Seasons of Change Part 6

There comes a time when a single incident changes everything in life. Anand’s departure from our lives had shrouded my family with gloom, something which never changed ever in my living memory. The silence which had lulled over the dead remains of my dear brother had now carried on in our lives…Maa never spoke to us again. We heard her voice sometimes, in those moments in her sleep when she kept talking to the abstract son who was now no more. Her voice never spoke to us, it was lost in transition between the ladders of life and death…a place where it had lost itself searching for her first born child. Many a times I dreamt of Maa scathing an alien land calling out for her son…a nightmare which reflected my helplessness in pulling my mother out of the sea of sorrow that she had immersed herself in. When doctors, quacks, saints , advice, prayers and all that we ever tried didn’t work, we began accepting the fact that Maa’s mourning may never be over. She dwelled in an abstract world, completely ignorant of the passing time with memories of her lost son.

Baba continued working for sometime, and slowly his days were spent outside the home than with any of us. In grief of his dead son and ailing wife seemed to be taking a toll on him. Life went on for me and Payal, as we struggled to keep the house running. Her part time job at a school and my meager salary of a news reader supported our lives when Baba’s income stopped aiding us. Silence now inhabited the house which was once teaming with life and happiness. We never knew what happened to Baba when suddenly he came home and announced he quit his job. A week later someone from his college came with a cheque saying it was our fathers savings when he quit work. We tried talking to the man who was once our dear father but never received any proper answer. He would leave the house at dawn and would return late at night, sometimes gone for days together. No one knew where he went or where he returned from. In a single turn of time we had almost lost both our parents along with our brother.

In our times of grief Arjun became our biggest support. They say in life when you have lost everything there will always be a true friend to stand by you, he was that strength in my life. He lent his personal as well as financial support without asking. Many a times he stayed up nights with the police or searching the streets of Madras when Baba went missing for days. Orphaned at childhood, he seemed to understand the pain we went through now. He filled the gap which Baba’s anonymity and Anands absence made in our lives.

I never asked Payal where she was the night Anand left us. I never questioned Arjun how he found her. Somehow with the responsibilities doubling on with time, the question lost its significance. It was a relief to see everyone home somehow alive after a day back from work.

In days that progressed, pain kept dragging on and nothing in life seemed to change. Relatives and friends pleaded with Baba to return to normalcy for the sake of two young unwed daughters at home. Nevertheless, me and Payal had realized long back that it wouldn’t work. In our prayers, a complaint was silently registered wherein our parents had walked away from us, and lulled away with the memory of duties.

Then one rainy evening that year, Baba went out of the house with his umbrella, never to return. We searched for days and weeks, and then our father was found only in the police records of missing people. I still wonder where he went, a frail hope beating somewhere within that a day would come when he would return to us as our old Baba who doted on his children. However in depths of my heart, an empty feeling told me that life was to move on beyond, much beyond this pain. I had my ailing mother, little sister and a search for my father to aid. My weakness would mean the end for my family.

SEASONS OF CHANGE - 5

That moment of silence still lingers as a part of my life. That moment and beyond, everything changed. It is a nightmare still etched in the depths of my memory, for I followed every second and every step...stunned and noiseless when my mother lifted the white covers of what came in the vehicle. I was a silent spectator to my father’s wails of agony over his dead son’s body which he got home. My mother however remained silent and expressionless, staring numb at the mortal remains of her beloved son.

A variety of people gathered at the scene…faces known and unknown came to steal glances at the visions of the maimed family. Then came policemen and other people…they told us Anand fell off the train. The details didn’t matter anymore, my brother, my parents son was gone…never to return again or let the family celebrate his homecoming. I looked at the stiff and pale body which had once been my brother. He wasn’t his Maa’s beautiful boy anymore with cuts and stitches sewn across his face. He used to be scared of the hospital as a child…phobic to needles. I stared blankly at the maimed body…this had once been our Anand. Tears blurred my vision and I moved off the scene.

For what it seemed like hours I could still hear the cries of Baba as I sat numbly on the doorstep, my back turned against them, unable to face the reality. There still wasn’t the slightest noise from Maa and I feared turning back and looking at her. I wanted to hear nothing, see nothing, nothing at all…everything seemed so frightening and I doubted my strengths.

A light hand touched my shoulder, but I was stiff, unable or maybe unwilling to respond. A familiar voice spoke, “Di, are you Ok?

