The mischievous callertune

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'Ayra was grooming for her exams till 2.00 a.m yesterday. She is exhausted now, and, offering herself with a peaceful sleep', enunciated her mom to her dad, who was walking to and fro with no specific reason behind. With no reply along, her dad was walking and observing the tiles below as a researcher on mission.

Ayra drew no salts from being born in a middle class family and having parents passed with the greatest degree of twelfth standard.

Getting off from her sleep, she was consciously lying on her bed flat and drained, with her eyes yet closed. In a few seconds, she could hear her father reporting. 'We have booked for the gas cylinder. Let me call the supplier to confirm his arrival now'.

The gas cylinder to her house was booked through online or offline mode and calling the supplier for the confirmation of the delivery date. Ayra was conscious and perfectly hearing to the voices reaching her. And, with a yes from her mom, her dad called the supplier.

Few callertunes are mischievously created. And the supplier too had one, as the following, 'Hello uncle. My dad is sleeping. Why don't you talk to me? ' and it continues on.

Innocent and unknowing, such callertunes prevail, Ayra's dad clicked to the contacts and pressed the green coloured icon- the call button, encountering the following sequences.

Ayra's dad : Hello

Callertune : Hello uncle

Ayra's dad : Where is your dad?

Callertune: My dad is sleeping.

Ayra's dad : Okay.

And, in a split second, he cut his call.

He again started walking with no goals and his hands folded back and waited for the minutes to run.

15 minutes later, he took his phone and pressed some button.

Ayra's dad : Hello

Callertune : Hello uncle

Ayra's dad : Where is your dad?

Callertune: My dad is sleeping.

Ayra's dad : Okay.

With mild irritation, he put off his phone and walked again.

Ayra could hear her dad complaining about the supplier sleeping after 10 a.m and she didn't care much and laid at the same position at ease.

After few minutes, her dad called again and ended with the same response. Getting irritated her dad put off his phone and his voice furious.

Frustrated and agitated, he complained to her mom about the supplier providing his phone to a little one to respond.

With the greatest agony, her dad called him after 20 minutes.

Ayra's dad : Hello

Callertune : Hello uncle

Ayra's dad : Dad?

Callertune: My dad is sleeping.

Ayra's dad : Will your dad be sleeping throughout the day.

Callertune : Why don't you speak to me?

Ayra's dad: Shut your mouth and keep the phone down.

Aggravated her dad threw his phone to the shelf and walked towards her mom. He walked in a speedy movement and complained to her mom about the child's weirdness and falseness. Her mom heard him patiently.

Ayra consciously understanding the happenings without her eyes open, could hear her father's mobile ringing after few minutes.

'It's that supplier', told her dad before attending the phone. He at once, turned the speaker mode on, and replied, 'Hello'

'Sir, what made you give me missed calls for so many times? What's the problem?'

Her dad couldn't understand that situation but Ayra did and burst out laughing aloud.

The Beauty and the Eyes

'Don't keep on scrolling the junk. Hunt for new collections', sounded her mom, observing Ritya, pulling her Instagram page up.

In a split second, Ritya jerked the phone towards her, such that, the screen went invisible to anyone. Perceiving her mom's breath besides her, she shut the Instagram, with just a click.

'Display it to me', apprised her mom and gestured it by moving her brows up and down.

Ritya with a discontented core, touched the icon at the homepage tagged chrome. Uncovering the search-tab at the middle, she budged her thumb fingers to and fro, on the screen, imprinting, 'Wedding saree collections latest'.

Straight away, a page popped up with few image boxes and few website links. Her mom sat with her knees folded and her head protruding sidewards aiming for the screen.

'Ah, this one', ascertained her mom, pointing on a beige colored saree image.

With no words, Ritya tapped to unveil the image to three-fourth of its length.

'Not as expected, this is tedious', declared her mom, in a whispering voice.

Ritya inclined her head and then her mom took her forefinger forward and moved the screen from right to left, by herself, and with each image her curiousity reached the next level, and yet not pleased with any.

They were certain, that they were not going to purchase anything online, but, they where in a state of discovering the latest designs for Ritya' wedding costume, that was planned to be bought by next week.

With every single image, her mom observed a reason to ignore and Ritya went apathetic.

'Take a screenshot of this', her mom commanded.

'But why?'

'Let's ask for such designs'

Ritya pressed the volume and power button altogether, just to, satisfy her mom.

'Maa', Ritya hissed.

Her mom, never exiting her eyes from the screen, replied with a 'mm'.

'I wish for that saree'

'Which one?'

'That red saree with green florals, which we both aimed and Neha wasn't interested on it for her marriage at Shattik's boutique'.

