Short Story: The Second Act by Smita Das Jain

This short story by Smita Das Jain touches upon the theme of individual agency, gender generalization and stereotypes, evolution from a fixed to an open mindset, and the theme of second chances.

The grand wall clock chimed loudly, its brass pendulum painting energetic arcs in the air while its black hands moved decisively at the stroke of the hour, each tick echoing through the room. Mohina blinked. The meeting was going on much longer than she had expected.

She sat stiff and upright in the living room of her parent’s house, flanked by her mother and father on either side of the weathered, mahogany sofa. The ivory walls adorned with contemporary renditions of deities on one end and an expansive, glass-encased display cabinet on the other made the cosy room appear spacious. The crockery set reserved for special occasions at the Mehta household graced the square centre table, demarcating Mohina and her parents from the Agarwals seated opposite.

Mohina had returned from work much later than the gathering had assembled, disregarding her mother’s entreaties and reprimands over the past two days. Eschewing the silk saree that her mother had meticulously chosen for her; she wore a formal pink full-sleeved top and black trousers. That’s how she was – and she was unwilling to change herself for what she was certain would be a brief encounter with the prospective groom and his parents.