Ramanna's ruse

Ramanna, though a frail and small built man  nearing  80, was physically  fit with his mental faculties reasonably sharp. Drawing a fat pension and living in his own  three bed-roomed  apartment, he had no financial constraints. His wife Savitri though younger by seven years could not walk with ease afflicted by arthritis and easily became exhausted. She had a full-time maid to assist her in the kitchen and the other chores. Nevertheless, she was a grumbling and self-pitying type but not without some justification. The couple had three sons and daughters with two sons and a daughter living separately  in the same city and the others were in Delhi and Mumbai

Ramanna since his younger days when he was working was a demanding type and used to ordering others even for small jobs. This habit continued  even now with him frequently calling, “Savitri, can you get me my glasses in the bathroom “ or “Where the heck is my mobile that I was just holding in my  hand? Or “Should I tell you daily to draw the blind down when the sun is up?” Savitri suspected that the  tendency to draw  her by his side away from the TV and the serials she would be watching, emanated more from his aversion to sit alone and desire to indulge in small talks with her.

Today, when he shouted from the hall, “Savitri, how many times should I ask for warm water? Can’t you hear I am coughing continuously?”, the old woman got angry and shouted back, “I am not your errand boy. Ask the maid Sumathi whatever you wish. Neither I wish to meet your petty demands nor I am willing to sit by your side for inane gossiping.” There was complete silence  for some time that made Savitri worried and  to ask Sumathi to check whether the old man was okay. When Sumathi went with warm water, she found him sleeping on the recliner.

It was seven in the morning the next Sunday and by this time he would have made much noise and walked to the kitchen  many times to see if the coffee was ready. Strangely there was no sign of his being awake and everything was silent. Worried, she dragged her feet and went to his room to find him seated on the recliner and staring vacantly at one corner of the room. He neither showed any  sign of his being aware of her presence in the room nor answered her question whether he was fine.

She went before him, turned his face at her  angrily and started shouting, “What is all this drama? If you are not well, tell me what the problem is? Have  you become dumb or what? I am not young anymore  to put up with your idiosyncrasies.”

He continued to gawk at her in a stupid manner giving her a scare. ”Sumathi,Sumathi,ring up my sons telling that uncle is behaving strangely as if he has gone crazy and ask them to rush here, Savitri instructed her maid and bewailed loudly,” What a cruel fate has befallen me after living  for years with this haughty man and now become  a madcap? How can I look after him? What more suffering is in store for me?”

The eldest son who had come just then asked him loudly, “Appa(dad),what is all this funny behaviour scaring mom early in the morning? If you do not answer and explain your quirky behaviour, what can we do? ”Ramanna continued to look at his son without any reaction and turned his face to look intently  at a corner of the roof.

“Have you become deaf or what?” he asked, throwing a steel tumbler in his hand on the ground. The old man turned his face  towards the tumbler but did not react.

The other son came near father and stroking his back gently asked him, ”Appa, are you having any problem? If you tell us what bothers you, we can go to doctor if necessary and do the needful to make you comfortable. Your cooperation is needed, appa. We are very concerned. Please tell me.”

When the old man continued to remain silent, Savitri started crying and telling, “How can I manage alone with this demented man? Where will I go without being a burden on others.?”
The two daughters in law turned their faces away from Savitri’s direction. The sons in embarrassment hung their heads.

Meanwhile the family doctor who had come checked Ramanna carefully and found nothing wrong physically. He prescribed a tranquilizer and suggested a visit to a psychiatrist  if things did not improve in two days.

Malini, one  of the daughters who was present, asked her brothers what they  intended to do as amma(mom) cannot manage appa alone.”

The eldest son said, “Malini, you are aware that I am in a two bed-roomed flat and have a college going son and a young school going daughter. Where is the space for appa and amma who are accustomed to comfort?’

The other son spoke angrily, ”Malini, your mischievous nature has not changed even a wee bit. You know my in-laws are permanently with me.Our  brother in Mumbai is living in a rat hole going under the name of a flat. Even for such delicate situations, if daughters are not forthcoming to help, what can I say?”

Malini kept silent for a while and when she saw her mom looking at her said meekly,” It is not in our hands. We must consult our husbands. In the meanwhile, let us watch the situation for a week and let our parents continue here.Sumathi is such a great help.”

The eldest son replied, “It is a sensible solution to wait for a fortnight. I do not know if appa has written a will when sound in mind,” and turning to his brother told him, “You know appa’s lawyer friend Manickavasagam. Ask him about it and  if  has not written any seek his advice.”

The old man  seemed to be listening to their conversation but did not  turn his gaze from the roof.

Raju, a grandson of Ramanna and  six years old, asked his mother Malini permission to stay for two days with grandparents which she could not refuse.

Two days later around noon  when grandma was sleeping in the adjacent room, Raju asked his grandpa, ”Thatha(grandpa),won’t you speak to me? I am staying here because I love you. You need not talk to others.”
He pulled the boy affectionately, gave him smooches and  brushing his face on the boy’s head asked, “What do you want me to speak to you, let me know.”

“Thatha, you are  speaking very well. My elder aunt was telling the other aunt that you have become mad and should be put in a mental hospital,”

Keeping his fingers on his mouth thatha said,” Shhhh,do not speak loudly. Now only I realise the real nature of the people around me. Do not tell others that I spoke to you.”

“Raju, I hear someone speaking to you. Who is that? “asked grandma

“No one, grandma. I was only talking to grandpa. He is not answering but keeps staring at the roof,” he replied with a naughty wink at his grandpa.

“My destiny,” he heard grandma lamenting and hitting her forehead with her hand.

It seemed to Raju that grandpa was enjoying his wink and reply with a wry smile.

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