To Be Free

By

Chiksunny

***

“Rohini, will you help lay the table?” Mom’s voice drifts from the kitchen.

Putting my book away, I stifle a yawn. The clock shows 9 pm. That leaves me with only three more hours to complete my studies.

I race to wipe the dishes. Ten minutes later, we are enjoying a sumptuous dinner.

***

Ours is a joint family. The first generation comprises my grandfather (Aajoba) and my grandmother (Ajji).

My Family Tree Diagram

Aajoba - Ajji

                                                                |

                                ---------------------------------------------------------

|                                 |                                 |

Keshav – Kashi     Madhav – Manjiri        Govind - Geetanjali

|                                 |                                 |

                                ---------------------------------------------------------

                                 |                                 |                                 |

                             Rohini (21 years)      Kartiki (9 years)        Amol (14 years)

                             Ragini  (18 years)     Bhairavi(4 years)      Piyush (12 years)

                                                                                                  Bhargavi (7 years)  

*Keshav, Madhav & Govind: Brothers

  Keshav-Kashi: My dad and mom

  Rohini-Myself

Manjiri Kaku is expecting her third child in about a fortnight.

***

A typical Sunday in my life

Aajoba: “Rohini, bring me the morning newspaper.”

I am in the kitchen, wiping endless cups and saucers. “Yes, Aajoba, in a minute!”

I breeze to his room with his tea and the daily.

Keshav: “Rohini, bring fresh water for my prayers.”

“Yes, Baba,” I say in passing. I have to awaken Bhairavi, the baby of the family as her mom is unwell with her morning sickness.

Come to think of it, I personally feel many a time Manjiri Kaku pretends to be sick so she can be excused from doing the chores. She works in a multi national company. She started her family quite late. After two daughters, she’s trying for a son. Now, I don’t like that attitude in the least! After all, aren’t girls and boys considered as equals? But Geetanjali Kaku- she’s a dear! She always helps mom and is so lovable!

Manjiri (reading a magazine): “Rohini, will you please give milk to Bhairavi? I feel so tired and drained out!”

“Yes, Kaku,” I reply dutifully. Today being a holiday, she is simply relaxing, as she always does on Sundays.

Bhairavi takes a long time to finish her breakfast. In between, I read the chapter on ‘Air and water-borne diseases’. I have to cover five more topics for tomorrow’s examination. Bhairavi is in a cheerful mood now. I bathe her and keep her occupied with her toys while I attack the next chapter.

“Tai, please help me with this sum,” requests Piyush. Almost immediately, Bhairavi creates a ruckus and I leave everything to pat her off to sleep. On carrying her to her room, I find her mother already stationed there, snoring deeply. It’s only ten in the morning!

Returning to satisfy myself that Piyush has understood everything, I take a hurried bath. Hardly out of the bathroom and I find Kartiki pacing the floor.

“Tai, Archana has invited me for lunch. It’s her birthday. Please drop me at her place.”

As I accelerate my Activa and race on the road, my little pillion-rider reminds me to stop at Gifts’ Corner. After half an hour of deliberation, she selects a cute Barbie diary and then I deposit them both- the parcel and my little cousin in Archana’s house.

“Don’t forget to collect me at five!” Kartiki’s shrill voice follows me as I speed away.

Back home, I shut myself in the study, but cannot concentrate, what with the blare created by Amol’s new music system. Storming out to give him a piece of my mind, I fume when he gives me a deadpan look and then, increasing the volume twofold, coolly walks out of the house. Really, this boy is growing more and more infuriating day by day!

Peace at last! I manage to read something substantial for some time and later help with serving the meal to Aajoba, Ajji, my dad, uncles, Manjiri Kaku and all my cousins. (Ragini is away on a trek; she usually spends weekends in this fashion). Then my mom, Geetanjali Kaku and I have our lunch. We have no hired-help to do the dishes. Whoever comes for the job never returns after experiencing the voluminous work involved.

The cleaning-up is indeed boring and time-consuming. I begin grumbling. Mom tells me to leave everything and study, but I cannot ignore the workload hanging on her and Geetanjali Kaku’s shoulders. I have to help. Even if Manjiri Kaku’s second sleeping session has already begun.

By this time the washing machine has done it’s job and we ascend the stairs to our terrace to hang the clothes. I retire to the study room where Amol and Piyush are playing ‘Antakshari’. Seeing me, Piyush deliberately clambers to the place allotted to me. No amount of cajoling helps. As I cannot fit in his small chair, I resign myself to sitting on the floor.

Time passes swiftly. It’s time to fetch Kartiki. I hurry, wondering why her father can’t do the job sometimes at least. But he is busy playing cards with his friends. They usually play Rummy every holiday.

Mom has prepared the evening tea and snacks, which I am now ready to serve.  Manjiri Kaku gobbles up the Pohe and gulps down her tea; she has to be in time for her beauty appointment. Who knows, after the baby comes, when next she will be able to pamper herself again?

After again helping with the chores, I rush to the study, intending to occupy my chair and complete the remaining studies. The doorbell chimes and unexpectedly, our family friends arrive. Usually whenever any other than nodding acquaintances visit our place, we never send them back without a meal. Now the whole process will start again!

