Chapter 3 Part 1 - 2
Krishna's dad was right.Mom left and took all of our fun with her.My dad wouldn't let me wear bracelets, talk to people, play with people, or even leave the house.I was so afraid of being beaten that I only sneaked out when I was sure my father wasn't there to catch me.I was only eleven or twelve years old at the time, but at that time I often thought, no one is as miserable as I am, right?I've often thought that only I know what it's like to lose a mother.Sometimes when I think about my mother, I think that if it was my father who left instead of my mother, maybe things would not be so bad.Besides being afraid, what did Dad give us?I am afraid that no child is so afraid of his father as we are.He has a fat round face, tall and strong body and a big beard, everyone is scared away by him, even other people's children dare not approach him.
I miss my mother so much. If I can get the love and support from my mother, I won't be so afraid of my father.If she was there, I definitely wouldn't drop out of school.She very much hoped that I could go to school.In fact, I wouldn't be reading so much if it wasn't for her, for her support and constant encouragement.Until now, I have not realized how important it is to read and write.But in those years at school, I still gained a lot.History is my favorite subject.I fell deeply in love with this subject and had a lot of fun with it, and perhaps that's why several of my history teachers liked me too.They used to tell us about wars, Queen Jangsi, Nawabs, kings and queens and nobles.I often wish I could meet those characters in the story.I really want to talk to them.When I study history, I think of my mother.I don't know why...it's the way it is anyway.Maybe it has something to do with the discussion of the neighbors in the past.Neighbors often commented that only one person left, and He Meimei's home was torn apart.It may also be because of the story of Queen Zhangxi, who fled with her young son on horseback.It reminds me of the day my mom left us with my brother.But what is the use of such wild thinking?History reminds me of my mother, and I think of her when I see women walking down the street.That's it.
Dad has been looking for mom too.Every time he comes home from outside, the first thing we ask is if there is any news about his mother. "No, child." He finished, with a long sigh.Whenever this happens, I feel sorry for him.He finally figured it out, if he hadn't treated his mother so badly, his mother would not have left.Yet he was still the same dad who looked so happy when his stepmother walked in.But it's hard to tell whether he's genuinely happy or faking it.
After Krishna's dad talked to my dad, a few days later, my dad called me and asked me if I wanted to go to my aunt's house.I didn't say a word.Soon, I heard my father and stepmother talking again.They are talking about my marriage.I didn't know what marriage was at the time.All I know is that it's a big party with singing and dancing, and usually a lot of people go to it, and everyone is very happy.
I have an aunt who likes me very much.So even though I didn't answer Dad, I was happy when he dropped me off there.My brother, who had already moved in with his aunt, now works in a big restaurant.I lived with my aunt for a few months and had a great time.Every evening, my aunt would take me and her daughter out.Every night, she would tell us stories.I was listening to my aunt one evening when I remembered a funny story my friend Dolly once told us and couldn't help laughing.My cousin asked me what was so funny.After I told her why, she insisted that I tell her the story.And I really wanted to talk, so I agreed.
Long, long ago, there was a village chief.His garden is full of eggplants.A jackal saw the eggplant, salivated, and thought hard about how to get the eggplant.The mayor's garden is surrounded by a hedge full of thorns.But the jackal refused to give up until he could eat the eggplant, so he thought, what would happen if he took a few steps back and jumped into the garden again?When he was about to try it, the village head woke up.The jackal was frightened and ran away.After that, the jackal went there every day, trying to wait for an opportunity to jump into the garden, but every time he returned disappointed.One day, when he passed the village head's house, he saw the village head's wife making cakes, and the village head was sitting there, eating one after another.The jackal hid and looked at him, thinking that the village chief would definitely go to sleep after eating...
As soon as I got here, my aunt said sternly: "Stop chattering, you have to go to bed." But my cousin insisted that I finish the story.So I went on to say...
The jackal thought that the village chief would eat well and then sleep soundly.And it is true.The jackal was overjoyed, and ran and jumped to steal the eggplant, but fell heavily on the thorny fence.The thorns pierced his whole body, and he rolled to the ground bleeding.Instead of eating the eggplant, the jackal was busy pulling out the thorns all night.At dawn, he was still avoiding the village chief, pulling out the thorns on his body.But there is a thorn in the ear, and I can't pull it out.Finally, he couldn't take it anymore, and went to the door of the village chief's house, crying, "Brother, are you there?
