Evolution is not merely change in the heritable traits of biological populations over successive generations. It involves the growth of the mind and of the soul. It is to do away with age-old customs that hinder mankind’s growth and embrace better ways of living. We experience this growth in mundane life.

Shobha was ecstatic as well as nervous as she stood in her newly refurbished dress outside the door. She rang the doorbell. After about a minute or two the door opened and a young boy smiled at her. He asked if she was Shobha, she nodded and he let her in.

As the boy left the living room, Shobha stood in a corner admiring the enormity of the palatial living area. The crystals on the chandelier sparkled bright, she wondered if they were diamonds. She noticed a window a few feet away from her and she could see lions and tigers roaming around in the wild, it took her a moment to realize that it was a television screen. Then she spotted the red velvet sofa which was four steps away from where she was standing. It looked cushy and comfortable, she counted her steps as she tried getting closer.

ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR

It was farther than she imagined it to be. As she tried extending her hand, she heard footsteps and reverted.

 “Hello Shobha, hope you did not have trouble locating the place.” said the owner of the house Anagha Patel. She gestured for Shobha to sit on a chair by the door as she sat on the red sofa.

Anagha elucidated the daily chores to Shobha.

“So you start tomorrow. Your normal timings will be 9.00 am to 7 pm. But we have a birthday party for my younger son tomorrow so come in after lunch and you’ll have to wait up for dinner tomorrow. Say till 10 pm”

Shobha smiled and thought to herself, “Staying back late on the first day! Huh! This household seems exactly the way her Aunt described. Gigantic rooms and people with dwarfed hearts.”

But she was happy to have got a job in a wealthy upper-class household in spite of her disability. She returned home and gesticulated the Anagha’s house to her family. As Shobha gestured about the house, her job, and the party, her sister worded her expressions to her family.

Everyone heard with excitement. Her mother frowned at the part where Shobha mentioned that she was to stay till dinner the next day. She got up and went to a corner of their house that stored the kitchen tools and a gas stove. She flung a bowl and a plate in Shobha’s direction.

“Don’t forget where you come from, take this bowl and plate along tomorrow. The upper class does not prefer dining with us and in the same plate as theirs, not at all.”

The next morning, Shobha left for her first day at work with a bottle of water by her shoulder, a bowl in one hand and a plate in the other.

At arrival, she was asked to mop the floor of the party area, decorate the fireplace mantel and arrange tables for the dinner buffet. As she aligned the plates on the tables she took a stolen glance at her bowl and plate placed in a corner in the kitchen. The pale color of the plastic and worn out edges looked subservient to their flashy ivory china.

In a few hours, the house was brimming with kids. A few of them were as old as Shobha. Shobha had finished her set of responsibilities and was waiting in the kitchen for the next set of instructions. Anagha walked into the kitchen.

“Shobha, what are you doing here, we will be cutting the cake and serving dinner soon. Come out to the party area.”

The vibe at the party area was celebratory. Shobha watched as the cake was cut and splattered on the birthday boy’s face. All sorts of sparkly things were popped out of round elongated boxes as the music played happy birthday.

“Shobha….. Shobha….” Anagha came looking for her. “Come join us for dinner.”

Shobha gestured for them to eat first and she will eat after doing the dishes.

“Oh, Shobha, your work for today is done. Let’s have dinner together.”

This was unfamiliar, unheard and seemed surreal. Neither her aunt nor her mother had shared such an instance with her. She obeyed and brought her plate and bowl to the dining table.

Anagha looked at her and asked, “What’s the bowl and the plate for dear?”

Shobha raised her right hand and motioned it towards her mouth. Anagha seemed to understand what was in Shobha’s mind. She took the bowl and plate from Shobha and rested it at the corner of the table. She then started serving portions of food on a plate and placed it in front of Shobha.

“You are a part of the family now. Hope you don’t have a problem using our plates to eat.” 

There was warmth in Anagha’s voice that brought tears to Shobha’s eyes instantly. After the meal, Shobha helped Anagha clear the plates and left overs.

Anagha and Shobha came into the living area. “It’s late, sit here till I get the car keys and drop you home.” said Anagha. The chair Shobha sat on the day before was no longer there in the living area so she wondered if she should stand or sit on the floor. It was her first day, she was tired hence, she decided to rest on the floor. At that instance Anagha held her by her shoulder and rested her on the sofa. It was as comfortable as Shobha had imagined. She was instantly devoid of her fatigue and anxieties.

Shobha couldn’t contain her happiness. She banged the bowl to the plate as she approached the lane to her shanty. This was her way of yelling out to her mother, her aunt and everyone who told her that no one will not accept her for she is from a lower caste, for she is poor, for she is a mute. Shobha knew for sure that this is the beginning of the evolution of the soul.