Love in the Times of Corona

Her name was Seema. It meant “boundary” and so it had been since her childhood.

- Rita Chhablani

She had unquestioningly walked the path laid down by her parents. A barrier had been built around her, one she dare not cross, even in her dreams. All the time it had been, “Do this,” and “Don’t do that.” This from her father. And from her mother, her husband’s obedient wife, it was always about “Good girls do not speak loud,” “Good girls must do this or do that.” As she grew into adolescence, the boundaries had only become tighter. And stifling!

And then she had married Akash. Did his name not mean the skies, unhindered, boundless? Boundary married to boundless! She had been excited. For the first time, she felt here was a chance to get away from her cage and take flight. But she had soon realized that he had continued to encage her. He wanted a career for her but his was more important. No children, for a couple of years. And then she had had to give up her job when he had got this super promotion, and they had had to move to Delhi.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter gave a brake to her errant thoughts. Confused, she looked around. It seemed a child’s innocent squeals coming from a distance. She got up and decided to sleuth around. For the first time, she went to the gate of the posh Maharani Bagh company guest house, and she fumbled with the latch. A small click and it flung wide open.