chapter 27
Sanyog - A Coincidence
My phone was buzzing , I heard from the bathroom, I was anxious , that must be Sanyogita⦠Hurriedly I came out ⦠Ma was sitting on the chair near the table with my phone in her hand ⦠I asked her , raising my eyebrows with whom are you talking⦠she raised her hand and instructed me to keep quiet⦠I started laughing at her behaviour ⦠how much we grow up and whatever position we are in ⦠our mothers always think we are still young and we need their care and attention ⦠I opened the wardrobe and started searching for my favourite shirt and trousers ⦠I was planning to call her and go out for lunch somewhere ⦠so that we can get our we time and Sanyogita might feel like sharing her thoughts with me⦠at that time , I heard my mother was saying to her ⦠Oh! How horrible it is ⦠he shouldnât have behaved like this ⦠you poor girl ⦠how much you have undergone during these years ⦠you must need your own time to reflect and think⦠take your own time⦠but donât forget , we are always with youâ¦
I was in a shock and I asked , Ma , with whom are you talking , what happened , why did you touch my phone at allâ¦
She didnât pay any attention to me and continued on the phoneâ¦
After fifteen minutes , my mother put the phone downâ¦and said aloudâ¦
We canât trust anyone now a days⦠how educated people can behave like this⦠nothing has changed in this world ⦠when will this patriarchal system will end and when women will get their real freedom, God Knowsâ¦
Mother India ⦠I called her aloud⦠done with your monologue ⦠when my mother used to be angry ⦠I used to call her Mother Indiaâ¦
You ⦠shut up! She said angrilyâ¦
Now what happened ⦠why are you so furious ⦠now who troubled whom⦠I had so many cousins ⦠and I knew every one had her own problems ⦠and my mother was always there to provide guidance and advice ⦠I questioned â¦
I was talking with Sanyogita⦠she said calmly
What? I almost jumped from the chair⦠and said ⦠who has given you the permission ⦠means to touch my phone and call her ⦠Ma⦠why do you interfere in our matters â¦now what she will think about meâ¦
I should have interfered much earlier ⦠Ma said in a calm voice â¦
You are too much Ma ⦠I shouted â¦
Donât shout ⦠she said angrilyâ¦
Take her for lunch somewhere ⦠I have told her already on behalf of you ⦠she might discuss with you .. Ma saidâ¦
Yes, your honour ⦠do I have any other option remaining ⦠I said loudlyâ¦
Mother said , Mayank , Sir is ready ⦠take out the car from garage and went out â¦
I was very much surprised by her bold behaviour today⦠she was very much worried about me ⦠thatâs why she is behaving in an eccentric manner , I convinced myself â¦
I hesitatingly called Sanyogita to take her consent for lunch date â¦
She picked up the phone immediately as if she was waiting for it and instead of saying hello to me , she just enquired , when are you coming , I am ready â¦
I was really shocked be her answer and without knowing what to say , I just replied , I will be there within half an hour , be ready â¦
Ok⦠She said and cut the callâ¦
I said to myself , Ma is very genius , she has done half of my work ⦠singing the song ⦠Jindagi Pyar ka Geet Hai ⦠I was wearing my favourite pair of clothes navy blue colour kurta and sky blue colour jeans ⦠I knew very well this was the colour , Sanyogita loved ⦠I was very nervous and looked in the mirror at least ten times â¦
Ma entered the room with a glass of milk and my pills ⦠have this first ⦠she saidâ¦
Ok⦠I said and gulped the pills with warm glass of milk ⦠I felt better now ⦠I asked ⦠Ma ⦠I am very nervous ⦠these many years have passed by ⦠I really donât know what happened in her life during these years ⦠how should I start my conversation with her ⦠and why she will disclose her secrets with me ⦠thatâs the question hovering in my mindâ¦
Answer is simple ⦠Sameep ⦠Ma said ⦠confidence matters ⦠she confides in you ⦠she thinks you are her best friend stillâ¦
Thatâs the problem Ma ⦠She thinks about me only as her best friend ⦠and nothing else ⦠I burst out â¦
Sameep ⦠all you men are alike ⦠what do you expect that in first meeting , she will hug you and accept you in her life ⦠Ma said irritatingly â¦
No, Ma ⦠I am not in a hurry ⦠I have waited for this day so many years ⦠thatâs why , I am bit anxious â¦
This is bit, Sameep . Ma said ⦠a girlâs heart is like a mirror ⦠once an image gets reflected in it ⦠it is forever ⦠sometimes due to pressures of external world other images gets reflected and mingled in it ⦠but it doesnât mean the original image is lost ⦠it is there â¦
I said aloud , Ma ⦠what âs this you are talking about , image and all ⦠donât speak in figurative language , speak clearly â¦
Ma said laughing ⦠during these years of service ⦠Sameep you have become far away from literature ⦠thatâs not good â¦
Oh! Ma ⦠please stop ⦠tell me what should I do todayâ¦I said â¦
Nothing ⦠she replied
Means? I asked
Listen ⦠just listen to her⦠sometimes patient listening ⦠works magically , Ma answered â¦
And if she doesnât speak⦠then ⦠I put forward my query â¦
Sameep ⦠sometimes I think who is more old you or me , Ma said laughing â¦
Here again ⦠how come age matters in this context ⦠I asked â¦
Sameep ⦠be optimistic , I am sure ⦠today she will tell you everything ⦠but donât hurry ⦠let her take her own time ⦠she will accept you but it will take time ⦠she has to wipe all other reflections in her life first ⦠be a good friend of hers â¦Ma gave detailed explanationâ¦
Ok madam , I am your obedient student ⦠thank you for your valuable guidance , I said laughing â¦
Mayank entered the room ⦠Sir , I am waiting outside â¦
Ma said⦠go and take the blessings of God and your father also â¦
I nodded and stepped out â¦
Dr. Archana Pandit