The Shop
Tanuja was watching carefully how did her Mom was cooking. She was very attentive about it. Her Mom was great cook & she liked cooking too. But then she sensed after some time that she began to lose interest. Once she was so involved in cooking. She used to spend her hours in cooking. But now she began to feel bored but she didn’t showed it to her Mom. Her Mom had small business. Her Mom had one shop where she sold homemade products. Her Mom was nice cook. She kept many things. Tanuja used to visit her Mom’s shop daily. She used to admire it. She appreciated her Mom’s work. Mom tried to keep just items which she cooked at beginning but soon her Mom sensed that it was impossible to feel entire shop with only her items. She needed to add some products. She needed to shock goods. Her Mom slowly began to do inquiries. Slowly her Mom began to collect home made items of other household people too. Most of them were poor. So her Mom became big source of income for them. Her Mom was admired by them. Most importantly they wanted her Mom to continue her cooking. It was important for her. She felt so happy when she used to go in that shop as child. It was lots of fun for her. She used to work hard to sell those products. She used to do many crafts with pretty design in school. Then she used to decorate that shop with it. She took complete responsibility of arranging items. She decorated shop personally. Every day after school she used to insist on her father to arrange someone who could drop her in Mom’s shop. Her Dad used to get angry. Her Dad used to tell her “ Tanuja that shop is not our source of income! My job is. I need to pay attention to my job otherwise we will be without food on table.” She used to get so upset by all. She wanted to think positively about her Mom’s shop. But mostly father used to change his tune. Her Dad immediately started to appreciate her hope. Her Dad always managed to send someone. She went in that shop every day, She decorated it’s every corner of that shop. She created it in her best way. She was so happy while doing it. She remembered that how did daily she used to come. She came even during examination time. When she came on that time, she was big enough to catch hired vehicle so her Dad was not needed to come. She was so obsessed that she came in shop even on day of final exam. Her Mom was so angry. Her Mom kept screaming on her. But she didn’t care. That shop was heaven. Then she joined college. She was coming in shop daily but one day her teacher started to make play for college function. She was not planning to join auditions but her lecture was canceled & they had one extra hour before next. She felt so tense & nervous. She wanted to feel positive but she was totally negative about theatre. Her parents didn’t like it. But when auditions started she began to take interest, she decided to try some dialogue. She began to practice & slowly she took on stage. She didn’t sense when she got there in excitement. Actually she was standing there & entire scene was nice but that actress kept speaking wrong lines. She felt as if her life depended on that play. She just got on stage without second thought & said “ Let me show you.” Then she stood with remaining actors & said that line with perfect emotion. After she completed she turned to look towards that actress. That actress was running out of auditorium while crying. She sensed that entire audience was clapping for her. She got that role. She didn’t understand how did she supposed to react. After that she started participating In every play. She started getting famous & managed to get good roles. She told her parents about it but they didn’t pay much attention to it. They didn’t feel that she had future in acting. She was slowly began to get more involved in it. After that slowly people began to invite her to other clubs. She liked it. She got place in every club. She became famous girl. She was in every activity. Her life was so busy & she was happy about it. But she kept going in shop. Soon even her friends began to come in shop. Her Mom offered them jobs which they could do after college for few hours of evening. It was nice idea. Everyone was interested in trying to sell. She never thought that all her friends would consider job of salesman or saleswoman in shop was so nice. But they all felt that way. She knew that many of her friends were already working in shop. She didn’t wanted it but she couldn’t stop them. Now that shop became important to all. She knew that once she was popular by herself but now all started admiring her Mom. They began to say that her Mom did all. Everyone was admiring her Mom’s shop. When they began to admire she started to discouraged by it. She was becoming just shadow of her Mom. They needed her Mom’s help by getting something from shop. It might be job or some other product at cheap discount. They did all on purpose. But she didn’t sensed at beginning. She just thought that she was less than her Mom. She felt so sad. She began to feel all wanted her to become friend just since they wanted contact with her Mom. She wanted to stop going in that shop. But she knew that it was too late after all she took responsibility of shop. She didn’t want to stay under shadow of her Mom. When Mom was cooking, she said loudly “ Mom I am getting late. I need to do some work.” Her Mom gave her angry look. It was part of luck that her Mom didn’t spill contents on floor. Her Mom said “ You can go. No one wanted to force you to stop here.” She felt more angry. She sensed once again she was not needed. She went out. She didn’t want to hurt her Mom. She began to get restless. She decided that she would go to some group. But when she began to talk she sensed no one wanted to arrange group meetings. They all said same thing. It was time consuming & costly. They needed her only when they wanted to do play & it was not going to happen again & again. She was not even part of inter college competition. That play was done by senior students. She hoped next time she would get chance to enter in that play. She sensed that she didn’t have much option so she decided to go home & study. She didn’t want to enter in that shop anymore.