Are you at home? ’ He started banging on the door.
The village chief asked, "Who is it so early?"
"It's me, brother, I'm the jackal."
"What happened? You knocked on my door so early?" the village head asked.
"Come out, please," said the jackal.
So the mayor went out.He saw the jackal covered in blood.
"What's the matter with you, jackal?" asked the village elder.
"Don't mention it, brother... I wanted to go into your garden to steal eggplants, but..."
The mayor was angry. "Then why are you bothering me now?" He scolded.The jackal said that he had been pulling out the thorns for hours, but one of the thorns in his ear was out of reach, so he came to the village chief for help.But the village head was very angry that the jackal dared to enter his garden to steal things, so he thought to himself that he should teach the jackal a lesson.
"Okay, but what if I hurt your ear when I pull out the thorn?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter," said the jackal, "even if you break my ear, at least you are kind."
As a result, instead of pulling out the thorn, the village head cut off the jackal's ear on purpose.The jackal's ear started to bleed, but he didn't say anything. Just as he was about to leave, he turned around and said, "Brother, you hurt my ear. What are you going to give me as compensation?"
"I have nothing to give you," said the mayor, "but you can dig with this shovel if you like."
The jackal took the shovel and went away.
On the way, he met a farmer who was digging the ground with his hands.The jackal asked the farmer why he dug the ground by hand, and the farmer replied that he had no other tools. "I have a shovel," said the Jackal, "and I can give it to you, but in exchange you must give me something."
The farmer took the shovel and said to the jackal, "I have nothing to give you. This stick is all I have. Do you want it?"
"Why not?" said the Jackal, "I took it."
Halfway through the story, my cousin said, "It's getting late, let's go to bed. I'll finish the rest tomorrow." I asked her if she could remember, and she said yes.So we both went to bed.The next morning, when we woke up very late, my aunt scolded us and warned us that we must go to bed on time in the future and we were not allowed to chat anymore.But that night, as soon as my aunt left, my sister said, "Okay, now tell the rest of the story, but be sure to keep your voice down so that she doesn't know we haven't slept yet." I asked her, the story Did it say that the jackal was going to trade the shovel for the farmer's stick? "Yes, yes," she replied, "Now go on." I started again.
The jackal took the stick and walked on.Before he had gone far, he saw a farmer driving a cow with nothing in his hand.So he asked, "Brother, what are you doing?"
The farmer said: "This cow has eaten all my corn, so I will drive him away."
"But you don't have anything in your hand. How can you drive it away?" asked the jackal. "I have tools...do you want it?"
"Why not? I want it."
So the jackal gave him the stick. "Will you give me something in exchange?"
"But what if this thing breaks?" asked the peasant.
"Well, broken? At least this thing has been put to good use."
The farmer said, "But I have nothing to give you, except... wait, I have this little shovel."
"Okay," said the jackal, "just give me what you have." Then, he picked up the shovel and went on.
Not far away, the jackal met another farmer.He was digging in the mud with the kitchen tongs.When the jackal saw it, he asked, "You can't find any other tools for digging?" The farmer said he had nothing else.
So the jackal said, "I'll give you this shovel if you want it."
"Yes, give it to me," replied the farmer, "but what if it breaks?"
The jackal said again: "So what, at least this thing has been put to good use."
The farmer started digging and the shovel broke in two.
"Hey, brother, what did you do to break my shovel?" said the Jackal, "and now you'll have to give me back a new one, or give me something in return."
The farmer said, "You may not get your shovel back, but I have nothing to give you but the pokers. Take these pokers if you want."
The jackal took the tongs and set off again.Suddenly, he felt hungry.He saw a house in the distance and walked towards it.In the house, he saw a woman sitting by the fire stirring rice with a stick.
"Sister, what are you doing?" Jackal asked, "I'm very hungry, share some of your cooked rice with me."
The woman turned and said to her husband, "Look at this jackal, he wants to eat before the food is cooked!"
