The Righteous

As they say, there was nothing special about me, I was considered as a normal girl, as you can think off, brought up in a typical middle-class family, I was forced to go to classical dance and music classes, which I just hated but pushed myself to attend a few classes. I was keener towards playing football but for my mother me going to play with the boys was a big NO, so that dream remained just a dream, I don’t blame her those days girls were not allowed much outdoors.

I was not a bright student either, they used to refer me as an average student, my mother wanted me to be a doctor, but I was nowhere near to those expectations… So, as they call, I was an Average girl or a girl next door, whom no-one would notice.

I had a lot of things to tell, I used to make up weird stories and had very unrealistic dreams and wanted to share with someone, As friends used to feel I was too loquacious, elder brother was always with his friends, outdoor, never sat with me to listen, father was atypical Indian father, he would come late from his office and I remember him asking me the only  three questions, “Did you have food?”, ”Have done your homework?” and “have you studied?”

My mother always wanted to see me with books, as if that would suddenly transform me to be the brightest kid, She wanted me to be a supergirl, perfect with everything from cooking to singing, I was having these weird feelings that my mom somehow was trying hard to make me that perfect housewife material since I didn’t do so well to be a doctor. I remember those days if I did anything wrong I would be scolded so badly; my brother would get away with the same mistake and mother would say “he is a boy, it’s okay…”But the bonding between me and my brother was too strong, he would be there for me in any trouble, be it at school, colony, or home, he was my Santa. He was six years elder to me and always treated me like a kid. 

I somehow Scraped through my pre-degree and  I joined a college for my Bachelor in commerce, Our house was around 30Kms away from the college, but with Bangalore’s traffic it was kind of impossible to travel daily, so my brother suggested that I should be put up in a Hostel, My mother was unhappy and resisted a lot but my Dad, thought the idea was good, I was not sure how life would be, was a little excited and at the same time scared, this was going to be a new experience as for the first time I was going to stay alone.

I had to share my room with another girl, who was from a small town, she was beautiful, soft-spoken, bubbly, nice, and a very helpful girl. Soon we hit a nice cod, For the first time in my life, I had someone who would listen to all my thoughts, she would listen patiently listen to all my Weird stories and unrealistic aspirations and would also give comments on the same. 

Every weekend when I would go back home, I would invite her to join and she would politely decline. After a few months, I also avoided going home on one or the other pretext, as I would enjoy the company of my friends more than my family. 

On my birthday, which happened to be on a Sunday, I invited a few of my friends’ home and of course, my roommate and best friend Deepa was there, our games and partying went on till late night, Next morning all my friends were still sleeping late, I got up early to help the mother to make breakfast for all our friends, I found Deepa already there helping my mom, and both of them had got along very well, As I came, my mother said, you guys manage the kitchen, let me go and buy some milk from the neighborhood store.

Mohan, my brother came into the kitchen to pick up his morning Tea when Deepa gave him the tea, I could see stars in my brother's eyes, to avoid an embarrassing situation, I jumped in between and introduced both of them and told him that, as he were busy with other guests and  I couldn’t get an opportunity to introduce him to most of my friends and she is my closest friend.

I could feel the vibes, he had fallen for her. We all friend had plans to leave after Lunch, my brother who is never home, I could see he was still around the house till we were all there, and the excuse was, if mom, needs any help in getting something, he would like to help. Things started changing from then on...The weekends I was not able to go home, Mohan started visiting my hostel, in the pretext of bringing in some home food and sweets; and would spend a lot of time with me and Deepa. It was not difficult for me to understand, but Deepanever showed any interest, she never spoke about her feelings, if I would ask also, she would avoid the discussion.

As I was not doing too great with my education, soon my parents thought of getting me married and they finalized a boy working in a government department after the final examination, Maybe a year from my Marriage, They wanted Mohan also to be married, that was the plan, As he was also in a good job, working as a software engineer in a reputed firm.

The Last day of my exam, when Mohan came to pick me up from the hostel, he insisted me to ask Deepa her opinion, I said, ”why don’t you do it yourself and called her out for a coffee,” Mohan very hesitantly asked her opinion, She was quiet for a long time When I asked, if she was not interested, she can tell… it wouldn’t affect our relationship and Mohan will never trouble her… 

That’s when Deepa opens up and said, “ I like your brother from day one, but you know, I am not from the same kind of family background as yours, I don’t have a father. Mother has taken a lot of trouble for my elder sister’s marriage and my younger brother is still in his graduation final year. I will have to get into a job for some time to help my brother and mother to be comfortable.”

Mohan, without blinking once he said,” shall I come to your house with my mother with a proposal?” she smiled, and was visibly very happy, and said, “you should also understand we are from different castes and your mom will not agree."

