The Innocent Young Love
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
One summer afternoon while rolling on the neatly placed jute mat and occasionally getting amused by the sudden cool breeze, I saw a figure approaching us. Ah! A girl in her mid teens dressed like a doll. I was bewildered. She grinned looking at my aunt who was frantically waving her hand fan and was swearing on the hot summer afternoons. Drenched in sweat and trying hard to collect herself getting up from the mud clad floor, she gestured the girl to come and sit beside her.
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
I found myself staring at the dusky beauty. Curly dark flowing hair parted neatly at the center and filled with orange vermilion. Oh, her dreamy kohl filled mrignayni (deer) eyes. Sharp nose placed exactly in the center of her heart shaped face. Her perfect bow shaped lips adoring that innocent shy smile. Her mangalsutra trying to play hide and seek between her carefully placed dupatta. Her glass bangles chiming with every attempt to hold that bright red dupatta on her head which kept on slipping shamelessly. Oh my! She resembled nothing less than the gorgeous Durga Maa!
My conscious suddenly broke hearing the clinking of anklets. I saw “Gauri” coming and sitting beside us. The mild smell of aalta and fresh mehendi filled our senses. It was then that I saw her sneakingly taking out an aasan from her dupatta. She carefully placed it in front of my aunt and waited in pretension. It was a wonderfully handcrafted woolen aasan made on a jute bag. The Bengal art was in it’s glory. Fishes, lotus and flowers were meticulously woven on it. The center stood out with it’s green background and “Aashutosh” boldly sewn on it. She pointed it out and grinned nervously.
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
Aunty took the aasan in her hand and carefully examined it. She pointed out some flaws in the design but all I could see was the utmost love poured in making of that masterpiece. Gauri shyly told aunty that she could barely manage to finish it on time even after utmost difficulties. She sneaked out to show her artwork to aunty after everyone dozed off. Of course, she couldn’t confide in anyone about this other than her teacher itself! Aunty appreciated her a heartful. She glowed with pride and thinking of her new beginnings.
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
Fifteen minutes of hurried chit-chat. Jokes, laughter and questions summoned the atmosphere. Ooh! Suddenly she remembered about returning to her home before anyone questioned her whereabouts. She sprang up and carefully hid the aasan under her dupatta again. A quick “see you again” farewell and there she ran towards the door whimsically chiming once again with the glass bangles and the tinkle bells. It was then that I decided to wishlist learning how to make aasan and use it to show my love too. Cheesy isn’t it? 😛 I learnt on that day that love can be shown in different ways. Joy can be found in numerous places and love can make you do silly things! 😀 😀
Lockdown 2020 brought back lots of such memories and I created my own masterpiece. I tried to create a similar magic by spending some of my spare time reminiscing the old days. It was worth it. I stared at my beautiful aason and didn’t let anyone sit on it. My Aashutosh wants to frame it and hang it on the wall. No sitting on such beauty he says. Well, I still wonder what would have been “Gauri’s” love’s reaction on seeing the love she created!!
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
I hope that she remained as joyful and hearty throughout her life. I hope her “Aashutosh” appreciate and love her as much as she deserved it. I hope that love conquers all! Here to every Gauri and to her Aashutosh! May you shine ⭐✨ and be blessed forever 🙏
Go create some magic, sprinkle the love dust and conquer the world! ❤ ❤