"She is right," said the Jackal to the man, "but what can I do? I am starving."
"Well, just have a little patience," the woman replied, "the meal will be almost ready."
Soon the Jackal sat down with the couple to eat.After eating, the jackal said: "I have eaten so much, but I have nothing to give you except these little things." The husband wanted to see what it was, so the jackal showed him the tongs and said: "You want this The stuff may not work, but your wife may use it." The woman happily took the poker away.
"You've got something useful," said the jackal, "but what about me? Do you want to send me away like this and leave me empty-handed?" The woman replied, "My husband has a drum ……Do you want to?"
"Well, give it to me," said the jackal, and he took the drum and went away.He is very happy because he finally found what he wanted.
All the way, he beat the drum and sang:
I went to eat eggplant and left my ear
I traded my ear for a shovel
beat the drum boom boom boom
I traded the shovel for a stick
beat the drum boom boom boom
I traded a stick for a shovel
beat the drum boom boom boom
I traded the shovel for some pokers
beat the drum boom boom boom
I traded the tongs for a drum
beat the drum boom boom boom
He went home singing.
After the story was told, I was so sleepy that I dozed off.After a while, I woke up again.I don't know why, but at that moment, the scene of my mother slipping ten sand dollars into my hand when she left suddenly came to my mind.But one day, my aunt threw away my ten paisa.I searched all over, but couldn't find it.I'm thinking now, my mother only left this thought, why did my aunt do this?Just wondering, suddenly there was a soft sound.I was startled, and was about to see what was going on, when I heard my cousin whispering to someone outside the house.Then she seemed to leave, and then came back after a while, tiptoeing down beside me.I looked out the window to see what time it was, when suddenly there was a boy standing there.He lit a torch and shone a light into the room.I quickly closed my eyes for fear of being discovered by him.
That night, I couldn't sleep at all.In the morning, I thought about whether I should tell my aunt what happened last night, but I was afraid, what should I do if my aunt said something to me instead?what can we do about it?After much consideration, I decided to keep silent.But I really want to tell others, that secret makes me panic!Finally, I couldn't hold it any longer, and I told the whole thing to my aunt's next-door sisters, Sandia and Latna.They told me not to mention this to anyone. "She is your aunt's daughter,"
They said, "She won't speak up for you, and she will probably speak ill of you behind your back. You better be careful. She knows no one will take your side."
After that, I was very depressed and felt more and more that I had to get out of here, at least for a while.I mentioned this to my aunt, and she asked me where I wanted to go.I said, "Maybe go to my sister's house, just for a day or two."
"But what if your father comes to pick you up when you're not around? What should I say?"
"What's the problem? Can't he go directly to my sister's house to pick me up?"
So, my aunt asked her son to send me to my sister's house.
Seeing me, my sister burst into tears.She kept saying that she had no mother, no relatives of any kind, and we didn't care about her.I realized that her marriage was not happy.But I put that thought aside and brought her little baby over.The older sister said to the baby: "Here, this is your aunt." We had heard that my older sister had given birth to a boy, but after the baby was born, my father never came to see her, nor did we allow us to see her. "If my mother was here, she would definitely drop all the work and come to see me and her grandson." My sister said.
I was chatting with my sister when my brother-in-law came back.When he saw me, he shouted happily: "Oh, sister! I thought you forgot us!" His voice drew the rest of the family out, and everyone was crying and laughing, chatting up.
I stayed at my sister's house for a whole month.I had a great time in those days.My sister's brother-in-law takes me out every night, wandering here and looking there.My sister keeps asking me why I go out every day. "Papa won't be happy if he finds out." But no one took her words to heart.Her brother-in-law is always laughing at me, making fun of me, teasing me, and pestering me.He couldn't stop talking to me, clinging to me like a butt, even when I was about to sleep with his mother, he couldn't stop.Sometimes, I really feel that enough is enough and I will cry.But when I cry, my sister will be very kind to me and call me in front of her.My sister is plump, a bit like my father.Sometimes my cousins would tease her and call her "Elephant" to try to annoy her.But once she speaks, even her brother-in-law dare not make fun of me anymore.
