Bury the Hatchet 2 - Every bond needs boundaries and some help goes a long way.

 

Bury the Hatchet 2

“If you do not want Pishima to give you away to someone that fits her bare minimum list for becoming her SIL, maybe start with writing up your own list. I know you cannot stand your ground with Pishima” Kakoon suggested.

“Hmmm, . . . not bad. But I don’t want to” Debi protested.

“Then Debi, Don’t. Simple. Be honest with Pishima and get going with it.”

“Kuki, please kuchh kar na yaar. They are screening all these Chomu bois. The bar is so low, it is practically a tripping hazard.” Debolina pleaded.

“Fine, let me get back to work and we will talk about this tomorrow at leisure.”
“Okay. But promise me you’ll side with me. Maa has been vocal and physical with her decision this time. I do not want anything bad happening to me” Debo pleaded again. This time with fear in her eyes.

“Chillax man! Desh azaad hai” Kakoon smirked. 

Getting back to her work station Kakoon could not focus on work anymore. She was worried for her dear Debi. She may have been out of line in the past, but Kakoon knew she desperately needed help. There was only one person Kakoon could reach out for suggestion. 

Sana, Kakoon’s mentor and friend. The woman knew relationships and healthy boundaries better than most people Kakoon had encountered in her life. She checked in with her and asked for her two cents. Kakoon made sure she gave a rough gist of her former experiences as well to put into context why she needed guidance from an outsider in deciding how and to what extent to help out her own family.

“So, she was the same cousin who put you under the train on multiple occasions just to save her neck and still expects you to take a fall for her?” Sana was not pleased with Kakoon’s people pleaser tendency.

“Umm, well. In my defence, I owe her for a lot of things she has helped me out with as a child. You know how things were, and my childhood trauma too. She was supportive, or at least not entirely dismissive” Kakoon pleaded.

“If you want my two cents on it, all I can say is, learn where to draw the line so as to not hurt yourself. Some day she will have to stand up to her mother, and you cannot intervene everytime lest you lose yourself in the process.” Sana was straightforward with her advice as always.

“So what do I do?” Kakoon questioned.

“You tell me! “ Sana cleared. 

“Hmmm. .. . I think I will know soon.” Kakoon did understand what Sana meant and now had to figure out where she stood. “I’ll update you soon, Thanks Sana. Love you girl”

“Love you inna saara bachcha. Stay happy stay blessed” 

“Bye”

“Bye”

Debolina and Kakoon are sharing the room for tonight. Lying in bed, Debi tells Kakoon of how Pishima threatened her if she refused to go forward with one of her chosen suitors Pishima was losing patience owing to Debi's age and societal pressure of marrying off the daughters young. Kakoon luckily being the rowdy kid pampered by amma was at liberty, not to forget her being seven years younger than her. As much as she sympathized with Debi, she understood that Debi will need to take a stand for herself.

"Debi, you need to stop being so scared. You are not a baby anymore and no one can force you into something you do not want to go ahead with. You hear me?" Kakoon held Debi's hand reassuringly.

Debi simply nodded.

"So you would talk to mami and help talk sense into maa?" Debi looked at Kakoon with hopeful eyes.

"Actually NO!" Kakoon let go of Debi's hand. "I would stand with you, support you, but I won't be the torch bearer. Not this time. It is high time you took charge of your life and stood your ground. You let your Maa force you in to a marriage now, then you let your husband force you into a family later and when you are old you regret not being strong enough in the glorious days of youth as your kids sideline you. Be a badass nani, like amma is, be your own hero". Kakoon finished up with her head raised high above her oillow resting on her hand.

"Maybe you're right. But I don't know if I have it in me. You know, maa and amma are strong women ----"

"And you are their blood too. Adopted to nahi hai tu, lagti bhi nahi hai. They love you, use that to your advantage" Kakoon smirked. "I gave the same advice to dada when he was about to tell baba about prerna boudi. He is an only son, baba cannot throw him out of his house (unlike amma who had five sons and 3 daughters) I remember how hard dada had laughed and called be diabolic" Kakoon smirked. She was smart that way in gauging the level of love and madness of those around her, inspired by the mad hatter she too expected the best of people to have a streak of madness in them.

"I wish I was as daring as you" Debolina smiled in admiration of her younger sister's boldness.

"You will be, just need to try" Kakoon winked at her sister.

Both go off to sleep for now. Debolina feels light in her heart knowing her sister was going to be by her side if all hell breaks lose. Kakoon felt at peace because neither was she risking her peace for anyone, nor was she denying her sister the much needed help. Thanks to a little mentoring, Kakoon was able to set a healthy boundary and still be a good sister.