Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Home coming

Vanaja was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But God had endowed her with enough intelligence to top her classes.Born as an only child in an orthodox and conservative family she was brought up in a traditional lower middle class family values.Her father a very religious man had strong views on ethics and place of women in society. Her mother was a timid person, though with liberal views, dared not question her short tempered husband.It was the dad’s word that ruled the household.

Luckily for Vanaja, being a topper in the class, she studied throughout on full scholarship winning laurels and medals all the way. She was the pride of her school and when she got admission in the medical college with scholarship, Her dad could not overrule her determination to study further backed by her Headmistress and supported by his wife.He was proud of his daughter but had strange notions on girls doing medical course.

Be that as it may, Vanaja worked hard and was in the final year of her college.It was here that destiny played its trick.She fell in love with Mathew her classmate.They were drawn towards each other since the second year and had become close friends.The friendship blossomed into love when they went on an excursion.Mathew was also an intelligent boy giving touch competition to Vanaja in securing the first postion..When they had finished and joined a reputed hospital as interns, Mathew propsed to her.She knew it was coming but dreaded how her dad would react to the relationship.

So deep was her love for him that she broached the subject to her mom. When the news went to her dad, he hit the ceiling in rage and said that Vanaja had no place in his home if she were to marry outside the religion and that she would be deemed as dead as far as her parents were concerned.When her mom tried to pacify him, he dragged her into the kitchen and made her sit there.All her pleas and sobbing were of no avail when the man stood his ground and asked Vanaja to leave the house.

It was almost three decades since this happened They married soon thereafter.Both Vanaja and Mathew had their MD and DM behind their names with roaring practice.She remembered the incident when she was expecting her first child, her attempt to get his forgivance and the insult heaped on her and her husband when her dad banged the door shut shouting that his daughter Vanaja was dead and gone.Her mom with her hand on her mouth was seen sobbing helplessly.

When her mom died a year later, her dad did not inform her.It was through neighbours that she got the news but were persuaded by them to stay away from the mad man.She knew of his meagre income and how he had spent all the money on his wifes treatment.But she had no gumption to render any monetary help.She heard after a month of her mom’s demise that he had left the place leaving behind no clue about his whereabouts. Except seeing occasionally a small photo of her parents kept in her purse, they were a distant memory.

Mathew and Vanaja were both philanthrophic and donated hefty amounts for social causes.They were instrumental in setting up a poor home for the indigent and needy.Vanaja used to visit the home once in a month or two.During one such vist, she found a crumpled figure lying on the mat in the verandah.She was told the old man had arrived the previous night and would not speak much.It appeared his vision was very poor..He was also incoherent often lost in thoughts.They were trying to find a cot and a bed for him.Vanaja went near the old man and a hammer blow struck her when she saw it was her dad.His acquiline nose and the birth mark on his chin were unmistakable.He had grown weak with age and lack of care.

She said “I am in charge of this place.There is no spare bed available here at the moment. I have a big house with many servants.I have children.You can stay with me and the servants will take care of you.If you do not like, you can always return here.What do you say?”

The old man did not reply.It was not clear whether he understood her.She took him home,gave him a room had an exclusive servant for him.In a month or so he regained strength and played with the children.They were a happy lot.Vanaja too joined sometimes. He was touched by her kindness and affection. He was not however able to recognise her due to his poor vision.One day she asked him “Do you have any children?”
He said “Yes I have one daughter.But by my arrogance and foolishness I treated her badly and lost her.”

“Why, what did she do to earn your wrath? After all she is your daughter ”asked Vanaja

“It was all my fault.I drove her away as she married out of religion.My wife died unable to bear the separation.I was pig-heade and cruel.I repent now in leisure” he replied

Vanaja did not reveal her identity.She was not sure how he would react.Two days later when the old man was playing with the children, he asked one of them”What is your mother’s name? ”They replied “Vanaja.”

The man was pricked.He asked “Is she a doctor?” They replied in affirmative.Curiosity thus aroused he aksed “What is your dad’s name?” “Mathew”, they replied in chorus.The man became quiet with tears trickling from his eyes.

That night when Vanja, Mathew and the children entered his room, the old man cried inconsolably saying
” Vanaja, please forgive this wretch.I had done immense harm to you and yet you are showering your affection on me.I do not deserve this at all.Please say once that you have forgiven me and send me back to the poor home.

Vanaja put her arms around the old man “ Appa, I have no anger against you.Mathew also does not have any grudge.We are happy that by divine coincidence we are back together.How I wish amma were also here.Be comfortable.Your grand children like you very much.”.

14 comments:

  1. Very touching! Even though it took years, the family at least became one. Nicely written.

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  2. What a long story
    for me as a Dutch(wo)man :-)
    I feel like I've been teaching English after reading this story...

    I tell you honestly that you can write great stories,
    you have talent (my compliments)!!
    This is a very touching story but I like it very much.
    And a happy end for the family :-)

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  3. Ohhh for a while I thought you were back at it …. But that wasn’t the case …
    As the story progressed I realized it was heading for a lovely ending ……
    Nice story … brings out a lot of values …

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  4. Ohhh for a while I thought you were back at it …. But that wasn’t the case …
    As the story progressed I realized it was heading for a lovely ending ……
    Nice story … brings out a lot of values …

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ohhh for a while I thought you were back at it …. But that wasn’t the case …
    As the story progressed I realized it was heading for a lovely ending ……
    Nice story … brings out a lot of values …

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  6. great to have you back with beautiful stories..

    :) enjoyed reading it..

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  7. i was scared he would walk out on her again....a sad end to the fate of the cruel father, but as destiny wud have him return and be taken care of by his own daughter, i hope he brings back the happiness the darling daughter has been long waiting for and rids himself of his wrongdoings.

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  8. hope to see many more stories my dear storyteller...atleast this way, i wud get back to checking blogs!!

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  9. That was such a perfect ending! How do you manage to come up with such well defined characters and plots every other day? Remarkable skill, I must say! :)

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  10. very very touching and heartwarming!!

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  11. You are back big time now :)
    You know when exactly romance blooms like the excursion and things like that :)
    You know the pulse of my generation and know how to keep us coming back for more :)

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  12. A wonderful emotional story! During the climax I was reminded of Shakespeare's King Lear. In that play King's beloved daughter, Cordelia dies in his lap in the last scene. But was glad to read the happy ending of your story...stories should end that way as they keep hopes alive that good things happen to good people.

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  13. :) extremely touching, how I wish her mother was alive......

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  14. nice one!!! Last lines were awesome and indeed wish she was alive!

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