The days with my brother-in-law and his brother were spent happily in joy and jokes.While helping my nephew to take a bath, I recalled my mother and my past life with my sister.Before I knew it, a month had passed.One day, I heard that my father, stepmother and younger brother all came to my aunt's house.They came both to take a break and to take me home.My sister sent a message that they must come to her house.She said that she regarded her stepmother as her own mother, so Dad should bring her stepmother along without hesitation.Two or three days after the news passed, my father brought the whole family to my sister's house.My brother-in-law and his family are very hospitable and entertaining.Of course, many people whispered about our stepmother, but others felt that it was pointless to focus on such matters and fell on deaf ears.
After staying at my sister's house for a while, my father took me back to my aunt's house.Everyone was sad to see me go.And ever since I knew that my father was coming to pick me up, my mood has been very low.Dad was also in tears when we left.My sister was also crying when she went out, and she kept saying that what should have happened to her had already happened, and my sister should not have suffered the same fate.
When I arrived at my aunt's house, I heard that my cousin was getting married in a few days.My cousin heard me tell the story about the jackal and the farmer. She was the one who, after hearing the story, ran out to date a boy and was seen by me.I was happy to hear that she was getting married, but also a little angry because Dad didn't take enough leave to wait until the wedding day.Besides, he was going to take me home—in fact, he came all the way just to take me back.My aunt knew what was on my mind, and she said to papa, "If you can't stay, at least let the poor motherless boy stay with me." But papa had made up his mind, and he didn't want to change his mind.The frustrated aunt suggested that Dad leave after seeing Uncle.Dad appeared to be about to compromise, when the stepmother interjected that there was no longer any delay.After speaking, they turned and walked away, leaving my brother and me in the house.
My aunt was very angry, and as soon as my father and stepmother left the house, they began to tell us all kinds of old things about my father.We have never heard of these things, and no matter how rich our imagination is, we would never have imagined them, but it is not outrageous.My aunt said that my father had always been fat and had eaten a lot as a boy, so people called him Nadu Gopal, although his real name was Upandranath.He didn't study much, but found a good job.The job came out of nowhere.One day, while he was working in the yard, an army vehicle happened to pass by.When people saw this strong man, they shouted for him to get in the car.It was not long after that that people heard that he had joined the army.When the uncle heard the news, he was very depressed. He felt like he had lost his right hand and he didn't know what to do.At that time, no one dared to join the army, because it was said that a good man would become a rascal there.So when my dad, grandpa and a friend of theirs went to visit my mom, my grandma was furious.Her daughter later became my mother.How could all this have happened if it had not been for my mother Ganga to marry Upandranas?
Dad fell in love with my mother Ganga the first time he saw her.That day, he went to her house alone to see her and learned that she had gone to the village pond to take a bath.When he found the pond, Ganga had already bathed and walked back.When she saw him, she was really nervous and hid immediately - she heard that the soldiers were very cruel and beat women.Anyway, he didn't see her that time, and he didn't see her a few times after that.It made my grandma very angry that he was so sloppy. "This guy just won't let my daughter go. He's determined to take Ganga away." She was right.
Soon, things took shape, an auspicious day was chosen, and the two got married.After spending two or three months with his wife, Upandronas returned to work.He writes a letter to his wife every month.When my sister was born, he came home.When he got home, my grandmother put the baby in his arms and said, "She looks just like you." Dad laughed.My mother made a grimace, and said sourly: "Look at your smile! I was so happy to have a daughter, and ran all the way home. Finally, I remembered that I still have a home and a wife." Grandma asked my mother to say a few words , persuaded: "It took him so long to come home, you don't welcome him well, but only think about blaming him!"
But Pa said, "No, Mother, don't talk. Let her say what she wants to say."
"Why shouldn't I say that?" Mom retorted, "This is the first time he's been home since he was married. If work is so important to him, why is he still married?" Hearing this, everyone—my grandmother, my uncle, And everyone else—all roared with laughter.Dad smiled.After a while, my mother also burst out laughing.My aunt made fun of my father and said, "Brother, you'd better go and comfort your wife!"
