The Whirlwind

The freckled , squint eyed bespectacled girl too has a poetic heart. Although hard to believe yet at times she blushes and her acne covered face turns a faint red. Kalpa actually looks endearing at those times but very few people have the vision to recognise her beauty. She often dreams about her knight in shining armour. Kalpa often dreams about her knight who comes riding on his milky white horse and sweeps her off her feet, carries her on his horse to his kingdom, a place full of bliss and contentment. Kalpa imagines herself to be the princess in her fantasy world.  Every time Kalpa's parents look for a suitable groom for her, she imagines him to be the prince of her dreams. She imagines that he would recognize the beautiful heart Kalpa possesses beyond her freckled face. But alas , it does not happen. Poor Kalpa, she cannot bear to see her father's crest fallen face everytime she gets rejected by her prospective groom. She gazes helplessly as negotiations are done. Kalpa's father stoops under the burden of the dowry he had to pay for his elder daughter. No wonder her father looks much older than his age, bogged by the drudgeries of life. He has yet not been able to amass a lucrative dowry for his younger daughter with the meagre salary he earns in his job as a government clerk. A sum of money large enough to make Kalpa look beautiful in the eyes of her prospective in laws and groom. Kalpa's father is cursed with two daughters. If he had been lucky enough to father a son, his son would have brought wealth to the family, but he was cursed with two daughters with average looks. At times he wonders whether he should have let Kalpa complete her education. Maybe education would have given Kalpa the contentment which she does not get through the prolonged wait for the man of her dreams. Kalpa is an excellent cook. Kalpa is skilled in the art of painting. Kalpa has a nightingale voice. But alas Kalpa is not good looking, Kalpa was not born in a rich family. Kalpa has miniscule value in the matrimonial market.

Kaya is beautiful, flawless rich creamy skin, deer eyes and perfect features. Kaya does not bother to dress well and apply make up unlike the other pretty girls around her.Kaya likes playing basket ball in the sun, does not care for the fact that the harsh glaring sun tans her skin. Kaya likes wearing loose ill fitted trousers, Kaya loves chewing pan, not bothered by the red stains on her teeth. Kaya's jet black tousled hair flies wildly when she jumps about in the basket ball court. An undeniable fact is that Kaya is beautiful. In spite of her careless demeanour, Kaya is definitely stunning. Kaya's father is rich, he can get her the best groom, he has the money to buy the best groom for his daughter. But alas Kaya does not dream about a life of marital bliss and boredom. Kaya is a state level basket ball champion. Kaya is passionate about her game and dreams of representing her country. Is it fair to curb her dream, to clip her wings and not let her soar her winning flight?

Kaya , Kalpa, Sumedha, Vasudha..all are trapped in their world, trapped in a whirlwind. They make an effort to break free from their entangles. They dream of a world where they could actually live their lives on their own terms, pursue their dreams. Kalpa and Kaya are hopeful that a day would come when they would actually be the owners of their life.