vengeance

Vinod and Sharmila were married for more than ten years. They did not have a child for several years after their marriage. They tried all treatments but to no avail. They went on pilgrimage to various places hoping for divine grace. When nothing helped Vinod started disliking Sharmila.He was always abusive and even beat her for the smallest of faults. Life for became a misery for her. Unlettered village girl as she was she bore the indignities with resignation. They were living in a chawl where there were many houses. All the neighbours pitied her but could do nothing to change Vinod.

There was one Surinder from the same village as hers who used to visit her and console her now and then. He even suggested that she run away with him from the vile Vinod. But she turned down the suggestion hoping things would improve. It was then that Sharmila conceived to the great delight of Vinod. He took great care of her during her confinement. They soon had a son Mahesh on whom Vinod doted. Right from the day he was born, the boy was the apple of his eye. But his dislike for his wife never changed even after the birth of the son. He continued to torment her day in and day out. He did his best to turn his son also against her. The hopes of Sharmila of a happy life after the birth of the son were shattered.

To get over her disappointment, she plunged herself in social work amidst the community helping the needy women and children. The boy pampered by dad grew to be a brat and unruly. He did not take to studies seriously with the father pampering him and started loafing around. He never cared for his mother and came home only to demand food and money.Sharmila, denied the love of both the husband and son, waited for an occasion to wreak her vengeance on Vinod.
One day as she was returning home from the neighbourhood, she was hit by a speeding water tanker. She was rushed to nearby government hospital. Doctors tried their best but she started sinking. Word was sent for Vinod. When he came, she called him by her side and told him “I have only one worry when I am dying. Mahesh has turned into a good for nothing fellow. I am worried about him and his future. I am afraid with nothing to do he may soon fall in bad company” Vinod said ”Don’t worry, I will see that our son does some honest job to earn his daily bread.” The chance that Sharmila was waiting presented itself then. In a feeble voice uttered with considerable effort she muttered in his ear before breathing her last ” Our son, who said so? He is my son.” leaving him for ever with the haunting question who it could be.