It was a realization that I had forgotten about Payal not being there and a sudden pang of guilt cast a knot in my stomach. She was there standing beside me looking at with eyes of concern, eyes now puffed red and tear filled. I stared back, unable to react. She knew the moment and threw her arms about me as we hugged in a silent expression of grief.

Seasons of Change 4

I peeped through the window overlooking the road… there was no sign of Payal or Dad. I broomed the pieces of shattered glass into the bin. The time was nearing 7 in the grandfather clock. I looked through the window again… still no one. Ma was still sleeping in her room. Somehow the look of blankness on the dusty road and the silence of the moment gave me an eerie feeling. Before the clock struck seven, I put on my slippers and tiptoed out of the house.

Venky uncle’s shop had a telephone booth. It was just across the road. Uncle was sitting on the steps, enjoying the little bit of relief the evening wind provided from the summer heat. He could read the look of worry on my face.

“What is it Aruna Ma, you look so tensed?”

“Nothing much Uncle, actually, Payal and Baba haven’t come home yet. I needed to make few calls .Our telephone is not working”

He understood the urgency of my voice and led me to the old black telephone without further questioning. I picked it up to dial Baba’s number. The phone rang. No reply. I tried again. Still no reply. Maybe Baba had left the office. Maybe he is on his way. But…

I took a deep breath. Everything is going to be all right…I assured myself. I turned around to have a look at the road… No signs of Baba or Payal. Old Venky Uncle stood behind me wearing a questioning look on his face. “Baba left the office...I suppose”.

He gave a difficult smile and sat down on his chair in the shop. Now it was difficult to contact Payal. Though I had the Institute’s number she worked at, the phone usually was never received or stayed out of order. I decided to give it a try. I dialed the number and the phone rang. Someone picked up the call…and click…the line went dead.

My fingers went numb. Tension gripped me. I dialed the number again, ‘the number which you have called is busy, kindly try again after sometime’..and the melancholy voice went on repeating it in three languages. I tried again…and then again..still the same answer.

The wind outside was getting cooler, but somehow it made feel worse than good. Venky Uncle rose from his chair. “Aruna, I guess they are on their way. Don’t worry so much Ma”.

I could only nod my head. It was unusual for Payal to stay out this late, she was usually punctual. I decided to call my classmate Arjun. Arjun stayed a few houses away from institution where Payal worked. I dialed Arjun’s number. When he picked up the call I went on with my story without listening or making sense:

“Hey Arjun, Payal… home...late…can u…what will ..oh god…baba also not !”

“Shhh..Aruna…relax. Breathe. Whats wrong”. I controlled my tears and took a deep breath. I narrated him my worry. “that’s all naa, don’t worry. I’ll check out and bring her along if I find her on the way. And you get back home and stay with your mother. I shall check out on Uncle too. And for God’s sake Aruna…Relax. Everything will be fine.”

I wiped my tears and placed the receiver down. Venky Uncle offered me a glass of water and escorted me home. The time was seven thirty, Ma was awake... “Arunaa, where had you been. I was so scared. Where is your Baba…where is Payal..” Her voice was subdued in the noise of a vehicle which just arrived. Everything went silent…..

Seasons of Change 3

First rains will have three of us dance on our terrace, paying no heed to Maa’s scoldings. Later on she would join us in the celebration, enjoying the rains than worrying about the repercussions. Days changed to months changed years. After school, Anand, the oldest of us three left home to study in Trichy. He was the brightest in his batch and Baba Maa were beaming with pride when he got through a top college to finish engineering. I took up English Honors in a local Madras college.

Those were amazing days, I would walk to the local train station early at six thirty and get down at the station closest to college and walk to my classes again. My friends Madhu and Arjun would give me company. Days changed to months changed to years and things were getting better. I was considering a course in Mass Communications, loved doing radio and T.V. shows for my college. Anand got a job in a top firm. Payal took up part time studies and took up a job in a school for mentally challenged kids. That was her dedication to the social work and none of us had any objections on her at times tiring herself out doing her self accepted duty.

Somehow life was about to change and none of us were aware of the fact. I would never forget that summer when everything changed...forever.

