THE NEW SON

Roopa got married into a pretty well to do family. Roopa and Deepak were already seeing each other. They had been together for nearly six years. Now as everybody in the family was eager to see her settled, she told them about Deepak. Papaji was angry, so was Daadi( grandmaa). Good sense prevailed over Maa, Chacha and Chachi and they somehow managed to make Papaji agree to the match.

Once the decision was taken, they all went to Deepak's place with the proposal.

Deepak's mother was a widow and had single handedly brought him up. She was very possessive as well as conservative.  We can also call her greedy. Now she did not want to let go off her son so easily. She created a small drama, but soon calmed down when Deepak told her, " Amma if you agree, it will be good. As it is I will get married to Roopa only". Amma wanted every bit of what she spent on Deepak. She agreed to the proposal but gave a long list of to do things and of material things to be given as gifts. Papaji was angrier, he did not want to buy hiself a son-in-law. Deepak could sense it all but at this crucial moment he did not want to take any chance by angering Amma.

Maa was working in a government school and had managed some savings for her daughter's wedding and son's education. She decided to use all of it for the wedding. Papaji was an accountant at a private firm. He also took up some loans. Chacha and Chachi also contributed and everything was arranged for the wedding.

Roopa felt very uneasy at all this but she also could not stand against it at all because she did not want to lose Deepak. She knew that he was a gem of a person and she wanted to spend her life with him. Her mother-in-law  would also change once she stepped in as the bahu( daughter-in-law). 

Just before 'Bidai' , Roopa spoke to her family, strictly and firmly telling them to send only what Amma had asked for and nothing extra. No gifts given to her by guests should be sent with her now. They can give those items as gifts later on when she would visit them. Daadi was shocked. "How is it possible? We cannot keep the things of a daughter. That will be a sin". Roopa put her foot down. She told them either they agree to what she said or she was not leaving their home. Now the family's reputation was foremost. They could not afford to keep a married daughter home. They unwillingly gave in. Roopa went away with Deepak and family.

Slowly Roopa realised that Amma could never take to liking her. The fact that Deepak had got married to someone he liked was not easily acceptable to her. She would always claim that her son was so noble and gentle and that Roopa had hooked him. Roopa would keep quiet. She understood that being widowed at an early age and having only Deepak as her support, had made her very insecure and insensitive towards others too. Everytime she went to her parents' place she was expected to come back loaded with gifts of clothes, fruits, sweets etc. Now this is where Roopa's practical approach helped Maa and Papaji. The gifts given to Roopa by guests during the wedding, that she had refused to take then were now sent with her.

This actually eased the burden of the family as Papaji soon retired after her wedding and also was not keeping well. Maa too was off pay as she was on long leave due to Papaji's illness. At this point they got the happy news that Roopa was expecting. When Roopa told Maa that she will not come for delivery to her place, Maa heaved a sigh of relief. She felt bad too but could not be more happy because she actually had run out of funds because of Papaji's treatment and her sitting at home without pay. Now she could not ask Roopa's Chacha and Chachi to help again and again!

One afternoon she was making some laddus to be sent to Roopa when suddenly she saw Roopa and Deepak step in. Roopa had two to three suitcases with her. That meant she was going to stay here for long, probably for her delivery too. Maa was actually in a state of shock. She did not show it and started to prepare lunch for her daughter and son-in-law, as they had travelled overnight. She sensed something because Deepak was very quiet but did not ask them. Roopa too was not her own self. 

After lunch was over both Deepak and Roopa wanted to go out. Although everyone asked them to rest they still went out and returned after three-four hours. They came home loaded with lots of stuff. Maa and Chachi were surprised to see so many things- clothes, things for the still to be born baby, jewellery, dry fruits, ghee, supplements, tonics and various other things. They had questions in their eyes..to which Deepak just said," Maa I have to catch the return train. Can I have an early dinner. I have just come to drop Roopa. Amma was adamant that the first child had to be born in the maternal family, so I came to leave her, otherwise I would have never left her without me at her side, at this stage of her pregnancy. All these that you see with us are the things that Roopa will need during her pregnancy and the things that she will carry with her and the baby back home, on your behalf. I know you are going through a bad patch. Papaji is unwell. I did not want to add another burden on you just because I wanted Amma to be happy. You need not worry".

"As Amma will not let me travel again before the baby is born, so I made all arrangements today itself. I am also your family now Maa. Your son!"

Amma could not hide her tears. She blessed Deepak as she went in to get his dinner from the kitchen. She smiled through her tears thinking of how fortunate her daughter was to get such an understanding partner. She thanked God as she started rolling out fresh rotis for Deepak, her new son.

©®Madhumita