Afterthought

"The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma" ~Vyasa “Aniruddha! At this rate, our daughter will never get married.” “What good are these trading families? They are ignorant and stingy and attached to their gold. I don’t see Sunidhi getting married in such families.” “You’ve spoilt your daughter. She is too intelligent and educated for her own good.” “Nandini! I’ve worked all my life for her; so that she lives a life that befits a Goddess. Now, you’re telling me that her intelligence is her curse?” “Of what use is your high philosophy and precious education to her, when young men are intimidated by her? Most of them are their father’s minions anyway. She expects and deserves nothing short of a Brahman and no Brahman is willing to marry a trader’s daughter.” Aniruddha gazed morosely at the carpet for some time, and then, at the sun setting outside. “I should go, the King expects me. Another roll-over of the debt, ...

" Her laughter of mornings has the gaiety of flowers Her nights of darkness, the reflections of lustrous hair Her melodious nightingales, with passion sing their songs Ardent tunes, as leaves enflamed, cascading from their throats "~ Saib-e-Tabrizi Her initials on my jersey were smudged. The number card was falling off, but, the end of the marathon was in sight. The energy drink struggled to get back into the light, and I perspired as if I were back in the tropical humidity. I shut my eyes, imagined her cheering behind the lines, and pushed myself onwards to the finish. It was my first after the injury. I couldn't wait to tell her. I had hurt myself badly while training for last year's event, and didn't run that year. I was devastated, and she had pushed me through it. Through the months of August, while the last days of summer slipped away, she had absorbed my frustration, and through the dark winter days, we kept each other motivated through the recess...