a student counsellor. A counsellor to work for and to work with students. She was constantly interacting with students, reminding them she would always be there.
She conducts open discussions where she talks about consent, privacy and respect. She talks about the importance of freedom. She cites the history starting from enslaving people to the latest trafficking issues, and how many years we are behind in progress because of restricting people from using their complete potential.
She emphasizes the effect of trauma on mental health. She always carries chocolates and books. Books to gift her students, and books she gifted herself because she wants to complete law and become an advocate.
Tara might not be a famous teacher, but well respected by other staff and loved by her students. Some people see her as a strange creature whenever she is laughing and cracking jokes. Those kinds of people never accept a serious person cracking jokes and a comedian giving serious messages. Tara stopped taking care of them long back.
During lunch, she ate along with students and shared her meals and stories with them. One of them complimented her that the curry she had brought was nice.
Of course, it is nice. Otherwise, why would I marry him?
***
The maid had already arrived by the time Tara and her kids reached the home. Her husband called and informed her that he'd come late.
She freshened up and took care of the kids. The maid made kids snacks. Meanwhile, she was catching up with the latest news from the television. She made a note of the books to be read and to be bought. She called her mom and enquired about her health.
Till dinner, she talked to her kids about school. She told some stories from history. They watched some cartoons together. She asked them to complete the homework.
After the completion of dinner, she made them complete the pending homework. While she was making the bed for her kids, she got a call. It was from an unknown number. However, the caller ID application showed it as a hospital number.
Hospital?
She picked up the call.
"Hello, do you know the person called Sumit Thakare?", said the other side.
**end of part 02*
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