Sati

"Why is that man behaving like a mad man?" Sati asked her mother. "Does he see ghosts?" Her neighbour as always was muttering to himself on the doorstep of his hut.

"Sati, be careful, you shouldn't be unkind to Velu mama's son," her mother reprimanded her. "Nagaraj is not mad, he is just a nice quiet boy and if you talk too much I'll get you married to him."

That couldn't have possibly been an exciting prospect for a 14-year-old girl. Sati was terrified of Nagaraj and kept quiet after that.

Her mom was just leaving for her morning's work. Sati's mom worked as a maidservant in two places. Either Sati or her younger sister, Kasturi, sometimes accompanied their mother to help her out with the chores.

"Sati, you and Kasturi both will have to come with me today," her mother was telling her. "They need a few extra hands at Abhi's place; some function his mother was telling me about."

Sati always enjoyed a trip to Abhi's place. The boy was a nice fellow, about three years younger than her. She and Kasturi usually finished early and played tag with him. Abhi's father was a dancer, a very nice person who always treated them well. It was the Major's house that she never enjoyed visiting. Even though her mother hardly ever needed them there, she and her sister couldn't come back alone from Abhi's house, so sometimes they had to go with their mother there. It wasn't like the Major was unkind to them but he never spoke much. He muttered instructions to their mother, and she and her sister usually had to wait in the backyard while she finished her chores. Her mother told them about the Major's blind daughter but they'd never seen her. The whole house gave her the creeps.

Her mother picked up the vessels she had to return to Abhi's place and they left.

"Boo!" Kasturi shouted as they walked past Nagaraj's hut. Nagaraj was staring at Sati as they walked past. Sati caught his stare but he kept it until she was forced to look away.

"See, your sister has picked up your habits from you now," her mother was reprimanding Sati. Her mother was that way, she always held her responsible even for Kasturi's mistakes.

Abhi's house was further away from their place than the Major's house but her mother usually went there first. Her mom stopped at the Bhai's shop on the way for betel leaves.

"Looks like they're having some function at the dancer's place," the Bhai said questioningly.

"Yes, his wife said something about the boy's first dance performance. He's only eleven but has been learning for three years now. They're inviting a few friends over and keeping it a small affair. No public performance now, his mother was saying."

"Funny people these dancers. Just because he is a dancer does it mean his son must become a dancer too?" Bhai asked.

Sati's mother stared at Jamaal, Bhai's son, who was already apprenticing in the store.

"This fellow refuses to go to school, I don't have an option," Bhai said in a resigned tone. "I'd rather he becomes an engineer or doctor. He refuses to learn anything. I've tried explaining to him his fate will be as bad as mine if he doesn't study, but he has an empty head there."

"Why lad, can't you go to school and make an effort?" Sati's mother said. "I only have daughters, no point wasting money on their education. I'll have to save that for their weddings when it is time. Anyway, what's the use of these girls getting educated, it's not like they are going to become big officers. A boy like you though should be in school studying or no one will marry you."

The boy stood staring mutely. It was obvious not much of what she was saying registered. Sati in the meantime tugged impatiently at her mom's sari, she was actually looking forward to seeing Abhinaya dress up and dance. She had a long list of teases planned for him. Might as well tease him if she couldn't tease Nagaraj.