Sweet angel II

first part here

Our relationship had changed after my illness. We were in more friendly terms now.

I obeyed her and she obeyed me and so there was harmony but can there be any peace.

The husband had become grouchy. Even though I tried to probe, he refused to answer me.

The seventh day I just could not take it. I closed the bedroom door and asked what the matter was.

‘Why are you bothered? Go finish your assignment or go chat with Akhila?’, he said

Then I understood that he was being jealous and tried to pacify him. ‘No Heena. I understand that once we have kids, this is what is going to happen. You will be busy with yourself and completely neglect me’.

That set me thinking. It was such a tough job balancing relationships.

That weekend was long as there was a national festival, it was an opportune time for bonding and I planned an outing. Akhila would have finished her exam and we could just relax.

We went to the beach. The weather was good. The sun and the sand and the water helped us to get closer. I looked at Anand. He understood children so well. As both of them made sand dunes. I sat far away observing them.

Motherhood always scared me. Anand and me have been married for seven years and though everyone has stopped asking us when we will have kids, I know Anand yearns for a family of his own. Was I being selfish by denying a child to Anand, I didn’t know. I didn’t want a child just for having a child. I wanted to be a perfect mother.

But I was learning…..You could learn to be good along with your kid.. A kid can be a wonderful teacher. I was learning every day with Akhila.

As we relaxed on the beach, I realised that in these two weeks we had become family. Though Anand had been grouchy, he was completely in his element now. As I sat thinking our eyes met and locked. He understood me and smiled. I smiled back.

‘Do you want me to go somewhere else, so that you could keep on smiling’, it was Akhila and we started tickling her so that she was rolling in the sand.

And then Anand’s phone rang.

He answered it and all the  color from his face disappeared.

Akhila’s mother was serious, we had to rush to her town.

(to be continued)

 

Sweet angel-I

‘Still on the computer, go prepare lunch or else it will be late again’.

I looked up at my niece in irritation.

Why are you looking like that? Then when Chikappa(Father’s younger brother) comes and shouts at you because lunch is not ready, don’t complain to me’, she said.

I got up with a sigh. With such a niece, you can never miss not having a mother-in-law.

By 1 p.m  the house was sparkling clean and the food was ready on the table.

‘See how happy Chikappa will be when he comes home and sees this’, Akhila said.

I was irritated. I mean, yes sometimes I do get delayed but I don’t really like it if someone bosses around me. especially kids who don’t behave their age.

Akhila was my brother-in-law’s daughter. She is studying in 2nd standard. they stay quite nearby. Someday’s back my co-sister had some complications in her second pregnancy and thought it better if she went to her parents place and stayed in their care. But Akhila had yet to finish her exam. We volunteered to look after her till she finished her exam.

The husband came and yes he was happy to see a clean home and a ready lunch. Akhila gave me a ‘I told you so smile’. And I got irritated further.

I returned to my work. I work online and had some pending assignments.

I heard some noise. I rushed out to see that Akhila had cleared the table.

‘I would have done it Akhila, why you had to do’, I said.

‘The maid will be coming now, so she will not have to wait’, she said.

‘Don’t try to teach me how to do things Akhila’, I screamed.

She looked at me in amazement. ‘But I was just trying to help you’, she said.

I wanted to say some more, but her innocent expression stopped me and I went to my room and slammed the door.

The maid came and she did her job in the supervision of the kid. I didn’t bother to go out.

I do not know when I fell asleep. I had a slight headache since morning but by mid noon it was raging. I just wanted to lie down for some time but then ….

‘Chikamma, why are you still sleeping’, I heard her come in’, and then I felt her hand on my forehead.

And then she said’ oh my you are burning…     you have a fever’, and then silence.

After some time I heard her come back.

‘Chikamma have some bread’, she said.

I mumbled a no.

‘Chikamma have some bread and then take a crocin. Amma says you should not take medicine on an empty stomach’, and she nagged on till I got up.

