“Oh god, it’s already 1, am late again”
thought Sushmita, while she was trying to cross the road in a hurry to reach
the restaurant where she was supposed to meet her school friends for their
monthly lunch date with each other.
She knew her four dearest friends
will have their patience at the limit. They were all in some big shot careers
and never never tolerated her coming late. Even though they expected her to be
late all the time. Sushmita smiled thinking how irritated they might be this
time. She could even imagine the words they are going to throw at her as soon
as she sits down.
And Shoba who works as a software
engineer will agree “Ranjita, calm down. But Sush you have to agree she is
right”
And at that time definitely
Aarathi who is a well-known reporter will jump in for her rescue “hey guys come
on cut her some slack, she has two kids to look after. Hey sush how are the
darlings?”
And of course she couldn’t forget Emily who is
a famous model, she will have a comment “Oh shut it aaru, you always defend
her, Sush I agree you have kids and family etc. but come on this is the routine
of every month”
Finally she reached the
restaurant and looked over to locate her friends and found them sitting at the
corner table near the window overlooking the pool, she smiled and noticed that
they were glaring daggers at her, she thought “Oh boy, this time I am going to
get more than few scoldings”
Sushmita reached the table and
before sitting she started saying “AM sorry, am sorry, am really really sorry.
I wanted to be on time this time, but what do to Aryan was in a tantrum that he
will come with me. By the time I calmed him down and reached here I couldn’t
find one parking place nearby. I had to park my car in the next street and walk
over. Guys please please am so so so sorry”
By the time she finished she was
sitting and all her friends were still glaring at her. She looked at Aarathi
who was always coming to her rescue but knew immediately that today even she
was angry.
Ranjita who is the most short
tempered one, took a deep breath and Sushmita cringed waiting for the word war
3. But in time she calmed herself down and in a lower voice than expected by
Sushmita she said “Come on Sushi, how many times. Its not like you are in a job
where you cant come leaving your work or something. Its not like if you come
here you will lose your job or promotion or something like that isn’t it. We
four always come here on time every month no matter how much work pressure we
are under”
Sushmita took hold of Ranjita’s
hands and with apology in her eyes again said sorry. By this time everybody had
calmed down a bit and didn’t want to waste time on this. So they proceeded to
order food.
And once ordered everybody
relaxed a bit and started talking while looking out to see that it had started
to rain. Everybody was sharing their office gossips, promotions achievements
and Sushmita could only think of Aryan who was afraid of thunder and lightning
and now when he was upset he would be more scared.
Sushmita was deep in worry quite
not following the conversational thread around her when Shoba noticed her
inattentiveness and asked “Sush don’t slouch now , I know you couldn’t get away
but it is only natural that we get angry isn’t it. I mean Ranju was right its
not like you have a time obligation with
somebody that you just cant break. You are a housewife Sush”
Sushmita smiled back to her
friend and said “no no Shoba am not slouching, just my mind was somewhere else.
“
At that time food arrived and
everybody got busy with serving up the appetizers. Sushmita’s thoughts returned to what Shoba said. Of course she
didn’t have a time obligation after all, getting up everyday at 5 so that your
family could get breakfast on TIME and pack the lunch for your husband and kids
was no time obligation. Then she would drop her kids to the school, keep up
with in-laws doctor appointment and picking up kids from school and cooking for
the whole family for the whole day on TIME was no time obligation.
Everybody was enjoying their
appetizers when Sushmita noticed that Emily was picking at her food as usual.
Sushmita got into her mommy reflex and chided Emily “Em if you don’t eat
properly how will you maintain your health, you are picking at food again.”
Emily who was always a bit
sarcastic, snapped at Sushmita with a smile “Sush I have to maintain my figure
if I need to keep up with my career. How would you know, you don’t need to
maintain anything anymore, you are settled”
Sushmita didn’t feel bad as she
was used to Emily’s sarcasm but her words sparked the train of thought. Of course
she didn’t need to maintain health or otherwise, she fell ill even for one day the whole
household will result in chaos thats all, most of the times she even worked through her
illnesses. Headaches and back pains were not even worth a moment’s
consideration now. But this is not maintaining oneself isn’t it.
Sushmita knew she was getting way emotional today. But today was not like everyday, today her son was upset, today it was raining with thunders and lightning, and after all these years today her friends were not letting go of their anger.
Sushmita knew she was getting way emotional today. But today was not like everyday, today her son was upset, today it was raining with thunders and lightning, and after all these years today her friends were not letting go of their anger.
