Short Story
Mohan Kothekar
Writer and Blogger
It
is indeed the responsibility of the Indian parents to bolster children, even when
they became adult and married. It is
imbibed in the Indian ethos and culture; no doubt, in the modern era fractures
and fissures has partly shattered the traditional Indian institution and psyche,
however, the proportion is minimal. If the
couple is a senior citizen and a retired lot, then practically it is easy to
manage the show; the travel plan synchronizes as per the schedule, provided the
children are out stationed. But, if one
is in the service or in the business and the other is a homemaker, then things
are little different and if the children are residing in Trump’s country then
it is practically difficult to plan a tour.
After
a lot of difficulties, the wife reaches America to support daughter-in-law during
her delivery. Before departing, she
tried her level best to make all possible arrangements so that her husband, I
mean myself, will not face any adversity during her absence. The admonition continued for at least a fortnight
to acquaint me about the location of each and every household material and also
made me vigilant about cook and maid’s spurious activities. The extra and unwanted things were already
stored under lock and key; the cook and especially maid were abysmally threatened
regarding punctuality and sincerity. I
was bitterly expostulating and chided for my generous and charitable
disposition that has puffed up and insolent the entire household working force. Last but not the least, the neighbors were
told to look after the house and me as she has too little faith on her
disheveled spouse. With tears in eyes
(not the crocodile tears) we reach the airport, but not without pile of
reprimands to her better half. This was
her first journey without her spouse; she abused the state government for not
granted leave to me during her voyage.
The
next morning began with ting tong bell sound.
Sweeper asked me about madam’s journey; whether she received vegetarian
meal or not, etc. The near and dear along
with servants were equally worried about her excursion. The first week was quite difficult to follow the
daily rituals; I was compelled to take wife’s assistance through Skype,
WhatsApp package so as to locate the goods but not without her cheesy speech. The cook, maid and my immediate neighbors
were well versed regarding location of household material rather than me, even
though I am residing in the same house and with the same spouse from last three
and half decades.
One day the green grocer asked me ‘Uncle!
Where is madam?’ I said, ‘she had gone
to USA for daughter-in-law’s delivery.’
He charged me Rs 5 for 250 grams of lady finger. Before I left the grocer’s stall, the nearby
lady inquired me about madam’s journey and started purchasing a lady finger. She asked the rate of lady finger. The grocer replied ‘Rs 8.’ It was shocking for me. The lady said, ‘you cheater, don’t make us fool,
I will pay Rs 2 only.’ The Grocer said,
‘Sister, the inflation rate has increased; our purchasing cost is Rs 6, so, pay
Rs 7.’ The lady said, ‘don’t tell me any
reason, I will pay Rs 5 only, you looter!’
The lady left the shop by paying Rs 5.
The grocer said, ‘Sir, unless these ladies negotiates and cursed me,
they never purchase, therefore the rate for ladies is Rs 8, your wife is a hard
nut to break but is a caressing lady, she supports us as and when financial
help is required, because of your wife I am depositing a fixed amount in the recurring
account of our post office.’
During
a month’s time, many known and unknown faces inquired me regarding where about
of my spouse. Actually, I get bored to
tell everybody the same story repeatedly.
That day the bakery owner was interrogating me, and, I told him that she
divorced. He laughed and in South Indian
stylish tone said, ‘sir, you are joking sir, how she will get separated from
you, sir, such a gentle and civilized lady she is, sir, she will come after
delivery, sir, don’t get perturbed, sir.’ And added to my knowledge, ‘sir, have
you opened Sukanya Samrudhi Youjana account (higher rate of interest deposit
scheme for girl child) in nationalized bank for your granddaughter, sir?’ I
replied, ‘No, I have no idea about such scheme?’ He continued, ‘Sir, all girls of our colony is
account holder, sir, due to your wife, sir. Your wife is a humble and descent lady, sir,
she takes care of one and all, sir, you are lucky, sir, it is difficult to get
such a company, sir, and, sir, you speak bad about her, sir!’
We
blessed with granddaughter; many known and unknown entities congratulated me; I
have distributed more than five kg of sweets.
One fine morning, while clipping my hairs, Gents saloon owner accused me
that I am a niggard as I have not shared joy and happiness by distributing
sweets to him. He further said, ‘I think
by now aunt has visited LA and LV.’ ‘What stands for LA and LV?’ I
queried. ‘Uncle, don’t make me a fool, I
mean Los Angles and Los Vegas!’ he said.
I asked him, ‘Is she your client?
How you know about my wife’s visit to USA?’ ‘No uncle, she is not my
client, we are in this colony for years together, so, uncle, we knew each other.
You know, uncle, because of aunt we are self sufficient. Because of her efforts, we all shop owners
have NPS from last five years.’ He said and continued, ‘Uncle, we have no
lifelong pension like you, so we are depositing fixed amount every month in
National Pension Scheme (NPS). So, after sixty years of age, we will get
pension throughout our life. Aunt is a nice and cooperative lady, she would
have definitely given sweets to me; she is not like you!’
On
Sunday afternoon when I was in deep slumber, the bell rang, unknown lady handed
over Rs 500. I asked, ‘Who are you? Why
you are paying Rs 500?’ She could not answer properly. Immediately, neighboring lady explained me the
story in detail. In colony self help
group is formed to assist the servant class during financial stress. My wife and few more ladies from the colony
are maintaining the cash as well as the record.
