Some Stains Are Good

“Mother ... Look, I have got my result. I have passed in first class!” I shouted happily.

“Congratulations, dear! You are now professionally qualified. The son-in-law will be happy to hear the news!”

“Yes, mother”, saying this I ran to inform him on the phone.

“Hello! Hear me.”I have passed in first class with distinction”.

“That’s good. I am coming tomorrow. My mother finds it difficult to manage here. I shall bring you here.”

“I was sad to hear such an insipid response.”

Probably he didn’t want to speak more on the phone.

Only four months back we had got married. After marriage, I had come to my mother's place for the first time. During that time only I came to know about the final result. I was very excited, "Now I will go for a job too! I will also have a different identity; I shall handle both - the house as well as my job, etc."

The next day Rohit Ji came and I returned to my in law’s house along with him. Only my mother-in-law was in the house. Due to her sickness, she was mostly sitting or lying on the bed the whole day. She was not happy with my idea of going for a job. I noticed that Rohit Ji was also not so happy to allow me to take up a job. His contention was that as his duty had no fixed schedule, my going for a job would upset his breakfast, lunch, etc. I kept silent. The house was at peace.

 Meanwhile, Suhana came into my life. For some time I got engrossed in her. Mother-in-law also passed away after a few days. I was managing well, all the work inside and outside the house, sending Rohit to the office on time, looking after Suhana, etc. But, whenever I would open the cupboard, I would see my certificates. It seemed as if my big degrees were teasing me -bringing tears into my eyes. "I couldn't do anything."

On being told to Rohit, he would give a scathing reply, "No time is fixed for my duty. Who will take care of Suhana?” Once I said," Why don't I start working at Suhana's school? We both will come and go together”.

“But you will have to go on Saturday when Suhana will have a holiday. How would we manage that? Rohit asked excitedly.“You should take care of her for one day, Saturday being a holiday for you.” I also said assertively.

“Are you crazy? Have I to work even on holidays? I can’t do it. You may go for a job once Suhana grows up” replied Rohit.

“You should have married someone illiterate”, I shouted loudly. The peace of the house was getting disturbed. But I never had the courage to protest against Rohit ji.

Mother also suggested, "Leave this useless idea of a job - look at your family properly, raise your daughter properly, and don't go against the "son-in-law, beware”.

I abided by my mother's wishes. The home was at peace."

Rohit Ji would mind only his office. He did not even know in which class Suhana was studying? Once when he was asked as to why he was so indifferent he said, "Do you know how much hard work I had to put in to reach such a position. You will not understand it sitting at home." I would be amazed to hear his answers. Opening the cupboard and caressing the "Certificates" sealed in a plastic cover, I would think in my mind that I could not make use of them.

Time does not take long to pass. Suhana passed with good marks and went out for further studies. In a few days, relatives started asking me, "What do you do all day? How do you feel at home?"

One day I got a call from my brother, "You have done nothing in your life, you have ruined your big degrees, I have got a job for your sister-in-law in a school."

One day Rohit Ji said, “Why don’t you try something? Sitting at home - you have turned yourself into a frog in the well."

“Am I to try for a job after so many years?”

Will I get a job at this age? There were many questions in my mind. I filled up the form On-Line. Most of the applicants were freshers.

At the interview, I was asked, “Whether you have worked elsewhere?”

“No Sir, due to the circumstances I could not work” giving this reply I felt inferior.

“So you were taking care of the home all these years? You are older than freshers.Also, you do not have any experience. So we are unable to hire you”.

I returned back home. The circumstances had changed. Without experience, the value of my degrees had got depreciated. I tried at several other places but without any success.

At last, I thought of presenting myself to another company. Here too the freshers had applied in large numbers.

I was told that there would be a written test based on which the selection would be made. While filling the form I thought let it be my last attempt. I gave all the answers to the questions based on my common sense.

The result was to come after four hours. I was waiting eagerly for my result. I had the least hope of passing the test. But when the result came I was in the third position. I congratulated myself and informed the good news to Rohit over the phone . But somehow I was not very happy. Probably I was lacking confidence and enthusiasm.

While lifting my bag I found a fresher with tears in her eyes. Just to console her I told that “Better luck next time.” The girl started crying. She said,” I don’t know Auntie whether I would try next time.” “Why so? “ I asked.

To tell you frankly my marriage is fixed for the next week. It is not known whether my in-laws will allow me to take up a job. Had I got this job they would not have refused. I missed by only one mark.

”Don’t worry everything will go well” saying this I took leave.

Rohit Ji came in the evening. Now your job is assured.

“No, I could not pass the next test. In my place, a fresher has been taken”.

Yes, I knew that it would happen that way.”Sitting at home, your brain has got rusted.”

I didn’t mind his words because “Some stains are good”.Because of my absense, the fresher girl could get a job. While keeping the certificates inside the cupboard I was smiling mentally.

I had heard my inner prompting for the first time.

THE END

कुछदागअच्छेहोतेहैं 

★★★★★ 

© Rupa Bhattacharya

https://storymirror.com/read/story/hindi/ko9vty53/kuch-daag-acche-hote-hain/detail