Shruthi reminded Sanjana again that her marriage should not be postponed for too long. “Marriage at this age? Why are you just joking? Think about what people will think.” Shruthi had discussed this issue with her friend many times before this. Today she said again, “Think about yourself a little, you idiot! You have spent 45 years alone like this. When your loneliness, worries, and hardships are haunting you, will the people for whom you have sacrificed your life for all these years come to question you? People will think what you think… What kind of people are you… Why do you need the help of these bad people who laugh at you when you are struggling, who play around with you, and who die of stomach ache when you get up? Even if you don’t get married, you are just a subject for their gossip talk, that’s all!” “Why are you so angry? Your BP has been increased unjustly. It has been so many years, let whatever happens happen.” When she finished speaking, Shrut...
The rays of sunlight streaming through the window had given a golden
coating to the pale yellow curtains. My gaze moved from there to the pale blue
sofa set in the drawing room, the teapot shining from the glass top, the
beautiful showpieces arranged on the shelf, and then settled on my daughter
Sumitra sitting opposite. Trying hard not to look at the picture of the young
man with Sumitra in the photo frame placed on the table, I looked away.
. I sat down, trying not to see my husband Ashok, who was sitting next to
me, trying to suppress his anger. But the emotions that were running through my
mind must have been visible on my face.What she told us about herself to us who
had come to see our daughter who was working in the city, was shocking. I could
not understand what she said next. The lenses of my glasses fogged up. But I
could not take them off and wipe them.
My sweet daughter, a few years ago, used to walk holding my finger, she
used to walk around behind her father and mother, she used to ask her father if
she wanted this, that and she would take it off, is she now sitting here in
front of us and talking about herself without any fear? Is she big enough to
make her own decisions as soon as she leaves home and gets a job…? With some
boy….. Being together without getting married…..? This relationship has a new
name…. Live in relationship.
Tears were ready to roll down my cheeks. Something felt stuck in my
throat. When I saw my husband’s clenched fist, I felt like his anger was about
to burst.
I was struggling with unexpressed emotions in some other world when I
heard a voice calling out to me, ‘Mom……’. Sumitra moved the teapot a little
back and sat on the floor in front of me.
“I wanted to tell you about this before anyone else knew about it. That’s
why I was waiting for you to come,” Sumitra tried to make us understand, “I
love you very much. I respect you. But you have to understand me. Kiran and I…
are living together because of mutual admiration. But we do our own chores,
like washing dishes and clothes. We share the household expenses. I don’t wait
for him without eating. He can’t blame me for you coming here….“I don’t have to
do any half-hearted fasting for him. He doesn’t have to change his ways for me.
We will take our own decisions about our career and family. We won’t force
anything. Our savings and investments will be separate. We prefer to be friends
rather than husband and wife, Father… Is this wrong…..?”
Ashok’s red face showed surprise.
Sumitra continued, “There is nothing wrong with understanding each other
before getting married, right? It is better to make sure that we love and
respect each other than to file for divorce after marriage without making any
compromise. If that is the case, we can get married. Otherwise, we can separate
without getting upset.” “But…” I started to say something.
Meanwhile, Sumitra put her head on my lap and said, “You both have raised
me to be intelligent. I will not bring another life to this earth until I find
a permanent home for my life. Don’t you have that much faith in me?”
I felt like stroking her head and hugging her. Meanwhile, I stopped when
I saw my husband standing up.
“Vani, lets go,” he said.
Sumitra’s face turned pale. Just as I was about to say something to him
on behalf of our daughter, I was stunned by what he said.“Get up, let’s get
some rest. Then we will meet this Kiran and go to our village.”
In a moment, Sumitra frowned and hugged us tightly.
“I will call Kiran right now. Thank you, Mother….. Father….” she said.
Now I nodded Sumitra’s head and kissed her forehead. While she was busy calling
Kiran, my mind was thinking. Everyone should start taking their own decisions
once in their life. I didn’t do that, but my daughter is doing it. Time will
decide whether her decision is right or wrong. I only want to see her in her
bridal attire with Kiran. But this is possible only if the love and trust in
their current relationship becomes strong. Otherwise, we will be with our
daughter. The new light completely dispelled the cloud of doubt that had been in
our minds.
Comments
Post a Comment