Aunt was about to tell us more stories when Dad came back.I guess he's been packing up.He told his aunt that we would go to the uncle's first and then go straight home.Then we said goodbye to my aunt and left.
We stayed at Uncle's house for a day.The uncle seemed to be very worried about his sister, and said to his father: "You have sent her to someone else's house, but you don't bother to care about her life. That poor child must feel that he has no relatives: no mother , even my father doesn't care about her. Go see her once!" Dad replied that he had just been there.So the uncle stopped talking.Later, he pointed at me and said, "Don't make the same mistake with her. Before marrying her, you must see how the other person is." Dad looked at the uncle, but I don't think he took him seriously. Listen to the words in your heart.
That night, my uncle's eldest daughter, my cousin, insisted that Dad tell us stories.Dad is a veritable story king, so he agreed.Before I knew it, it was midnight... When I was listening to the story, I kept thinking, my cousin is so happy!The uncle's parents always wanted a son, but they gave birth to five daughters in succession. However, the uncle loved them very much.He did the same to me, and I love him too.My grandfather Sakuda died when I was a child, but I heard that my uncle looks like my grandfather, with a tall figure and fair skin.So does my cousin.After the birth of five older sisters, the long-awaited cousin finally came to the world.
When I said goodbye to my uncle, he looked good and healthy, but within a few days, I heard that he was sick.My parents went to visit my uncle and took him home.Once when my parents were chatting, I heard them say that when I went to see my uncle, he was lying on the bed.Dad cried when he saw that his uncle looked like a grandfather when he was asleep.The uncle woke up and said, "Don't cry, it's good if you come. I can't last long. I have a daughter who is already married, but you will take care of the younger ones." Dad promised, "You It'll be fine. I'll take you home with me."
Dad brought the uncle back to Dajiapo, and took him to the hospital of the unit to see a doctor.When my uncle got better, my cousin Schiff came to my house to visit him.The uncle told his son that he felt better, but he couldn't tell what would happen in the future.Schiffer told him to go home, but his father said that he would not let him go back until he fully recovered.The uncle also wanted to stay, but Schiffer murmured something in his ear, and the uncle seemed to change his mind.He told Dad that since Schiffer insisted he go back, he'd better go home. "Come on, son," he said to Schiffer, "let's go."
Dad persuaded: "Brother, since you have already received treatment here, wouldn't it be better to leave after the treatment is over?" But the uncle would not listen.Anyone else would not want to stay, because my mother is very reluctant to spend money on medical treatment for my uncle, and everyone has known it for a long time.She had talked about it loudly in the kitchen, and Schiffer, sitting outside, could hear it all.
Uncle left.One night a few days later, I got up to go to the bathroom at night.When I went out of the house, I saw my father standing alone in the dark.I asked him softly, "Dad, what's wrong with you?"
He hesitated to speak. "It's nothing. It's nothing." He said and gently pulled me over.I saw tears in his eyes.Because it was dark, the stepmother didn't see her father crying, but she couldn't make a mistake who was standing outside the house with him.I don't understand why she just peeped at us through the crack of the door and didn't come out.
After that night, my parents quarreled several times because of me.The whole family smelled like gunpowder, and I heard them say that the sooner they marry me off, the better.The tense family atmosphere made my father cold towards me, and I began to distance himself from him.How abnormal can my relationship with my father be, a twelve-year-old?Does his wife really need to worry about this?It seemed unthinkable to me, but that's exactly what my stepmother thought, and it made my life very difficult.I was so embarrassed by the whole thing that I even found it hard to talk to my neighbors.
The smell of gunpowder in the house is getting stronger and stronger, and I almost forget how much I was a little girl who loved going to school not long ago.Sometimes, I think I should run away from home like my mother.However, I asked myself again, where to go?I have no home, nowhere to go.With all these things in my mind, the days passed without me noticing.My father's attitude towards me has obviously changed.I am no longer his baby girl, but a thorn in his body.Any big thing will make him lose his temper, and I will become less and less confident because of this.I began to worry that people would get angry when they saw me.
I had given up on the endless arguments between my parents, but the lingering tension affected me deeply.Every time I heard them complaining about me, or discussing how to get rid of me, I would run out and cry.One day, I couldn't take it anymore and told my dad that I wanted to go to my aunt's again.
