Woman empowered

It was nearing 10 o'clock. Reeta had not yet turned up for work. Ahalya kept pacing up and down the hall looking out of the window whenever she heard or thought she heard someone was at the gate. Her husband had not returned from Hyderabad and so even if the maid did not turn up, there was no problem, but Ahalya had promised to visit her friend that morning and was getting late. She had tried calling Reeta's number several times, but there was no response. For one last time, she dialed her number and this time she got connected. "Memsahib, I am on my way," said Reeta and before she could hang up, Ahalya told her that she was going out and was leaving the door key in the shoe cupboard so that Reeta could come and finish the household work.

Ahalya then left to meet her friend, Suparna. As her car neared Suparna's house, she saw Ranjit leave in his car. He seemed to be in a tearing hurry and if Ahalya had not applied the brakes suddenly, he would have surely hit her car. He did not as much as stop and apologise, but drove off. Ahalya parked her car and entered the house. Suparna came from a very wealthy family and as the only daughter, inherited all that stood in her father's name. She had recently lost her father and had brought her mother to stay with her. She had no children and though she wished to adopt one, Ranjit was not willing..

Suparna could barely stand when Ahalya entered the hall. She was shocked to see her friend who was disheveled and beaten black and blue. Suparna's mother was trying to console her daughter in her own meek way. She narrated the morning's incident to Ahalya - Ranjit had asked Suparna to give him Rs.25 lacs to start a new business and Suparna had politely refused saying that he would get the money if he would draw up the plan of the proposed business and share its details with her. This, Ranjit felt was suspecting his intentions and in a fit of anger had rained blows at her and also uttered abusive words for not mothering a child.

Ahalya could not digest this and her first reaction was to reach out to volunteers in the Human Rights Organisation who could help Suparna, but Suparna would hear nothing of it. "That;s my fate", she kept sobbing and looked up to Ahalya to comfort her. Ahalya had been a school topper and had pursued law, specialising in Company Law. She had been married by then to a business magnate and had been absorbed in his company as the Legal Adviser. She hardly went to the office but carried out her work from home. She was a very straightforward and sincere person with a large heart, ready to help anyone at anytime. Seeing her friend in this state, she was seething with anger at Ranjit. She tried to convince Suparna to apply for a divorce so that she would be spared the agony of putting up with a selfish and greedy husband. She spoke to her mother too and she expressed the same views. Since there was no dearth of money, Suparna could live comfortably with her mother. She could even have an open mind to marry again, if a suitable proposal came her way.

Suparna needed a lot of cajoling and convincing to finally agree to think of applying for a divorce. She was scared that Ranjit may try to bully her or cause her harm. Ahalya spoke to one of her father's friends who was a Dy. Commissioner of Police and he instantly agreed to look into the matter and act if something untoward happened.

Ahalya left for home after consoling Suparna somewhat and when she reached home, she was relieved to see that Reeta had arrived and was doing her chores. One look at Reeta told the story - her cheeks were swollen and there were bruises on her face and hands. "Another scuffle last night?" she asked. "Yes, memsahib, but this will be the very last time my husband dealt me blows. I have walked out on him and was delayed this morning as I went to put my son in a boarding school. I have also shifted to Doctor Sahib's house with all my belongings. Doctor Sahib was very kind to me and both he and his wife have gladly agreed to let me use their outhouse. I had worked for the Principal of a school and when he heard my story, gladly took my son in. He has given me some time to pay the fees, but I am sure I can raise that money within three months. You know what I have been going through all these years - I was putting up with it all only for his mother's sake. I could have taken this decision earlier but she would not have come with me and would have insisted on staying back with her son.

Without me in the house, he would have hardly taken care of her and I am sure she would have gone hungry for many days as he was the last person to think of others. Ever since Babuji passed away, she was very frail and insecure and I did not wish to fail in my duty in looking after her. Now that she is no more, there is nothing that can stop me from taking this decision. By God's Grace, I know how to read and write and with the kind of families I work for sincerely, I am confident that I will receive great support from all of you. My son is now in the tenth standard and all along he has been witnessing the usual daily drama of his father come dead drunk and beat me up for no reason whatsoever. This far and no further, I said to myself and after last night's episode, I decided to teach him a lesson. He was first shocked when I told him that I was leaving him for ever and then started joking about it, but Memsahib, come what may, I am not going to live with him anymore. He is a bad influence on my son and I have undergone more than enough stress and torture all these years. I wish to lead a peaceful life henceforth".

Ahalya was proud of her - a woman with only primary school education and with just about enough money to sustain her and her son, had boldly taken this step, whereas Suparna was the opposite of her. Even now, Ahalya was not very sure how determined Suparna was!

Ahalya told Reeta that she had her full support and that she would not be found wanting in any way to help her out. She had offered to take care of her son's school fees and maintenance and had mentally noted down that this could be funded from their company's funds under Corporate Social Responsibility. Ahalya spent a long time with Reeta reassuring her all the while.

It was lunch time and she had not heard from her husband. She dialled his number but had to listen to the recorded voice saying "..... out of reach". She called up the office to talk to his Secretary to know why her husband had not returned from Hyderabad. She appeared clueless and said that she never knew that her Boss had gone to Hyderabad! Suddenly something struck Ahalya - the recorded voice was in Tamil and not in Telugu! Oh my God! Does that mean he is somewhere in Chennai and not in Hyderabad?

Her head was in a whirl - the other day she had seen a diamond necklace in the glove compartment of their car. She had thought that her husband meant to surprise her, but till date the same had not surfaced. Many a time he would not join her for dinner and even stay away feigning heavy office work. Imagination ran riot within her mind. Reeta was ready to leave as she had finished her work. She stood before Ahalya wishing to say something but was hesitating. Then she mustered up courage and asked, "Memsahib, I do not wish to carry tales, but I think it is my duty to tell you that... that..." "That what?" Ahalya said. "No memsahib, this morning when I was going to the school in an autorickshaw along the East Coast Road, I saw Sahib's car. I was shocked to see a young woman with him too!" - she managed to blurt out.

Ahalya was crestfallen - how could she, a highly educated woman be so naive as to not know that her husband was cheating on her! With this revelation, more and more instances came to her mind - cinema tickets in his pockets, large sums withdrawn from the Bank, frequent absence from home - the list was endless". Mercifully Reeta had left and Ahalya was left to herself. Soon she heard his car and waited for him to come inside. "Hi honey, I've been missing you all this while" he said, without batting an eyelid. Ahalya pretended not to hear him and so he came closer to her and whispered, "I am back!" Ahalya did not fail to notice lipstick on his collar this time. "Yes, my dear, I see you are back, but next time when you go to Hyderabad, please note to switch off your mobile. Otherwise I will get messages in Tamil and not in Telugu, giving you away". 

Ahalya thought about all the events since morning. With so much of talk on empowering women going around, what is it that women have achieved? She felt happy that there were still many Reetas who could stand up and do what they thought was fit. "Thank you Reeta, for setting an example" she said to herself.