Mother and Son

Mother is startled, “What!? Is there dearth of girls in your college?” He winks, “None liked the role. They don’t support the event of vastraharan. You’ll understand. Vastraharan is an epic example of molestation of a woman in hands of in-laws.” Mother interrupts, “Is that what you think?” He quips “Nope.” Then he further explains, “This is how the girls think in the college. The girls have put posters and wrote those things I’ve just told you. They have arranged a morcha to protest against the play.” Mother sighs and, then, comments, “Too much politics in everything.” Further she adds, “When is the play?” He cannot hide his exuberance, “Next week. Wednesday. That’s the foundation day of the college.” Mother suggests, “I’d like to do your make-up. Can I come?” He blushes, “Ma! I’m in college now. My friends will laugh at me.” Mother bargains, “Can I come and watch the play?” He agrees reluctantly.

Following days his mother keeps on showing him all the sarees to him. She begs him with each Silk and brocade sarees, “Look at this. This one will do. I know. What do you say?” He makes faces and says, “Nay.” After some hour long exercise, he confides, “Ma, your sarees are beautiful. But I don’t need them for the time being. It’s a foundation day programme and the college authority is sponsoring it. So we’ve rented wardrobe for all the actors.” Her mother quits the display in disappointment.

The whole weekend he remains busy at rehearsal. One of them has been the day for the dress rehearsal. Now, he finds an opportunity to make Ma happy. He borrows a silk saree woven moderately with brocade for the dress rehearsal session. Ma becomes elated. She always wanted to have a daughter which she never had. Her husband died when her son has been only five month old. She never ever remarried. As a unit of two, she and her son grew up sharing a great bonding. They both have a very strong attachment to each other.

In a passion for daughter, she used to dress her son as a girl, till he protested during his adolescence days. Spending all those years adjusting with the fact that all she has is a son, when she found him meddling with her lipstick, she was somewhat elated yet confused. Because of the bond she shares with her son, she thought there is nothing about him that she does not know. Since she never had any idea of her son being different in his choices, the scene of him putting on her lipstick awe stuck her. With ongoing debates about sexuality, she has developed a notion. The notion compelled her to think that her son may not be willing to see him as a male anymore. She has further thought that her son might have leanings to become a woman, as she saw him donning the lipstick. Yet she is happy that he has been chosen to play Draupadi and she can see him as an adult female in a fully public view.

************

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This story belongs to an anthology of my short stories that are now out. It comprises ten different short stories of ten different tastes, shades and environments. Some set in paranormal India, some in serene forests and mountains. Some are spread from remote villages of Telangana to the United States. Some speak of a controlled restrictive society and its freedom seeking denizens thriving through odds of politics, corruption and natural disasters. Some are depictions of strife in relationships. Some clings to brighter hopes and joy. Some include contemporary discourse on gender and beyond (what we do not know and are ignoring as a knowledge under peer pressure and scenarios that are waiting for appropriate moments to explode into experience).  In nutshell, it narrates stories of contemporary  Indians and their diversity.

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