Maa wasn’t very well that evening. Both Baba and Payal hadn’t returned for work. Lot of work needed to be done. Anand was completing his degree and returning home the next morning. Maa and Baba had organized a puja on his homecoming to thank the gods for the good luck their son got home. I was home, exams done, now I was preparing for job interviews. The telephone line was dead. Maa was getting jittery and kept pacing the house. She asked

“Aruna, why isn’t your father back as yet. Payal should also have been home by now. They are delaying stuff. I need to arrange everything for the Puja tomorrow. Its dark already, can.t send you to fetch stuff and my headache wont spare me.”

I could sense worry in her tone. I looked at the grandfather clock I the drawing room. It was plain six thirty, not that late. Baba and Payal were usually back by this time but they did strech limits due to work. Somehow the issue was different.

“Maa, it isn’t that late. Why are you so worried? They would be on their way back. Why don’t you lie down, you are already unwell.”

“Its not that dear, I don’t have a good feeling about today. Anxiety is filling my mind. If they are back soon I’d be relieved. Did Anand call? Has he boarded the train or bus already?”

“No, Maa. He hasn’t , the phone is not working. He would have called Baba’s office. Don’t worry Maa, get some rest. I am sure things are fine.”

Maa kept complaining but somehow I managed to get her to bed. I walked her to her room. A light summer loo was filling the house creating a slight unrest due to the heat. Maa lied down on her bed and held my hand, “ I don’t have a very good feeling Aruna”.

“Don’t worry Maa, you are unnecessarily tensing yourself!”

It was weird to see Maa so anxious and it was beginning to race my nerves too. I checked on the grandfather clock, it was nearing seven in the evening. A gust of wind allowed my dressing mirror to fall of the table and the glass shattered. Now I wasn’t superstitious in general, but the glass shattering did somehow made me feel weird. I dint want Maa to get up and worry about this now. I ran to check her room, she was sleeping peacefully. I picked up the telephone receiver, it was still dead.

Seasons of Change 2

It was foolish of me to depend on the rain, I had to realize...nothing was to help, nothing at all. I had to move on this moment all on my own. But then suddenly, this moment was all I had. Life

seemed to begin and end here…in this one moment.

Things had been so different eight years ago. These first rains…I had been in love with them. I lived in the outskirts of Madras, not one of the places where rains were usual. The first showers of the year were welcomed with gaiety and immense celebration. I remember people coming out of their homes, on the roads on the terrace welcoming the cooling droplets of water which quenched thirsty earth and air. The monsoons came here in late October, the retreating monsoons. By that time of the year most of the other parts of the country start winters. Madras enjoyed its uniqueness in the untimely monsoons.

Ours was one of the few north Indian families inhabiting the sleepy little colony at Murali Nagar. With time and the bonding with the place, the general discrepancy of being from the north was lost. We were more used to the Rasam Satham diet than our native dal chawal. Baba along with his parents had moved in here when he was six years of age. Grandpa’s north Indian eatery, ‘Delhi Dhaba’ worked well to fuel the family to grow three well educated sons and two daughters. When he died, his sons sold the eatery and went back to serve more intellectual institutions.

Baba was the professor in an Engineering College in Madras and met my mother in one of his official visits to Lucknow. They were married after a year of courtship and set up their family in Grandpa’s old home in Murali Nagar. That is where me, my brother Anand and sister Payal were born and raised. We grew up in the blended traditions of north and the south. Payal and me would set up Golu dolls at Vijaya- dhashami and flaunt Pattu Pavadais during Pongal and other festivals. All three of us spoke fluent Tamil and found our identity more on the narrow streets of Murali nagar than visting Maa’s parents in Lucknow.

Seasons of Change 1

A gentle cold wind blew the hair off my face. The scent of wet mud in the air indicated that there had been rains somewhere close. I looked up and saw the gathering of the black clouds and filled my lungs with the rain scented air. I spread my arms wide..eyes closed I wished I could fly. I wished i could scream my heart out, I wish i could shout out what held my mind. all that escaped was a gasp...I sat down on my knees, unable to walk any further. Tears escaped my eyes blurring my vision..the thunder in the sky shrouded my gasps. As the rain fell..in drops and then in showers..I wished everything would wash away. The pain, the agony, the memories....

Timeless...

