It was definitely not an easy decision to make. Things could have been a little different if she were in a nuclear family but she lived in a big joint family, that too belonging to a different culture altogether. "I wish I had a son" for the first time in all these years Mamta regretted not having one.
"Kya hua mamiji?" looking at her downcast face Pratik asked her when he came in the evening to hand over her FDs. "Beta, while you were here, you looked after my finances and took care of all other things, but now that you are leaving, it will be very difficult for me to manage things on my own" "Shubha too made sure that I was fully taken care of, I will be all alone now."
Pratik pondered over it for a while before suggesting that she shift to Puducherry with her daughter Mrigya. "Even she has been telling me the same thing but..." Mamta left mid sentence. "What is the harm mamiji? Even my mom is joining me in Singapore" Mamta did not reply, she knew today's generation would never understand what it is like to go and live with the daughter's family. Pratik's mom was rightfully going to stay with him, after all he was her son, but daughter? It was unthinkable...and on top it, Mrigya had not even married into her own community, they were total strangers, her marital family. Mamta was not even sure if her daughter was as happy as she posed to be.
Actually, Mrigya and her whole family too kept insisting that she move in with them. Even her mother-in-law Jyothi had called time and again to convince her to shift with them after she suffered a heart attack but Mamta kept evading the issue. Her sister-in-law Neha and her family lived nearby and were always there for her in times of need, but now that her son Pratik's bank had transferred him to Singapore branch, that support was going to be withdrawn.
As Pratik's departure drew near, Mrigya's phone calls became frequent. She wanted to ensure her mother shifted with her before Pratik left. There were other relatives in Delhi but they were scattered in different areas and it would be difficult for them to be at her beck and call. It was then that Shubha suggested Mamta visit Mrigya and her family before reaching any conclusive decision. Mamta found the suggestion most appropriate and informed Mrigya that she would be visiting her soon.
Although Pratik was totally tied up with his own affairs, he booked Mamta's tickets and went to see her off at the airport. His wife Shubha helped her with packing despite her own to take care of. Mrigya had offered to come over to pick up her mom, but Pratik had assured her that was not necessary. Pratik wanted to make sure Mamta settled with her daughter safely before he left Delhi. After his mamaji's death, he had taken it upon himself to look after his aunt and cousin but with Mrigya married, he would be at peace if Mamta stayed with her family when he was not around to look after her.
Mamta was ecstatic that along with Mrigya and Karthik, even the kids were at the airport to pick her up. Yash and Esha, Mrigya's brother-in-law's children were as excited and respectful as Mrigya's own Bhumi and Alap. They jostled for her attention all the way to their home. All apprehensions that Mamta had felt seemed to vanish, at least for the time being.
Mamta has visited Mrigya's house earlier once before her marriage to Karthik. Vipin, her husband, was alive then. It was an old house then but the people living there had come across as a good lot though Mamta had her own reservations about the alliance. She had given her consent to the wedding only because she knew Mrigya would never ever agree to another match even if she listened to her mother and decided to not marry Karthik.
However, this house she entered was almost a new one. It was renovated in such a way that while it had all the comforts of a modern house, it had retained its old charm. It was also redone in such a way that though it continued to be a joint family residence, by shutting one door on either side, it would be a separate family unit allowing the sons the privacy they should be entitled to. The kitchen was common but a small kitchenette allowed them to cook quick fix menu, it was a house designed to offer everyone the convenience and joy of living in a joint family and independence and privacy of a nuclear one. Jyothi and Venkat had a room upstairs. Jyothi finished her morning chores early and after an elaborate pooja, prepared breakfast for everyone making sure not to disturb anyone. "Why don't you ask Mrigya to prepare breakfast, you should not get up so early" Mamta suggested once. "They don't get to rest in the afternoon while I do." Jyothi did as much as she could do to keep her daughters-in-law free from household liabilities, while they ensured she did not have much work to do except manage the domestic help and the cook. The house ran as a well-oiled machine with each member assigned a specific task to perform. While they did not interfere in each other's domain, they were always there for one another.
Mamta soon became an integral part of the family. Mrigya's brother-in-law Shiv and his wife Ira took her out for sightseeing everyday. They were both lawyers and the courts were on vacation. Mamta seemed to forget that they were not directly related to her. They had asked Mrigya to take leave from the hospital she worked in only after they started work. The kids were always around her and never allowed her to feel lonely and Jyothi and Venkat made every attempt to make her feel at home. After spending a few days with the family, Mamta was convinced that her apprehensions regarding Mrigya were unfounded. She was genuinely happy in her marital home.
The issue of her moving in with them was never discussed and Mamta felt that it was best to return home. She was satisfied that Mrigya was happy and what more was there to ask for? She would somehow manage on her own with some outside help. When she brought up the topic, there was silence. "Aunty, we did not assign a room to you thinking we would let you decide for yourself which room you would be more comfortable in" Ira blurted out. "If you are comfortable upstairs, we can shift children's study here, but if you think you don't want to climb upstairs, you may occupy the ground floor room." "But...." Mamta was interrupted mid sentence by Venkat. "Mamtaji, it is going to be difficult for Mrigya to rush to Delhi every now and then despite her concern for you. Apart from being in a high pressure job, she has to look after the family, mainly the kids. It would be a practical decision to move in with us so she is at peace as far as you are concerned."
"Even my mom shifts with us when unwell, we jointly look after her" Ira's mother lived alone in Puducherry with her son away in the US. "Only when unwell" Mamta was quick to point out. "That is because she is in the same town and it is possible for us to visit her often" Mamta still had her reservations about living with her daughter. "In this age when we don't differentiate between a daughter and a son, we bring them up, take care of all their needs, and educate them in the same way, why then should we differentiate when it comes to living with them?" "They have been granted equal right to property, is it not proper that they be assigned equal duties?" Jyothi spoke for the first time.
"In this age when families are small and children spread across the globe, it is not practical to go by old values and customs mummy" Karthik was a man of few words, "we have to adapt as per the situation." "In fact we would have shifted to Delhi instead of uprooting you from your native place, but since the job scene is so bleak, it may not be possible at the moment."
Mamta did not say anything, she could not, she was overwhelmed by what Karthik said. He was prepared to move to Delhi and make adjustments, leaving behind his family, house, and career and she was dilly-dallying for no cause. "But I will contribute in household expenses if it is a permanent arrangement" She found her voice at last. "I think Ma is right, not because of any other reason but to make her feel that she is also contributing to the family." Mrigya did not want her mother to live like an outsider; she wanted to integrate her in the family.
"But we are not doing her a favour." Shiv's voice was brusque. "You will have to feed us your special rajma chawal and chhole bhature, and also teach Hindi to all four children aunty." Mamta too was assigned a task and she ceased to be a guest in the house that until now was her daughter's.
