Continued from the last issue……..
The memory of her tearful face when I went to meet her in the hospital haunts me. How passionately she was holding my hands in her fist! I heard a prayer buzzing in my ear in silence.
I must meet the man who got her pregnant and left her in the wilderness to suffer the worst destiny.
During lunch break I went to the canteen alone and sat on a table that was empty.Seeing me alone there, Sarbani di came and sat in front.
''Sarbanidi, is postpartum hemorrhage so fatal?''I asked.
''It's not a matter to be worried of nowadays; but proper and timely care to be taken,'' she replied.
''You are right…. it could be so....Ishika's mother was admitted to the hospital very late which caused excessive blood loss with increased heart rate. Sarbanidi, how could a husband be so stone hearted when he knows that his wife is in advanced stage…Expecting! Could a man ever realize how painful it is to carry a baby in one's womb for nine months doing household chores all alone! How weak a woman feels during this period both physically and mentally-Could a man ever realize….?''I uttered in a sort of soliloquy.
''Nothing more than this could be expected in a male dominated Indian society,'' Sarbanidi said.
''Sarbanidi ...the problem is not in others. Problem is there with the womenfolk only. They themselves prefer to be under such dominance. If anyone dares go beyond it and raise voice, they start bitching.''
''Come on Anita…...Who has asked you to meddle with the problem that has not changed through ages? Grief is a passage that needs a media to pass through. Stop worrying so much. It's not possible to eliminate these deep rooted prejudices so easily. Moreover, destiny can't be defied''
I came out a little earlier from my duty. It was getting dark when I got down from the auto.
In winter days are usually short; evening falls early.
After finishing my evening chores, I sat on the porch as usual. Rukmini served me a cup of smoked black tea. Looking around quizzically for a while she said in a whispering tone- 'the death of Ishika's mother is the talk of the town now. They said theywere not happily married. They had a heated argument on the telephone before she was admitted to the hospital.'
…. Who knows it could be the other way round too.I showed no interest in her cheap talk.
''Did you add any spice to the gossip?''
''Not at all.Why should I?''
I rose from there and got ready to go. Before leaving I told Rukmini to cook something delicious for Rathin and Riddhi's dinner.
…. When I entered Ishika's house, most of the invitees had already left. Seeing me there Ishika rushed forward and sat on my lap hugging me as if she would never let me go.It seemed something choked my throat. I couldn't utter any word.
We remained in the same posture for a long time.
By that time Ishika's auntie came out and got me introduced to the man sitting on my left with some elderly persons. Suggesting him some rituals to be followed, the men left. After a polite conversation, I straightway mentioned the death of Ishika's mother. Listening to it he made such a face as if a pungent smell polluted his existence.His face looked stern and the color of it changed like chameleon. To everyone's surprise, he covered his face with the palm of his hand and burst out in tears.
I was baffled by the unwanted twist of the situation.
What evil spirit had chased me I don't know; instead of consoling him for his grief, I reproached him a great deal for the death of Ishika's mother.
''You are wrong ma'am''- he uttered in a huffed voice.
'' Time will figure out who is right or who is wrong. Don't you think that it was your prime duty to be with your family when you know the condition of their living.Why didn't you take them with you earlier? Does it take people that long to afford a house? I continued all at a breath.
''Stop madam.It was none of my business, that's why.''
''How Strange! If it was none of your business whose duty it was to look after her''-I said glibly.
''Do you know that Ihad not been to this place for the last sixteen months''- looking sharp at my eyes he said.
What he said sounded like a thunderstorm.I felt a kind of giddiness in me. I didn't know which way I must react to it!
It was as if I couldn't believe my ears!
After sitting quietly for a long time, I came out without taking any leave of them. The helpless look of the man when I left pierced through my heart.
There was an untold story in his eyes that I perhaps failed to read either.
I was not prepared to face the unexpected twist of the incident.
Although it was late winter,it was very foggy due to the heavy rain of the previous night.A thicklayer of fog came coiling up to blind my path.The road ahead was becoming invisible. I felt likesomeone chasing me from behind; I started a brisk walk home but hung like a pendulum at the crossroads of shadow and light.
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