Chapter 5

The elderly couple asked both the couple to tell one most emotional moment that happened after their married life?

 

Devesh and Pratima were asked and they said in one go,

Devesh|: My parents..

while  Pratima: when I lost?

Both their emotional moments were different

The elderly couple asked them to share each one at a time.

 

Devesh: I remember it had been 3 years to our marriage and I was too busy with my work and when I came back from Toronto. My mom opened the door at night, she usually is all in smiles and very enthusiastic even at that point of time at night as she is always all ready to hear my experience at my visit. She was a bit silent and my dad too wasn't his usual self. I asked her if alls fine with her. She asked me to change and get fresh I must be tired with jetlag.. She usually serves me Tea even now and pampers me, but that day she was sitting on the sofa and wondering. I came made my Tea and sat there close to them. I knew she would tell me what's the matter , my parents stared at me.. and I was a bit tensed..

My mom said: Beta its not a big deal? not a big issue but I was not able to move my fingers of the right hand as I could normally.. Some what numb they were, I got it checked and it seems there is problem and they said, with old age its not curable.. I mean I will have to stay with using only my left hand. This right hand fingers r of no use now.

 

My Mom said without any tears. She smiled and said,

Mom: A bit upset with this news so just my mood is a bit bad, didn't want to make u get tensed as u enter the house from a long tour. Beta, its not a very serious matter I will get use to it? with time.. u see? old age mey kuch na kuch to lagey hi rahega .. kya kar saktey hain'

 

My mom walked away and my dad along with her.. My dad already is suffering from a knee ailment and with cardiac problem as well.  I walked into my room trying to digest everything she said, believing its not a serious matter as My mom had tried to make me relax with that statement.. it wasn' t a life death issue. They r fine. I kept saying.. as I entered my room, I remember my moms most favourite thing which she does best , is knitting.. I had never bought a sweater in my life as my mom had always weaved one for me? she use to take classes too teaching it to ladies.. it was her favourite pass time now.. And somehow the thing which made her famous in our locality, her work in knitting? with my father not well and couldn't travel much, she had to be by his side always and knitting made her to relax. which she could even do with eyes closed. My mom has to undergo a cataract operation soon and my mom always said, knitting she can do even without her eyes? so when she would get her cataract operation she can pass her time knitting? 

At that moment I could feel her pain? it was a serious issue for her I knew. I went to her room to be able to tell her, I am here Mama by ur side? and as I opened the door, my parents both were crying and with those tears in their eyes I couldn't feel anything more hurting? the moment was very painful. I asked never to hide their pain to me. I told them I am here for them, to take care of them.. I was emotional with the things my mom shared.. the knitting books around 70 which has pictures of bags, sweaters, table cloths she has made. My father feeling they r slowly becoming a burden. That moment I didn't knew what to say to them.. Pratima wasn't home she was at her mom's place.. but the moment was a very emotional one.. I could feel my mom scared of what illness she will get and how she could cope with it, cataract operation, right hand fingers not able to move, my father his cardiac problem, his knee ailment what next .. how to survive with all the ailments..

 

Devesh said this much but he could read further into that day where he had got upset with Pratima as she never told or informed what happened with his parents. Her shifts her working hours he had from then got upset with her frequently. As if that was the instance, where he got more emotional for his parents and felt detached from Pratima. The way he would support Pratima and her work now he was the one who tried to argue with her. Devesh felt that day everything seemed messed up, as if he was here all alone and the feeling of Pratima is with him in his life going through the pain he is carrying, the work load which doubled but he didn't look at it wanting to be there for his parents. That was the time he had felt he didn't have a life partner just a friend who stayed few steps away who wasn't listening what he wanted to say?

 

Main tha akela manoo kuch nahi kar paaraha tha,

Apno ko khutey dekh Dil mey kitna dard umadd raha tha,

Tum pass nahi thi,

kitni kamee mehsus hue thi,

Dil mey uthata tufaan kya yunhi chalega aisa haal,

Gussaa panpa bikhara rishta chahat jagney ka naa tha sawaal?

