The Long Silence

As I was entering the home, I saw my mother speaking to one of the famous surgeons in the city. I could recognise Dr. Vibhas as he was the Chief Guest in one of our seminars. As I entered the gate, he turned towards me and smiled. “Hello Srijayanthi!” he called out. I was pleasantly surprised that he had recognised me after just one meeting. Of course, as I was an ardent research scholar, I was the one who posed the maximum questions at the seminar and stood out among the rest, which may have made him remember my name which was uncommon too.

“Good afternoon, Dr.” I acknowledged his greeting but he was all set to leave. “We’ll be in constant touch now,” he said and drove away with a mischievous smile.

I was confused but my mother happily clarified it for me. “Dr. Vibhas has agreed to marry you! I am feeling so thrilled. My joy knows no bounds. Both of you will be a good match for each other and I am sure the future will be very bright. I tried to protest, “but Mummy, I have not yet completed my research work. You know how important it is for me to get my doctorate”… but my pleas fell on deaf ears. However, Dr. Vibhas had kindly agreed to let me continue my research even after the marriage and so I consented.

Probably because we were just an above-middle-class family, Dr. Vibhas saw all the arrangements for a grand wedding. My mother and I were the only ones from the bride’s side apart from a few close friends of mine. My mother was not the one to maintain relations with other family members. As long as my father lived, we had his brothers and sisters dropping in but after his demise, my mother distanced herself from everyone. I lost my father when I was just seven years old and did not then know the value of relationships.

As I grew up, I would ask my mother about our relatives, but she would brush aside that topic and I never got to know anything about anybody. I got busy with my studies and extra-curricular activities and was immersed in preparing for talent exams and the like that I did not probe further.

Dr. Vibhas had four sisters and six brothers, making up a whole cricket team. His parents were kind and soft-spoken and I took to them instantly. Vibhas was the youngest and most pampered. They had a huge villa with a large garden which was well-maintained. Whenever the family got together, it was just like a wedding – at least sixty to eighty people would be there. There were two cooks and several servants, and it was at first difficult for me to distinguish between relatives and helpers. 

As I was the youngest daughter-in-law, all of them took utmost care in seeing that I was comfortable. Initially, I had been uneasy seeing the luxurious home and settings but soon realised that all the wealth had not gotten into their head and they were quite simple. All the members of the family were well read and they encouraged me to pursue my research work. Both my father-in-law and mother-in-law were very successful physicians and took interest in my field of research.

Indeed, my cup of joy was full. They made me bid goodbye to my faithful scooter and got me a car instead. They also offered me a full-time driver, but I preferred to be on my own as I did not know how early or how late I could wind up my work every day.

Vibhas and I had a short and sweet honeymoon in Switzerland and on our return, took our work seriously. As the Chief Surgeon in one of the hospitals, he was quite busy throughout the day and was often called during the night in case of emergencies. Depending on the availability of my guide, I would be home early or late. Still, we made it a practice of sitting out on the veranda after our day’s work exchanging notes and pleasantries. All was fine and I thanked God for his kindness in making me a part of this closely knit happy family.

Soon, the family was delighted to know that in another few months there would be an addition to the family and everyone took turns in pampering me. After some time, it came to be known that I would be delivering twins! The whole family was overjoyed. My research work took the backseat after my delivery with my hands full looking after a chubby girl and a sweet little boy.

Just at that time, Vibhas was offered the post of Director, Health Services. The posting was based in Mumbai and if he accepted it, we would have to relocate. He spent a great deal of time analysing the pros and cons of taking up the assignment. He also gave credit to our babies for bringing them good luck and great honour. The family was supportive and favoured his accepting the offer. One of his aunts who was widowed even offered to come with us to help in taking care of the kids. I was overwhelmed by the care and attention I got from all of them.

Vibhas took his time and finally accepted the posting. He also suggested that we could take my mother along so that she would not need to stay alone. It sounded like a very good idea and soon we started preparations for shifting base to Mumbai.

My mother arranged to rent out her fully furnished house on lease and accompanied us to Mumbai. We were fortunate to have a small but whole house to ourselves, which is a luxury in Mumbai! We also had good domestic help and the house was well done before we shifted. After some initial hiccups, we got adjusted to the place quite well. My mother knew a little Marathi which was useful to converse with the helpers. There was a cook and so both my mother and I were free to take care of the kids.

After about four months, Vibhas arranged for me to continue my research. It gave me tremendous joy and as my mother had full-time help, she could manage the home without much difficulty, while I devoted my time to my research work.

Mumbai made a lot of difference in my research. I had easy access to both men and materials which helped in speeding my work. My guide extended all support online and within six months, the first draft of my thesis was done. In another couple of months, the draft was visited and revisited many times and the final version was ready for submission. Two whole days were spent sitting with the binder getting several sets ready. At the end of it all, I was quite proud of what I had done. Vibhas also appreciated it and said that the topic I had chosen, “Paediatric Preventive Care”, was very relevant in the present day.

It was time to take a break from work. Vibhas took a week off and our family assembled to celebrate the first birthday of Akshay and Akshara. It was wonderful to enjoy the warmth of the large family once again, and the days passed by very quickly. It was time to get back. Akshay and Akshara had just learnt to take a few steps and were thrilled to move about in the spacious villa, which they would surely and sorely miss in Mumbai. 