Tears flowed from my eyes when she fed me. Yes she was irritating but she was an angel too.

Pakhi learns something new

The last part of the series..
Earlier parts:
Pakhi and her worries
Pakhi has a new classmate
Pakhi learns some facts
Pakhi has a moral dilemma

It was raining heavily. Pakhi was doing her homework. Her music teacher was away on a vacation, so she was tied up at homeNani was stitching something. Her son had recently been transferred to Ooty.The wet, cold climate of Ooty didn’t suit her knees and so she was staying at Pakhi’s.Pakhi finished her homework, surfed through the channels of the Television. Didn’t find anything interesting; so threw away the remote. Next she took a book to read, … Read More

via Searching Self

Pakhi has a moral dilemma

Pakhi and another episode of her life.

The earlier parts in this series
Pakhi and her worries
Pakhi has a new classmate
Pakhi learns some facts

It was a Thursday morning and the first class was science. Mrs. Singh came in and announced that there will be a surprise test and all the kids started murmuring ‘No, Miss’, ‘Please Miss’. 'Nothing doing, class, I want to see how much you have understood and how much revision you do at home. So please keep quiet and start your test’.Now Pakhi did not like science. And tests scared her. She often forgot what she had learnt by the mere mention of t … Read More

via Searching Self

Pakhi learns some facts

The third part in the Pakhi Series
Earlier parts
Pakhi and her worries
Pakhi has a new classmate

It was Monday evening and Pakhi was waiting for the singing class to begin when a chauffeur driven car stopped and a girl stepped out. Oh it’s Sheetal thought Pakhi. Sheetal was her classmate at school. Wearing a hep dress she stepped into the room and said “ Hi everybody I am Sheetal”. Pakhi tried to hide amongst the group of 6 but Sheetal had already seen her. “Hi Pakhi .You too come here. I met Aysha Dang the popstar the other day you know, an … Read More

via Searching Self

Pakhi has a new classmate

Presenting the second part in the Pakhi series

It was the first day of Standard 6 and Section B, Pakhi's section was buzzing. Pakhi sat content and smiling happy to be with her classmates again when there was a sudden hush and the Principal arrived along with their class teacher, Mrs Fernandes and a boy- a lanky boy with a lopsided grin."Good morning,class", she said."Good morning Madam", they chorused."Well we have with us Aditya a new entrant to our school. He is a special child of God so b … Read More

via Searching Self

Pakhi and her worries-Pakhis world revisited

Home Management, kids school, my own classes are keeping me so occupied that I am not able to draft anything. So today I bring to you Pakhi’s world. This had been my very first attempt at story telling. While importing from Blogger an error occured and all all the comments were left behind. So folks comments are very welcome :P.
This had been the first part of a five part series, so read on and live Pakhi’s world.

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Pakhi was playing with some pebbles, some make believe game. Humming a tune to herself, she was happy. Her Standard 5th exams were over and she had a break of 15days. Her nani had come down from Lucknow to be with her. Nani was fun. She allowed her to be herself not like her mummy and dada, who were always after her; do this, do that. She could sing, dance, play with pebbles, mud whatever she wished for, with her nani around.

It was good that her nani arrived, her mummy having started going to work recently. Because it had become very expensive for a single person to run a family-her father had said. She had not understood what he meant. But nowadays they did go out for dinners and were planning a vacation in the May Holidays which was fantastic. They had never been on a real vacation before, just the routine holidays to visit family.

It was good of nani to come over-she thought otherwise I would have been bundled off to Mamaji’s house or to some camp she shuddered at the thought. She hated crowded places.

‘Pakhi, Pakhiiiiiiiii’ her nani called. ‘Yes nani’, she replied and ran towards their home.

‘Phone for you, beta, your Principal’, her nani said.

O my God, Have I flunked, have I flunked for the first time, she thought.

“H..h.hello”, she said.

“Good Morning, Pakhi, do you know why I have called”, Madam said.

