Mother

“I’m unable to sleep.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I don’t know why I am awake.”

“It is past midnight. Why are you not sleeping?”

“I’m not getting sleep”

“Why are you not sleeping?”

“That’s what I have been telling you.”

“You are thinking something…put a stop to it and sleep.”

“What thoughts I have?”

“You only have one…about him.”

“No.”

“Don’t tell me. He is the only reason.”

“How can I be without thinking of him?”

“Is there any woman who does not think about his son?”

“You said it.”

“But you should not brood before you go to bed.”

“But thoughts occupy our minds when only we go to sleep.”

“Okay, Go to sleep. Tomorrow we will talk.”

“You are asking me to sleep when I am not getting even a wink of sleep.”

“Then, you better be awake. I am going to sleep as I am damn sleepy.”

“You doze off even if you sit on a chair.”

“Well said dear. If I sit I get sleep, but I don’t get sleep in bed!”

“We are two in the house. It is not fair if one is awake and the other sleeps. So, till I get sleep, please take a book and read.”

“How do I look to you? An idiot? When I am sleepy do you want me to be awake? Get some sleep.”

“Are you are telling me to sleep again and again, when I am unable to sleep?”

“Then, I will sleep.”

“I will try but tell me whether Balu will return to India?”

“Why doesn’t he come? However, we will discuss about this tomorrow.”

“He always says he would come back. He went to Singapore telling me for a job onsite.  Three years passed away. He is in my dreams now.”

“I understand your problem now. Don’t think this in the night about him. Sleep away.”

“I work throughout the day. And, I think of him only in the night.”

“You should not chase these thoughts about him till midnight.”

“I don’t but those take me forcibly.”

“What’s the big difference?”

“Now tell me whether my son returns to India or not?”

“If not, what’s that he is going to do in Singapore? The project is also completed. He told me that in a day or two he would shift himself lock, stock and barrel to India. I have already informed you this.”

“He is telling us thus but there is absolutely no hope of his return.”

“No. Our daughter in law Suma also told me.”

“Oh, that girl! I don’t believe her. She tells one thing and does a different thing.”

“Don’t say so. She has come for delivery to Chennai and she will come to Hyderabad soon. And, you can yourself ask her.”

“If he has the intention to return to India, why did he apply for Canada P.R.? He asked you to search for a certificate and send you. Both are one. Twin thieves!”

“Don’t say so. His future is important.”

“It means he does not come back to us.”

“Suma will be here in a few days. If we talk to her and we get clarity. Then we can speak to him.”

“I told him a number of times but he does not lend an ear.”

“He will definitely come. He also would like to stay with us. Why did he buy this house? It is only to stay with us all.”

“Let us hope so. He is now changing his dialogues. If he gets Canada P.R., he said he would take us there.”

“It is not that easy. Have no worry. Get some sleep. I will also sleep.”

“Shall I tell you a solution to this?”

“Yes.”

“Will you do what I ask you to do?”

“Why do you ask like that? Am I not doing whatever you ask for?

“You are doing but sometimes something happens in your mind and you don’t listen.”

“You are telling something happens in my brain? What do you want me to do?”

“Now, you please do what I tell you.”

“Sure, I will do.”

“You should not say no later.”

“Don’t mince words, tell me quick.”

“No. Promise me that you will do.”

“I promise.”

“He asked for some certificate to be searched by you. Did you trace it?”

“Oh…It is his Intermediate Certificate…I got it. I am thinking of sending it to him tomorrow.”

“Don’t send it. Tell him that you could not find it.”

“We should not be a stumbling block to his career and future. We should not do it. I feel it is wrong on our part.”

“You should. Why should we go to the mountainous cold country?”

“It is his career that matters.”

“Even then, you don’t send.”

“Will he not be angry with me?”

“Don’t tell the truth. Tell him you could not trace it.”

“I must think about it.”

“No more thinking. You have given me a word. Stick to it. Don’t send.”

“I cannot tell him a lie. He wrote the difficult examination to go to Canada. He is successful and the authorities said he would be given a P.R. He has applied for it. The Agent asked me to send a copy of the certificate in question.”

“That is what I am opposing. Let him not stay overseas. Let him be with us in this country. My son, daughter in law and my grandson who is about to come in this world will be with us.”

“How do you know a grandson will be born to us?”

“Brush it aside. Whether it is a boy or girl, I don’t mind.”

“Okay. Let us stop our discussions for the present. We will further talk about this tomorrow.”

“Another fifteen minutes. Shall I prepare coffee and give you?”

“My Angel! Now my sleep left me. Though I enjoy coffee, do you mean to say I am ready to drink coffee whenever you offer?”

“I reckon your weakness. You tell him you have searched the whole house but could not find the certificate rather emphatically.  By the way, is it in our house or else we will be court marshelled.”

“It is very much existent in the house. I kept it safe.”

“Give it to me and I will hold it. It will not be available for him. Tell him clearly that while shifting the house, the certificate could have been misplaced or lost.”

“If he, by any chance, comes to know the truth later?”

“Then we will think of some reply. You leave it to me. My son should return to India. He should be with me. Whatever he said earlier, we listened to him. Now he should obey me. And, you should do whatever I ask for.”