Tanuja opened door with her key. She was so upset & scared that she needed to stay in her home alone. She wanted to find somewhere to go. She loved going out to functions. She loved giving speeches. She liked taking flowers as good will gesture then she loved debates. She enjoyed it so much. She knew that few people didn’t like debates. They turned in to arguments but she loved them. She liked to keep debating for hours. Sadly since people didn’t like them as she did so college avoided them. She was feeling so stressed out by everything. She wanted to feel every thing with positive attitude. But she couldn’t. She was no longer famous due to her skills & her beauty but due to that shop. She was so upset on that point her mobile rang. She slowly took it. It was her friend Ravi. “ So are you in shop?” “ No..you know very well how much I hate it.” He didn’t say anything nervously. It was so stressful. She wanted to find positivity in her life but it was not happening. She said “ I am tired of that shop.” She didn’t like that shop anymore that was truth. She began to hate it but she couldn’t tell it to others. She knew that her parents & her friends assumed that she loved it. She continued “ It’s so hard to explain my family. I began to hate going in that shop. Once I use to love it.” “ I know daily you use to go there. My Mom use to drop you when she use to take me to that class! I use to hate studying in that class. I use to envy you. I use to think only if I can have one.” She smiled to herself. “ That shop was beautiful so unique. My entire world was stuck in that shop. I use to imagine daily that one day I will enter in that shop & run in it as per my wish. But as I grown up I sensed I can’t do that! I can’t just introduce new item or I can’t shift things as per my wants. I need to do all as per servants instructions!” “ Come on! They know better than you. They are more experienced.” “ Experience! My foot! I am boss. They supposed to obey me but they are just taunting me. You must come one day & see..” “ I know but you own that shop. You need to love it.” “ No.. I don’t love it! That’s the truth. I hate that shop.” She began to cry. Ravi didn’t say anything. It was so stressful. Ravi slowly said “ It’s truly sad thing. You got one shop & you don’t want it.” Then she sensed that what she just confessed. It was truth but she didn’t want her parents to know. She was getting big pocket money all luxuries on demand since they felt that she would take care of shop. All felt so sure about it. She didn’t understand if she did right thing by confessing all to Ravi. She decided to take u-turn. “ It’s okay. Slowly I will begin to work in that shop my way.” Ravi seemed so pleased by that suggestion. Ravi was smiling. She could sense that by his voice. There was one bond between them. She didn’t understand what should be it’s name. It could be named by any relationship but they were relaxed with each other & that was important. She was so sure that she couldn’t fool him but he was pretending too. She knew that it was for just few seconds he would come back to old point. Ravi “ I am so happy that you like shop..it is so beautiful like heaven. Do you remember how does we use to play there?” She laughed. “ Yes you use to come daily after that class in shop then for hours we use to irritate customers.” “ Hey! We use to sell products to customers. I miss those days…” he didn’t say anything but she knew that now he would come back on track. Ravi “ Do you really like that shop? You don’t need to pretend before me. Tell me the fact.” She slowly began to tell truth “ At beginning I use to love it. I really loved it. I created so many things inside it. I mean my crafts & my dreams. But then slowly I begin to sense it belong to Mom. Mom loved cooking. I use to do with her but I always face odd criticism for it. I mean I deserve admiration but instead I got criticism. My Dad & all people around me kept telling me that shop was useless. They began to tell me how useless I have become due to that shop. Instead of spending my hours on it. They want me to find some other course. They want me to find a job which will make them rich.” She stopped talking. She suddenly began to feel she was talking too much.” Then she heard odd try of breathing from other side. Voice came from mobile