“Screeeech! ” Sundari’s father applied the brakes as a herd of mooing cows crossed the road. The cows seemed to be in no hurry despite the repeated honks from the buses and trucks.

“The city is such a noisy place. Gosh! My ears hurt a lot. Too many vehicles… too crowded. The village is always peaceful,” said Kamalambal to her granddaughter Sundari.

“Don’t worry,Paatti! You will soon get used to the noise, just like us,” said little Sundari as she hugged her grandmother. Sundari was very excited that her grandmother was going to stay with them throughout the summer vacation.

“Used to the noise?! I see. But you see, my dear, I have recently acquired a superpower. I can make all this noise disappear in a jiffy if desired,” she said, with a twinkle in her eyes.Sundari’s father was aware of the superpower and couldn’t control his laughter.

“Really, Paatti? Please tell me about it. Please…,” pestered Sundari.

“Not now, later. Ha ha!”

After driving a few kilometres, they were yet again stuck in a traffic jam. There was a wedding procession with loud jarring music on one side of the road. And on the other side there were bulldozers and cranes repairing a broken flyover.

“Ayyo! How much longer until home? The exploding decibel level is killing my ears,” complained Kamalambal.

“Amma, why don’t you use your superpower if your ears hurt?” Sundari’s father winked at Kamalambal.

“My superpowers are precious. Besides, I use them only during nights.”

“Paatti, what’s your superpower? You better tell me now.” Sundari’s curiosity piqued even more.

“Be patient, dear! I will demonstrate after dinner. By the way, why don’t you sing a song for me?” asked Kamalambal, stroking Sundari’s hair.

“Okaaay!” Sundari started singing a carnatic song half-heartedly. Her pitch was off-key and the lyrics were all jumbled. Though Sundari’s vocal skills were far from pleasing, Kamalambal smiled and appreciated her.

After more than two hours they finally reached home. Kamalambal freshened up and everyone talked animatedly as they had their dinner. But suddenly they could hear the screeching sound of chairs and tables being pulled repeatedly.

“Hmm! So much noise? Even during night?” Kamalambal exclaimed with raised eyebrows.

“The residents upstairs moved in today. I guess they are unpacking and rearranging stuff,” said Sundari’s father.

“Then it’s time for me to finally demonstrate my superpower. Come to my room Sundari.”

Sundari eagerly went to her room, wanting to watch her grandmother unleash her superpower.

Kamalambal sat on a chair and gently pulled out her hearing aids and grinned.

“Paatti! Show me your superpower,” urged Sundari.

In sign language Kamalambal amusingly told her how she couldn’t hear a word and was at peace.

Sundari’s father couldn’t hold back his laughter. Sundari was perplexed. Once her father explained she understood and began laughing too.

“ Paatti, haha! You indeed have the greatest superpower. How peacefully you can sleep now! ”

Kamalambal hugged Sundari and gave her a kiss.

***

This story secured third place in the monthly flash fiction contest conducted by Penmancy.  The promot required us to begin the story with cacophonic settings/ descriptions and end the story on a peaceful note.

It wasf first published here.