“Done. Now you go to sleep. I will do whatever you say.”

“Now, I have unburdened myself. Will go to sleep now.”

“Fine. You are physically here but your soul is with him always. So, I have to lie somehow. And, I will. Let us see what comes about?”

“What happens? Without original certificate, the chances of getting an opportunity is bleak. No way.”

“Probably he will earn more in Canada than in Singapore.”

“Who knows? For the time being, he should return to India. We should all be together. That is my goal.”

“Won’t you think about his future?”

“I thought only of his future. If we are all under one roof, the joy is beyond measure.”

“It is your will then.”

“No more thinking now. I am now sleepy. You also sleep.”

“Okay.”

“Dad, did you find the certificate? Original should be sent to me. You seal the cover and mail me. That’s why this urgent call.”

“I have searched for it. But unfortunately could not trace.”

“Have you not found?”

“I searched in your cupboard. As a matter of fact, searched the entire house but to no purpose.”

“Have you seen carefully?”

“Yes. Probably it is with you in Singapore.”

“Everything is here but the Intermediate certificate. All degree certificates are there with me. If I don’t have that certificate, it is impossible to go to Canada, dad.”

“What should I do?”

“Please dad, search again.”

“I will but I am not confident that I will find it as every nook and corner of the house has been searched.”

“If the certificate is not traceable what should we do, my son?”

“I found out that too. A police complaint should be lodged that too in Mee Seva. They will send to the police station that comes under our jurisdiction. When they give us certificate to the effect that it is not detectible, we may apply for a duplicate of the certificate to the Board. But wherever I have studied fifteen years ago, on application, the College authorities will forward it to the Intermediate Board. The fee may be in thousands I was told.”

“Oh, my God! How long it will take?”

“Forty days…if you go in another route, it may take a month.”

“If so much of time is taken, I need not apply.

“Think about it.”

“I was hopeful I would get P.R. to Canada and take you all there.”

“Whatever we aspire, may not culminate into reality…..”

“Please stop your philosophy and try to search for the certificate once again dad. I will speak to you again.”

“I felt very bad when he spoke to me thus. We are spoiling his career development and his future. No parent has ever done this.”

“Have you told him what I tutored you?”

“I told him as it is, hence feeling sad.”

“No hard feelings. He will have his lesson. He is sure to come back to India. We will manage with his salary. Are two lakhs not enough?”

“Why don’t we once speak to Suma?”

“You are out of your mind.”

“If you tell her, all hell will break loose.”

“But, she is one of the members of our family.”

“What role? Heroine role or daughter in law’s role?”

“Oh….”

“Don’t you have any worry. That girl is young. Moreover she is in the family way. Don’t rob her of her peace. As elders we will plan what should be done.”

“It is up to you.”

“If he calls again what will you say?”

“If he telephones again, I will pass on the mobile to you to speak to him.”

“I am not going to interfere in this. You are the leader!”

“Not a leader but a scapegoat!”

“ Which means?”

“An animal being taken to the altar to…..”

“Ha…ha…ha…”

“You are laughing now. But if he telephones, trembling starts here for me.”

“Manage somehow. You have retired as a Manager, remember.”

“Our child’s project manager’s assignment is at stake.”

“Ha…ha…ha…”

“Don’t laugh. I am now on the verge of tears.”

“I am going to the temple now. Have you forgotten that today is Thursday?”

“I remember. As today is Thursday, I will seek an appropriate solution for this problem from Him.”

“That is the reason I am going. I will pray for my son’s return to India.”

“Go ahead. One should make his or her own prayers to appease the God.”

“A month passed. You won’t take the phone when called. Are you so busy? Are you okay? That is why I am calling even though it is late in the night.”

“Yes dad. There are some issues in the office and I could not even phone up Suma.”

“Okay..fine. How far your P.R. to Canada move?”

“I was about to inform you about that. In the meanwhile, you phoned up, dad.”

“You cannot do anything without the original certificate. I am all along waiting to receive your request to go in for duplicate of the certificate.”

“No need, dad.”

“Don’t you need it?”

“Yes. I sent the Xerox copy of the certificate to my friend Vikram. He knows our address. He is highly influential. He did a wonderful job and sent the certificate in two weeks. I have applied. Yesterday the authorities sent an e mail conveying their approval.”

“………….”

“Dad, why are you silent?”

“………….”

“Hello dad….”

“Oh, is it over? Okay, I am very happy. Your career, of all, is the most important agenda. You had the certificate with your own efforts. It worked. Hearty congratulations! You won’t return to India then.”

“Why won’t I come, dad? I will have to come only to bring you and mother here.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Is mother awake?”

“No. She was talking about you till now. But she is asleep now.”

“Okay. Okay. I will call her tomorrow.”

“It is fine. I will tell her the news. You may at your convenience talk to her.”

“Okay, dad.”

“Okay.”

“What did you pray to God, Sita?”

“My son’s future is important. If we are with him or he is with us, it is all the same. If he telephones again, please tell him that his certificate has since been traced. Send it immediately.

Don’t delay for heaven’s sake.”

“Sure, I will do that. Ha…Ha…Ha…”

That is the heart and concern of mother always thinking of the well being and prosperity of her children what may come for her in life.