I remember this scene from Notting Hill...where Hugh Grant takes Julia to the park at night. Theres the park bench she sits on, "For Jane who loved this park..from John who always sat beside her". All she could say is,"its actually amazing that people fall in love and spend all their lives together". Am not sure of the actual dialogues or names in the movie, Notting Hill is something I watched ages ago. But yeah, these were the export of words. They keep on playing on my mind at times when I do question the continuity of relationships. Love..a major paradox. A riddle which I maybe will never be able to solve. I have known people spend all their lives together, I have known people change and grow in love. At the same time I have seen love turn into a bitter hatred, and the couple who were once inseperable, part ways and turn strangers. I have seen love make and destroy individuals.

Its divine to see that happiness on peoples faces..the happiness which comes from an age of love and togetherness, from security and stability..isnt it? Its weird..a simple emotion can mean so much in life..whats more is that it makes a lot of difference..to have someone you can spend your life with.

Survival -The Concluding Part

I felt the ground slip away from beneath my feet. Somehow I felt diminished and ashamed of myself....her courage left me feeling disgusted with my pessimism. I remembered my parents, Ma and Baba invested their lives educating me and giving me a good life. Baba wouldnt let me down, never let me feel I was any different from a son. In a village where daughters were brought up just to be married off..Baba and Ma had laboured to set me off to a posh residential school in the city for a good education. Every small success, be it good grades or a pat on the back from a teacher would set them elated. Tears filled my eyes when I remembered Baba's last words to me, "I am always so proud of you daughter, you never let us down."

Today I realized my folly, I felt I had let Baba down. I had given up on life, forgotten my parents in years after their demise, I had forgotten how much they would have wanted me to live and live happy had they been alive. My marriage was a mistake, my health was my weakness. In the courage of this old lady, I felt my mistake had been living on with the guilt of a previous mistake and my weakness was giving up on life. Tears welled up my eyes at the wake of memories.

I felt a arm on my shoulder,"Beti..you alright?". I turned around and hugged Dadi...and I couldnt stopped sobbing. I cried like a baby, may be for hours. Dadi kept asking," Kya hua beti..what happened". And I wouldnt answer, I cried and fell asleep in her lap. I had found strength in an unknown source.I had rediscoverd life in the most unexpected place on earth. This rainy night had changed the course of events.

The next morning I had made my mind. The rain had stopped...and the scent of wet mud had filled the air. I looked out of the window...I saw children playing in puddles of water. Some of them at the gate, eyeing the fruit laden trees in the farm. One of them picked up a pebble and 'Thak', aimed at a guava on a tree. I saw dadi run out, "you little rascals, keep your eyes off my farm", she held her walking stick in her hand raised in action. I saw the kids run away in fright..and I couldnt stop laughing. I laughed my heart out. i felt happiness return to me after ages.

That afternoon when i was leaving, I caught a glimpse of the neem tree which was dadis memory of Munna. I could imagine a young kid playing with his mother in the shade. The imagination was refreshing. Somehow I knew why Dadi lived on with her memories by the shade of this tree. I had made my decisions today.

I bade my farewell. I had found life again. As I sat in the car, I told my driver, "Turn the car around, we are going to the city. Doctor Sahab ke ghar chalo..lets go to my doctors home."

I wanted to get treated. I wanted to give life a chance. I looked at Dadi as my car moved on the road to life, "Life is beautiful..Thats something I realised today!"

Survival 4

She got up from prayer as I entered, her fingers running over the rudraksha beads of the rosary she held. " You, need soomething beti?"

"Na, just glancing about, who are the people on the pictures?"

She just smiled at my questions, and drifted her eyes towards the wooden frames on the wall. "they, they are my family Maya." She pointed at the picture of a young man in army uniform, "that is my husband, Captain Rajendra Sharma. He was in the army. He is no more though. I was always so proud to be an armymans wife".


"The boy over there, my son Anuj, my Munna. He was my intelligent little boy, even his teachers wouldnt stop praising him. They kept on saying, 'Thats a very bright boy Mrs.Sharma. Your son.' I was so proud of him. He was my happy smiling boy. My brave son. He helped me put up all money to save for his college. He would help me around in the farm. It was not easy for me, when he boarded that loud hissing train for the city. I knew I would be alone. But I knew he needed wings. My son was a bright boy. He wanted to be an engineer, he wanted to be in college. He worked with me to reach him there, but then God didnt want that maybe. He was brave and smiled always, he came back from the city in a week. The doctors said he wouldnt live.Munna has TB, they dint want him in college, cause my Munna was sick. He was still a brave boy, his smiles kept me going, even the day he breathed his last, he was smiling, as he said 'Ma, dont worry', he died smiling on my lap".

