Short Story: A World Apart – by Alpa Arora

Alpa Arora shares a story that gives us a view into the lives of women in small villages v/s big cities set in the 90s.

Zia heard the car honk from below the house. She peeped out of the window and saw a white Maruti parked downstairs, a little away from the gate. This was him. It was still early, only 7 a.m. Hopefully, not many people would have come downstairs except for the uncles who needed their morning tea for their pressure building rituals. 

She decided to avoid the risk and took the side stairs that led straight into the tiny garden. Picking up her bag, she took one look at the mirror on the wall. Black top, black sweater, light blue jeans, boots, hair open – all good there. The dachshund barked at her, but she ignored it. Quickly opening the back door of the car, she got in. Manu smiled at her nervously. She smiled back, flushed with excitement. He came close to hug her, but she stopped him.