To tell you the truth, I am sick and fed up of this routine! I have already made up my mind: I shall apply for a job somewhere far away, rent a room and stay there alone, away from this maddening family! I shall eat delicious food outside, choosing a new menu everyday. I shall treat myself to weekly beauty treatments and do a complete makeover. I shall rest whenever I want to, without the tension that someone might arrive anytime. I shall be the queen in my private den and enjoy life like I never did before. I shall enjoy the serenity, away from the hustle-bustle of this exasperating atmosphere!

***

I peer at my wristwatch in the darkness. Oh! No! Seven already? I’ll be late for work! No…it’s Sunday! I dive under the covers again and give a contented purr. I try to lie still but start fidgeting almost immediately. I toss and turn about. Sundays are boring and lonely. Nothing ever happens on a Sunday here, two hundred kilometers away from home.

I stare at the silently whirring fan. It seems to be mocking at me. It seems to say, “You wanted to live independently: you’re doing so! You wanted a good job: you got selected in a prestigious organization! You wanted peace and tranquility: you’ve got it now!

But did I want it so peaceful and tranquil that even the sound of a single pin dropping on the floor would startle me?

***

I wonder what everyone back home must be doing. Hyper-activity must be going on in full swing. The kids must be driving Mom and Geetanjali Kaku quite crazy. Manjiri Kaku must be busy with her newborn Prachi. A girl again- I’m so thrilled! I am dying to see her again! Oh, to hold her tiny frame against my bosom again and savour the trust she shows in me by clutching her tiny finger around mine!

They must have prepared Pohe for breakfast. Oh, how I long to relish it’s unique flavour again! What they serve at the mess is so tasteless! The lunches and dinners are hardly appetizing. And eating often at posh hotels upsets my stomach. I’d give anything to eat the yummy food prepared by Mom or Geetanjali Kaku. Or even Manjiri Kaku, for that matter!

I feel so emotional and drained out whenever I remember the happy times I spent with my wonderful family. So what if there was a lot of work involved, so what if Manjiri Kaku did not lend a helping hand? So what if my cousins fought with me sometimes? They are young and they squabble on silly, minor issues! At least there was unity amongst all. I have so many friends here, yet none seems close. When I had fallen sick last week, there was no comforting hand to soothe my hot head, no one to give me water when I felt thirsty, I had to take medicines on my own, I had to check my own temperature! Gulp!

Whenever there is power failure here, I have to make do with cold water. Back at home, Dad or my Kaka always used to help pour the hot water from the gas into the bucket and carry it through to the bathroom. They are so chivalrous and helpful. No wonder ours is a close-knit family. And I am proud of it!

***

 It’s Diwali and I am home for a week.

“Aai, Rohini has arrived!” Ragini coos in joy. She has brought a rare stone from one of her treks for me.

Mom rushes to hug me. As I bend to touch dad’s feet, I find tears clouding his eyes.

Kartiki proudly shows me her new bicycle. “With you gone I realized how much we took you for granted,” says her father apologetically. “ I bought her this to go to nearby places.”

Govind Kaka and Geetanjali Kaku present me a lovely cloth material.

“Stitch a salwar-kameez and wear it on Bhau-Beej.”

Bhairavi jumps up and down to catch my attention and when I bend low, she places a moist kiss on my cheek and presents me with a red rose.

Amol: “Tai, I have carved a beauty box in wood with compartments to place your lipsticks, moisturizers and fancy items.”

Piyush shyly places a carefully embroidered handkerchief in my hands. “Our crafts’ teacher taught us how to stitch it and told each to give it to someone close to the heart.”

Aajoba and Ajji have performed a pooja for my well being and safety.

I am overwhelmed at everyone’s response on my return. With the exception of Manjiri Kaku.

***

“Rohini, please look after Prachi while I have my bath,” Manjiri Kaku’s voice sails through the commotion created by the kids as they play Dumb Charade.

“Yes, Kaku!” I hide my smile as I watch Kartiki trying to portray The Scandal by feverishly pointing to her sandals.

Stroking Prachi to sleep in her room, I too catch my forty winks. As I awaken, freshened and clear-headed, I realize with a start that I have yet to iron my clothes for the evening’s function to be held amidst close relatives and friends to celebrate the joy of my homecoming.

I open the door to my room. There awaits for me my chudidar-kurta neatly pressed and ready for use. There is also an ultra-mod new jewelry box with countless bracelets, ear tops, necklaces and bindis. I am surprised. I turn around to see the receding back of Manjiri Kaku.

I realize that I had misjudged her as well as some others in my family. The atmosphere here is not at all annoying as I used to feel earlier. Beautiful, healthy relationships exist here. Whenever even a single member so much as sheds a tear, others gather to console. Whenever anyone sneezes, a handkerchief appears out of nowhere. There is mutual understanding amongst us.

I now hate leaving my family, my home. But I have to depart shortly. My job awaits me. However, there is always the promise of a new tomorrow... The joy of returning to my loved ones...And watching the delight on their faces-of my homecoming.

This is my real heaven on earth!

Marathi terms

Aai: Mother

Baba: Father

Kaka: Father’s brother

Kaku: Kaka’s wife

Tai: Elder sister

Pohe: Flattened rice dish

Copyright©Chiksunny@Sulekha2007