“No, Have I failed the exam”.

“Oh No no”, and Madam laughed a hearty laugh. “You remember the essay competition on My Dream for which you had sent an entry in February”.

“Yes” she mumbled

“Well you have won Second prize and the prize distribution is on April 5th in New Delhi. Pakhi are you there”

“yesss MMadam” she said.

Well I have to discuss it out with your parents, can you ask them to meet me tomorrow at 10.30 am at the school. And yes Congratulations , my dear.” and disconnected the line.

Pakhi sat quietly in shocked silence. “What happened, beta”, her nani said anticipating some bad news.

“Nani” she said,” I won an essay contest and the prize distribution is in Delhi”.

“That’s wonderful news, Pakhi, but why are you so confused”.

“dada wont like it nani”.

“Why?” Nani said.

“Because it will be expensive to go to Delhi”.

“Ha ha”, nani laughed,” but they will be so proud of you dear. Come lets call them up and inform”.

“No no let them come home and then I ‘ll tell them”. But she was not sure if her nani could keep a secret. So she said” say God promise I wont tell”

“Ok, God promise” her nani said,”I wont tell” but she was thoughtful.

The rest of the day Pakhi was worried, how their budget will be affected, will her father be upset, will mummy get leave. When she had been sick last month, Mummy’s boss had not given her leave. Will Boss Uncle give leave now, she thought and so on.

Evening her mummy arrived, and asked “how was the day, beta”. Good she muttered and went back to her painting. Father arrived”how is my sona”, he said. Fine she said.

Dinner time they all sat down to eat. “Why ma does she have a fever, why is she so quiet,” Mummy asked Nani

“Pakhi, that’s it. Are you telling them or should I”. Oh my God has she flunked, mummy thought. Oh my God she has broken something, her dada thought.

“Dada, Mummy I won an essay competition-second prize and the prize distribution is in New Delhi” she uttered and felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

“Oh my God, My god” both screamed in unison. “Such an honour and you are telling us now”.

“Well she was bothered that it will be expensive going to Delhi so was hesitant to tell you”, her nani explained.

“What” Her Dada said. “No darling, Nothing is expensive for you. Whatever we earn, whatever we save is for your future. Your happiness, your success is of the utmost importance, baccha, no thing else matters. And he came and hugged her tightly. Mummy came too and enveloped both of them

And everything was fine in Pakhis world again.

The Salahkaars V

Previously everyone sits down for a discussion and its decided that Maaji will be persuaded to go to a trip to Vrindavan with the Sharmas. Late night Ammaji finds Ashok smoking who confesses to having problems with his wife-Ritu.

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‘Problems, what problems?’, Ammaji asks in a worried tone.

‘Since she lost her job, she has become very possessive. Always expecting me to be at her beck and call. How can I, Maa, the work pressure is so much I can;t keep running to her as and when she demands. And then she has become suspicious too always checking on my emails and going through the call log on my mobile. All this bugs me and when I tell her so we have a big row. if it ended at that it would have been better but no, she proceeds to make life hell for the boys.’

‘Obviously her ego and her confidence are both badly bruised by the ouster from the job’  Both turn to find Radhika who has obviously been eavesdropping.

‘She is feeling unwanted Ashu. Speak to her lovingly, patiently, give her loads of attention when you are at home. If need be go on a vacation, if you don’t have time for that go out somewhere near on a weekend, just assure her that no matter what happens you will always be with her.’

‘You think it will work’,’ he asked.

‘99% it will, 1 % I leave on hormones,’ she chuckled.

A week later

Ammaji sat down with her stitching. True she liked her family to be with her but at this age the hustle and the bustle tired her. Today the peace felt heavenly.

She looked across at Sharmaji hunched over the newspaper doing Sudoku and felt relief.

It had all worked out well.

Ashok had called up saying that he had worked on Radhika’s suggestion and was already making headway.

Radhika and Rohan had had a heady reunion and Rohan had persuaded his mother for the trip.

