TRISHNA

 

Trishna was eight years old when Krishna was born. Their mother had developed pulmonary embolism and succumbed to it after bringing Krishna into this world. With a father who was worried only about where his liquor would come from, Trishna grew up prematurely to take charge of the family. Krishna was very frail and needed constant attention. As Trishna’s mother always involved her in the day to day work and even in cooking, she managed to cope up with it all. Above all, she was closely attached to Krishna that even while carrying out the household chores, she would constantly have an eye on him.

Within a few days, their father brought another woman in the house and that signalled the end of the stay in their paternal home. One evening when both of them had gone for a movie, Krishna started screaming endlessly and Trishna could not comfort him at all. When his crying stopped all of a sudden, he fell limp on her lap and he was too hot to the touch. Not knowing what to do, she put him on her shoulder and headed to the Tahsildar Amma’s house.

Her mother had been a domestic help in the Tahsildar’s household. Many a time before Krishna was born, Trishna would accompany her mother to their house and help her washing the dishes or mopping the floor. Parvathi Amma, The Tahsildar’s wife had a soft corner for her and would coax her to let Trishna attend school regularly.

When Parvathi Amma saw Trishna coming hurriedly with a limp Krishna on her shoulder, she immediately sensed that he was ill. She called for the driver, informed the Tahsildar on the phone and immediately rushed to the hospital with both of them.

The boy was speedily attended to thanks to the presence of Parvathi Amma. Fortunately, it was just a case of an ordinary flu and the doctor assured that with proper intake and medicines, he would be all right in a couple of days. Trishna stayed back in the hospital to keep an eye on her little brother. Parvathi Amma left for home, but as soon as she reached, she sent some food and sheets for Trishna. 

The night was uneventful and with the injections and medicines, Krishna slept well. Trishna was very upset to see the saline drips and the hospital bed where Krishna lay helpless. She sat by his side and kept praying, thinking of her mother. Somehow, whenever she remembered her mother, she seemed to be infused with positivity and energy. She also thought of her father who was flirting with someone half his age when his own son was semi-conscious.

The next morning, Krishna opened his eyes and seemed better but such a small infant could not express anything. Though it was a government hospital, they had to incur cost of medicines etc. Parvathi Amma took care of all that and more. When she knew that Trishna would have to stay back in the hospital, she bought some clothes and other essentials and sent them through her driver with food the next morning. She also gave her some money for emergency expenses.

Parvathi took pity on Trishna and kept both Trishna and her young brother with her. The couple did not have any children and were only too happy to enjoy the company of these innocent children. Their father, on the other hand seemed to have even forgotten their very existence and lived comfortably with his newly found companion.

Time flies and with that Trishna blossomed into a lovely woman. The Tahsildar saw to it that while Krishna attended school, Trishna had a home tutor. Though not a very bright student, she picked up enough to be on her own. Seeing that she was not so good at academics, Parvathi got her admitted in an institute where she learned handicraft, sewing, embroidery etc. By the time she completed her course and got her diploma, the Tahsildar was transferred to a remote town. Parvathi regretted that she could not take Trishna with her till she herself settled down there.

Trishna had got the job as a craft teacher in the local school and her income was sufficient for both of them. As luck would have it, a new teacher was posted in the same school and the Tahsildar and his wife thought that he mould make a fine husband for Trishna. They did not lose further time and arranged to hold negotiations with the boy’s mother and finalised the wedding.

Krishna had completed his technical education and was fortunate to get absorbed in a leading private company. The Tahsildar and his wife were living in the government quarters, but they had a small house in the outskirts, where Trishna started living with her husband. 

Krishna shifted to the city where his company provided him with accommodation. Both Trishna and Krishna stayed in constant touch with each other for quite some time, but in course of time each of them got busy in the daily routine and met up once in a month or two. 

It was a mundane life for Trishna. Her husband was not as sincere as he had appeared to be. Soon Trishna noticed that they were living beyond their means and her husband showered her with lavish gifts. Not taking it lightly, Trishna got to the bottom of it and was shocked to know that he was indulging in underhand dealings in the school and insisting on a cut for everything that entered the school. She tried to make him realise that what he was doing was not correct, but he had other plans. When he saw that Trishna could not be moulded in his way, he found another teacher in the school who was willing to team up with him.

In a very short time, both of them bit more than they could chew and got caught in a scandal. He was arrested and sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment. Trishna could not stand the ignominy of it at all and having locked up the house, went to meet Parvathi Amma in their new place of posting. There she came to know that Amma was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and though it was in the nascent stage, it was soon getting worse. Appa was relieved to see her and without any words being exchanged, she set about looking after Amma with loving care.

It was a very depressing sight – the lady who was elegance personified and who had a heart of gold behaved so oddly which was beyond comprehension. When Trishna sat with her to feed her, she would immediately grab it from her hands and stuff the food into her mouth making a mess of the whole place. She would sometimes look furtively at Trishna and at other times she was ferocious, ready to pounce on her at the least provocation. Still, Trishna remained calm and sang her soft tunes stroking her hair and make her feel wanted. These days were not to be forever. Things got worse with time and she would become violent or disrobe herself or burst into loud laughter. Still later, she withdrew herself from anything and everything and seemed to weave a cocoon around herself.

