06-01-2019, 12:22 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-01-2019, 12:42 PM by Ramesh_Rocky.)
Chapter-12
Avani: Saturday;9.30 pm
The children have fallen asleep and I have just read the letter.
It has been such a crazy day since morning. Today my college was closed and I had come over to Anitya in the morning. Though both Siddharth and Anitya had insisted (and continue to do so) that I stay with them but I had convinced them that I needed to stay near my college and it would be unfair to my roommate if I vacate suddenly. But for the last one month I had been regularly visiting them on weekends. The time I spent with them was cathartic and things appeared much under control. They needed time with themselves to sort out so many things and my staying with them would not have been advisable.
Sudden appearance of the children was intoxicating. I just could not believe my eyes. It was ‘a dream come true’. I literally went berserk and for a moment, at a complete loss; like a small child getting back her long lost toys. It’s only after sometime that I noticed the demure girl, Shobha, who had brought them in. She looked a little ill at ease and I let her go. Sensing that I wanted to spend time with the kids, Siddharth and Anitya too went to see a movie.
They have come back now.
The children won’t stop updating me. In one hour I came to know everything that had happened in last three months. They appeared to be very fond of Shobha. That was nice. I was relieved. My son informed me that Shobha makes good ‘pav bhaji’ and he enjoys them now. It’s my daughter who said that Sumit had dropped them here. I couldn’t guess as to how he came to know about me being here. Soon, they settled down with the TV (it appears that TV time is rationed for them).
But they also appeared to have grown fond of their father.
I read the letter. Over and over again. What could I say? Sumit has poured his heart out. I never knew that he could be so apologetic and so much in mental agony. So many things that he wrote about us made me simultaneously smile and cry.
Was it possible that during the days that I was aloof and didn’t speak to him actually worsened our disconnect? Did I withhold sex as a punishment? Did I give higher priority to the children and to the household duties over Sumit? Was he kind of forced to look elsewhere because I was unapproachable? Maybe, it is a matter of perception. But, had we communicated more, possibly things could have been redeemed, today I feel so.
I am little worried about certain things in the letter. The meanings are scary.
Perhaps he is confusing me because he is not good at writing letters. Still, some of his sentences are creating panic in my heart. He repeatedly says that he is a beast, a demon. I don’t like that. He also says that he will never call me back because he doesn’t deserve it. Why? If Siddharth and Anitya can get back why can’t we. I think Sumit is changing, the children are happy with him. Should I talk to him?
I think I’ll go to him. I want to give ourselves another chance.
He says at the end ‘Goodbye’. Is he going somewhere? Where? Is there someone new in his life? Does he want a divorce?
Is it too late?
Who is ringing the bell now? Is it Sumit? Has he come to take back his children?
Karan is calling me?
Why?
Is everything okay?
Shobha!
Shobha: Saturday;9.30 pm
Sir was very peculiar today. He gave me 2000 rupees. Just like that. Mad or what? He gave his children also 2000 each. Why? They don’t need so much to spend in one day. Their mother is there. She is nice. Sir is also nice. What is the problem? And he was so happy today. Never seen him like that. For the last 2 months, he looked sad but today he is happy. Extra happy! Good thing he did not look at the fan today. That is madness.
Wait, is that madness? There is something wrong. Why did he ask me not to come tomorrow? I am worried. What if...?
Hey you, sleepy oaf. Get up. We have to go?
Where? What do you mean? Shut up and do what I am saying.
What? I can’t talk to my husband like that? I will show you. Looks like you have forgotten.
Yes, that’s better. No need to change, come as you are.
Let us go.
Hey! Stop. Let me take Madam along.
Sir, we have to go immediately. Call Madam
Madam come, we have to go. Hurry!
Now! Madam, we don’t have time.
Okay, let him come.
Sumit: Saturday;10.15 pm
It’s so painful. But what choice did I have? This is the only way. Avani will feel a little bad. We were married for so long and she loved this beast. I also did.
Will anyone miss me? I think not. No one misses demons.
The family I destroyed have sheltered Avani. I could not. Wish I could thank them. But it’s too late for that now.
What am I blabbering? When will it end? Why doesn’t it end soon?
Why are my eyes hazy? Why do I taste something salty in my mouth? My throat pains. Am I crying? That’s new! I have never cried before! Good, it is good to cry.
Am I repenting?
I cannot stand any more. I will lie down.
I can’t see well.
Who is it? Is it you? Why did you come? Why did you come to this demon?
No, no! Don’t touch me. I don’t deserve. But thanks, thanks. Thanks for coming.
Are you kissing me? It’s been so long.
I can’t see you anymore. I am sorry.
Karan: Saturday; 10.15 pm
The bell had rung exactly at 9.50 pm. I opened the door and one five feet nothing frail girl was standing. Before I could say something, she said, “We have to go immediately. Call Madam.”
