Dear Reader,
Dropping in your inbox earlier than expected. I’m excited to share the publication of my short story ‘The Cost of Rai’ in Issue 9 of Setu Journal. I will look forward to your thoughts on this story, which is special to me. It brings the flavour of the hills of Garhwal to which I belong by marriage. Rai is a leafy green vegetable that grows aplenty and is relished by the locals. The story is a fictional account of the many tales shared with me by my husband’s mother about the women of the hills who lived nearly half a century ago. Women have for long played second fiddle in Indian households. Gender politics extended from ensuring financial dependence to impediments in education and little to no say in family decisions. Clever beneficence and favours/gifts were subtly used to ascertain male dominance. ‘The Cost of Rai’ looks at some of these aspects and also traces the complex dynamics of human relationships.
Fiction: The Cost of Rai
Sonia Dogra
Amma squats down in front of the vendor and brings the rai close to her nose. ‘Ten rupees for this?’ Her voice cuts through the cacophony of the mandi. ‘Umm… I’ll give you five.’
‘Na, na…’ The boy shakes his head, taking the bundle back from her hand…
[To continue reading click here...]
I hope you enjoyed reading ‘The Cost of Rai’.
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Congratulations, Sonia! What a beautiful heartwarming story 🩷 If I hadn’t already had dahl and roti earlier, I’d be really hungry now! ☺️
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Thank you:)☺️☺️
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I enjoyed your story especially the fact that you actually used Hindi words rather than translations . Makes the narration more authentic .
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Congratulations, Sonia!! I especially love that warm ending.
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Thank you, Rajani. Means so much:)
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Congratulations on the publication of your story, Sonia! I was moved by it. Such tendernes and love of the daughter for her mother.
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Thank you, Liz. I’m glad the story touched a chord.
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Clicking over to read.
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I enjoyed the story, Sonia. Togetherness and companionship means many different things for the older generation. You have brought out the unsaid aspects so well.
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Thanks Sudeepa. The dynamics of relationships undergo many-a-change as they move past generations. And I hope for the better.
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