She failed to recognise anyone, even Appa and would not speak. Trishna fed her at even intervals and gave her the medicines too, but they did not seem to have any effect. Outwardly Appa tried to look normal, but he was shattered from within. It was not long before he suffered a stroke and passed away. Amma was as if in a trance – sometimes she understood everything very well, but for most of the time she was like a zombie. With the tahsildar’s demise, they had to vacate the quarters too. Trishna tried to pack all that she could and took Amma to the house where she had been staying.

All was not as before now. The Tahsildar’s wife who was held in high esteem, got a “mental” tag added to her name. It was then that Trishna thought of asking Krishna whether they could move in with him. Krishna’s voice sounded with genuine affection and concern that she started to plan and shift with him. He had married. In the meanwhile but with the COVID restrictions, Trishna could not bless the couple in person.

She felt light at heart now that Krishna too would be there to take care of Amma who looked after them so well, and not only that shaped Krishna’s future too.

The day before they were to leave for the city, with bag and baggage packed, Trishna just went into the house to get Amma a glass of water for her medicines. A loud sound as if something was collapsing was heard and she saw that a 200 years old neem tree had just broken in the middle and banged Amma’s head. Trishna rushed her to the hospital with a sure head injury which was profusely bleeding. 

She did not respond to treatment and thought it fit to reunite with her soul mate. Now Trishna was all alone. She spoke to her brother but he said that he would not be able to come down for the rituals. Trishna managed them and packed her own belongings, kept Amma’s jewellery and what valuables she could find around the house in a box and got herself ready. The next morning, she met the sarpanch and handed over the valuables and key to Amma’s house for safe-keeping. She never knew whether she could continue to stay with her brother or come back.

She reached Krishna’s house to be met with a locked door. As there was no charge in her mobile, she waited at the doorstep patiently till both of them returned from work. They had gone to a party and it was nearly midnight when the gate opened. They were both shocked to see her crouching in the verandah. Looking at both of them in high spirits, Trishna preferred to talk to them the next morning and simply entered the house and chose a small room in a corner for herself.

The very next day she realised that she ought not to have come here. Krishna had changed, he was far from the affectionate brother that he was and was always looking out for ways of making quick money. His wife Lekha had similar views and Trishna knew that it was not long before there would be a clash of egos. 

She tried herself to be helpful in all ways but Lekha would always find fault with her. She would also tell tales and Krishna, would lap it all up. One morning, in a very strict tone he told Trishna not to interfere in their lifestyle and that she should stay put in her room where she would be served all that she needed.

Trishna had thought of living with him but had also planned to put her expertise into use. She had dreamt that her loving brother would support her and set up a boutique where she could take on orders and sew clothes and make her livelihood. She was certain that if she started one, within six months she would be able to earn sufficient returns.

Sat in the corner of a room which was sparsely furnished, she stared at the jug of water which had been placed there a few days back. The maid was asked not to enter her room and so, it was not properly swept or mopped. Before going to office, Lekha opened the door partially and threw a bun into the room which landed on the table. That was to be Trishna’s lunch for the day!

Mercifully, she had not bolted the door from outside. When she left for office with Krishna, Trishna ventured out. She felt sick of being cooped up in that room and longed for fresh air. She started walking where her legs led her to.

As she walked, she recollected all that happened in her life and for a moment thought whether she deserved to be treated so. Barring the period where she was under Parvathi Amma’s umbrella, she had never experienced joy or peace. A bus came by and as if in a trance she got into it. It was going to the village she had come from. ‘Can I ask the sarpanch to let me stay in Amma’s house?’ was the thought that kept striking her. She alighted from the bus and went to the sarpanch’s house.

On their return, Krishna and Lekha found her missing. Seizing this opportunity, Lekha quietly hid some of her jewellery and started to say that Trishna must have gone taking the jewellery with her. Krishna wished to call the police, but in her own interest, Lekha did not allow him to call them.

Two days had gone by and there was no sign of Trishna. On the third, there was a call from the sarpanch asking Krishna to come immediately.

The village looked quiet and desolate. There was an eerie silence throughout. Soon he reached the sarpanch’s house, and his wife said to him that they should go to Parvatham Amma’s house. 

There, decked like a bride, Trishna was placed on a mat on the floor. She had chosen to leave her last breath in the house of one she loved and cared the most.

Krishna was shocked. He was in for another shock when the sarpanch called him inside and handed over a passbook and cheque book. “This was what I was telling Trishna earlier. Now what is the use? Rs.50 lacs has been credited to her account and she is not there to enjoy it!”, he was grumbling.

Krishna opened it and saw that the entry was really there as a deposit in this account which was a joint account with Trishna. The sarpanch could not stop praising her to the skies, saying that he had never come across a gem like Trishna.

As he flipped the pages of the passbook, a peacock feather landed on him to recollect the good old days with Trishna.