PURE AFFECTION

Human life is unique life among all global living creatures. But quality and morality differ from one another irrespective of family, official, social, and financial status. In the long term effect, global scenarios have been modified and the moral characters of global residents have also been changed accordingly. However, the following story reveals the purest affection of a modern young man which is an exception.

A few years ago once in a village named Gopalpur, a land lord was living with his family consisting of a son, a daughter, and his wife. Narahari Babu, the landlord, and Sarada Devi, his wife were the best ideal couple in that village. Narahari Babu inherited the huge landed properties from his ancestors who were loyal to the British Government. Narahari Babu had a daughter named Rukmini and a son named Gaurab who was five years older than Rukmini. Although Narahari Babu was a man of good fortune with exorbitant wealth he always gave weightage to moral behaviour and conduct. So he brought up his children in an idealistic way who were appreciated by all the villagers and relatives. Both the brother and sister were always following the advice of their parents. Their academic careers were brilliant too.

In due course of time, Gourab and Rukmini completed their academic career. Rukmini was then married with two children whereas Gaurab was then continuing his service career as an IAS officer and still, he was a strict bachelor with ample human and moral values. His social and domestic status had enchanted a number of parents who wanted their daughters to marry him.

In this way, a considerable time passed away. Many parents approached Narahari Babu and put forth marriage proposals for their daughters as they were craving to have an IAS groom. They also invited Gaurab to their houses to see their daughters. But he refused to visit their houses to make a bridal choice. Because he believed in his parent's choice. A bride chosen by his parents must be taken for granted by him. During the course of the selection of a bride, Naraharibabu was afforded to search out a girl named Padmini who was the daughter of a noble couple in the town. She was well educated and only one issue of her parents named Ranjan Babu and Lalita Devi. Padmini was very beautiful and had a good moral character. So Narahari Babu was glad to accept her as his daughter-in-law. Gaurab also agreed with Narahari Babu's choice.

Under the circumstances, the date of marriage was fixed and the ceremony was performed with Vedic rituals. All the relatives were happy. On the fourth night, Gaurab told Padmini, "Please mind that I am ever loyal to my parents. They have given you as my life partner. They are my living god and goddess. You should not do anything which will hamper their temperaments making them sad." Padmini complied with the suggestion of Gaurab to do so.

Human nature differs from one another. Many peaceful households have been spoiled due to misunderstandings among the family members. However, Padmini was a good housewife, nevertheless; she was willing to be a service holder. But Gaurab's parents did not want to. They were conservative in this regard. As per their motivation, Padmini should never go out of the house to adopt a service career. Rather she must continue as a housewife. 

Likewise two years of married life of Padmini and Gaurab' was completed. One day Padmini was advised by her mother-in-law not to wear foreign clothes inside the home. But she resented being advised what to do by her mother-in-law and said, " O my mother-in-law, never advise me so. See mom it is a fashion nowadays . I cannot obey your advice. ".

When there is a deep cordial love for anyone, an elderly person of a family often loses one temper while a youngster doesn't comply with one's advice which is never good for the family. Parents are the real bosom friends of offspring who are ever well-wishers for their sons and daughters. Sarada Devi was very much fond of Padmini by heart like Rukmini, her own daughter. But as she was a lady of antique temperament she wanted Padmini to put on a Saree instead of a gown or frock at home whereby Padmini was very upset about. So she retorted Sarada Devi,": No mother I can not obey your advice whatever may be. Let your son arrive from the office. He will decide what to wear. "

It was 7 pm. Gaurab returned home. Sarada Devi, in advance, informed Gaurab about the homedress of Padmini. Padmini also talked about her unwillingness to put on Saree. Gaurab was dumbfounded while both Sarada Devi and Padmini began quarreling with each other.

Gaurab was quite tired after coming from the office. So he was angry and told Padmini to accept his mother's advice. Narahari Babu supported his son's decision. But Sarada Devi was so furious that she tore off the gown worn by Padmini and slapped her. Padmini was weeping for the rude behavior of her mother-in-law. As she had taken it to heart and reacted to it, she instantly went out of the house. Then she rode on her scooter and drove away to her paternal house situated at a distance of about five kilometers away. Though Sarada Devi was a woman of short temper, her heart was very short. Moreover, she was also a cardiac patient. Had Padmini not left the house angrily, she could not have had a tremendous emotional shock. Suddenly she had a heart attack and fell down on the floor. Because she was captured by her feeling of guilt. While Gaurab saw her mother's condition he screamed out of pathos just like a kid, embracing his mother. Narahari Babu broke down for this mishap too. Then one of his neighbors entered his house and assisted him in carrying Sarada Devi to the nearby hospital by Gourab's four-wheeler. She was laid flat on the bed in the supine position. The saline tube was fixed to her vein. Doctors started checking her body thoroughly. After half an hour of testing, the surgeon declared her dead. It was a bolt from the blue for Narahari Babu, Sarada Devi, and Mr. Gaurab. A gloomy melancholic cloud of lamentation was hovering in the hospital ward. Grievancful Telephonic messages were communicated by Gourab to all the relatives and acquaintances. In the meantime, the intimate friends of Mr. Gourab had arrived already along with Ms. Padmini. All were staring at the corpse with their tearful eyes. But for her misunderstanding and arrogant behaviour towards Sarada Devi, her mother-in-law, Padmini was crying seriously. A warm tear was trickling down her cheek that drenched her face. Her parents were solacing her at their best to tranquilise her by caressing her. She was apologizing by touching the lifeless feet of Sarada Devi for the blunder committed by her last night. She repented to the misconception about the late Sarada Devi owing to her self-conceit. After some time the corpse of Sarada Devi was carried by a stretcher up to the car of Gourab parked beside the main gate.

There is a proverb -what is lotted can not be blotted. Were Ms.Padmini aware of the fact that Sarada Devi was suffering from a cardiac ailment and high blood pressure, such a mishap could never be occurred? Because Narahari Babu could not tell the fact that Padmini notwithstanding, he was attending Sarada Devi personally as her ailments were noticed only two months ago. He realized his shortcomings and he clarified all about it before he forgave his loving daughter-in-law, Padmini. But it was too late. Lack of presence óf his mind snatched away his life partner from him untimely forever. Though Mr. Gaurab was not at all ready to pardon his better half, still he yielded to his father's discretion eventually. However, the car reached the cremation ground peacefully. Before lighting the pyre of Sarada Devi, Mr. Gaurab touched her sacred feet. Then he embraced the corpse of his beloved mother affectionately for the last time. After viewing the emotional activities of Gaurab, all the onlookers and co-processioners amazingly passed a positive comment, "Thank God that He has given a most praiseworthy son to Mr. Narahari Babu and late Sarada Devi in the area who sublimed the departed souls of his both maternal and paternal ancestors." One of the oldest inhabitants of Gopalpur çómménted, " Really what I felt while Í observed the emotional outburst of Gourab in the cremation ground was a masterpiece. It was an exceptional eternal love displayed by Gourab on his mother's death which may be defined as an eternal embrace.