Even though Sushmita’s thoughts
were running at a breakneck speed, her face had the same serene, calm mask as
always. She thought she should have been a poker player to maintain such calm
with the storm inside. She smiled at her own thought.
Sushmita assured Aarathi that she
was fine and not at all sad or angry with them and agreed that she deserved the
glares. Aarathi got assured and returned to her food. Everybody finished their
appetizers and when the main course arrived, the friends were in full-fledged
good mood of the month with laughs and jokes. But Sushmita while actively
talking was thinking what Aarathi said “Of course she didn’t need relaxing, she
just worked morning 5 to night 11. Who needs relaxation with such flexible
timings. It was very rarely she went for movies with her hubby and her choice
was most often none. She hasn’t seen tv in almost 4 years now. And she didn’t get
break even in weekends. Well of course she didn’t need relaxation.
Everybody were in full swing mood
and enjoying their food when Ranjita was explaining how she had to work till
late night because of a new case and hundred and one things she still had to
complete for her boss within a deadline. Sushmita didn’t want to talk anything
but she couldn’t stop her concern for Ranjita and exclaimed “But surely ranju
if you had explained your boss you could have got more time isn’t it”
Ranjita who was still a bit angry
with Sushmita snapped back “It was a deadline Sushi, which means you cross it
and you are dead. And more over my increment depended on it. Of course how
would you know” Sushmita settled back on her seat and didn’t attempt to talk
again. But her thoughts were haywire “Ofcourse she didn’t know any deadlines,
she never had to maintain one. The payment of bills on time, attending PTA
meetings, filling up prescriptions for the in-laws and maintaining household
budget and buying things within budget and still keeping everyone happy is very
very easy. Increment is a far cry, she didn’t even get salary. She didn’t have
responsibilities, she was settled.
By the time the dessert arrived
everybody had let go of their anger and were asking Sushmita about her family
and kids. After all they were friends how long could they stay angry reasoned
Sushmita and answered them happily recounting many naughty episodes of her
kids.
The group bid farewells to each
other and promised to meet again next month like always, and started to walk
away to their different destinations. Aarathi walked a certain distance with
Sushmita and while walking she said “Don’t feel bad Sushi we were just angry
for a bit longer than usual. By the way I always wanted to ask you. The whole
group is bit amazed by it”
“About what” asked Sushmita
“Well we were wondering that, you
were the brightest amongst us. I always expected you to jump into some hot shot
career and stride milestones in it. But you married and became a housewife. Why
is that? Didn’t you ever yearn for a career?”
Sushmita laughed fondly at this
question of hers, and seemed to give a thought before answering and when they
reached the crossroads where they had to separate ways she just said to Aarathi
“Well lets just say that it was destiny”. She gave a big smile and a huge hug
to her dear friend and bid goodbye.
She stopped at a store nearby her
car and bought lots of chocolates to bribe Aryan for not taking him and as she
sat in her car she thought “of course it was destiny. But not a destiny thrust
upon her, a destiny she chose. The secret which none of her friends knew was
that Sushmita always wanted to be a wife, mom and daughter-in-law and in more
modern terms she always yearned to become a ‘homemaker’. And she knew she was
good at it and happy in it. This was her career, and she did stride milestones
in it. Her marriage was a huge one and in between small achievements the birth
of her two kids was huge milestones again. And every time they got appreciated
in anyway that was her incentive and every birthday, mothers day and
anniversary was her promotion. And biggest of all the bonus was when nobody in
her family ever underestimated her importance and always loved her as she
deserved, that love was her bonus, which just grew every year. Although she
knew she was unfairly judging her life today, but she was sure she loved living
her life. She was a career women, and her job was the best in the world. She was not only responsible for her
happiness, she was responsible for
the happiness of a whole family.”
Sushmita started driving towards
her home, and smiled with contentment.
Nivedita you are at it again...Earth always round, so the career. The emotions, the trauma, the happiness, proud about the decision all narrated very nicely. I liked the characterisation of Sushmitha. when others works for their manager...Sush is working for her "Man"ager...
ReplyDeleteYou are wonderful narrator of human emotions. my best wishes for you.
thank you for your kind words. and nice play with the words :D...
DeleteSimple, crisp and clear. Awesome post. it indeed is a difficult task, hats off
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Himanshu Nagpal | Being Traveler
Being Traveler
This is indeed RANDOM Nivi, nice random thoughts molding finely into some shape as the story uncovers the sheath..stealthily but surely...
ReplyDeletegood work...keep it up.
The sense of fullness might be sometimes missing I saw in so many works. Here in this I am full. Written pretty well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the share.. Warm regards and good wishes!
Thank you :) for your kind words
Delete