was strange “ You ungrateful daughter. You don’t deserve any happiness.” She was so shocked. She never felt so upset by anything. She screamed on mobile “ Why you talk like that with me Ravi?” Suddenly she felt strange cold touch around her. She looked behind. Photo frame of her Grandma was watching her. She sensed that it was not pleasant look any more. She looked towards her nervously. On that point she sensed that lips of her Grandma’s photo frame started moving. It began to talking. “ You killed me.” She shivered. It was so scary. Her Grandma was talking with her. She knew that it was not possible. On that point she heard loud voice of Ravi. “ What happened? I don’t say anything upsetting.” She wanted to tell him all but she was too scared. He might consider her mad. She didn’t want to go to Psychiatrist. She was not mad. She slowly said “ Ohh I was talking with maid. Let me finish conversation with her..” “ I understand. Call me when you have time. Remember I am always there for you.” “ Thanks.” She immediately disconnected call. It was so stressful. She just needed to sleep. She knew it. She was so upset. She told herself that she needed to control her mind. Her Grandma couldn’t blame her after death. She slowly went towards her bed. Then she took relaxing breathes & smiled sweetly. She sat on bed. Then she looked around in her room. Every thing was same but she was no longer feeling same. She didn’t understand her fear but it was there & she couldn’t deny it. She closed her eyes tight & tried to relax her soul.
Tanuja’s Mom began to feel so nervous. She was observing something was not right with Tanuja. Tanuja didn’t like to visit shop. This shop was obsession of her Mom but her Mom knew that no one else appreciated it. Tanuja’s friends started admiring it. Mom felt that Tanuja would feel better about it too. After all entire family was criticising shop & Tanuja was supporting it. But now Tanuja hated it. Mom didn’t mind. But Mom had feeling that Tanuja had some different issues too. Tanuja was not smiling. Tanuja used to enjoy life but Tanuja was not enjoying it. When Mom tried to discuss it with Dad, Dad immediately blamed shop. So Mom was planning to sell shop to one employee. This way shop would survive. Mom didn’t want her employees to become jobless. Mom wanted someone to manage it. So Mom began to discuss with her employee but suddenly her employee said “ Sorry Madam I found another job. I don’t want loan & entire responsibility.” Mom was so shocked. It seemed like backstabbing but Mom couldn’t say it. Mom told already to Dad that she had buyer. Mom smiled nervously & nodded. She began to get so tense. She didn’t understand what she supposed to do. Tanuja’s Mom needed someone who could purchase that shop. She began to get tense. Tanuja’s Mom started to become nervous now. She needed buyer as soon as possible. On that day she didn’t find much option so she returned home. She slowly opened door of house. She was expecting Tanuja in hall watching TV. But Tanuja was not there. Tanuja was always full of energy so it felt so odd. Mom began to search for her. Mom was shocked that Tanuja was sleeping. She could see that there was strange expression on Tanuja’s face. Tanuja was sweating. Mom went inside to check temperature. But Mom sensed that it was too high. Mom immediately went to medicine cabinet & Mom took out medicine to reduce temperature. Then Mom woke Tanuja up. Tanuja began to talk about Shop. Tanuja “ I must go in shop otherwise Grandma will punish me.” On that moment her Dad came in room. Dad asked with fear “ What happened?” Mom “ She is having high fever. Let’s take her to Doctor.” Dad immediately got ready with car keys. They sat in Doctor’s clinic whole time Tanuja was talking about shop. Dad kept giving angry look to Mom then finally he asked “ When you are selling that shop?” “ Very soon. We need just that loan.” Mom lied. Dad nodded happily. They took Tanuja inside. Doctor checked her again & again. Doctor “ Why she is talking about shop?” “ Actually she doesn’t want to run it but we already plan to sell it.” Doctor nodded but Doctor didn’t look convinced. Doctor “ I don’t feel it’s just about shop. I don’t understand what is happening with her. I give you some medicines to reduce fever but she needed further treatment. She is getting this fever due to some fear.” She was feeling so sick. Her temperature was increasing. Tanuja was so scared that she might vomit there. She kept telling herself to calm down. Then they came back home. She immediately ran to bathroom. She kept feeling uneasy but nothing was happening. She was feeling so odd. She looked towards her face in mirror. She was looking so different. She was looking too pale. She was looking aged. She was so tense. She started washing her face but her parents stopped her. Mom “ You have high fever. You must go to sleep.” She felt so nervous. