(Image Courtesy: Google)
Age- 6 months old
The first time she wore glass bangles was when she was six
months old, from what her Amma had told her. She still has the picture of her
in front of Guruvayoor temple from her choorunu ceremony. She was seen spotting
tiny karivalas or black bangles that are adorned on the hands of new born
babies.
Age- 5 years old
She was gifted a set of bright pink glass bangles when she
was five years old. This time, it was gifted to her by her best friend. He had
accompanied his big sister to the famous Ultsavam and asked her to buy a set
for her as well. She loved it at once, especially the sound that came when she
moved her hands.
Age- 12 years old
She was a big girl now, or so her Amma and Ammaamma
admonished her. She could no longer wear those short skirts and frocks that
were so familiar to her. Nor was she allowed to hang out with Him for long.
When she was gifted expensive clothes & jewelry, it was the dozen bottle
green glass bangles that He gave her, with a shy smile, that made her feel all
grown up. Did she glimpse something else in his eyes for a second in his eyes?
Those glass bangles were like a soothing balm to the inner pain and turmoil
that she felt with the responsibility of growing into a woman.
Age- 18 years old
Finally, they arrived at an age which they have been waiting
for quite some time now. It was blood red glass bangles that He gave her on her
Eighteenth birthday. When he took her hands and slid on the bangles on her slender
wrists, she felt something go all strange and mushy inside her. The glass
bangles played a pleasant music when he took her hands and kissed her. Her
first kiss. Those bangles were the witness of their blossoming love.
Age- 22 years old
She was getting married today. Fine jewelry adorned her
neck, hands and fingers. Elders blessed her abundantly, lest she got the evil
eye, for she truly looked like a Devi, a Goddess decked in the deep red saree
that accentuated her curves and enhanced her femininity. When she insisted on
wearing her old red glass bangles, she got scolded severely, for why wear the
cheap stuff when she had bangles made from gold and precious stones?
After she got married and left for her husband's house, for
that was her house from now, her kohl rimmed eyes blurred from unshed tears as
they turned back and searched silently for the person who had given those
priceless glass bangles to her.
Age- 25 years old
She was said to be found lying in a pool of blood when they
found her. Some say it was a murder, others say she died of a broken heart. But
some say that the injuries found on her wrists were self inflicted by something
sharp. When they opened her lifeless fingers that were curled around something,
there were shards of broken glass bangles found inside the folds of her hand.
Whether they were red glass bangles or tainted red by her blood, it was hard to
know.
