Chapter 2 The stock markets all over the world were sinking. Saan thought it was the right time to off-load some shares of her portfolio. Checked the prices and decided to sell a few shares, the shares she has been holding for a long time. Noticed the markets falling as the stocks were overbought and needed a correction. Knew it’s the right time to get her returns appreciated. She has various accounts with reputed stock brokers and dialled a broking house, receptionist answered. “Hi this is Saan, would you please connect me to,” “Yes madam,” “Good morning Mrs. Saan,” “Good morning, how do you see the international markets?” “Not good madam. Do you want to place an order?” “Yeah, please,” said and gave the list of shares without stop loss and disconnected. Assuming, it would be a good return on her investment. She sold thirty percent of her holding and placed the piece of paper in her bag. She heard a knock on the door and saw Juar standing. She always liked and loved his style, he never enters without a knock or a smile, showed him a chair. “Good morning Juar,” “Good morning Saan,” “Where are these markets up to Juar?” “Shanghai, India and Singapore are moving parallel and Wall Street on the move now.” “Did you get the tip,” she enquired. “Yes, but? I don’t think it's reliable.” “You guessed the correction?” “No.” “Umm? So how many points to go down.” “Can’t say? Still have to wait and watch. Dow-Jones, CAC, DAX, and FTSE are gaining. While the Nikki, Shanghai and Nifty stocks are sliding further.” “OK, what’s up?” “Saan, figures didn’t tally, I need you to check, please.” The figures, sheets and calculations had taken more than forty minutes. After a while, Saan received a call and she left the office. * * * Ahahr was sleeping in his room when Saan reached home early. She prepared tea and came into the living room, checked the mobile messages and walked up to her room. He’s snoring loud; she undressed and went to the washroom. Ahin returned from college, threw his bag on the sofa and searched for snacks. Saw a used empty cup in the kitchen. Knew his mother was home, went into parent’s room. He saw his mother’s sari hanging on the chair. Came into the living room and switched the TV, settle for music channel and increased the volume. He lay on the sofa and adjusted a cushion as a pillow. Saan dabbed her face with a towel, applied the moisturiser and walked down the stairs. “Mama, give me something to eat.” Ahin pulled his mother’s hand and made her sit on the sofa. He adjusted and placed his head in her lap. “Ahin, you’re grown, but still you behave as a child, my sweet baby.” She said and stroked his long hair. Sat for two minutes, later she placed her sons head on the cushion and went into the kitchen. She returned with fries, bread sandwiches and sauce. Meanwhile, Ahahr woke, dressed and came down, saw the mother and son. The cruel look in his eyes revealed that he’s neglected and ignored. Saan saw him and said, “Ahr, have some I’ll get the coffee and sandwiches for you.” He walked to his son took the plate from his hand and threw it. The contents scattered over the floor and the plate rolled and settled after a few circles. The sound echoed the ache of an ill heart in the room. Mother and son were astonished and Saan was the first to react. “What the hell is this? Are you insane, your behaviour has become intolerable? Are you in your senses? We’re vexed with you, day by day.” She said. Ahahr was moving closer to her, she pushed him away. “Day by day, ah day by day . . . My existence and behaviour is intolerable, useless lady did you ever do me a favour I asked for? Did you ever cook by my choice? You did nothing, nothing, didn’t bother for my needs, clothes or shoes and I asked for . . .” “Shameless man, so for all these years who had cooked and fed you? You eat the damn shit out on the roads all-day, come home late at nights and force me to cook your choice. Even I packed for your drunken friends too. Don’t you remember?” “Mama, Maa, you don’t prolong and you know what the scene could be now?” Ahin said and took her away into his room on the other side of the kitchen. “Mother and son are alike and you always want to cause pain, hurt me. And I have been watching you both are trying to plan something against me.” Ahahr walked to his son’s room and kicked on the door, it was locked. Went into kitchen, took a bottle of water, drank half and slammed the refrigerator’s door hard and the contents rattled and spilled. Ahin’s room door opened and Saan came out to face him as her nerves were to break by this daily torture. Ahahr was looking at her in the eyes and both were standing facing each other. Ahahr said “Do you think it’s a favour what you do? Then, what about the past when I earned and fed you gluttons? And now, cooking had become a great task to you ha. And how dare you talk about my friends. Useless bitch, you save all my money. And even for a damn pack of cigarettes you want me to beg, and is this the way a wife takes care of her husband.” he was going closer to her. “Maintaining a family, isn’t it a man’s responsibility? Did you ever realise how hard it is to manage the house and you’re never ending wishes and sky-high need?” He heard her sarcastic words and could not bear the humiliation. Ahin noticed his father’s anger and pleaded his mother, “Mama, mama why don’t you keep quiet, you know this has been going on for years. Leave this matter now, please maa.” Ahin stood by his mother blocking her and said “Dad, please, it's not fair what you do and it hurts me and mama as well, at least for the sake of my examinations. Please calm down.” “You and your damn study, you talk about fair? And what’s fair about that bitch, the way she behaves don’t you think it's unfair, who the hell are you?” Ahahr came to his son and raised his right hand. Immediately, Saan came forward from behind her son, caught his hand and pushed away. Ahahr lost balance and fell on the sofa. He got up and caught Saan by her neck and tried to punch her on the face. At once, Ahin held his father’s hand and yelled at him, “Will you stop this nonsense? Or want me to leave this house? It had become a menace daily. What’s your problem, don’t you feel ashamed begging for money. If you didn’t save, it’s a pity. Why don’t you earn, at least for your drink?” “You are preaching me the lessons of the life. Get out, take your belongings and leave this house and right now. And if I see you again, I’d kill you and take care that bitch later.” Ahahr said and went upstairs to his room, took the money from Saan’s purse and left the house. Ahin was staring at his mother, she was lamenting for the wrong choice of her life partner. He pitied her and thought how she was tolerating him for all these years. He did not understand at the moment ‘was she dependent? Or he’s dependent on her.’ He thought why can’t she leave him? Saan wiped her eyes with her sari and said “Ahin, you ignore, it’s no new issue and prepare for your examination I am used to and can manage.” “No maa, I don’t feel like staying here anymore, also I am scared to leave you alone in this house. Why don’t you leave him to hell?” “Ahin.” It was a roar; both were silent for a while. After a while she said “You get into your room and concentrate on your study, I’ll get the coffee.” She went inside her kitchen. Ahin stood in the kitchen’s doorway and said “It’s nothing and old to you, but it gives a squeeze on my nerves maa. I’d better stay at my friend’s place till I finished my examinations. And I’ll visit you in your husband’s absence OK.” “I don’t know what to do? I feel like killing myself. I am tired of life and only it’s for you that I am alive.” She said and was looking at the bubbling hot water. “Ahin,” she was to say something, but he interrupted her “Mama, I’d be studying at nights with my friend OK and stay till you comeback from the office and leave before that man’s bark.” His words surprised her and stared him. She’s seeing a grown-up man, a man capable to taking a decision for his future, a man who loves his mother, a man fit to earn and live for himself. She was in a whirlpool of thoughts. A few minutes later, Ahin appeared with backpack and a few books in his hand, hugged her and left the house. Ahin left, and either blessed him or wished good luck for his examinations. She ran outside and stood watching him go. His gait showed his confidence; he turned around and waved and she too waved him back. A few moments were hard to explain as the words were not enough, or the time does not wait to record, she thought. Get Your Copy
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AuthorPagadala Vijay Kumar ArchivesCategories |