Me: What happened?
Shobha: Call Avani Madam, I have auto.
Avani came. She recognized the girl. Worried, she said “Shobha”.
Shobha: Madam Come, we have to go. Hurry!
Avani: Now?
Shobha: Now! Madam, we don’t have time.
Avani: Can Karan come?
Shobha: Okay, let him come.
Avani spoke to Anitya for 20 seconds and was out. I followed. The auto was waiting below; the driver was well built and muscular. Turned out to be Shobha’s husband. Shobha sat with him. She continued to bark instructions to her husband, who appeared to be very subservient.
There was very little talk. Avani was tight-lipped mashing the handkerchief in her hand. We reached her home exactly at 10.15 pm. Shobha had a key and we entered. The living room looked absolutely spic and span. Shobha entered the bedroom and switched on the lights. Sumit was lying on the bed facing the door, face contorted in pain.
Avani rushed forward and Sumit opened his eyes. He had difficulty focussing his gaze and then he mumbled. I could only make out the word ‘demon’.
Avani clutched his head. He continued to mutter, saying thanks, repeatedly.
By now Avani was crying and kissing Sumit as if possessed.
He had stopped responding.
Avani continued to shake him but he had closed his eyes.
Shobha pushed Avani and whispered, “Hospital”.
Our trance was broken.
Me and Nandan (Shobha’s husband) picked him up with difficulty and put him in the auto. We all squeezed in and rushed. Nandan drove like a madman possessed through myriad lanes and by-lanes of Mumbai. The precious time ticked away but the maze of roads appeared interminable.
Finally, the lane opened wide and we were at the hospital. The paramedics took over. The doctor on duty rushed in. He had a look at Sumit and contorted his face in despair.
We waited and hoped against hope.
Grim faced doctors fought valiantly against the combined effects of cocktail of drugs and pesticides. Every organ in his body was affected. He remained comatose, flitting between light and darkness; between life and death.
Days and nights passed in a daze. Avani did not leave Sumit for three days. On the fourth day Sumit had a major crisis, his blood pressure dropped drastically. The doctors pumped in large quantities of drugs to raise the blood pressure. But, he failed to respond. His life continued to hang by a slender thread for a full day. The doctors would not give us any hope. Avani sat by Sumit, holding his hand, like a stone.
Finally, early in the morning, the doctors came out and informed that the blood pressure was now normal.
The crisis was over, though not the danger. But now it was a matter of time.
Avani: Saturday;9.30 pm
The children have fallen asleep and I have just read the letter.
It has been such a crazy day since morning. Today my college was closed and I had come over to Anitya in the morning. Though both Siddharth and Anitya had insisted (and continue to do so) that I stay with them but I had convinced them that I needed to stay near my college and it would be unfair to my roommate if I vacate suddenly. But for the last one month I had been regularly visiting them on weekends. The time I spent with them was cathartic and things appeared much under control. They needed time with themselves to sort out so many things and my staying with them would not have been advisable.
Sudden appearance of the children was intoxicating. I just could not believe my eyes. It was ‘a dream come true’. I literally went berserk and for a moment, at a complete loss; like a small child getting back her long lost toys. It’s only after sometime that I noticed the demure girl, Shobha, who had brought them in. She looked a little ill at ease and I let her go. Sensing that I wanted to spend time with the kids, Siddharth and Anitya too went to see a movie.
They have come back now.
The children won’t stop updating me. In one hour I came to know everything that had happened in last three months. They appeared to be very fond of Shobha. That was nice. I was relieved. My son informed me that Shobha makes good ‘pav bhaji’ and he enjoys them now. It’s my daughter who said that Sumit had dropped them here. I couldn’t guess as to how he came to know about me being here. Soon, they settled down with the TV (it appears that TV time is rationed for them).
But they also appeared to have grown fond of their father.
I read the letter. Over and over again. What could I say? Sumit has poured his heart out. I never knew that he could be so apologetic and so much in mental agony. So many things that he wrote about us made me simultaneously smile and cry.
Was it possible that during the days that I was aloof and didn’t speak to him actually worsened our disconnect? Did I withhold sex as a punishment? Did I give higher priority to the children and to the household duties over Sumit? Was he kind of forced to look elsewhere because I was unapproachable? Maybe, it is a matter of perception. But, had we communicated more, possibly things could have been redeemed, today I feel so.
I am little worried about certain things in the letter. The meanings are scary.
Perhaps he is confusing me because he is not good at writing letters. Still, some of his sentences are creating panic in my heart. He repeatedly says that he is a beast, a demon. I don’t like that. He also says that he will never call me back because he doesn’t deserve it. Why? If Siddharth and Anitya can get back why can’t we. I think Sumit is changing, the children are happy with him. Should I talk to him?
I think I’ll go to him. I want to give ourselves another chance.
