Call Of The Oleander

Veena was feeling let down and miserable, that she took permission to leave the office early that day. Just as she took the turn for the lane that led to her home, she was captivated by the inviting oleander that was in full bloom at the Children's Home. She stopped her scooter at the gate and walked in.

Mother Superior who was in charge of the Home was well known to her as she was handling the Home’s accounts in the Bank. Mother had always kept asking her to visit the place and she would find some excuse or the other. Today was different. She felt very depressed and wished to vent out her feelings to someone and on an impulse, she had thought of Mother.

She was very warmly welcomed by the receptionist and very soon Mother emerged from the Convent and showed genuine happiness and surprise seeing Veena. Soon tea was served and Mother sensing that Veena had something to say in private, took her to her room and made her comfortable.

Though Veena had a lot to pour out, she felt choked. Never had she thought ill of anyone and today she was filled with rage, animosity, disgust, disappointment and all negative feelings. “Yes Veena”, Mother started inviting her to open up. Veena knew that Sara who was teaching the children English and Maths was on maternity leave and asked Mother whether she could teach the children in the evenings after she left the Bank.

Mother was overjoyed and expressed the same, but she least expected what Veena asked further. “Could you please provide me accommodation in the Home?” Mother was shocked. 

She was aware of the tragedy that had struck Veena when she had been married for less than a year. Veena and her husband were on a holiday in Singapore when Vijay had a severe cardiac arrest and succumbed to it. A thoroughly shaken Veena had bravely managed to get the body home and get the rites performed and then invited her mother-in-law, Neera who was living alone to come and stay with her.

Neera was in her late sixties and was always complaining of one ache or the other. Veena would get up early in the morning and do all the work but yet she would always keep finding faults. In the beginning, she would target Veena for having brought bad luck to the family and for the death of her only son. Veena being submissive felt very upset but forgave her and served her very diligently and with affection, looking upon her as her own mother. She had lost her mother when she was hardly six years old and was brought up by her uncle as her father had married again and lived separately. 

Veena’s Mama and Mami had no children of their own and were very much devoted to Veena. After getting Veena married, both of them had gone on a yatra to Kailash Manasarovar but did not return as they were victims of the Malpa landslide which took a toll of more than 400 pilgrims.

As Neera’s complaints started increasing, Veena was on the lookout for someone who could attend to her while she was in the office. She also thought that apart from the TV serials that occupied Neera’s time, a companion to share views would do a world of good and also make her feel secure. As luck would have it, Bhanu, one of Neera’s cousins was staying alone after her son got married and settled in the US. Veena contacted her and requested her to live with them and she was only too happy to leave the village and shift to a palatial villa in the city with a whole big room all to herself.

For some time, everything seemed fine. Veena would do most of the household work, leaving only very little for the aunt. Neera took full advantage of the situation and would constantly keep Bhanu on her toes. Bhanu was in full control of the house and when Veena was away both of them had a gala time. Veena did not mind it as she was concentrating on her office work and her hard work paid rich dividends when she was posted as the Chief Manager of a branch which was about 30 km. away. In the beginning, she commuted daily on her scooter though it was strenuous, when the branch was under inspection, she preferred to stay in the accommodation provided by the Bank above the branch itself. She had told Neera that this would only be a temporary move and that she would soon join them back. Veena also managed to arrange for a full-time helper so that both Neera and Bhanu would be more comfortable.

Her absence provided Neera and Bhanu with a very fine opportunity to ransack Veena’s belongings. Though Veena had locked the safe in her cupboard, the keys were left on the shelf itself. When Veena came back after the inspection was over, she did not notice anything at first. It was only when she had to attend a party to felicitate her performance in the new assignment, she opened the safe to take out a simple gold chain Vijay had presented her for her birthday. She was shocked to see an empty locker. She casually mentioned it to Neera and hell broke loose. “You mean to say that Bhanu and I have taken away all your valuables? How dare you make an allegation like that? We are two poor old souls finding it hard to carry on our lives and you accuse us of stealing your things? We are quite wealthy and do not have any need to do such things. Today you have accused us of stealing, tomorrow we don’t know what you will do. Bhanu, come on. Pack up your bags and mine. Let us go back to our homes.” The ever timid Veena pleaded with them not to go away and convinced them to stay back.

This morning, when she was on the way to the office, the full-time helper who was returning from the vegetable market stopped her. “Memsahib”, she said. I am sorry to say this, but both these ladies are not of good character. They only have taken away all your jewellery and have kept them in their room. I happened to overhear them saying that they will soon brainwash you into giving away this villa to them, saying that you were very gullible and can be easily fooled. They are exploiting your kind nature. They know you are otherwise intelligent and strong but when it comes to family, you have shown your weakness and submissiveness which they can take advantage of. Please be careful”.

Veena looked up at Mother and briefly told her all that had happened. “I do not wish to live with such unkind and selfish people. All these years I have disregarded their rude comments and behaved kindly but this is too much for me. The children in this Home welcome me with open arms and overwhelm me with their love and affection. That is why I requested you to permit me to stay with you all. My mother-in-law and her cousin can continue to stay in the villa and enjoy all my material possessions. God is watching and He knows best. Fortunately, I have my fixed deposits to stand me in good stead apart from my job too. Am I asking too much Mother?” Veena sobbed. Mother comforted her and said, “Veena – it is indeed a strange request which has no precedents in this Home but doesn’t you worry, you will now be a part of our family. Shift in here tomorrow and stay blessed, It is the call of the oleander.”