'Yeah that was a good one, that she missed'

'I wish for that, ma'

'But, I think that would be unavailable by now, as we checked it 10 months ago'

'Okayyyy'. Ritya's heart felt firm and she continued, 'but, if that is available, let's go for it. What you say? '

'Sureeee, Rituu', I never argue with that.

For a second, Ritya prayed for the ownership of that material thing.

'Look at this', her mom was amazed by a work on a saree image.

But disinterested, Ritya stiffed her back and walked to another room.

She was aware, that her marriage, was at the sixth of December, and while announcing the date she urged her dad to alter it to second of its month, because that's her lucky big number. As not being a auspicious day, that was ignored.

Ritya never realized, why it was her lucky number, maybe two is her birthdate, or she observes two wherever she moves, who knows. But after all, two is her lucky number with no registered reasons.

Days passed with mundane breakfasts.

Ritya overheard her mom conversing in a stretch with her dad. 'We shall commence here by 6.00 a.m. So, we can reach the destination by 9.30, and, few of our cousins will travel with us, and Dikshanya and her husband will join us at Mettupalayam, and, Thanika at the boutique, so totally we have 17 with us'.

Yes, that's a ritual adhered with their custom. All the elder and the younger people of the bride's family gather to select her Muhurat saree.

On hearing them talking, Ritya's mind wavered and her smile slowened. With heavy thoughts, she had no consoling answers. All her thoughts swimmed on her thin physique.

Ritya is neither an actress nor a girl boring for one's eyes. She is neither smart nor lazy. She is neither humorous nor an introvert. According to her perspective, she is smart to her age, intelligent as expected and maturedness not of a complaint.

With her cousins, peeking on her thin physique, and stature, her insecureness grew up, day by day. She loves everyone as they do, but their invitations bring no sweets to her heart. She always discovers a way to escape, but tomorrow, there is no hole left. The night passed and the sun rose the next day.

Congested and shrinking, Ritya with her red outfit, sat at the middle of the second row, of the jeep. Surrounded by her cousins, she felt mousy.

'Chintu, is getting married. Who gonna believe? ', told one giggling at the back.

'If the saleswoman asked who is the bride, what to answer? ', chuckled another.

Ritya smiled timorous. She cursed those nosey parkers. She did nothing but just a prayer for the day to end soon. Insecure, dissatisfied and ill at ease, the destination arrived.

Watching at her thin physique, her aunt chuckled, 'Look at her'

With all those fault-finding people, Ritya remained silent as she was aware that her problem wasn't much than theirs. Sticking with her mom, she climbed upstairs. According to them, she wasn't considered a beauty, and, she understood.

A man white and white, standing at the counter, welcomed them.

'Who is the bride? ', he enquired and his eyes confusing.

Knowing that's Ritya, he gave a wide smile to her.

'What's the range?', the salesman asked.

Ritya watched her dad to answer as that was just his gift for her.

Her mom replied, '28 to 32k'

'Okay', he mumbled and rotated himself back and observed the sarees.

He was a stout man, with hands longer and legs shorter. He was little bald with grey to white hairs around. His belly was well enough to get struck at the small place allotted for him. He then turned back again and asked, 'Any specific choices, madam? '

Ritya and her mom had no choices as this was their very first time to buy for their own.

'Muhurat saree, and show the latest ones', her mom answered.

Then again, he turned slowly not for his belly to strain and moved his hands up and down and didn't get one. And then he took a saree, sky- blue in colour and opened it.

Ritya's eye brightened and the saree was embedded with a peacock design all over its body.

Discerning Ritya's dissatisfaction, the salesman turned back and took his second choice, a red one. Ritya watched the red one so keenly. The salesman, carrying it on his right, turned to them and placed it on the table at the front.

'Is it that one?', Ritya asked herself enthusiastic.

On opening, yes, she found the one she prayed for. This was that one. The one red with green florals which she hoped for. And now, her joy had no boundaries.

Watching her mom pacified, Ritya hoped for her desire.

'Ok done', her mom replied and continued, 'but let's check for the others too, as we travelled so far'

Ritya got her option and the rest where just to entertain.

She knew the saree was a damn cute thing, but her mind oscillated with her physique and the saree. With a mild ignorance, Ritya ordered and stood for the bill to arrive.

Suddenly, she found a girl of her age moving towards her. Ritya didn't recognize the stranger nor the stranger does.

'Hi', the stranger girl, told with an excited smile.

'Hi'

'I was watching you from the start. You look that cute. And I wished to tell you this before I move', she told nodding constantly carrying a grand smile.

'Thank you so much', Ritya saved no answers

'Okay, bye', she smiled and moved instantaneously.

And that was Ritya's best pinned day.

'Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder'