chapter 26

Sameep, Sameep … just five minutes , what are you saying , so long… it will not take more than five minutes … I know you are hungry but control yourself …Sanyogita said…

And we both started laughing …

Ma… entered the kitchen and asked … ‘Is khichadi ready or not … ‘ and she added , ‘how good you look together…’

‘Right aunty … we are best pals from the college days , you know … I am also feeling home after so many years …’ , Sanyogita said …

Oh! I forgot , I will fry some papad , Baba has ordered … she said…

Sanyogita asked , ‘After so many years also … you follow his orders …’

Ma replied … ‘Sanyogita after many years of marriage … you got to know each other so well … that though you are not same blood … your souls are connected , you can easily understand what your partner wants or feels … these orders are just external matters … to show the world … what we old people can do otherwise to kill the time … right …you go outside … I will bring cooker and papad also…’

Sanyogita was reflecting over what mother said while sitting at the dining table and she asked ,’Sameep , what Ma said in the kitchen is applicable to all couples in the world… if it has been so … there won’t have been divorce cases and family courts and those lawyers …’

I stated , ‘You are asking the question and giving answers also… but I will add … how these lawyers will survive without fighting couples …’

And I started laughing , even Baba and Mayank were also laughing … I observed her face … she was very serious … so I stopped … and asked her , ‘What happened anything wrong …’

‘Nothing ..’, she replied …

But I was sure , ‘She was hiding something …but it was not the right time to ask anything further …’

Ma entered with aromatic khichadi and papad the tension on the dining table was relieved …

After dinner … I asked Mayank to drop her home…

Sanyogita suggested that I should also come along with them…

I readily agreed but Ma was worried about my health … but Mayank was with me so she was relieved...

Mayank was driving the car so smoothly , I felt as if we were gliding … was this the effect of her company or was it the effect of the food , I was unbale to decide… Sanyogita was also relaxed … she was half asleep till we reached her apartment … Mayank told her … Madam we have reached … she adjusted her spread hair while she was tilting on the headrest of the seat , she has removed her bun … I thought time hasn’t affected her charm at all …

Sameep … she was knocking on my window… when did she got down … I thought … coffee… she was asking …

Thank you , I replied , not now …

Ok, good night then , bye … she said … take your pills , she instructed …

I nodded like a child…

Mayank , she said … take care of your sir …

Yes mam… I will … good night … he said …

We waited there till she entered the apartment gate , looking at her slim figure walking gracefully … then we started back…

I slept very well that night …

In the morning … I cursed myself … that I didn’t ask her when can we meet again…I wished to call her … but I thought what she will think about me … and may be she will be busy with something , how can I invite her daily or she will come every day to my place… though she is alone … she will have her priorities … but my mind was very disturbed … I even thought , it would have been better , if I hadn’t met her again … at that time …

Ma entered my room and said … today house is very empty … yesterday both of you were talking , laughing … we also felt better … without her … I am feeling lonely , her presence was fulfilling …won’t she come today also?

Ma … what kind of question is this … will she be free everyday to visit us … yesterday she came because I was ill and we haven’t met so long …

You are right , Sameep … but if she isn’t coming … you can go and meet her …Ma said…

Ma… what are you saying … how can I go on myself without her invitation… won’t it look childish…

Sameep , both of you are not children any more … you are now mature enough … I won’t use the word old … she said … smiling …

Ma … have you come here to tease me…

I mean to say … both of you understand your responsibilities … and I know very well your feelings about her … I should have pushed you at that time … so current scenario would have been something different … She said …

Ma … what are you saying this … you are grown really old now …

I won’t deny, she said giggling …

Ma , though she is alone in Pune … she might have her family at some place… I don’t know exactly what has happened in her life and without knowing this how can I ..? 

Yes , there are always many possibilities … you are right Sameep… but when person is happy with his or her family … the person mentions at least about the family members … she didn’t speak a word in last two or three days about her family … It means , I am sure there is some problem … she is in trouble … Sameep, she needs you now … at least as a friend to console her , to understand her feelings … with whom she could open up her mind … she was lost … like you … Sameep… Ma stopped after uttering such a long monologue …

Why are you hesitating … I asked angrily … to Ma…

What? Sameep you are suffering and you have suffered a lot so many years … Now I want to see you happy … Ma replied …

I agree … I said … But it doesn’t mean that … If you wish to suggest about us …

I am not suggesting anything … she added … but there are always possibilities … don’t waste the time … already you have wasted a lot … go and ask her …

What … directly … I jumped from the chair …

Sameep … are you kidding … Ma said … ask her about … what she is trying to hide from us … ask her about the pain … she has undergone …

I asked Ma, ‘How are you so sure … that it was pain … it could be otherwise also…’

Ma replied ,Sameep , I am a mother and above that I am a woman and wife basically so I can gauge the other woman’s feelings very easily …

Hats off to your guess work , I said to Ma…

Call her … Call her … Ma said repeatedly

Ok… I will after bath … I said …

Dr. Archana Pandit