"You just came back from there," he said, "how can you go again? What will they think?" My parents were against it, but I insisted on going.I won't give up so easily, I just won't change my mind.In the end, they had to agree.Perhaps, Dad felt that the only way to ease the tense atmosphere at home.I'm sure I guessed right, because soon after, Dad asked me to go to my aunt's and tell her everything. "Maybe she can help," he said.
The next day, my dad bought a ticket for me and put me on the bus to my aunt's house.A few hours later, I got out of the car and walked straight to the store owned by my cousin.His shop is not far from the bus platform.Seeing him, I said, "Brother, I'm starving, give me something to eat." He saw that I looked a little worried, and he was very worried. "What's the matter? Why are you here alone? How is the house?" "Let me eat something first," I said, "and I'll tell you when I'm done. I'm really hungry." So he put I took it into a candy store, let me sit on a bench, and ate my fill.
After eating, my cousin took me home.When I arrived at my aunt's house, I found out that the cousin who was supposed to be married, that is, the girl who had heard me tell the story about the jackal and the farmer, was not yet married.I was chatting with her when my aunt came in and was startled to see me.She asked me how I was doing, and I told me everything about the family.Tears filled her eyes. "You were right to come here," she said. "You must stay at my aunt's now. In two days, people will come to see your sister, and your sister-in-law will have to cook for them. You just stay and help her." .”
That night, my cousin and I talked late into the night.I told her that the boy who was going to marry her was very nice.She asked me how I knew.I said I heard my aunt and Sandia's mother say they were a match made in heaven.My sister blushed when she heard that: "Okay, that's enough! It's time to go to bed now, it's late."
Go to bed late, can't get up in the morning.But how does my aunt know these things?She has a habit of getting up early to bake puffed rice, and we have to prepare everything she needs in advance.She wakes us up, but we'll go back to sleep, struggle a few times to get out of bed, get her work done, and crawl back into bed and go back to sleep.But when she was working, she kept calling our names loudly, just to keep us from going back to bed and going back to sleep.If no one said yes, she would yell angrily, "You useless children, go back to sleep!" So we had to jump out of bed and do what she asked.
But sometimes my aunt would not tell us what to do for a whole day even if she woke us up.My sister got used to it, but I was in school for a few years, hanging around all day, and it was really hard.When guests who come to my aunt's house see me, they will ask my aunt about it.The aunt then told them whose family I was the daughter of.They couldn't believe that a child had grown so big in the blink of an eye. "Oh my God," they yelled, "is that little girl? Really grown up! Used to be a little kid." I love hearing them talk, especially the ones from Murshidabad because They speak very pleasantly.
The cousin who came to see her was also from Mushidabad, and she spoke very pleasantly.Maybe that's why we're so passionate about them.I help entertain them.My aunt's daughter-in-law did the cooking, and I served the tea.I was wearing a long coat, running around, very busy.I heard someone ask, who is this frisky young girl, who works so hard.My aunt immediately realized that these questions seemed innocent, but there was something in the truth.So she told them my father had a good job and wouldn't marry his daughter to some old dude.
After the guests left, I felt very tired.I went outside, leaned against the wall, and collapsed, my legs stretched and spread apart.I like to sit like that.I think of people who praise me for my hard work.I, Bebe, grew up knowing only how to do drudgery.What would they say if they knew these things?
Poor Bebe!Besides, what else would they say?It hardly takes half an hour to sit down and reminisce about my entire childhood.Imagine an extremely simple and short childhood!However, Bebe's childhood fascinated her.Maybe it's the things that are deprived, that people desire, that make people fascinated.Bebe recalled her childhood, savoring every minute of it, licking it like a cow licks a newborn calf, savoring every part of it.She remembered the stories of her parents in Jammu and Kashmir, and when she came into this world, she couldn't open her eyes because she was born two months prematurely.Just the day before she was born, her father left her mother in the hospital and went to the battlefield.There, Dad was shot.How could he not get shot?With his wife lying in the hospital, waiting to give birth, can he still concentrate?
