Rising Like A Phoenix

She was fed up of crying all through her life. The world tried to crush her. Yet, she rose like a Phoenix to silence her critics. She was the modern woman of steel who refused to give up. Her never-say-die attitude was the result of the trials and tribulations she encountered in her life.

Mrs. Sheila Raje was a 62-year-old retired school teacher living in Pune with her old mother. Her eighty-year-old mother depended on her as she had nowhere else to go. Both the mother as well as the daughter were widows. She added another feather to her cap by nursing back her ailing mother to health. The doctors were surprised to see her mother Rajeshwari Devi showing signs of life. She had been on life support system for three days. The doctors had advised Sheila to allow them to remove the ventilator. She flatly refused to oblige. She believed that her mother should get a peaceful death.

She never grumbled about taking care of her mother all alone. She had an elder brother and three other siblings. They provided financial assistance for medical expenses as all of them were settled in different cities across India.

Sheila's devotion to her mother snatched her back from the jaws of death. Her frail old mother heaped praises on her. She was more like a son than a daughter to her.

Sheila went to a temple and offered her prayers after getting her mother discharged. She became nostalgic as she thought of her past.

Sheila was born in a family of five. Her father Shankar Wagale worked for the postal department whereas her mother was a housewife. She had two sisters and two brothers. She gave up studying after completing her tenth grade. Their family was living in hand to mouth condition. Her father's salary was not enough to educate all of them. Sheila decided to earn money by taking tuition.

At the age of sixteen, she had a crush on the elder brother of her student. He too fell in love with her. Their families disapproved of their relationship. Sheila lost her job. She felt shattered for the first time. She realised that it was no use crying over spilled milk.

She attended a short-term typing course. She joined a private company as a typist for a meagre salary of Rs. 2000/- per month.

Her parents got her married to the son of a wealthy widow living in Mumbai.

She had the biggest shock of her life. Her husband Vinod had a psychological problem. He used to quit his job very often. He verbally abused her without resorting to physical violence. He never consumed alcohol. It was one of his good qualities. He was too generous and donated money to others at the cost of his family.

Sheila felt as if she was living in hell.

Her mother in law was a typical saas of Hindi TV serials. Her mother-in-law Vidyavati made her life miserable by poisoning her son's mind against her.

He grew suspicious of her character. He used to taunt her and asked, " How many boyfriends do you have? Have you ever slept with someone?" She yelled at him, " You are out of your mind. I had no boyfriends. So, the question of sleeping with them does not arise. I am not Sita to undergo a trial by fire to prove my innocence."

Vinod frequently had bouts of asthmatic attack followed by depression.

Once his depression became so severe that he got admitted to a lunatic asylum. Sheila winced upon seeing him suffering from electric shocks. She stayed with him for a week until he finally got discharged. A couple of years later, she delivered a baby girl.

Sheila thought that the storm in her life had subsided after the birth of her daughter. Her assumption proved to be wrong. She kept on shuttling from one hospital to another for her husband and mother in law. Her parents offered to take care of her child.

Sheila handed over her one-year-old daughter Tina to her parents with a heavy heart.

She faced yet another obstacle in her life in the form of a legal hassle. Her late father in law owned a bungalow in Wadala. He had given it to a very close friend on rent. The latter stabbed him in the back by obtaining forceful possession of the house. He refused to vacate the house even after the expiry of the lease tenure. Sheila was a daredevil woman who learned about this issue from her mother in law. She decided to take the matter in her own hands. She was pregnant with her second child.

She approached some ruffians to flex their muscles and threaten the tenant to vacate the house. The tenant was too wily for her. He had obtained forged documents to stake claim to the house. Due to the timely intervention of a reputed advocate, they reached for an out of court settlement.

Sheila gave birth to a boy in due course of time. She decided to resume her studies after her son Santosh turned one. She completed her graduation after some years.

She joined a school as a teacher. Her husband and mother in law demanded too much of her attention making her neglect her son. She left him under the care of maternal grandparents as well.

