Author: Annu Kalra

When I learnt this morning that Yukti had passed away, along with the sadness which is inevitable at the passing away of someone known, I also found myself smiling fondly. She and I weren’t particularly close, even the relationship wasn’t too direct, more like a Basanti relationship from Sholay. She was the daughter of my late ex husband’s first cousin, though the same age as him and also his classmate in school for many years. For very long I kept thinking about how she could be described. She didn’t hold any high level job or education, yet she had a keen intelligence and an enterprising attitude. She had an intrinsic sense of freedom which was very rare in that family. She defied norms without being an activist.  Making quiet contributions without seeking recognition, daring to speak her mind without making a hue and cry about it, always full of fun and laughter, many times even at her expense, but yet not losing her sense of humor and taking everything in stride. When I had just joined the family I was told stories from people in the family about how much she had danced at her own Sangeet and Reception. Mind you, in those days, brides were expected to be demure and shy and those who had spoken thus about her had not done so in admiration, but rather as...