It was THAT moment; a moment that changes lives, a moment that creates magic....and that moment had finally arrived. It was going to transform so many lives. Kathan had a brochure in his hand and he was showing it to everyone around. He was unable to contain his excitement.....it was a dream come true moment for the whole family.
They had, by chance, come across this residential scheme. There were so many advertisements but they had never looked them up, they were happy and comfortable with what they had. When it was established that the saas and the bahu had no plan to stay separately, they had decided to sell their small flat and invest in a bigger one in the prime area. It was an address many people envied. The saas Aditi and the bahu Trishna clashed sometimes, but they had come to realize that the cons of living in a nuclear family far outweighed the pros. It was only when they had to attend a housewarming pooja at a distant relative's house, things changed. Nobody said anything, but everyone started nurturing the dream, secretly, to live in a house like that one. Of course, that scheme was full, but there were similar, even better projects coming up launched by the same builder, lifestyle villas...comfortable and elegant way of living. It had everything for everyone, a park for the children, a library, an area for senior citizens, a clubhouse, a gym, a swimming pool....it was a micro city. Such schemes are being developed everywhere these days, nothing new in that, but these villas were not one of the many. They spelled class, everything was in superlatives, the builder did not have to look for buyers, they chased the builder, and so had Kathan.
Everything was being discussed at the table, children were already making plans of how they would decorate their rooms, daddyji was worried about the money, and Kathan was enjoying the frenzy surrounding him, but Aditi was oblivious to all that. Her attention was focused on Trishna who was unusually quiet. When Kathan tried to draw both of them into the discussion, they joined them, but there sure was something bothering Trishna, and Aditi was bent on finding it out.
"Apply for a leave tomorrow Trishna, we have to go to the temple" Aditi issued orders at the dinner table. Kathan and his dad Purab were both aghast. Kathan, because his mother never ever talked to his wife in that tone, and Purab because the temple was not the place Aditi preferred to visit but when they saw no unpleasantness brewing, they decided to keep shut.
When Trishna entered the temple the next day after parking the car, her mother-in-law was nowhere to be seen. She smiled inwardly. She knew where to find her. This temple on the riverbank had a small cafe where Aditi liked to sit. Whenever they came here, while the rest of the family spent more time INSIDE the temple, Aditi would sometimes not even bother to go inside, she would just spend time in the cafe.
Aditi was in deep thought when Trishna entered the cafe after visiting the temple. "What is it
Amma, what is bothering you?" she asked gently, touching her hand lightly. Aditi had not been her talkative self even in the car, but Trishna had not paid attention as she too was not in a mood to strike a conversation, but now she was getting worried, like really worried. "You" Aditi's reply threw Trishna off balance. "Me? What have I done, Ma?" "Nothing beta, you have done nothing...we have done something, albeit inadvertently, that is bothering you. What is it?" It was after a lot of cajoling and coaxing that Trishna could share what was bothering her. Her mother- in-law's expressions did not reveal much and she was on the verge of tears when suddenly she heard her say not to worry, she would take care of everything. There was something in the tone that assured her she would.
It was after the children were put to sleep that the topic of arranging for the finances for the new house came up. Before it could go further, Aditi raised her objection. "Don't you think it is too far?" "Far?" the men looked up in surprise. "It is a self-reliant place, all amenities are within a stone's throw, and we all drive. Far is a relative term. Far from WHERE?" "New area, we have good neighbours here, good and reliable workers" Aditi had started putting up excuses one after another and Kathan very patiently countered all of them till daddyji lost his patience. "What is it that is truly bothering you? Out with it." he thundered. He could almost see the villa slip away from his hands.
"Nothing is bothering me, but we have to draw a line somewhere." "We are happy here, and happiness is what counts the most. A bigger house would mean another loan, and the tension it brings along. It is time for our children to take it easy, they have slogged too much, let them now enjoy the fruits of their hard work." Whatever Aditi was saying was Greek and Latin to Kathan and Purab, but it was flawless English to Trishna. Aditi was giving perfect words to her sentiments. Taking it easy....yes, she wanted to take it easy. Another loan would mean working harder for better appraisals, promotions, targets and the same rat race. She had been contemplating resignation from her job. She had other plans; of a start up, doing something that was so close to her heart. An education start-up that would make learning fun instead of drudgery, which would also afford her freedom to work at her own pace. She knew it would work, but it would take some time to catch up; it would require money for seed finance. All her plans would go haywire if Kathan decided to take a loan for the villa because then she would have to continue with her job to keep her home fire burning, brightly.