Sheila decided to put an end to her ordeal. She admitted her mother in law to the home for the aged. She shifted to Delhi with her husband. Both of them got a job. They sent a part of their salary to Sheila's parents for raising the kids. Vinod's mother died due to cancer after a year. Vinod was unable to concentrate on his job. His boss humiliated him in front of fifty employees. He was so upset that he jumped off the terrace and committed suicide.

The entire office was visibly shaken and upset. The CEO of the company called Sheila and informed her about Vinod's death.

Sheila was not surprised. She was accustomed to his suicidal tendencies. He had attempted suicide not once or twice but several times. Sheila always foiled his attempts to give up his life. Unfortunately, this time she was not around to help him. The company offered her his job. However, she refused by stating that his memories would haunt her. She wanted to live for her children. She left for Pune after cremating her husband.

She was finally back with her children. She craved for their company just as much as they did.

After fifteen years, her daughter Tina finished her graduation and got a job. She had inherited her father's genes. She also suffered from an inferiority complex. She lacked confidence in interacting with people. As a result, she often changed her job. Sheila got exasperated with her.

She called Tina and said, " Don't you have any ambition in your life? Have you ever thought about your career? If you are not interested in anything, I am going to get you married."

She got her married through a matrimonial website. Tina had lived like a princess before her marriage. She did not know anything about cooking or managing household chores.

Her marital home became another hell. Everyone criticised for her inefficiency. Tina felt depressed and blamed herself for her troubled marriage. Sheila's heart went out to her daughter who was leading a pathetic life. Tina gave birth to a girl after a year.

Tina too attempted suicide when her daughter celebrated her first birthday. Tina's mother in law called Sheila to complain about her daughter's deed. Sheila rushed to Tina's house and slapped her hard. " What the hell do you think you were doing?" asked Sheila. Tina replied, " Nobody wants me. People hate me as I am fat ugly and lazy. Your son in law called me names. I couldn't tolerate it."

Sheila told her, " You are not the only person in this world having problems. Did you ever think about your baby before taking this extreme step? Your grandmother tortured me while she was alive. Your father abused me all his life. I could have chosen death if I wanted. I preferred to live for both of you. I am nearing my retirement age. I want to achieve something before I die. You should create an identity of your own. Discover your hidden talent and capitalise on it. Don't let anyone demoralise you. I know you can do it because you are my daughter. Promise me that you won't do anything foolish. You can change yourself for a better future. No one achieves success in life without hard work perseverance and dedication. You are paying the price of your laziness. I am sure you must be angry with me for giving you a lecture. Just think over what I said and act accordingly."

Her mother's advice proved to be a catalyst stirring up the considerable change in her.

Tina never looked back after the incident. She learned cooking and doing household chores. Her parents in law and husband were pleased to see this drastic change in her. She completed her MA in English Literature. She also started writing articles and stories.

She had a pleasant surprise when one of the publishers contacted her for writing a novel. She efficiently managed her time doing household chores and looking after the family. She wrote stories in her spare time. Her first novel 'A woman of steel' became a national bestseller. She won awards for her subsequent books.

She always sought her mother's opinion in all the matters. She loved and worshipped her mother.

Sheila was glad to see Tina living happily with her husband and daughter.

Her son Santosh made her proud by becoming the university topper in MFA (painting). He placed his gold medal around her neck. He said, " You deserve this medal more than me for being an outstanding woman with plenty of courage. You have successfully fulfilled your responsibilities as a mother as well as a father. I love you, mom."

He got a job in Muscat and joined an international school as an art teacher. Sheila could not accompany him because of her aged mother. He started sending her money for household expenses.

She started her own business of making ornaments and food products. Her business gained popularity over the years.

Sheila missed Vinod and wished he was still alive.

Sheila came out of her reverie as her maid served her a cup of tea. She saw her mother watching a daily soap with a smile on her face. She loved every moment of their togetherness.