The Last Morning

It was a gleaming Saturday on the morning of March 18th, 2002. Maruva slid out of her bed at 7:30, working almost clock-like with planned movement to move out of the house by 11:30, her excitement rather unusual.

Maruva carried around with herself an enchanting and affectionate face with striking features. Her rosy cheeks, that were pale as a winter morning ground complemented her glaring eyes. She had a rather charming smile that spread across her entire face almost touching her carved ears. Her mammoth nose left very little space, and so a stealthy chin sat idle on her face. She stood 5 feet 5 inches above the ground with her hair facing the gale at those heights oscillating over her shoulders. She spoke in calculated whispers making people lean towards her, and see the beautiful nuances of her face.

The clock struck 11:30 as Maruva sauntered around the house in a maroon colored t-shirt and a skirt that hugged the ground below, her hair neatly tied in a bun with a bright yellow outline left by her favorite hair band. As she looked around the house her Pamorian pet Richu came in sight. Richu rested in the veranda like usual and was sniffing the grass as if it was on a mission to hunt down someone. Maruva was rejoiced to see Richu and a smile cracked her lips open. Maruva went to the unsuspecting pet to show her affection, and as soon as Richu felt her presence it burst with excitement and licked Maruva, precipitating her forehead.

Maruva lived in an HBR layout in northern Bangalore with her family in a 2 bhk house with ample open space. The humble family owned a grey Activa and a red Ford Icon that was used by everyone in the house with care and respect.

The 23-year-old Maruva who was in her prime was currently studying B.com and was on vacations after her first year at the college had ended. It was the stress-free period of vacations that caused Maruva to be bubbly around the house and always look at the glass half full rather than it being half empty.

The family had one more member who was not present at the house at the time; it was Maruva’s elder brother who was currently attempting to graduate from college after having the burden of two backlogs in his subjects. After sailing pass this conundrum Akankash had decided to take downtime for a year where he would explore different opportunities and in some ways recharge before he joins the unforgiving middle class working lifestyle like his dad was living. The “gap year” was met by sharp criticism by his dad who could not accept the idea of wasting an entire year; however, Akankash’s mother did not look at it like this and happily agreed to this offer by her son. This was just a small sample of many arguments that the parents had with each other on a daily basis, and after years of marriage it almost became a daily ritual which was forgotten by both the parties by the next day before indulging in another fight

Maruva mother, Mridula standing in the kitchen asked Maruva to come and have breakfast. Moving away from Richu Maruva denied the offer saying she’ll eat later in the company of her friend. Maruva’s father a loyal and hardworking government employ rose to the rank of manager at the rail wheel factory with a humble pay yet a determined work ethic after a long and tedious 27 years. Whilst getting ready for work he asked Maruva where she was going and whether she would like to be dropped there by him, to which Maruva replied, “No, I will take the active dad”

A day at the house of this northern Bangalore family meandered through different areas and emotions, while the house functioned on the edge it was probably outside the solemn walls of the bungalow that the family members found solace. It was the time away from each other that gave them the strength to come back to each other again at the end of the day. It was not just a story of this house, rather a tale of the growing middle class that was slowly turning to ashes with their faces crumbling away.