Trishna was almost in tears while this scene was being enacted, she was feeling a sense of guilt enveloping her. It was because of her that so many dreams were being shattered. If only she had not talked to her mother-in-law....but it was too late now. The damage had already been done. She tried to salvage the situation by preventing Aditi from speaking any further, but to no avail. A verbal battle ensued. Kathan somehow sensed that it was not his mother but his wife who was at the centre of it all. He decided to talk to her later; his first task at hand was to establish peace between his warring parents.
When he tried talking to his wife, she was unable to say anything, guilt-ridden as she was, she could not bring herself to utter a word. Ultimately Kathan had to take his mom into confidence.
Aditi told him what Trishna was going through. "I was always a good student and a sincere one so I kept studying as I was able to secure admission wherever I wanted. I got a campus job and I am with the same organization ever since." "It had never occurred to me to think of what is it that I actually wish to do." "No, I was not unhappy, I was happy doing what I have been doing so far, but of late I have been thinking of doing something that has been close to my heart. All our loans have been paid, we have saved enough for the kids, and for any eventualities and having made wise, solid investments, I was thinking of leaving the job and to start something of my own. The kids don't need me constantly now, you are also around to take care of them, so I was thinking of talking to Kathan about my desire to resign from my current job, but now all that doesn't seem likely", Trishna had concluded with a smile, trying to make light of the situation, but Aditi could detect the pain and the turmoil within her.
"We equate progress and success with money Kathan, so we think of moving to a bigger house, buy a bigger car, better gadgets. As we climb the ladder of success, our wants and desires increase. Nothing wrong with that, if we take a moment to ask ourselves if we are actually happy with that. If yes, there is nothing to worry but if there are second thoughts, no harm taking a moment off to pause and decide what is it that will make us happy." "If Trisha cannot be happy with the move, how will we be happy despite having the best amenities in the new house?"
Kathan took some time to ponder over what his mom had said and was convinced that it was wise to put the matter at rest, at least for the time being. He knew even Trishna wished to move to a house like that one, but probably it was not on the top of her priority list, to chase her dream was, and he felt a surge of pride for his wife who was giving less importance to material wealth and had the courage to give up her well-paying job. She had shared all his financial responsibilities till they had enough to live on. It was only after they had taken care of all loans and had made systematic investments that she had voiced her sentiments.
The children had forgotten about the whole thing as they got busy with their routine of school and sports, but it would be difficult to break the news to his dad, who seemed to be the most excited at the prospect of moving into a new house. Aditi and Kathan discussed some ideas, but they could not think of anything good enough so far.
It was late in the evening that the doorbell rang, and Mrs. Marwah entered the house, "please uncleji, call me Keya, not Mrs. Marwah" she said coyly as daddyji announced her entry, putting a bowl of biryani on the table "for uncleji". "Of course, Aditi replied, they did not mind daddyji eating non-vegetarian food on the same table, though the others were strictly vegetarian. Obviously, they did not prepare non-vegetarian food at home but daddyji got a constant supply of his favourite food after Mrs. Marwah moved into the neighbourhood. "Oh, are you planning to shift to this Villa?" she picked up the brochure which was lying on the table. "We were planning to", daddyji replied, "but it just occurred to me you won't be there to feed me such delicious food and I will have to make do with the GhaasPoos I have been eating all these years" "Shifting Cancel" he turned around dramatically, flinging the brochure away. Keya blushed as she left but his theatrics were enough to convey that he had overheard the conversation between Aditi and
Kathan and made things easy for them. "Yes, we have to draw a line somewhere, and if Trishna cannot be happy with the move, how will we be happy despite having the best amenities in the new house?" he repeated what his wife had told Kathan the day before, taking a load off the chest of the mother and son.
