Return of the Prodigal Daughter

Sharadha was returning to India and to her remote village Perinkulam in Palakkad District, Kerala, after 15 years. All this while, she had not kept in touch with the family. Now, she had no other choice but to return on losing her job as a receptionist at a company in Dubai. The business closed down after Covid struck. Sharadha opened the gate to the house. It somehow looked different. The two jack fruit trees on either side which was the hallmark of her house was missing. As she walked towards the front door, she noticed that changes had been made at the entrance area as well. 

She stepped on to the steps leading to the front door. Her elder brother appeared as if from nowhere and positioned himself firmly between the door and her. 

"Yes, what do you want?" he asked 

" Chetta (elder brother), I came this morning from Dubai" 

" Chetta who?  Who are you? what do you want here?  

"Chetta, please don't speak like that." 

"All these years you did not remember you had a chettan, parents, a sister, nephew and niece. Now you have the audacity to come here! 

"Chetta.... I had my problems." 

"You did not come even when our father died. Go away Sharadha. We have nothing to do with you! 

Sharadha had left her village after a failed love affair and bitter fights with her own family. They had called each other all sorts of names. While in Dubai, whenever she thought of home, it was always the stinging words and insults that came to her mind and she simply could not bring herself to contact them. Even when she got information about her father's death through a Malayali friend, her bitterness had prevented her from going home. 

Now, Sharada shifted from one leg to another. Her brother's eyes were rock hard and adamant. There was not even an iota of kindness in them. Her mind was in a whirl; she was not  even able to think properly.  What could she do. Where will she go? She saw only darkness all around her. She had at first thought of staying back in Dubai and waiting out  the Covid 19 problem . But for how long? The virus which many thought would go away in two weeks had continued for days together. Her savings were running out. With no income and an uncertain future, living any longer in Dubai was nonviable.  Her brother was continuing his rant. Most of what he was saying was not registering on her mind. She just knew that she had no place to go Perhaps, the only option for her was to  jump into well  behind the house...   

At that time, the front gate opened and her mother came inside. She seemed to have aged a lot. From her attire and the sandal paste ( Chandana) mark on her forehead, it was obvious that she was returning from the temple. Their eyes met and her mother stared at Sharada in shocked amazement. Suddenly, tears began to flow from her eyes and there she was hugging her daughter tightly. After all, she was a mother who gave birth to Sharada  and was now meeting her after 15 long years. She was unable to hold on to any resentment.  Sharadha was also now sobbing. Her brother, slowly moved away from his domineering position  at the front door . He knew that his mother's was the last word in the house. 

 Far away, a dog barked. A few children were seen walking down the road. It appeared as if life was as usual in that sleepy Kerala village.