Sunday Stories-Story 6 No...Vani, No....

No… .. Vani, No…..

Vani is a computer science student at a top college in Chennai; a young woman from a middle-class family; she is always quiet; she never laughs with giggles and does not share her personal thoughts with anyone.

Vani’s mother’s Sita’s younger sister is Geeta. She was married to a wealthy family in Mumbai. It is customary for Geeta to come to her sister’s house once a year and boast of her high-class family. She has only one daughter Tarini. The wealthy Tarini was a little chubby. Whenever Gita sees Vani, she compares her daughter Tarini to her and sighs angrily. She always worries about Tarini eating always chocolate and ice cream and keep getting fat.

          

Whenever Geeta and Tarini come to Chennai from Mumbai, they carry a big suitcase with them. Her mother Sita knows very well what is in the suitcase. The suitcase was filled with Gita’s old saris, Tarini’s old skirts, sudidar, handbags, clips, bracelets, and other used clothing items. It is customary to open it when they come to Chennai and give it to everyone. Vani and her mother will get them without saying anything.

                          

Vani has an elder brother and a younger sister. The brother does not get along well with anyone. If he goes out with his friends in the morning, he will come home to bed at night. Vani’s father also goes to work in the morning and returns home at night. He can only support his family if he works all day. Vani’s mother knows how to sew so she can sew for the neighborhood and earn for the family as much as she can

                    

In cities like Chennai, it is natural for people living in apartments to have close friendships. Meenakshi Mami from Madurai has no children. She speaks very kindly to Vani. Vani used to go to her house to study because Vani could not study quietly in her house.. This is something everyone in the apartment knows.

                    

Ashok, Meenakshi aunty’s cousin, once came from Madurai. He had completed his B.Tech from Madurai College. He had come to Chennai with the intention of going to America to study for an MBA. Uncle and aunt were overjoyed. They treated him with love and kept him in their house. When Vani saw the stranger, she thought of returning home. But Ashok told her that Mami had told her about her so that she could study here as always and that she would not be bothered in any way about him staying there.

                

Ashok and Vani began to exchange their thoughts on the study. Mami also noticed reciprocity between them. Ashok will fetch the books he needs from Vani’s college library. Their friendship expanded with the exchange of books and the exchange of smiles.

                  

Geeta came from Mumbai with Tarini as usual. Ashok came in the eyes of the woman who is already jealous of Vani being good looking. As soon as she saw Ashok, Geeta met with Meenakshi aunty and uncle to collect the details of the family of Ashok. Everything is arranged immediately. The engagement of Ashok and Tarani took place in Mumbai the following week. Ashok and Tarini are decided to get married within a month and a week after the wedding their journey to America. Mami had a small problem in her mind. But Vani and her family had come for the wedding and the couple flew to America after the marriage without anyone knowing any regrets.

           

A year went by. Aunty went to America for a baby shower and delivery in the United States for Tarini. Tarini, who was already obese met with many problems. Tarini died without seeing the baby due to the complication of childbirth. The Vani family was deeply saddened when they came to know the details.

              

After Ashok’s study in the US, Ashok returned to India with his daughter. In the last two years, Vani and her brother got a good job after graduation and started earning a lot of money. Mom and Dad talked about their marriages. The first brother got married since a good girl alliance came soon. The newly arrived daughter-in-law started thinking about Vani’s marriage. That’s when the information came from Geeta over the phone. Ashok agreed to remarry. Everyone looked at Vani. Meenakshi Mami, who knew the details, said, “No, Vani, no.” But the family’s expectation was understandable to Vani.

              

A thought flashed through her mind. The life that Tarini lived in was my life. No one has robbed me of my life; I just gave up my life for others; Those who give up will not perish. I will live my life now. ” She calmed down by saying yes to her sister-in-law and mother.