Not only Kashmir, but also Dalhousie in my childhood.In Dalhousie, Dad sometimes took the kids out for a walk at night, down the road, and came home frozen.When I got home, I sat around the heater and huddled together to keep warm.Mom would remind her to put some mustard oil on her hands before going to bed, and then she would apply it to them herself.Afterwards the children fell asleep.When I woke up, it was still dark and cold, and I didn't know how late it was.
The house is built on a high place, and you can see the continuous peaks, the mountain roads are like narrow belts, and the vehicles on the road are like toy cars.Where is such a beautiful place?Bebe thought back to those days, and wondered if fate would let her go back there again?
I know exactly what awaits Bebe.Dad told her to get her aunt to help "make the arrangements," but when she left, Dad was sure to tell her stepmother it was hard to live without Bebe, and call her home again.Bebe wondered what was so important that she had to stay home.Anyone can do housework.Later, she couldn't help laughing when she remembered an incident that made her have to stay at home.The stepmother covered her head all day and all night, and never took off the headscarf when she went out alone.Papa wouldn't let her do it, so it was Bebe's job to go out with her.It was embarrassing to talk about it, but the parents had decided to take Baby back anyway.One day, they really came to the aunt's house and took Babe away.
It has been at least two months since I came back from my aunt's house.One day, my stepmother's brother brought a man to my house.The stepmother first ordered me to make tea, then went into the kitchen and asked me to serve tea.I walked in with tea and did as my stepmother asked.My stepmother's brother, my uncle, asked me to sit down.After I sat down, the man with my uncle started asking me: "What's your name? What's your father's name? Can you do sewing? Can you cook? Can you read and write..." I was nervous I was too afraid to answer, and I kept naively thinking that he would definitely not ask me so many questions for no reason.I can't imagine I would marry such a man at all.I have just turned twelve and he is twenty-six!
After eating and drinking tea, my uncle took the man away.
I went out to play, and a friend came over.She laughed at me loudly. "So," she said, "they came to see you, didn't they?" I was puzzled at first, then laughed, "What's the matter with them coming to see me? It's a good thing to be married! At least I can have a banquet " "That's what you think?" She also laughed, "You just want to get married and have a banquet?" I said, "Why don't you think so? You didn't find that people ate well at the wedding banquet." How good is it?" My friend gave me a strange look, and then laughed out loud.Her reaction was normal.Except for a few people, I don't talk to anyone, and I don't get chatted with.People always thought I was a bit weird.