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. Tanuja once again slept on bed. Dad confirmed that she was sleeping & called her Mom out. Dad took tight hold of her Mom’s hand. Her Mom said “ Stop it. It’s paining.” Her Dad screamed “ I want money of that shop. Bring that check.” “ But..” “ I will keep it in our joint account if you want you can do Fixed Deposit but you must get something out of that shop.” Mom just nodded. “ Until now you have just wasted.” Mom didn’t say anything. Mom was so nervous on that point Tanuja’s mobile rang. Mom saw that it was call of Ravi. Mom pointed to Dad “ His Mom is good friend.” “ Okay..okay” Dad went in bedroom. Mom took call & told Ravi everything. Then Ravi told Tanuja’s Mom how much Tanuja hated shop. Mom took it as opportunity to search for buyer & explained all. Ravi immediately began to explain how much he was interested in buying. So it was fixed. Tanuja’s Mom was so happy. Next day Tanuja’s fever was gone. It vanished same way as it came. Tanuja got ready to go to college. Her Mom decided to go to lawyer to discuss deals. Mom didn’t tell her about it. Mom was just too tired. Mom no longer wanted to tolerate abuses in name of that shop. So when Tanuja went in college, slowly step by step Mom completed entire procedure of selling shop. Then one day Mom gave check to Dad. Tanuja was so happy that she finally got rid of shop. Her Dad was also on top of world. Tanuja went happily in her room but suddenly she sensed someone was behind. She turned & saw that it was her Grandma. “ Do you remember Tanuja what you did?” Tanuja said sweetly “ It was my mistake.” “ No you wanted me to die since your Dad wanted money from shop. Your Dad told you to remove that slipper. You wanted me to fall & die. You did it. Then you got shop in Mom’s name. You went there since you were scared that I might come to you. Now you don’t feel scared anymore..” Tanuja began to feel so scared. She began to apologise loudly. Then she heard “ Tell Cops.” Her Grandma was looking like something from horror movie. She was so scared. She could feel that liquid on her body when her Grandma touched her. Tanuja screamed loudly & ran outside. She began to search for Cop & confessed all. It was so stressful. Cop was so confused. Then Cop told her to come in Police station. She kept repeating it again & again. She didn’t want to see her Grandma again. Then finally Lady Cop took her in lock up. She sat there. On that point she sensed that what she had done in her madness. She wanted to lie but she couldn’t her Grandma would hurt her. Her parents came to see her. Soon her Dad was arrested too. Her Mom never came to visit her but her Dad came & abused her for dragging her in every matter. It was painful for her. But she couldn’t turn back on her statement. She was more scared of her Grandma than any jail. She kept sitting & crying inside jail. When Tanuja’s Mom called Ravi after completion on deal Ravi told her “ Auntie you can come to shop every day. It still belong to you. I just wish only if I had Mom like you. My Mom never appreciates me. I want to see you in shop every day to sense I am not unworthy.” “ No Ravi you are the best..” after some day Tanuja shifted to Psychiatrical Hospital. She needed mental treatment. Her guilt managed to create delusions. She was making herself less guilty by working in shop but soon her true face came out & she started to follow different dreams then once again her guilt came out which created that ghost. She also managed to arrest her Dad since she was child at time of crime so it was all done by her Dad. Decision of her life was not taken by Court. But she was already declared guilty by her own subconscious mind.
The End
No comments:
Post a Comment