- 34 -
Rani called Ramesh to inform that she had arrival at home. He said, “After you went to Bathinda, I gave additional duty of cooking etc. to my driver. He’ll come with me from office and prepare the dinner.”
“It was fine when I was away but today I’ll cook myself.”
Ramesh did not say anything further on this subject. Before disconnecting the phone, he added, “Rest we’ll discuss when I come.”
As usual, Ramesh reached home late in the evening. Rani wished him ‘Ram Ram’. After a while, Rani served him food. After the dinner was over, Ramesh called her to sit with him. He said, “You must have seen the picture of the flat on your WhatsApp. It was booked for you fifteen days ago. In between, Maa left us. So, I don’t want to ask you to shift there right away. But now that all the arrangements are in place, it’s up to you to decide when to shift there.”
“We had decided to consult our children. But now there’s nothing left to consult. Just inform them.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. After you went to Bathinda, I had called Anjani and Sanjana here. They asked about you. I told them everything and asked their opinion. Their only reaction was that it would have been better if I had called them in your presence and that it was difficult for them to say anything without knowing your views. They further said that both of us were equal for them and that it would’ve been better if I had consulted Vinay before taking any decision, as earlier done. . … I hope that you didn’t tell Vinay anything about it.”
“No, I didn’t. You had specifically forbidden me. You’ve already told Anjani and Sanjana. I don’t see any point in calling them again. So far as Vinay is concerned, what’s left there to consult him? We’ll inform him in a week or so. And so far as my shifting is concerned, I leave it to you. I don't want to put you under any stress.”
“It’s not a matter of my stress. Plan your shifting by the next Saturday. In the meantime, make a list of whatever you need to take from here. And we’ll go to the lawyer in a day or two to sign the papers.”
“Okay, I’ll do as you ask.”
After this there remained nothing to be discussed, so, Rani said ‘good night’ and went to her room.
……
Next day Ramesh phoned Khanna from his office and asked when they could come to complete the papers. Khanna said, “Come in the evening as per your convenience, but come alone. Madam’s signatures would be got from home.”
When Ramesh met Khanna in the evening, the papers were ready. After dinner, when Ramesh gave these papers to Rani for signatures, after reading and signing the same, Rani said, “Ramesh Ji, you’ve given me much more than what you had indicated before my going to Bathinda. I’m grateful for your magnanimity and will remain so forever.”
“Tomorrow I’ll get the FD from bank, mention its number in the divorce papers and hand those over to Khanna. Hopefully we’ll receive the court orders within six months after submission of the papers. … And I expect this much from you that during the waiting period, you won’t do anything that might spoil my reputation and force me to reconsider my action.”
“Look Ramesh Ji, when I stay alone, one day or the other, questions will be asked by the public. The relatives will also come to know sooner or later. Probably you’re apprehensive about Alok. I may assure you that even if we meet, it’ll be in such a way that people won’t raise eyebrows.”
“I expect only that much from you. Although I know that when you’ve abandoned your settled family for Alok, you’ll not stop meeting him.”
After this blunt talking by Ramesh, Rani didn't say anything. She kept mum and got up to go.
……
Next day Ramesh handed over the papers to Khanna in the evening. Ramesh called Anjani, Sanjana and Vinay on phone and told them about all this and also that Rani would shift to the rented flat by coming Saturday. Vinay came first to meet Rani. He asked her, “Didi, you were in Bathinda for so many days but you didn’t tell me anything about it. I didn’t ask intentionally. I thought that the matter would have been resolved.”
“Vinay, everything had been settled before I went to Bathinda. I didn't tell you purposely because it would’ve hurt Maa. May God give peace to her soul! It's good that she is not amongst us to see all this happening. I may be guilty in your eyes! I beg your pardon. But since Ramesh Ji didn’t accept my one small request, therefore, I was left with no alternative but to accept his decision.”
“Should I presume that after the divorce, you would live with Alok? Have you ever talked to him in unambiguous terms about it? It may not so turn up that you get neither here nor there!”
“I’ve not discussed in so clear terms, but I’m fully confident that he won’t leave me mid-stream in life.”
“Still I want to be assured from his side. Give me his number. I’ll meet him on way back.”
Vinay met Alok. He put his doubts before him. After detailed discussion with Alok, he was satisfied of his sincerity and felt assured. Anjani and Sanjana came to meet their mother two days later. When they reached, Ramesh had already gone to his office. Mother and daughters talked freely. Anjani and Sanjana told Rani what they had heard from their Papa and now they wanted to know her views. Rani explained, “I never made any demand in my life nor did I complain about anything. Your Papa mostly remains busy in office and whatever spare-time he gets, spends with his friends. He never cares about how I spend my time. Till your marriages, I never felt loneliness but after that the spectre of loneliness started haunting me. Now that I’ve found a childhood friend in Alok, I wanted occasionally to meet him to overcome my loneliness but your Papa couldn’t tolerate this. Sometimes it becomes so suffocating in a life bound by the bonds of relationship that it becomes difficult even to breathe. There’s no gainsaying the fact that every person needs some space in life outside the normal relationship but your Papa was not ready to give me that. It’s his decision and I’ve no option but to accept the same.”
Anjani, “Mummy, you’re older and more experienced than us. You’ve seen and experienced the world more closely. The society has never treated men and women on equal footing. If it comes to saving the family, it’s always the woman who’s supposed to suppress her desires and make adjustments; it’s she who must yield.”
“Anjani, you’re my daughter but you’re preaching like an elder. It’s said that daughter is more attached to her father but it’s equally true that it’s the daughter who understands her mother better than anyone else. You guys have seen that your Papa has never let me feel the shortage of physical amenities but it’s equally true that I never received from him what was expected at emotional level. Still I never complained to him. Alok and I were friends in childhood. We used to visit each other's house, eat and play together. We were a group of five-six children. Your Mama Ji was one of us. After so many years, I’ve found a friend in Alok, with whom I feel that I, too, have my own individual personality.”
Anjani and Sanjana had no answer to this. Therefore, no further discussion took place on this subject.
*****