 

Pratima looked at him, and felt very sad; she was at her mom's place with her night shifts that week. She knew Devesh is in town and so felt he will spend some time with his parents. When she got to know about her mother in law right hand fingers not having any sensation she had tried to look into the checkups file and treatment but somewhere honestly she didn't knew it could be so hurting fact for her. She didn't realize her mother in law is a knitting expert and this has hampered her not to be able to do knitting any further in her life that's left. Pratima felt extremely guilty of making her family her husband her mother inlaw father in law feel such a painful state and she was no where near to assure  She too is there? She felt now she can think of Why Devesh has started getting irritated at her working hours, shifts? She also realised its so very important to consider her inlaws place as her parental home and assure they need her ? its her duty towards them which somewhere she has neglected? she could know where she went wrong in her married life.. Knowing showing warmth , been lovingly and caring for inlaws isn't the only things.. u need to be there at times they need u the most in this old age? when their son isn't close be there to say their son n daughter in law r with them.. Assure them U want to listen and talk and want to share with them? consider urself attached and attach them to U?

Naajaney binna mansha key galti kaisey hogayi mujhsey,

Naa samajh payee kitni Kamee meri mehsus huyee tumhey,

Sirf tum hi nahi Maine saas sasur ko bhi kahin khafaa kiya hoga,

Kaisey nahi samajh payi Kitna akelapan tumhe mehsus huaa hoga?

 

Pratima was feeling number of emotions. The elderly couple said, ' Devesh We can understand what u mean? it may sound very small for many but when u consider in ur life U can feel happy , u can feel relaxed and u r known for doing one work, and if U cant do that all ur life anymore,,,, it's a very depressed feeling?  In old age different ailments strike and U need to make ur heart healthier to make urself get healed and get cured with time. I guess when u get old the need of companionship is much more.'

 

Devesh: yes Dadaji, I can understand I have felt my mom and dad need the company of each other more. My mom when goes to the temple, my dad patiently waits for her to come back and they have tea together. Even if my mom is late my dad doesn't have the tea. He wants to have it with her.. I adore their love and have felt the magic of LOVE from the way my parents love each other..

 

Pratima heard and smiled, as if she always felt that very sweet whenever she had observed that in her in laws.. The elderly couple asked Pratima to share her emotional moment...

Pratima: Aa? I think when I was ?..

She wasn't able to complete the sentence a bit too scared to share it or not? not sure if she should say. Devesh was a bit confused feeling what it can be that's so emotionally touched and hurt she is with it? Devesh felt she may share the fight they had.. but they didn't fight that loudly? they never had any fights where they would have felt emotionally drenched, they always scared the moment may break or end the relationship then n there. As there was a lot of difference coming in n out?  her parents were very disciplined and followed strict diet and fitness freak  doing Yoga n all ? he thought if there was anything to do with her parents?

 

Pratima: I? I am a bit moved... it may sound so weird with me a Doctor ? I am a doctor but I was myself very emotionally upset.. I had never been pregnant and there wasn't anything wrong with anyone of us? it was just couple of years to our marriage and I thought may be I will. One day early morning I took my shower, I came out having pain in the stomach, and before I could know what happened, I realized I had a miscarriage?  I was in tremendous pain? but with that thought that a child was within me and I couldn't even feel it, know it and before all that it died made me very upset.. Devesh was not in town.. .

I was wondering when I will be pregnant..

 

 I wanted to think about a day when I will call him up and inform him about our child coming into our life? but nothing like that happened .. When this happened I was shocked that I never thought a day would come when I would have to inform him we lost our child before we could celebrate or know he was with me? I am a doctor and when I shared with my parents this, my in-laws, they told me as a doctor I knew what care I should take .. but I wasn't only a doctor but a woman who was waiting for the day to welcome my child.. I was pretty upset as there wasn't any reason with my health for me to have a miscarriage.. in medical terms, some miscarriages happen for no reason. And it was one among them.. I wanted to cry and wanted others to feel my pain?. But I could see others kept saying.. I was a doctor so I could handle that with ease.. and I still feel like crying remembering that day?