A few days later, the man came with two others.I was wearing a long coat and playing outside.My stepmother called me into the house.I was wondering why these people came again, my brother pointed to one of them and said, "Look, he is my future brother-in-law, the son-in-law of our family." I turned and asked my stepmother, "Mom, is it true? They One of them will become the son-in-law of our family?" As soon as the words fell, the father, stepmother and younger brother all laughed. “你怎么总是这么无知，真是个傻子，”父亲激动地大喊，“我不知道你以后会怎么样。什么时候才能变得懂事呢？” 我感觉，我让爸爸不开心了。
我无法忍受爸爸不开心的样子。只要他一不开心，流眼泪，我也会哭。我还记得，有一次，姐姐打了弟弟，爸爸拦住她说： “别打他了，孩子。你是他唯一的亲人了。”说着，他就开始哭，我和姐姐的眼泪也夺眶而出。
我想，爸爸在这些人面前说我又傻又疯并没错。他们问了我那么多问题，我一个都答不上来，怕得舌头都打结了。于是爸爸帮我一个一个回答，但他的回答都很含糊。比如，他们问到我的兄弟姐妹时，爸爸提都没提妈妈离家出走时带走的那个弟弟。
他们离开后，我想，既然不提我的小弟弟，爸爸为什么还要告诉他们弟弟在玩耍时额头上留下了伤疤呢？我还在上二年级时，有一天，弟弟坚持要跟着我去上学，妈妈说：“他真想去，你就带他一起去吧。”于是我带他去了。路上，看到一个水龙头，弟弟说想喝水，我们便走过去。可他突然滑了一跤，把脑门摔破了，血哗哗地流。我吓得大哭，为他用头巾包扎好伤口，两个人摇摇晃晃回了家。爸爸不在，妈妈马上把弟弟送到了医院。我没来得及洗手，就冲回了学校。所有人都看到了我沾满血迹的双手。老师知道了，把我送回了家。回家路上，我遇到了爸爸的朋友达南杰·卡库。他知道是怎么回事—他肯定在路上遇到妈妈了。达南杰·卡库是个好人，一个陶工，经常帮我们说好话。他家离学校很近，我们经常在休息时跑去那儿，看他父亲摆弄陶轮—运动中的陶轮和他父亲让黏土成型的熟练工艺让我们着迷。我们实在搞不明白，一团泥怎么会眨眼间就变成漂亮的壶。
客人们还问起了我姐姐。爸爸只是说她结婚了，现在住在夫家。要不是我怕得不敢说话，猜猜我会告诉他们什么？我把朋友多利和图图尔带去参加姐姐的婚礼。我们大吃大喝，直到多利的爷爷来领她和图图尔。他们就住在我家附近。多利的父亲和我父亲是朋友，他们经常在一起，所以多利的父亲过来，爸爸还请他进屋一起吃糖。姐姐的婚礼上请了个乐队，我姐夫带了近七百个人来迎亲。我们没料到会来这么多人，但事情还算顺利，因为爸爸的单位发退休金，到手的差不多都用来招待客人了，剩下的零零碎碎地花在喝酒和找妈妈的事上。他还为姐姐定制了一些首饰。我还记得，姐姐问爸爸为什么花了这么多钱。“花这么多钱在我身上，妹妹会怎么想？”她问道，“为什么不帮她准备一些首饰呢？”她对爸爸说，如果不帮我也准备一些的话，她就不会戴任何首饰。于是，爸爸也帮我做了些小耳环之类。姐姐让我把这些东西戴上，所有人都觉得我很漂亮。
姐姐的婚礼结束后不久，我去看姑妈。在姑妈家梳头时，有个耳环卡住了我的头发，坏了。继母让我把所有的首饰都给她，说会帮我修好，于是我就把东西交给了她。但是过了很久，都不见那些首饰的踪影。没人再提起这事，甚至当我问起，也没人回答。但是不久之后，我看见继母戴上了新耳环……一问起来，他们就说在修理店里，之后就再也没人提起……我的首饰就这么失踪了，到现在还是个谜。
继母和父亲是恋爱结婚的，还是在卡利女神庙举行的仪式。爸爸和她都喝酒。一开始，他们趁我们不在时喝，但是渐渐地，就不那么谨慎了，经常当着我们的面喝醉，发酒疯。我们不喜欢这样，但是不管说什么话责备或羞辱他们，都没用。他们想喝就喝，爱听的话就听两句。奇怪的是，最后感到羞耻的反而是我们，于是，我们尽量躲开他们。我们不知道自己能干什么。爸爸和继母结婚后仍然相爱。每天吃饭时，他们会赌气：如果一个人不吃东西，另一个也不吃。他们为对方起了昵称。她会说：“马纳①，你先吃。”他会说：“不，拉尼②，你先吃。”爸爸有时发脾气不肯吃饭，跺着脚去干活儿，她也会不动碗筷。
一切都在继续，不知不觉，我已经十二岁又十一个月了。一天，我看见爸爸和舅妈提着满满几袋子蔬菜从菜市场回来。他们把袋子递给我，让我收拾。我小心地拿出菜，出门时，发现了一个衣箱。我问爸爸，他说里面装的是为我结婚准备的东西。继母和舅妈打开衣箱给我看。有这么多好东西，我别提有多开心了！第二天，爸爸给我买了新棉被、新床垫和一个新枕头，我简直开心得要命！屋外搭起了篷子，篷子下面有一个垒在砖块上的大楚拉③。处处都是音乐。我和孩子们在屋外看着这一切，舅妈突然把我叫进屋。我坐在木板上，继母开始往我身上抹姜黄糊，其他人也进来帮着一起涂。他们告诉我，当天不能吃东西，必须斋戒。我很惊讶，据我所知，只有在宗教节日才必须斋戒，没有其他时候会……