LEMON WITCH

As I prepare to return to school, there is a call early in the morning. I pick it up hastily, fearing who it might be, as Ma and Bhabhi stare at me for details. I greet the caller and ask them politely who they are. To my surprise, it's a call from my school. Why are they calling home right now, I wonder? It's the PA to the principal madam. 

“Good morning, Miss Sara. Can we talk to somebody at home?”

“Good morning, mam. Yes, definitely. But what is this about?”

“We will let you know. Please let me talk to someone else.”

“Bhabhi, it's from school. They need to talk,” I say. I then cover the lower part of the receiver and speak again: “Do you remember we discussed my special test this month? It's an update regarding the same.” Ma turns away, disinterested, as soon as I mention school and tests, and Bhabhi walks over to talk.

“Yes, mam, yes. I get it. But what exactly is this about? Oh, okay, okay. I understand. Sure, we will do that.” She hangs up again and scans the room.

She comes over to where I stand and whispers, “They say your suspension period is extended because Christy’s parents demanded stricter action against you.” 

“For the bow long?”

“Two weeks,” she says, and I feel like someone has dropped something heavy on me.

“What? No, they can't do this. I know I made a mistake. I am sorry for it. But I need to be back there.”

“Relax, Sara. They are doing this only to show Christy’s parents they are being hard on you. They can't do this forever.”

“But what should I tell Ma and Baba?”

“I will take care.”

Bhabhi tells everyone that the school has given me extra time to prepare for the special test. When they ask for more details, she says it's a privilege given to certain students, and they should be proud. My parents believe her, and I am partly relieved. 

 

 

A week has passed silently at home. So many things have happened. Bhabhi left for her parents' house because she was unwell. She said she was sick to her stomach all the time. She wasn't eating or sleeping well and was behaving strangely, too. I heard she was also planning to visit Ahmed Bhai with her brother. But how will she travel when she isn't feeling very well? I will have to wait for answers. 

 

Meanwhile, it's been a peaceful week for me. I'm no longer receiving concerning calls from Salim, no more staring at the window expecting someone to emerge behind me or stepping on strange objects with weird imprints. Bhabhi was a genius, and I love her for it. I kind of miss her, though. I really need to know what's going on with her. 

 

On the other hand, Ma has been troubling me with her interrogation. She wanted to know what kind of exams I am about to take, why I was selected for it, what was so special about it, and so on. Answering my mother naturally is a challenging task, and when it's a made-up story, it gets even tougher. The doorbell rings by the time I answer her ninety-ninth question in a row, and Ma finally moves on from me to the door. 

 

As she opens, there enters a young, fine lady wrapped in a lemon-yellow kurta with a shoulder-length wavy cut. She smells of fresh citrus, and a radiance emanates from where she stands. I wonder who this strange lady is and what she is doing at our home. She greets Ma with a salaam and seeks permission to enter inside. After a brief introduction and formal conservation, she asks for Ahmed Bhai. I am astounded by her straightforwardness. Who has the guts call Bhai by his name in front of Ma? But she does and Ma somehow appears calmer. And something about it doesn't sit right with me. She screams trouble. 

This is a part of BlogchatterA2Z 2025

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