 

Kya jaroori hai ki ek doctor sab dard asani sey samajh jaye,

Apni peeda ko bhi chupchaap khushi khushi nigal jaye,

Aisa nahi hota kyunki who ek Insaan bhi to hai,

Jissey dard peeda waise hi jhinjhod kardeti hai,

Beej ka intezaar karti  saloo baad bina awaaz key uskey janey ka pata chaley ,

To Dil mey ajeeb si bebasee to chayegi hi, Akeley  chod diya Tu iss ko Sehley?

 

Pratima stopped with this, but she could remember how emotionally moved she was and had called up Devesh in the first place and when she couldn't get anything to make her calm she had called her parents they too sounded so relaxed and not understanding her pain. Her in laws were not even interested to ask her if she was feeling better? just she is a doctor so there was not need to care or ask about her health about her mental state of mind.. she was hurt and that day she had tried not to do anything but ponder if she had to be left alone when she is in pain.. she had missed having a life partner who would listen to her pain and her feelings, no body had time for her then.. and the most hurting thing was nobody felt she could be in pain. From that day onwards she was upset with Devesh and it grew on.. the gap and the space she gave to herself and him grew deeper and bigger making them feel detached.. she didn't do that but it happened with the frustration within her.

 

Pratima got a bit emotional and everyone around there a bit silent?

 

Devesh looked at her with tensed eyes knowing he was among all the people who didn't even talk with her that day for more than 10minutes.. Feeling she is a doctor and she hadn't carried the child for that long? to attach feelings.. He had not understood her pain... and even when he came back and she looked a bit down n low he had tried to counter it with her shifts and work load not asking her out if it was due to some other reason. He felt emotional that for Pratima family means a lot.. She was not thinking of having a child after she settles in her work but she was ready to sideline her work if the baby arrives.. That thought made him understand she values her family more than her work. She was ready for adjustments but when has he tried to give her the support and shared his equation with his parents when has he not made her aware of his family and not enjoyed to listen about her family. She was a doctor but she is a woman and his wife, she deserves more support and more warmth from him. He had sidelined his duty towards her that time not intentionally but it happened. How much care he took before marriage but not now.. he had looked at her tried , pale face and blamed everytime on her work? cant it be due to their fights? couldn't it be with the miscarriage why he didn't feel to take care ask her about how she is feeling.. that much gesture also he couldn't. He was totally disappointed by himself.. he knew where he went wron. and why Pratima had become more aloof towards his routine questions and argument.. he could feel all that she must have felt..

 

Galti mujhsey hueey iska ehsaas hai mujhko,

Kaisey main saath nahi depaya takleef baatneko,

Hum ekdusrey sey kitna pyaar kartey they

Naajaney mainey tumhe Yunh Akela kyun kardiya tha,

Tumhari kadar fikar karta tha

Naajaney kaisey Uss waqt mey Duriyaan paidaa karneki bhul karbeitha tha?

 

Both Devesh and Pratima got a bit close and whispered to each other Devesh held her hand and said softly?  

Devesh: I love U ?

That one line with he holding her hand made her forgive everything. She smiled.. and said,

Pratima: I love u too.. and I will make sure ur parents my in-laws don't get disappointed by me again.. I will try to understand them better, give me time?

Devesh: I will help u out in adjusting and sharing the way they r and surely will try to understand ur family ur parents my in-laws.. and make sure at any given point of time. I never disrespect them in anyway.. I really care for U ?.

Pratima: I will make sure they know how much love u have showered on me.. and how much respect love care u deserve from them.. Their daughter is so lucky to have such a wonderful person as her husband? their son in law...

Devesh smiled.. and Pratima too..

Devesh: U know the day we fought in my office.. I was very upset as I wanted U to look at the frame just in the centre exactly  in front of me.. it was a frame of the photo I gave u of that yellow flower.. I framed and kept it in my office as My first best pic.. it have a line below saying.. ' Yellow is my favourite colour and I love the woman who loves red colour'

Pratima smiles with that and said: I missed looking at that and what all we fought on? gosh? U know I was in tears that day..and actual reaon was I had asked u to take me to dinner form one reason and that was it was my birthday that day? but u didn't remember.. So was more angry with the fight ..that day?..

