ABSTRACT
Kamola’s mother, Niru, was quite young when she got married to Kamola’s father. Niru lost her mother when she was a mere child. Kamola heard from her mother that no one could figure out what was happening to her. Niru grew up strong and beautiful even without her mother’s guidance. She was a good wife and a good mother. Her presence was like the steady lamplight in their mud hut. Whoever came in touch with her basked in the glow of her warm kindness. She did all the hard work in a poor peasant’s family without any complaints. Kamola remembered every morning after taking a shower, her mother would dry her thick, long hair in a cotton towel and put sindoor (vermillion powder) on her forehead. The entire process would not take more 44than ten minutes. As a child, Kamola used to stare at her mother getting ready mesmerized. She thought at that moment her familiar ma was transformed into a goddess who could kill all the demons and protect her children.
