We are basically from Kolhapur, my new neighbor said over an evening coffee. I had just shifted to Mumbai for a new project for about a year. I had this beautiful old lady as my neighbor who was old only by her age. We sat together very often and spoke over many things. She was nostalgic today and she started sharing her life story with me.
In Her Words : We shifted to Mumbai because my husband got a job in Bank of India, Mumbai. I used to always get scared of the feeling of being alone in a huge city like Mumbai and that too with a man I knew barely since a year. Kolhapur, then was a small village and everyone knew everyone there. But Mumbai, a place where I did not know anyone brought a lot of fears in my mind. My husband turned out to be a real gentleman. He took care of me. Though I was an illiterate housewife who knew nothing but to cook and take care of my family, he always made me feel he was completely dependent on me. He loved me unconditionally and when in a couple of years Ramesh happened, he started loving me more. We were so glad to become parents. We relished every moment of parenthood, gave him all the love we had in our hearts. We never thought of any more children because we wanted to give Ramesh the best of life. He grew up to be a very intelligent child. Always had some new plans in his minds. Ramesh’s dad left us when Ramesh was pursuing his MBA. We were very shocked when he died of a stroke just in a fraction of second. Life seemed to have turned upside down after the death of my life partner. Ofcourse I had my son, but it is very true that no one can replace the way your husband loves you and stands by you during the worst of your times.
Ramesh started reaching great heights in his life. He got a job with a very high salary and was on the top of his world. I was more than happy to see my Ramesh happy and growing. Like every hindi movie, somehow after a couple of years, Ramesh did not consider me a part of his dreams. He had his own life, his own dreams. I never understood him still longing for more money and wanting to get a better job. I once told him: Ramesh you already earn so much, why do you want to still change your job? Don’t be greedy beta” The word greedy worked him up. He got furious and said “Aai, you will not understand. Please stay out of my professional life” I calmly replied “Can I at least discuss your personal life?”, he bluntly replied NO.
I died a thousand times after that. Every day, I saw him I could hear the NO he had told me without thinking once!
After a few days of tremendous internal fights amongst my so many thoughts, I realized I needed a life of my own too. I enrolled myself for Yoga classes and Laughter sessions in the parks. Yoga classes gave me freshness and a healthy life while laughter sessions made me happy.
I realized talking to people and being around fun loving people made a lot of difference in our lives. I was having the best of my time. In a few months Ramesh got married to a South Indian girl. She was a sweet girl though very unlike what I had dreamt for Ramesh – a typical Marathi mulgi.
After they returned from their honeymoon, Ramesh broke the news of his transfer. He mentioned he and his wife would be shifting to Chennai the next month. He did not invite me even once to join them. I would have never had a problem to go to any city if I had my son along but also at the same time I did not want to be a burden on anyone. I could not sleep that night. Emotions were flying around in my mind. I was going to stay alone in this house without anyone to look at, without anyone to share my dinner with, without anyone to wish me good night when I go to sleep. I was going to be alone, all alone!
My husband was a man of great sense, he had left me this home and a decent amount of bank balance. Today I feel he knew somewhere what was going to happen in future.
After a month, they left. They left me alone in this house. My friends rendered unexpected support towards me. They kept motivating me to live a good life. I somehow also wanted to move towards the better. There was a reason why my husband had planned to make my life independent and I wanted to respect it.
A couple of my friends along with me have started a small play group in my home and we are doing great. We are enjoying a great deal. It is called “Babies With Oldies”.
We give the babies love, fun and good teachings. So what if Ramesh is not with me, I have 10 other babies who don’t mind if I not only interfere but also rule their lives.
Some of the young working women of our colony have started sending their kids to us because they feel no one except grand parents can give the best growth path to kids.
Its rightly said "It is never too late" I am so glad, I started a new life with these babies.
Which company does Ramesh work for?, I asked while seeing the album aunty was showing me.
Her answer startled me. I missed a heartbeat. Ramesh was the same guy who my team had hired for a very critical project of our own company. I now understand why the photo was so known to me.
Because he knew he was a very critical resource, he had fought for Chennai location even when the company’s first priority was Mumbai. He never shared the reason but he was desperate enough to work out of Chennai location and he was given the same considering the urgent project requirement.
The only thing I could not figure out was why Ramesh thought his mother would be a burden to him. She would not have troubled them at all. Instead she would have been of great help and a great support to the family.
When I saw granny, she was busy looking at the photos and smiling and the best thing was to not share this truth with her. She was over it now and was happy in the little world she made for herself.
She looked independent and at the same time very innocent. Sometimes it is just good to be ignorant than to know everything that will make our lives difficult.
She was a woman who proved the fact thtat if we wish to, we can!