Devesh: it was ur birthday? I completely..

Pratima: I am sorry I couldn't see what there was, just looked at things which may be I wanted to .. I was angry and upset deep down and so just wanted to look at things where I could take out that frustration on u and fight..

Devesh: I am sorry too Pratima , I guess I fought on for the same reason.. I didn't want to show the frame to U as I wanted to show the anger the irritation deep inside me..  and take it out on u with any small things? We wanted to take the negativity on to each other.. never wanting ot let ourselves and each other look at the positive side of our relationship ..

Pratima: Ya U r right.. Just this game has helped us so much in understanding our relationship better. Taking out  all the positively of our relationship and I feel lucky to be ur wife.. to have found the love of my life as my life partner who's surely is here for me..

Devesh: Even I feel so positive about everything now. Understanding each other and I feel so blessed to have got u as my wife my life partner..  We surely can sort things out

Pratima: Ya .. we need to give time to each other.. and I guess we need ot share a lot more than we did?

Devesh: I love u and I am ready to have more Suhaney Pal so lets give time to each other to our relationship and make a better start ?

Pratima smiled and Devesh too?

Devesh: I think we should be on our work from tonight itself..

Pratima: What work.,..?

Devesh : Oh Come on?(he went and held her shoulder with love) don't be that innocent and shy to say.. want of a baby.. so we should be on our work tonight..

Pratima blushed and said: We were talking of giving each other time, soch loo baby comes than we wil be giving all our tiem to the baby? but I would love that ? shifting my attention from u to him?

Devesh: Stop there.. shifting attention from me is fine? as I wont be giving u any of my attention.. but to her..

Pratima: What ? her? Who..

Devesh: My baby girl..  tum kaun hogi samjhi? ? Ya I am so handsome deewani to bohat sari hai?

Pratima: Haan deewani bohat sari hain, lekin (she pulled him towards her) gharwali ki baat nirali hai? sawali hi sahi, dil pey  yeh teer chalaana badi khubi sey jaanti hai..

Devesh laughed and whispered with both close: Dil par teeer chalaoo , ya talwar .. thoda iss Dil ko rijhaooo bhi dildaar? and he kissed her hand?

Pratima a bit shy and looked nearby if anybody had watched them ?. She pushed him away knowing it's a function and not their bedroom.

Their conversation was disturbed by the other couple preparing to start with their emotional moment.. 

 

The other couple shared a sad moment where they met with an accident and had suffered injuries and their driver had died in that crash. The couple also mentioned how they had felt scared about death? as if life is too short and after they recaptured from that accident they planned to feel each day is important and not let go any day without seeing each other early morning. They have from then made a routine to without fail give a good night kiss, have breakfast, lunch together. They have also been financially helping their driver's family. The driver has two daughters and they do meet them once in a month. Before the accident happened they had taken a lot of things for granted. Not looking at each other while leaving for office just a shout from the door, not taking a initiative to say sorry after an argument. Cold war was the easiest way out slowly shutting off from doing each others work and if did it showing how much burden it has been all these years to do. All this after the accident changed, they wanted to be there for each other and not repent why he didn't love him or her in that every moment that they were together. A little thing they understood which was very important in life and that was knowing we love each other, when one is wrong the other should give him the benefit of doubt. It worked, the couple shared the day they were in the hospital with those injuries it was hearthning to see the e other in such painful state? more than the pain the wife went through she was more in pain with the suffering of her husband and so was with the husband. In that process they realized, no two individuals can be same they will have their differences n different outlook perspective but respecting and appreciating the others little things for each other is so very important?. A few hours to each other every day is need to know how life is been for each one.

