Short Story 

And life goes on...

by Jeannette Cabraal

The spirit of revelry lingered in the air, on the eve of the dawn of the New year. The sporadic burst of crackers seemed to be a warming up, for the great event and moment. A contagious excitement pervaded.

The young couple Subha and Vashi strolled along the street, swaying towards each other; now holding hands, now sprightly in their stride, despite the two small bags they carried, into which they cautiously peered from time to time, their eyes sparkling, the breeze from the seaside ruffling their hair patronisingly.

Exuberant

They were so exuberant; full of the joy and zest of young love, oblivious of the surroundings. Naturally so, as they had married during the festive season despite parental objections on grounds of caste and religion.

Their conservation and conventional-minded parents wished to preserve the purity of their respective tradition-bound family backgrounds, to conform to their respective clan instincts.

These new-fangled ideas of the young, who spurned the conventional formula for marriage irked them.

Further arranged marriages explored all possible avenues for the success of a marriage. That was how the parents had met and their marriages were successful. They could not understand this so-called 'love' that transcended all societal boundaries, even parental love.

Now Subha and Vashi were on their way to see the house which a mutual friend had procured for them, in which they were to start their new life and to make preparations for the traditional boiling of milk over an open hearth, as a symbol of prosperity.

Landlady

Turning into a by-lane they walked up to a house, checked the house number and rang the door-bell. The middle-aged landlady who opened the door said with a smile, "You must be the young couple taking over our annex. You may go over there. It's open".

The annex was quite compact and seemed cozy. It was ideal for a young couple beginning life together. They looked around enthusiastically.

Two deflated balloons hung above the ceiling fan, vestiges of the festive season. Bubbling with the excitement of starting a new life together in such surroundings, they walked into the dining room.

An elderly couple stood there as if expectantly. On a solitary chair - the only item of furniture that remained in the house - coiled cozily on a cushion a white cat dazed on. In a corner stood two strapped suit-cases, a few sundry bags and two sweaters. They looked at the young couple who gazed back in wonderment. The old man lifted the cushioned cat and placed it on the floor offering the seat to them. The cat stretched itself and with a purr and a wary glance coiled itself in sleep again.

Tenants

"You must be the young couple that has taken the house. We were the tenants. You move in, in time for the New Year at an auspicious time I suppose.

"I see you have brought a pot and a bottle of milk. You can find three bricks for the hearth down the garden and sticks and "hanasu" and fuel you will need to light the fire", the man said helpfully.

"We too have a son away in Australia. He has a family," the old woman softly said. "A fine young man with a fine family," echoed the man. There was no mistaking the parental love and pride in their tone, with just a passing wisp of something inexplicable.

A three-wheeler clattered into the compound, tooting a horn. The young couple involuntarily glanced at the packages. "We leave today. You move in tomorrow. The continuity of life..." nodded the old man with the stoic air of a sage.

The old woman piped in. "We leave for the Elders' Home today. Could you do us a favour? Would you mind looking after Kitty for us? They don't allow pets in the Home."