In the initial stages, it started with Rs 1000, the amount then generously
donated by right-minded ladies from the community. The neighbor added to my knowledge that at
present there are more than 300 ladies members and total transaction of amount
in each month is in lacks. I asked, ‘if
any servant has not given the money back and ran away then?’ The neighbor said, ‘It never happens, the
needing ladies compel her to pay the amount with paltry interest, otherwise,
the chain will get broken and no-one will get benefited from the scheme.’
Our
daily needs centre young boy of ten has a totally different story. I simply asked him with an inquisitive
gesture about the cost of the egg. He
replied with wrath, ‘uncle, if you will purchase the white potato, then I will
make a call to aunt! If she scolds you in anger, then I shall not be held
responsible!’ I ask ‘Why you will call
her? What is white potato? What mistake I have committed? I am just asking you
the price! Don’t threaten me, my boy!’ The
young lad said, ‘Look, barring two families, ours is a pure vegetarian colony,
it is a sin and offence to call it an egg, so, aunt named it white potato! Uncle, I am not touching those eggs,
otherwise, she will not allow me to assist her during Ganapati and Durga
festival decoration!’ I inquired, ‘Your
aunt knows how to decorate and manage?’ He
added to my knowledge sarcastically and that too without fear and fervor,
‘Uncle, you must know, she is the best decorator and event manager; because of
aunt all the programs in our colony are successfully arranged! Otherwise, it is practically difficult to
organize them! You have to exert
it. She is not like you. You simply come and go. Your contribution is zero. You behave like an officer; you are not doing
any work at home; aunt is doing everything!’
I get clean bowled.
One
fine evening, one gentleman has knocked the front door. He has given me invitation card and requested
to attain the show. He said, ‘Madam is
in the USA so you come and join our program!’
I came to know from the gentleman that in nearby school the ladies of
our colony take care of poor and intelligent students. Each one has adopted one student and ladies
are paying student’s fees, donate the books and uniform to them for the last
two decades. The selfless service they
are rendering is noteworthy. He
continued, ‘In the selfish world to have such personalities is a rare
commodity. The zeal and zest with which
these women are rendering their services is exemplary. Most of the students do not know who is
paying their fees; who is providing uniform, books, pencils and pens?’
My
general observation is my office driver who is tall, macho and bachelor has
very high and cordial relations with my wife.
Every day, whenever he will come to our house, he will first go to the kitchen
and discuss at length with my spouse while relishing his breakfast. He will come out of the kitchen as and when the
lunch box will be ready. One day, I
intentionally entered in kitchen and aghast to find that my driver was enjoying
the meal. Before I asked anything my
wife retorted, ‘let him eat, he is alone, don’t disturb him, don’t rebuke him,
he is like my son!’ I was speechless. Whenever I was on tour, my spouse used to
give two Tiffin boxes, a bigger one for my driver and the smaller one for
me. He has been instructed to take lunch
on time; so, wherever we are at twelve noon, the driver will stop the vehicle
and force me to take the lunch. His
other habit was to stop the car near the orchard or green field and pick up
fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals and grains by paying a small amount. He used to take advantage of the famous quote
‘from producer to consumer.’ I often
asked him about the payment, his fixed reply is, ‘It is our trade secret. My duty is to provide the material and
madam’s duty is to prepare dishes. Sir,
I have not seen such a lady in my life who is taking utmost care of her husband
and his assistant equally! In this era
who love the driver like a son! A big
hearted individual having sympathy for the poor, her name is madam!’
While
strolling in the park, the unknown elderly man asked me, ‘When your wife is
coming to India? I have not seen her
from the last few months.’ I said, ‘She will come after two months. By the way, may I know about you please,
sir?’ He introduced to me. He was a staff serving in a nearby nursing
home. He narrated a totally different
story. My wife and a few ladies from our
colony are collecting unused medicine from nearby societies and distributing it
to the needy patients from his nursing home.
I purposefully asked, ‘Why you people are not collecting those unused
medicines?’ He said quietly, ‘Brother,
one must require guts and leadership qualities that I am lacking. See, your wife is doing yeoman duties for the
destitute with missionary zeal. Sometimes,
her group collects donations from the wealthy families and purchased medicines
for the poor people. You are lucky to
have such a nice and kind hearted wife.
My salutations to her for noble duties, she performed. God bless you both!’
After
three and half decades of my association with her, I did not know about her vast
popularity. She was far more decent,
debonair, discreet and polite than the average lady. Never in dream had I thought about my wife’s
involvement in so many social activities.
Some of them were realized when I came in contact with the concerned
public. Her affection and love, breast
and kindness for the below poverty line masses was par excellence. She used to do charity and a support to students
and patients by donating a paltry sum from her pocket money is outstanding and
noteworthy. I was unaware about her
outlandish facet of her life; she was famous in the colony for the noble and
lofty causes. Her stature was princely
and highborn. What I knew is simply the
darker side of her life. My firm belief
was that she is a belligerent, pugnacious, quarrelsome and brawler lady. A short temper woman who is a miser and
narrow minded who is basically having laggard and niggard qualities. On and often I used to tease her regarding
her daffy and brutish, goofy and lumpish attitude. I inwardly used to murmur, ‘What an eccentric,
bizarre and grotesque lady she is!’ Her
temporary departure from my life has not only transformed my attitude, but
altogether metamorphosed my views regarding her. I am not sympathetic about her; however, I
started to love her from the core of my heart.
The modern Romeo is anxiously waiting for his Juliet.
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