She drifted off to nostalgia, i could see tears dripping from her eyes as she wiped them with her saree. I touched her shoulder," You alright..Dadi?".

She looked at me and nodded,"My son was all I had in life. My husband didnt stay with us you know.Sorry for the piece from my past. I get emotional sometimes".

"Your husband..he was away at the army?"

"Not really", she replied as she turned towards the pictures again. "He didnt want us maybe. He lived with his other family. Our marriage was arranged by our parents. He wasnt asked his opinion. Those days nobody would. But then he loved someone else. he stayed aloof from me and Munna. The day his parents died, he went back to Radha, he loved her, he married her. He came back to see Munna once, but all was over. He never returned again. I then came here. This place gave me life, my fathers farm. I have lived here ever since."


I was rooted to the spot, not knowing what to say. Dadi got busy cleaning the frames. She was yelling out to the maid for not cleaning properly. My brain drifted from the scene, I couldnt listen to the voices. I was lost in a world of my own.

"dadi", I asked,"Wasnt it very difficult for you, living alone this way"?"

She paused a moment before she answered me, then a smile escaped her face. "nahin beta. yes i felt alone at times. But i had to live on. I felt lost after Munna went away, but then Munna loved this farm. As long as I am here, I can feel his presence here. he loved that Neem tree in the orchard. My father planted it when I was a kid, and the tree has been there since. Munna also loved it. He would love playing in its shade and I would join him. The memories helped me live. I cant leave the farm alone, you see. How can i stop caring about something my son loved to much. And then those kids at the orphanage, I lived to see their smiles when my gardner would get them their bags of mangoes which grew on my farm. Life has a lot to it beti, I never gave up living. And with so many things to live for, it wasn't really difficult you know."

Survival 3

The next thing i remember was sitting in a large hall lit with lanterns and some lady putting blankets on me. 'drink this', said a harsh voice. All i could think off is gulping down the hot cup of tea or whatever the stuff was with fright and then go, 'aaaaaaaaaaa..'..i scalded my tongue.

'Dumb...really dumb girl! cant u exercise caution. it was supposed to be sipped slowly.' At this point i realized i was petrified. maybe she sensed it n i could feel her voice soften after that. she handed me a glass of water to soothe my burning mouth and sat next to me.

'wats ur name girl?, why u here?', she asked, now gently.
'Maya..Maya Mathur. I came to visit my family in the village. Vijay Pratap Mathur was my father. He is no more. Am visiting my Uncle Veer Pratap Mathur and his family.'

'Hmm..the zamindars grandaughter..werent u the naughty one..i have seen u trodding my gardens many times..hmm..ages ago' . I could see the sudden change of expression on her face, n then i saw her smile..that should be a world record. I bet no one ever saw this happen. the old lady smiled!
" Hmm..living in the city are you?..u look weak. dont u eat well. are u married?"

These questions put the flames of nostalgia out and put me back on present. I dint know how to explain. yes i live in city. i am weak as i have cancer and i am divorced. women her age and of her times..i wonder if they heard of divorce. all the passing thoughts ..she decided not have the answer when she saw my face.
' U must be hungry, dry urself well, i will pass u dry clothes. u can have dinner and stay here for the night. todays kids..u need proper feeding female'

With this she walked off. Minutes later another middle aged lady who had given me the blankets appeared. I guess she worked for the old lady. she gave me wierd looks as she passed me the clothes. I bet they hardly entertained any guests. No wonder she felt i was strange.
"change ur clothes now. its cold. dinner is gettin ready!"

Dinner was the most amazing i had in ages. though i couldnt eat more lest i get back to my vomittin due to my disease. 'u dnt even eat properly' was the ladys complaint. I decided to call her Dadi..fr grandmother. I was being cared for and that made me feel happy...it was ages since i lost my parents and i never felt home till this day and it came frm the last place on earth i expected.

I went over to the well to wash my hands and when i returned i couldnt find Dadi. i saw a light flickering in the room close to the kitchen and walked there. It was also lit up with lanterns, a small room with photographs on the walls, garlanded and a small earthen lamp on the stand on each frame. She was in prayer when i walked in. The whole house had meagre furnishings. mostly cane furniture, and the beds were rolled out mats on the floor. it made the huge house looked empty.

'