Once back in Mumbai, Vibhas got me a job as a Research Analyst in one of the leading laboratories. It was a 9 to 5 job, but more than four hours were spent commuting both ways. It would be past 7 when I would reach home. Akshay and Akshara would be waiting for me and that would be the only time I could spend with them. Vibhas would have returned from the office and had his dinner with my mother. I would play with the kids for some time, put them to bed, have my dinner, clear the table and then go to bed. 

In the mornings, Vibhas would leave me at the bus stop before going to the office. Since his office was close by, he would come home for lunch. On weekends, we would all go for a long drive or to the garden and have our dinner outside. This was the routine that went on for about eight years till I stumbled upon something which shocked me.

One afternoon, I was not feeling too well and came home. The children were in school. As I had an extra key to the main door, I let myself in only to hear familiar voices. I stood at the doorway trying to hear what was being said, but though I knew that the voices came from the bedroom, I could not make out what was being said. The bedroom door was latched from the inside and I did what I would never have done - I peeped through the keyhole. 

I then retraced my steps and locking the main door walked away. My mind was confused but at the same time firm and focused on one thing. I must go away from here, I said to myself. I went back to my office to meet my boss. Fortunately, he was in office and I could seek an appointment with him before he left on a foreign tour. I explained my predicament to him putting all my cards on the table.

He was kind enough to give me all the time I needed and sat with me to work out a plan to suit me. He made a couple of phone calls and sitting opposite me, asked if I was ready to shift to Hyderabad. I was only too ready to go anywhere if my problem could be solved. He then told me that though they would be losing a very sincere researcher, it was their moral responsibility to see that all those in their fold were taken care of properly. He had issued orders promoting me to the post of Research Development Manager posting me in their Hyderabad office. He also issued suitable instructions that I should be provided residential accommodation and all assistance to have my children admitted to the school. One staff member from Hyderabad would be assigned to me exclusively to help me settle down. I could not thank him enough.

I went home as usual. The next morning, I told Vibhas that I could leave late for the office the next day and so let him go to the office. After the children had gone to school, my mother had planned to go to the market to fetch some groceries. I asked her to proceed as per her plans and that I would leave in some time.

After she left, I packed a suitcase with the bare necessities that my children and I would need and took a cab to go to school. I met the Principal and sought permission to take the children early due to an emergency at home. The children, though confused, were happy that I had come to pick them up and they kept happily chattering in the cab. 

I spoke to my office and was told that one of our boys would be meeting me at the airport within fifteen minutes with our air tickets. Sure enough, he was waiting when I reached there. I collected the children and the suitcase as well as the tickets and proceeded to check-in.

I told the children that I had planned a surprise holiday for them and they were quite gullible to accept what I said. Having reached Hyderabad, I settled down comfortably in the house provided for me by the office. As kindly arranged by my boss, the school admission and all other matters were taken care of. As soon as I was comfortable, I switched off my mobile, took out the SIM card, and destroyed it. 

My transfer to the Hyderabad office had also been kept very confidential and the boss had issued strict orders that no information about me should be given to anybody who came to enquire about me. The children soon adjusted themselves to the new surroundings and though they asked for their father and grandmother were easily appeased when I said that they would join us soon.

Years went by and it was the last day at school for Akshay and Akshara. They had won trophies and prizes and wished that both parents be present when they received them. I consoled them saying that we would get to meet them soon and went with them to school.

With help from my office and with their scholarships standing them in good stead, it was not difficult to seek college admission. Both of them chose their preferred streams and with the passage of time, graduated with flying colours. Since I was comfortably placed, I told them that I could afford their higher education if they wished to, but both of them preferred to take up jobs, which they had secured during Campus Placement.

I had taken a day off and baked a cake and waited for them to return from their first day at the office. Once they reached, we all sat together, had tea and cake, and then I told them that I would be breaking the long silence of why I had left home, their father and grandmother a few years back. They were eager to know as they still loved their father and held him in high esteem.

When I told them that when I had gone home early one afternoon, I had found their father in a very compromising position with another lady, they could not believe it at first. As they were now grown up, they gave it a lot of thought and were finally convinced. Till then, they were occasionally annoyed with me for having separated them from their father, but now they were proud of me for having walked out on an unfaithful husband and bringing them up well even as a single parent. The matter rested there and I was thankful that they did not pry further to learn who the other woman was.

That night before I went to bed, I picked up the pen drive which was secure in my locker, and played it on my laptop. I meant to see it for the very last time and destroy it. As I was playing it, the door opened and Akshay and Akshara entered. Both of them saw what I had hidden from everyone all these years. Vibhas was found in a very compromising position with a scantily clad woman, who was….. who was none other than my own mother! They both shrieked with disgust on seeing the video which I had taken while peeping through the keyhole years back.

I was embarrassed and tried to remove the pen drive quickly, but both of them came forward, hugged me, and said that come what may, they would always stand by me, saying that they were very proud of me and the way I tackled the situation silently all these years.

I slept peacefully that night with both my children on each arm enjoying the warmth of their love.

   

.