In Her Words : We shifted to Mumbai because my husband got a job in Bank of India, Mumbai. I used to always get scared of the feeling of being alone in a huge city like Mumbai and that too with a man I knew barely since a year. Kolhapur, then was a small village and everyone knew everyone there. But Mumbai, a place where I did not know anyone brought a lot of fears in my mind. My husband turned out to be a real gentleman. He took care of me. Though I was an illiterate housewife who knew nothing but to cook and take care of my family, he always made me feel he was completely dependent on me. He loved me unconditionally and when in a couple of years Ramesh happened, he started loving me more. We were so glad to become parents. We relished every moment of parenthood, gave him all the love we had in our hearts. We never thought of any more children because we wanted to give Ramesh the best of life. He grew up to be a very intelligent child. Always had some new plans in his minds. Ramesh’s dad left us when Ramesh was pursuing his MBA. We were very shocked when he died of a stroke just in a fraction of second. Life seemed to have turned upside down after the death of my life partner. Ofcourse I had my son, but it is very true that no one can replace the way your husband loves you and stands by you during the worst of your times.
Ramesh started reaching great heights in his life. He got a job with a very high salary and was on the top of his world. I was more than happy to see my Ramesh happy and growing. Like every hindi movie, somehow after a couple of years, Ramesh did not consider me a part of his dreams. He had his own life, his own dreams. I never understood him still longing for more money and wanting to get a better job. I once told him: Ramesh you already earn so much, why do you want to still change your job? Don’t be greedy beta” The word greedy worked him up. He got furious and said “Aai, you will not understand. Please stay out of my professional life” I calmly replied “Can I at least discuss your personal life?”, he bluntly replied NO.
I died a thousand times after that. Every day, I saw him I could hear the NO he had told me without thinking once!
After a few days of tremendous internal fights amongst my so many thoughts, I realized I needed a life of my own too. I enrolled myself for Yoga classes and Laughter sessions in the parks. Yoga classes gave me freshness and a healthy life while laughter sessions made me happy.
I realized talking to people and being around fun loving people made a lot of difference in our lives. I was having the best of my time. In a few months Ramesh got married to a South Indian girl. She was a sweet girl though very unlike what I had dreamt for Ramesh – a typical Marathi mulgi.
After they returned from their honeymoon, Ramesh broke the news of his transfer. He mentioned he and his wife would be shifting to Chennai the next month. He did not invite me even once to join them. I would have never had a problem to go to any city if I had my son along but also at the same time I did not want to be a burden on anyone. I could not sleep that night. Emotions were flying around in my mind. I was going to stay alone in this house without anyone to look at, without anyone to share my dinner with, without anyone to wish me good night when I go to sleep. I was going to be alone, all alone!
My husband was a man of great sense, he had left me this home and a decent amount of bank balance. Today I feel he knew somewhere what was going to happen in future.
After a month, they left. They left me alone in this house. My friends rendered unexpected support towards me. They kept motivating me to live a good life. I somehow also wanted to move towards the better. There was a reason why my husband had planned to make my life independent and I wanted to respect it.
A couple of my friends along with me have started a small play group in my home and we are doing great. We are enjoying a great deal. It is called “Babies With Oldies”.
We give the babies love, fun and good teachings. So what if Ramesh is not with me, I have 10 other babies who don’t mind if I not only interfere but also rule their lives.
Some of the young working women of our colony have started sending their kids to us because they feel no one except grand parents can give the best growth path to kids.
Its rightly said "It is never too late" I am so glad, I started a new life with these babies.
Which company does Ramesh work for?, I asked while seeing the album aunty was showing me.
Her answer startled me. I missed a heartbeat. Ramesh was the same guy who my team had hired for a very critical project of our own company. I now understand why the photo was so known to me.
Because he knew he was a very critical resource, he had fought for Chennai location even when the company’s first priority was Mumbai. He never shared the reason but he was desperate enough to work out of Chennai location and he was given the same considering the urgent project requirement.
The only thing I could not figure out was why Ramesh thought his mother would be a burden to him. She would not have troubled them at all. Instead she would have been of great help and a great support to the family.
When I saw granny, she was busy looking at the photos and smiling and the best thing was to not share this truth with her. She was over it now and was happy in the little world she made for herself.
She looked independent and at the same time very innocent. Sometimes it is just good to be ignorant than to know everything that will make our lives difficult.
She was a woman who proved the fact thtat if we wish to, we can!
Touching Story... Still wonder why do people consider their career more important than their family... Its the family who consider the kids a high priority than their career...
ReplyDeletevery well written ! subtle yet reaches out !
ReplyDeletethe best line was : "Sometimes it is just good to be ignorant than to know everything that will make our lives difficult. "
keep writing !