For My Children

After dinner, Mr.and Mrs.Saxena were discussing marriage plans for their daughter Ria.

"We are so lucky. Our daughter has got everything she wished for. May she remain blessed always."

Mr.Saxena spoke in a relaxed tone. Mrs.Saxena handed over the mug of coffee to him. "Yes indeed. Atul is a fine boy, and I felt so respected when he asked after my health. Not that he was just fulfilling some formalities. I could see the concern in his eyes."

"I will make this marriage memorable. I plan to hire a wedding planner."

Mrs. Saxena put down her cup immediately. "What? No No Girish. They are very expensive. We can't afford this lavishness."

"Why not? Don't you remember Sharma's daughter wedding last year? In our office people talk about it to this day. What will my colleagues think of me? And Sharma ? He sits beside me. How will I face him?"

"Sharma ji has a rich father who took the marriage arrangement in his hands. He only had to bother with the bride and bridegroom's personal jewelry and clothes. Did you not see how his daughter glittered in that diamond necklace around her neck? I will not settle for anything less for our daughter. Wedding planner or not."

"Who goes out wearing those elaborate necklaces? Besides an imitation necklace looks just as well for the day, and no one can tell the difference."

"What! Are you a father? Thinking about imitation jewelry for your daughter!"

"Who is here to lend me extra money for real diamonds woman?"

"Money will be there if you don't fritter it off on your crazy wedding planner idea. Besides don't we have three other children to look after?"

"It's my job to manage. I have toiled all my life just to give a decent life to you and the children. Now I want to do something as I wish."

"So! Is this an obligation you place on me? Since when you became so selfish? What your office folk think is more important than your daughter's future? Our future?"

"You won't understand this professional stuff. You illiterate woman."

"Illiterate? You call me illiterate? Can you spell out illiterate yourself? It's this illiterate woman who has taught her three children on her own till tenth grade saving all the tuition fees on you. To hear this one day! So that you blow up all the money at your whim!" She grew belligerent.

"I will do as I please. You can do whatever you want."

"So you will hire the wedding planner?"

"Yes!"

"You will not."

"I will."

"I am leaving this house."

"You can leave this instant. Go wherever you want."

"You don't need to bother."

Deeply insulted, angry and controlling her heavy sobbing, Ria's mother hauled down a large suitcase. Filled it up with whatever clothes she could lay hands on. She went to look into children's room. There was absolute silence there. Ria, Reema, and Anup were sleeping. But the youngest Arun had woken up and was sitting in his bed. Seeing her, he said, "Where were you mother? I came to search you in your room."

"I didn't go anywhere child! Just to give coffee to Daddy in the study."

"When you were away, I felt afraid and couldn't sleep. Why do you go leaving me asleep?"

Saying this the child put both his arms around her neck to climb into her lap. This fountain of innocence cooled off all the heat of insult and anger blazing inside her chest. The tender love brought back the assurance that she needed to be here, at home. For her children, if not for anyone else. Her eyes moistened. She lifted Arup in her lap and held him close to her chest. "Next time, call me out loud. I would come immediately."