Superstitiously Magical

I could hear her squeal with joy at the mention of her childhood sweetheart, see her jump in her happiness as she gripped both hands of her best friend, who shared a feeling of awe with her.

" My left eye just started behaving funny again. Its fluttering like a butterfly's wings. Oh goodness, I tell you, its meant to be. " The gush of breath that the girls let out then spelt excitement and anticipation. Well, her left eye had fluttered. She would be married to him wouldn't she? Or so everyone liked to believe. Especially her.

I smiled despite how silly I thought it was. The innocence of her wish, her desire to be with the one she's always loved touched me.

"He's coming day after tomorrow!!!" My Aunt exclaimed. "I just knew it. Crows seem to be making a nest in the balcony now-a-days. It's about time too. He's been away for a year and a half now." The news of my Uncle's arrival had been delivered by a crow. And so had mine. Atleast that's what I was given to understand. "Every morning a crow would look at me and start cawing." My mother had said. I had simply rolled my eyes and hugged her.

"My left hand seems to be too itchy. Where am I going to lose money?" My grumpy grandfather croaked irritably. "You woman keep a watch on your shopping escapades, I'm warning you. Money doesn't grow on a tree."

"Doesn't count for me, though. Ajay's business has been doing well these days. See, I can't seem to stop scratching my left hand. Ah! Women can be such good luck charms." My mother retorted.

I laughed silently at the senselessness of everything around me. I had never been a believer of God's signs in the form of dreams and animals at our doorstep. I had never believed in not saying particular things when we stepped out of the house for an important task. I didn't believe in not going to a temple on days we women were considered unclean, or stepping inside the kitchen without taking a shower. I didn't believe in any of it at all. Ironically, everybody else around me did. Good luck charms, protections against the evil eye, a ring for a good career and lots of money, I had none of it. Nor did I have the family jewel fitted in a pendant for success.

I sat down with my cup of milk and enjoyed the scene of a day in the life of a HUGE joint family that couldn't seem to stop trying to please the Almighty with prayers, or go to pandits for remedies to save the family business, or gurus who could teach their kids a spell to keep them away from distraction.

"You're up! Good! All washed up I believe." My grandmother sat down next to me eyeing the cup of warm milk in my hand.

"No, not really." I said casually.

The disgust on her face made me uncomfortable.

"You know the rules of the family, don't you? Or have you forgotten those too along with manners at how you're supposed to dress." I looked down at my pajama shorts. "Nevermind now. I won't tell anyone. Its only you're first day here after months. Go get washed up NOW and dress decently. The elders have been up for long now."

"But these shorts reach my knees." I said, exasperated at the thought of wearing jeans in the heat.

"What about the rest of your legs?"

I snorted and headed for my room upstairs. On the way, I decided on saying a quick hello to my cousin brother. Under the impression he was studying I was quiet as I closed the door of his room behind me. He was listening to something on the computer with his headphones on. I crept behind him wanting to surprise him. It was something I always did. He was 12 years younger to me and was like a baby brother.

"Booo" I laughed as he jumped and he looked at me with eyes wide open, trying to block the screen of the computer. "What are you hiding?"

"NOTHING. How.. How are you?" He was a nervous wreck I could tell.

"Oh whatever" I pushed him to one side and glanced at the screen for less than a second before bursting into fits of laughter. "Porn. Seriously. You haven't been saying Guruji's mantra everyday now, have you?"

You should have seen the guilt on his face! :P xD