 

Listening to it Pratima and Devesh smiled. They held each other close and felt they were more strong now in making their relationship strong like the other couple. They wont ever let an accident or a crisis make them realize the love, they would learn the lesson already? They smiled and Praitma held on to the shoulder of Devesh wanting never to let him go away form him. Devesh as knew what was Pratima feeling. He kissed her forhead.

 

The result was to be announced and Pratima and Devsh were the most loved couple and most of the people there anted them to win and take away the prize they were the best looking matching pair than the other.. the other couple were not that popular.. Soon the results were announced and The other couple won the game. Pratima and Devsh didn't feel disappointed as what they won that night was more than they could ask for , they got their relationship back just through a game in a few hours of time. The people there asked how they had judged Pratima and Devesh not as winners?

The elderly couple said: No one is a loser here as we said everyone wins who has Suhaney pal in their life to share and to remember.. which will provide positive energy into the relationship as on recollects it.. but with the final the emotional moment of Pratima and Devsh were different.. after marriage in the most painful state emotional state of wife , the husband too feels the pain and the moment has to be emotional for both. If the wife looses a dear one as an instance, the husband needs to be there with her and take her out of that state. In that process he too will feel that day that moment was so very touching emotional one for both? the wife will recollect in the most emotional state her husband was with her giving her the strength and she will always feel proud of him. Same is with the husband if for instance he has a huge loss in business or in something's the presence support of the wife will make both realize that instance was emotional not one to one but to both and that emotional moment stays on.  Pratima and Devesh will surely develop that depth too in their lives and feel all those moments together.. The other couple are winner who have already achieved that depth in their relationship.

 

All the people clapped so did Pratima and Devesh , they knew that was the depth they have to achieve and after they go out form here they have felt their relationship more stronger to achieve the depth and love each other all the more.. Pratima and Devesh joined the celebration. The elderly couple just read out a poem by a Wilferd Arlan Peterson,

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end
with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

 

Everyone including their grandchildren went and showered petals on the elderly couple and gave gifts to them. The music was on the final winners danced and they asked Pratima and Devesh to also join them..

 Pratima and Devesh danced along?

and the song played.. ' Jab koi Baat bidag jaye, Jab koi mushkil padjaye tum dena sath mera Oo humnavazz.. Naa koi hai, Naa koi tha, zindagi mey tumhare sivaa, ?."

 

Pratima: Woh Suhaney Pal dekho humey phir Ek kar agye?

Devesh: Hum ek hi they , Woh Suhaney pal humey ab sapney degaye naye,

Pratima: Woh Suhaney Pal .. Humey hamarey Pyaar ko savarkey rakhney ko kehgaye,

Devesh: Woh Suhaney Pal.. 'Main' aur 'Tu' se nikal kar 'Hum' sey dosti karney ko kehgaye,

Both hugged each other and moved with the music that all felt, but they moved with the flow of love.. The ease that their heart felt to be close to each other, so near so close listening each other heart beat and the music in the background. Knowing they have not lost their love isn't vanished or dead, its now shining and is as bright as they want it to be making them to feel like glowing with the rays of the bright love which has surrounded them.

Woh Suhaney Pal tumharey Merey,

Saath ek dusrey key chalo ab sang chaley,

Dekar ek dusrey ko hath, sath aur waqt pura pura,

Lekar khushiyan sametey Jeevan ka hare ek Pal Sunehra?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What greater thing is there for two human souls
than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen
each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow,
to share with each other in all gladness,
to be one with each other in the
silent unspoken memories?

-         George Eliot

 

 

Here was the finish to the story. Hope u all enjoyed reading it as much as I felt wonderful writing this one. Especially to jyothi I hope she liked the story and hope she liked to see her favourite souples playing the part of Devesh and Pratima. Thanks to all my readers and friends u all have been with me in this process of story making , unfolding my imagination and brignign it to u all. My lovely wonderful readers Golu, Jyothi, Himani, Sara(thanks a heap dear for helping me. I couldnt have been able to post this without ur support), Naseem, ~~~~~(whats  u name?), Bini, Monika, Kittu, Vandu and all my silent readers.

 

bhoomikauttam2009-03-18 07:50:02