I knew about Mohan and Deepa’s relationship, she joined a Pharma company as an accountant and they would meet on weekends. A year after my marriage,  Mohan asked me to tell about Deepato Mom. One evening while having our tea asked my mother if she remembers my friend Deepa, she said, “Yes, she is a nice girl and sensible not like your other friends”, hearing that I thought it would be a good opportunity, then I immediately asked, “how about looking her for Mohan”…My mother got furious, “how can you ever think like that, she is not from the same caste and I heard they are not from a good financial background, how can she pay dowry?

Hearing this Mohan Said, mom, “I'm not looking for any dowry from anyone and I will marry her only”. My mother understood, they have been seeing each other for some time, she looked for support from me, but I looked the other way and Dad was no more to support her, she very reluctantly agreed. The day we had to visit Deepa's house, mother acted as if she is not well and asked me and my husband to accompany Mohan, we all knew what she was up to, but couldn’t help much.

Mohan and Deepa’s marriage was a low key affair, but both of them were very happy, Things moved so fast that she could never get into a job, it is ten years of her marriage, I and she now also, share the best friend relationship, I today also share all my troubles, thoughts and she still listens patiently. She once in a while used to say, Mom was still not happy and finds faults with me, silliest of reasons, she would pass comment on me, and calls me all kinds of names. I knew my mother is a tough person to deal with and thought it is a usual complain of any daughter in law with their mother in law.

In that way I was lucky, I wasn't staying with my in-laws and was close to Mohan’s house, so would not miss my family as well, with Deepa things, were different, Her family hardly used to visit her as my mom was not happy. Her Brother had got a job in Canada and kind of settled there, marring a local over there, she had come only once and could never understand our culture, so he also hardly visits.

It was their tenth anniversary and Mohan wanted it to be a grand ceremony, He had arranged for a party very near to our house in a happening place and invited all his friends and relatives, It was all going very well, Deepa was so happy, she couldn’t hide her happiness and excitement, a Perfect evening, most of the friends had left, few of our relativities were sitting together with my mom and having their dinner, My mother didn’t lose the opportunity to bitch about Deepa, She was not too loud but auditable,  I herd her speaking, wanted to stop her, but then I saw Deepa walking from the other side, I thought of taking her away, I was sure she would feel bad if she hears that and that was a very important day in her life and didn’t want to spoil, but I failed, She overheard my mother speak…. I could see tear flow out, she was good enough, not to create a fuss, she just turned around and walked out of the party.

I went and informed Mohan, He said, “I am not sure, why mother has this habit of spoiling every important day of our life, why doesn’t she understand if the wife is not happy, she will spoil my happiness as well. And requested me to go and talk to her, while he wound up the party.

She had taken a cab back home and was sitting in one corner of the house. When I walked in I could hear her sobbing, She was visible very sad and shaken, The moment she saw me she hugged me hard and started crying like a baby, I asked her to calm down and said: “don’t feel bad, you know about Mother she is like that, just ignore her”…

Before I could end, she asked me,” will your mother behave the same way if it was you? Or Just think instead of she being your mother she is your mother in law, would you still tell me the same…. "if your mother in law behaved the way, your mother did, will you or your mother react in the same way? You're telling this because she is your mother”… and asked me to leave her alone in a loud voice,  I had never heard her so loud and so emotional.

I walked back home and the entire night I was not able to sleep The question, how will I react if she was my "mother in law" was going in my mind, I was ignoring my mother’s behavior because she was my Mom, I know what she was doing is not justified and I always asked Deepa to ignore, I know it is not right, I felt bad, not able to support a lady, when I knew where the mistake was….not sure when I slept thinking about all the incidents and Behaviour of mother towards Deepa…

When I woke up it was late, I went to meet Deepa, She was packing her bag and Mohan was sitting in one corner holding the kids, I didn’t speak to her, held her hand and brought her to my mother's room, My mom was pretending as if nothing had gone wrong and the problem is because of Deepa. I pulled all my courage and told my mother;” would you behave the same way with your daughter and call her names, then why do you have to do it to your daughter in law, just because she is from some other family? Why don’t you do the same behavior with your Son in Law, that is because you are aware it will spoil the happiness of your daughter’s life. Have you ever thought your behavior with your daughter inlaw also affects the happiness of your Son”?

If my mother in law behaves in a similar manner, would you accept it? I went on to say, “if you are not able to adjust to Deepa’s family, Yes, I mean it! This is her family, you should go and stay alone, and as a daughter, I would say that. Please don’t play a victim card just because you are old.” 

I was shivering with anger, Deepaheld my hand very tight and Mohan came and hugged me tight and asked us to relax, Deepa got a glass of water and made me sit. I held Deepa and asked her forgiveness for not supporting her all these years.

She looked into my eyes and smiled….