The Old Woman - a Bad Omen

They all regarded the old woman as a parasite. The poor destitute woman had no other family, friend or home and no where else to go. The years had told upon her health and energy. She could drag herself from the varanda to her little cot inside the living room and then back to the varandha. And this was what she always did.
No one could reckon how she became connected to the Mishra family, no one really seem to care. She was just there with them from the beginning. Some said she had nursed the motherless Raghu and reared him to his youth. Raghu Mishra's father had kept her in his house as a sort of a glorified maidservant. After his father's death Raghu felt inclined to her as he did and he had most conviniently chosen to forget that she had nurtured him during his infancy.
His callousness set a pattern for the rest of the family to follow. Sarla his wife muttered curses after curses at the poor woman and called on all the gods and godesses to come to her rescue by bringning death to the old woman."Ah", she yelled that food for nothing has spilled betel juice on my clean varanda. How many times have i told you to sit in the backyard", she went away muttering and grumbling and came back with a broom and a pail of water to clean the mess. "Just look at the number of paan (betel leaf) she has the whole day, who can supply and fulfil her queenly desires"? "Look what you have done daughter-in-law" saying this she exhibited her wet sari. In our days we never used to treat our mother in law like this." "Oh my god , you misearble creature don't call me by that name again. I am not your daughter-in-law, isnt it enough that i have bear your presence and hear your crow like voice everyday", and muttering her customary oaths, she went into the kitchen.The old lady accustomed to all this, moved from the place to a dry place and chewed the paan, this time careful not to spit.
The only vice the old woman allowed herself was gluttony. She had an unappeasing appeatite for the good things of life. Many a times her kind neighbour would bring her to her house and she could eat her fill. Another pleasure she indulged in was to play with Bindo, Raghu's five year old daughter. Both would sit in the varenda in the evenings with the old woman narrating folk stories and songs in her hoarse voice. Little Bindoo was enchanted by all this and would say 'grandma please one more song, only one"."No more songs until you promise........and she muttered something in her ear. "okay', Bindu said getting up to oblige the old woman with the bribe. she went indoors and as quietly as possible came out with some ripe mangoes from the kitchen.She ate one and gave the rest to her grandma who began eating hungrily. Sarla's shrewd eyes had caught this motion. " What you miserable creature, you are up to your old tricks again, chee chee, teaching my innocent one to steal? "At your age arent you ashamed". Saying this she rushed into the house with Bindu. The poor widow began to cry bitterly. Little Bindu felt helpless and took refuge with her books.
It was Bindu's birthday, all the guests had arrived , the priest was ready with the puja. Sarla was busy and Bindo laughed and chatted with the guests flaunting her new dress. Everyone bubbled with mirth. All except the old woman. Where was she? No one seemed to bother about her. Sarla had locked her up in a little room since the morning .In such an auspicious occasion like this she thought it was best that the old lady remained out of her way and bring no ill luck to Bindu. The room had only one window facing the kitchen. As the aroma of the savoury dishes wafted towards her, saliva trickled down her toothless mouth and she found her hunger uncontrollable. It was agonising and wicked, she thought, to leave her like this and engage in merrymaking.
She tried to open the door but it was closed, her thumps on the door were to no avail. She dragged herself to the open window, hunger had blinded her sense of propotion and decorum. Just like a little animal, she climbed up to open the upperdoor bolt, which was not within the reach of her hands.She then tried very hard to get a clear view of the delicious dishes from the window sill. It was amazing to see how much strength she had gathered into her weak frame. Bindo meanwhile wandered about the house for her grandma and then suddenly she heard a loud , hoarse cry.
It was only then they noticed the scene before their eyes when Sarla opened the door. It was too late. The old woman had slipped . She now lay in a heap on the floor at their feet, moaning and groaning. She clasped both her hands as if asking them for forgiveness. Nobody understood her actions or nobody really cared. Gradually the moaning ceased. Everything was still. The guests shifted sensing that the party had ended. Sarla clutched her little Bindo and wailed " its a bad omen , its a bad omen for my home".