Mithu

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'Didi... o didi, open the door.' Mithu banged continuously the front door of Suchitra's apartment. Suchitra woke up shakingly at this sound and with faltering steps, she strided towards the door. Her eyes were still half closed evincing to be in a sleep. But as she followed the same path every morning, she instinctively reached the entrance and unlatched the door. Without even opening it entirely, she turned back and threw herself on the sofa.

Mithu, without wasting a single moment, began her daily chores. She picked up the newspaper and the milk packets kept inside the basket just outside the door. 'Didi, get up no. The chai will be ready in 5 minutes. After I finish here, I will need to go to the other houses too'. Suchitra pushed herself out of the sofa and dragged herself to the bathroom. Mithu kept on blabbering all the gossips of the entire building whilst  Suchitra, least interested, kept herself quiet while she lazily brushed her teeth.

The moment she came out of the bathroom, she realised both her hands were holding a newspaper and the cup of ginger tea. And in next few seconds, Mithu  flew to the kitchen. Suchitra, without complaining anything, asked, ' how are your children Mithu? And your husband? Where is he now?'

Mithu stopped suddenly at this question and began sobbing, 'My children are fine didi. Don't ask me about that drunkard. He came yesterday night and had taken all the money. Thank you didi for opening my bank account. He couldn't get much cash this time and left with the little amount only. Although I got few slaps but thankfully my neighbour came for my rescue.'

Suchitra was happy that she could save Mithu this time. She had been with her since 10 years when Suchitra had first moved to this city. Her husband had been an alcoholic who would not do anything for his livelihood and beat Mithu whenever he needed money. At times he would flee for days and suddenly turn up someday when he would be running out of money. But all through her thick and thins, Suchitra had always stood up for Mithu as a pillar and protected her like her own sibling. Mithu, nevertheless, had also been Suchitra's support especially when Suchitra had a major heart break and also when she met with an accident and was bed ridden for three months.

They both with a sense of satisfaction wrapped up their morning devoirs and moved for their next  métier; Suchitra towards her office and Mithu to the next house. 


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