He says at the end ‘Goodbye’. Is he going somewhere? Where? Is there someone new in his life? Does he want a divorce?
Is it too late?
Who is ringing the bell now? Is it Sumit? Has he come to take back his children?
Karan is calling me?
Why?
Is everything okay?
Shobha!
Shobha: Saturday;9.30 pm
Sir was very peculiar today. He gave me 2000 rupees. Just like that. Mad or what? He gave his children also 2000 each. Why? They don’t need so much to spend in one day. Their mother is there. She is nice. Sir is also nice. What is the problem? And he was so happy today. Never seen him like that. For the last 2 months, he looked sad but today he is happy. Extra happy! Good thing he did not look at the fan today. That is madness.
Wait, is that madness? There is something wrong. Why did he ask me not to come tomorrow? I am worried. What if...?
Hey you, sleepy oaf. Get up. We have to go?
Where? What do you mean? Shut up and do what I am saying.
What? I can’t talk to my husband like that? I will show you. Looks like you have forgotten.
Yes, that’s better. No need to change, come as you are.
Let us go.
Hey! Stop. Let me take Madam along.
Sir, we have to go immediately. Call Madam
Madam come, we have to go. Hurry!
Now! Madam, we don’t have time.
Okay, let him come.
Sumit: Saturday;10.15 pm
It’s so painful. But what choice did I have? This is the only way. Avani will feel a little bad. We were married for so long and she loved this beast. I also did.
Will anyone miss me? I think not. No one misses demons.
The family I destroyed have sheltered Avani. I could not. Wish I could thank them. But it’s too late for that now.
What am I blabbering? When will it end? Why doesn’t it end soon?
Why are my eyes hazy? Why do I taste something salty in my mouth? My throat pains. Am I crying? That’s new! I have never cried before! Good, it is good to cry.
Am I repenting?
I cannot stand any more. I will lie down.
I can’t see well.
Who is it? Is it you? Why did you come? Why did you come to this demon?
No, no! Don’t touch me. I don’t deserve. But thanks, thanks. Thanks for coming.
Are you kissing me? It’s been so long.
I can’t see you anymore. I am sorry.
Karan: Saturday; 10.15 pm
The bell had rung exactly at 9.50 pm. I opened the door and one five feet nothing frail girl was standing. Before I could say something, she said, “We have to go immediately. Call Madam.”
Me: What happened?
Shobha: Call Avani Madam, I have auto.
Avani came. She recognized the girl. Worried, she said “Shobha”.
Shobha: Madam Come, we have to go. Hurry!
Avani: Now?
Shobha: Now! Madam, we don’t have time.
Avani: Can Karan come?
Shobha: Okay, let him come.
Avani spoke to Anitya for 20 seconds and was out. I followed. The auto was waiting below; the driver was well built and muscular. Turned out to be Shobha’s husband. Shobha sat with him. She continued to bark instructions to her husband, who appeared to be very subservient.
There was very little talk. Avani was tight-lipped mashing the handkerchief in her hand. We reached her home exactly at 10.15 pm. Shobha had a key and we entered. The living room looked absolutely spic and span. Shobha entered the bedroom and switched on the lights. Sumit was lying on the bed facing the door, face contorted in pain.
Avani rushed forward and Sumit opened his eyes. He had difficulty focussing his gaze and then he mumbled. I could only make out the word ‘demon’.
Avani clutched his head. He continued to mutter, saying thanks, repeatedly.
By now Avani was crying and kissing Sumit as if possessed.
He had stopped responding.
Avani continued to shake him but he had closed his eyes.
Shobha pushed Avani and whispered, “Hospital”.
Our trance was broken.
Me and Nandan (Shobha’s husband) picked him up with difficulty and put him in the auto. We all squeezed in and rushed. Nandan drove like a madman possessed through myriad lanes and by-lanes of Mumbai. The precious time ticked away but the maze of roads appeared interminable.
Finally, the lane opened wide and we were at the hospital. The paramedics took over. The doctor on duty rushed in. He had a look at Sumit and contorted his face in despair.
We waited and hoped against hope.
Grim faced doctors fought valiantly against the combined effects of cocktail of drugs and pesticides. Every organ in his body was affected. He remained comatose, flitting between light and darkness; between life and death.
Days and nights passed in a daze. Avani did not leave Sumit for three days. On the fourth day Sumit had a major crisis, his blood pressure dropped drastically. The doctors pumped in large quantities of drugs to raise the blood pressure. But, he failed to respond. His life continued to hang by a slender thread for a full day. The doctors would not give us any hope. Avani sat by Sumit, holding his hand, like a stone.
Finally, early in the morning, the doctors came out and informed that the blood pressure was now normal.
The crisis was over, though not the danger. But now it was a matter of time.
Like, Comment and Give Rating.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)