WEIGHTLESS-PART 9
MATURE CONTENT | Reader Discretion Advised | Eating Disorder | Suicide
Bela places Anshul under house arrest. ‘You are grounded. No going anywhere. Unless you want to come with me for my opening tonight.’ Anshul is least interested and locks herself in her room. Bela is despondent at the distance that has crept between them over the short period of a month.
Anshul texts Kadambari about her situation. Kadambari promises to come over that night. Bring the party over. Though she could do with Anshul’s mother’s toughness. She wished she had some of that in her life. Anshul is surprised by Kadambari’s response towards her mother. But shrugs it off.
Bela tries to make peace with Anshul once again before leaving. She tries to convince her to come for the opening. After all, mother and daughter had dreamed of this night for a year and… but Anshul is angry, dismissive and rude. ‘It's your dream, Mom. I was just a convenience and then an inconvenience. You never really cared for what's best for me. All your Life, it's been about what makes you happy. And I am just collateral damage, by the way.’ Pushing Bela into anger and sadness. She leaves with a heavy heart.
Bela doesn't feel like staying at the opening and the dinner that follows, but since she was the guest of honour, she had to do her due. When she finally reaches home well after midnight, she finds her house in disarray, Anshul smoked up and baked, and Kadambari lounging in her living room.
Bela has an icy cold rage welling up inside her.
At the sight of Bela, Kadambari rises to meet her with a smile. ‘Hello Aunty. I just thought it prudent to wait till you came back. I am too… to be honest, but I can still hold it… But Anshul…’
‘Did you bring weed into my house?’ Bela asks in a voice of steel.
‘Aunty…’ Kadambari is tentative.
‘Did Anshul ask you to bring the weed?’ Bela persists.
‘No… but…’ Kadambari is unable to answer.
Bela loses her temper. ‘I see, so you chose to think you can waltz in here and treat this as your adda while I am working and Anshul is grounded’
Kadambari tires to clarify, ‘…. Aunty, I did not think any such thing... I was upset and needed to …’
But Bela doesn’t give her a chance, she overrides Kadambari, ‘Poach on Anshul's good nature and instinctual protective instinct? Exploit her some more? This time, get her expelled?’
‘ Aunty, you are not giving me a chance to explain…I think you need to know that both Anshul and I are sick, very sick…’ Kadambari is close to tears, and sincere in her appeal.
But Bela, in her anger, and her guilt of a failed mother, is beyond registering any of it. ‘Yes, you are, Kadambari, and I am glad you at least recognise it. I will deal with Anshul. You need to get out and sort out your life.’
‘ Aunty, can I stay here tonight? With Anshul?’ Kadambari whispers. And Bela literally pushes her out of the door, as much with her words, as with her actions.
‘No. You are so cruel. You are destructive. Do you even understand what this means? You come into my house and abuse my hospitality by bringing in pot? And then!!!. You want me to welcome you with open arms… Kadambari, I am not sure what your game is, what relationship you share back home, but… You sure as hell have a distorted sense of entitlement and reality. Now get out of my house and let me clean it up.’
‘Mom, Mom is Kadambari here?’ Anshul suddenly comes awake in all of this.
‘And you, young lady, you listen to me. You are staying right here in this room, and we will talk in the morning.’ Bela cleans the room as Anshul falls back in bed and starts snoring.
Bela’s foot kicks Anshul’s phone on the floor. Bela looks at it. Switches it off and walks with it out of the door to pour herself a stiff drink.