And Sharmaji was feeling useful once again

Only I have a job remaining, she sighed; to give some ‘gyaan’ to Rohan’s mother.

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(concluded)

The Salahkaars IV

Previously-Rohan calls up, Ashok arrives and Radhika is already missing her home

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Radhika and Ashok relive their childhood days while Amita and Anil spend time being spoilt by their grandparents. The relaxed mood and Ashok’s persuasiveness propel Radhika to think of reconciliation. Ammaji feels a bit relieved because Ashok is supposed to leave in a day or two and she wants to sort out everything before his departure.

Technology helps at such times. While everyone including the kids start brainstorming, Ashok enables voice chat on his Lenovo and invites Rohan.

Rohan feels his mother is lonely.

Radhika feels she is selfish and narrow-minded.

The kids feel that Dadi needs some friends her age. So that she goes out and stop nagging them.

Ammaji feels that she needs a reality check.

Sharmaji feels that Rohan and Radhika need some space… from Ammaji that is.

‘Hey I got an idea, Papa and Amma are supposed to go to Vrindavan next month why don’t you persuade your mother to join them. In that way you all could get some breather, she too would have some change and …ahem; Maa could enlighten her somehow that times have indeed changed’, suggested Ashok

‘Hey Ashok that’s a good idea, Maa always wanted to visit Vrindavan. She rarely goes out but Vrindavan might just tempt her,’ yelled Rohan

And after that it was total chaos as everyone started speaking together.

‘Silence, one by one,’  screamed Sharmaji

And they began making plans

late night Ammaji got up to have a glass of water to see the balcony door ajar.

She peeped out to find Ashok smoking. Which meant he had some issues. He smoked only when he had some problems, as if blowing smoke rings could solve problems, huh, idiot, she thought.

‘Ashu’ she called out while Ashok scrambled to squash out the cigarette.

‘Whats bothering you?’

”Nothing’. said he.

‘Don’t lie to me at least.’

‘Ritu and myself are having some problems.’

Oh no, he too, thought Ammaji.

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(to be continued)

The Salahkaars-III

Previously Radhika returns home to her parents leaving her home for good. Meanwhile  Ashok is supposed to visit them and together they hope to find a solution to Radhikas problem.

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By evening Radhika’s mood got better and she went out to play badminton with the children. At that time, the phone rings and Mr. Sharma feels relief flooding through him because it is Rohan on the other side. if he has called it means things are not that bad.

‘Papaji how is she?’, is the first question that he asks.

‘Better now, playing badminton. Rohan, I do not want to interfere, but ……….’

‘I know Papaji, you will never interfere and I know that Radhi is right but.. Since Dad expired last year, Maa has become difficult to handle. She wants to live as she used to; in the olden days. earlier Dad would drive some sense into her but now no one can get through to her. She doesn’t go out much and will be after Radhi and the kids. I know she is feeling lonely. And so if I side with Radhi she will feel totally devastated.’

Sharmajis heart went out for Rohan, it gets difficult for a man when his wife and mother are on different sides.

After assuring Rohan that they will think how to tackle this problem he kept the phone down.

By night the children had relaxed and opened up. Yes, they did not like their dadis interference but they missed her presence too.

Radhika on the other hand was thoughtful.

‘Missing Rohan’, asked Ammaji

‘uhh yes. He is not a bad guy Maa, but sometimes I do feel that he should side with me especially when I am right.’

Ammaji at this juncture did not want to point out that its difficult to take sides. But she was pleased that whatever had happened between Radhika and Rohan their love and respect for each other was intact. The other issues could be sorted out.

Ashok came the next day around 3 pm and both the siblings started teasing and chatting with each other.

Sharmaji looked around happily it was a long time that the brother-sister duo were together at their parents place.

But ammaji was worried the lines around Ashok’s face told a different story. Ashok was having problems. No it was not some job problems, it was something personal but what??

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(to be continued)