Dont talk to strangers

She skips gaily, a few steps ahead of her mom humming a nameless tune which keeps rhythm to her dancing feet. At five or six years of age, when its ok to dance and skip in joy she is abound with happiness. All of a sudden her voice dies down and bereft of rhythm her feet stop dancing. She sees a person walking towards her smiling. She recognizes her as one of her father's friends. She turns and checks to see if her mom has noticed. Her mom is smiling at the approaching stranger friend. She goes to her mom and catches hold of her salwar and smiles confusedly at the approaching stranger. Her mom and the stranger friend talk while she never lets the salwar go. The lady asks her a few questions but she is too shy to say anything. All she can do is smile. Not a radiant cheerful smile, but a hesitant, awkward smile. Her mom prods her to answer but when nothing comes out , mom answers them herself. The stranger moves on and she once more starts skipping.

A couple of years later.

A young girl of thirteen or fourteen, she is now in half bloom. A lot has changed over the past couple of years and a lot unchanged. She is still painfully shy. But no longer hides behind her mom. She smiles more confidently at strangers, having learned to hide her awkwardness. When questioned she answers now, with just glances at her mom when she is unsure. At parties she is embarrassed to hand over the gift to the person celebrating his/her birthday because she has to stand in the spotlight. She longs to go unnoticed.

Time forges ahead.

A young woman now, she is out in the world. Her confidence has grown and her circle of friends. Among friends she is even noisy. She has learnt the rules of the social jungle and plays the game relatively well. Her moms friends call her polite and well mannered. One more stage of her life begins when she gets married. She settles far away from home building a new life. Minor mishaps occur and she takes it in her stride. She is getting used to this new world when one evening the phone rings. Its a long lost relative. A couple of questions this side and that and the relationship is established and the call ends and she gets invited to their home.

Time stands still.

My heart starts beating a couple of notches higher. There are no more moms to clutch or people to answer for you. I have to now ask the questions and make all the right gestures. No more passing the embarrassing gifts to my sister and ordering her to give it. I have to hand it over and appear charming while I do so. No more going to houses and staring at the bric bacs on the walls while the grown ups converse. There are only pauses now which need to be filled as quickly as possible.  I whisper in Reni's ear that I am scared. He looks at me quizzically and retorts in his matter of fact way, we have to do this at some time or the other. He has taken it in his stride that we are going visiting.
Society has cracked her whip. Get in line like the rest of them or else! From now on begins the a new chapter of the social charade.
Looking at his confidence I sense my fears dimming. A random thought sprouts inside me bringing a smile, I married someone talkative:)