Many times I had confrontation with people.I always opted to head for the hills. Though it made me angry.I’d wait for next time. I was very outspoken at home,I never let my siblings get away with anything. My mom disliked this side of me. She’d warn me,’Now Ranu perhaps it’s all right to be confrontational with your siblings,I fear you may do the same thing outside’. I don’t know what those words,did to me,whenever someone was mean, I tried to tell them off,but it seemed the words were stuck in my throat.
Then came a day when I just lost it. There happens to be a busy body in my town. He always boasts about his kids,how well they’re doing and keeps on beating his drum. I thought it’s okay,he has a right to do so. Suddenly he changed the subject,he started picking on my kids,one day he said ,Selina will never get a permanent job. If he said it to me I definitely would not look the other way. He had the audacity to say this to her,in front of several people. Selina was unhappy,she told me what he’d done. I was so angry I immediately picked up the phone to tell him a thing or two. He was not at home,I left a message to call me. Next morning , I waited till nine in the morning. I called him and I did not hold back,words came pouring out of my mouth, I was surprised . When I finished, I warned him not to repeat this atrocious behaviour .
Finally I was relieved I did not look the other way. I can see my Mom staring at me and saying, ‘Ranu ,you didn’t do the right thing.’
Sabethville 