MPbGD Part 46 posted on pg 150 on 16/1/12 - Page 89

simply amazing n awsum part di..

loved it alot..

thnx for the pm...

Part 41

It was past 5 when Armaan and Suja returned home. Grandmother and granddaughter had made hot pakodas for them. "I helped amamma by peeling the onion even though my eyes were watering" Priyam informed them. "That's my brave girl" her grandpa praised her. Suja was really famished and thanked her amma for the tasty snack.

When later they sat watching TV, Armaan pulled Priyam onto his lap and asked Suja to put her feet up on Priyam's tiny chair. Riddhima was shocked to see how much her daughter's feet were swollen. "What is this Suja?" her amma scolded her, "Aren't you taking care of yourself?" "Amma the doctor asked me to reduce the salt intake in my diet. If I do that I get severe cramps in my calf muscles, at night. She says I must sit with my feet up. Is that possible? There's so much work in the house. I'm on my feet all day long. You know my servant hasn't been coming since a week. She isn't keeping well. What am I to do?"

Riddhima felt very guilty hearing her. She decided that while she was here she'd make sure Suja got some rest. She asked Armaan to get some hot water in a bucket and cold water in another. She made Suja put her legs alternately in the warm and cold water. Suja had cooked in the morning itself for the evening too, only some rice needed to made. Riddhima took care of that.

That night as she lay in bed with Priyam, she thought of some way to help her daughter. When Armaan came to see if both o them were asleep, he found Priyam asleep but Riddhima awake. On questioning she told him about her worry. "Let them come and stay with us. Anyways the upstairs portion is empty only. They'll have enough privacy also" was his first solution.

R: You know that's not possible What about Priyam's school, Prakash's office?

A: I know but this house is small for all of us. And I'm afraid to leave you here and go. You'll neglect your health. If only we could find someone like our Rajesh to help Suja,

"That's it." Riddhima butted in. "We'll send Rajesh here. Anyways there is not much work to be done there, for only two of us. I'm well enough to cook." "Ok, you sleep now, we'll discuss it with Suja and mapillai tomorrow." He said but he wasn't too happy about her proposal. There was a lot of other work besides cooking. Especially the cleaning work which both of them couldn't manage. But he knew she wouldn't sleep if he refuted her point. He waited till he heard her soft snores and then went to lie on the sofa in the hall.

Saturday started off very leisurely, with all of them waking up late, as only Prakash had to go for work. As he didn't carry a lunch box on Saturdays, Riddhima had to only make idlis and chutney for breakfast. (She had strictly ordered Suja to stay away from the kitchen for 2 days.) Inspite of Suja requesting her amma not to strain herself much, Riddhima made an elaborate lunch with Armaan and Priyam butting in on the pretext of helping her.

In the evening they all went to the nearby Hanumaan temple. When they returned from there Riddhima asked Prakash "Mapillai can you get a transfer to a branch nearer our village?" Surprised but her sudden question he looked at Suja for help but she also seemed as surprised. Then Riddhima began to explain. "Mapillai Suja is in the last trimester of her pregnancy. My heart weeps to see her doing the household chores with her bulging stomach. During Priyam's time I was with her, but now I'm myself not in a state to do much work."

Then looking towards Armaan she said "We both thought we'd send Rajesh here to help her. But when I thought deeply about it, I felt at this time a female company is what Suja needs. Even after the baby is born she's going to need help. I thought the best solution would be if you could all shift there. We could have a common kitchen downstairs and you could stay upstairs, as it is empty now. Priyam's school wouldn't be so much of a problem, we could shift her to my school. Only you'll have a problem commuting to your branch. So if you could get a transfer,"

When she halted, Prakash and Suja looked at each other thoughtfully. Then Prakash said "I'm not sure how soon they'll grant me a transfer." Suja intervened saying "why not all of stay here only?" Then she herself said "but this house will be small for all of us. We'll have to find a bigger house."

R: Even if we find one, the rent will be more. And the village house will simply lie locked up.

P: But athai

R: I know mapillai, when you got married to Suja itself you had put down a condition that you don't want to be a 'veetoda mapillai' (ghar jamai) and I had also agreed. But now I'm suggesting it only for Suja's benefit. Me and athaan have lot of time on our hands. We could at least help with the kids. And you won't be staying in our house as such.,you'll be staying upstairs. If later you wish to have a separate kitchen, that too is ok by me. I'm suggesting a common kitchen only till Suja's delivery. Even if at any time in the future you want to move elsewhere, I won't stop you.

P: Athai you are embarrassing me. I was only thinking if we move there, the kids might bother you. You and mama need more rest at this age.

A: Come on Prakash we aren't all that old. If we had our own kid, wouldn't we take care of it? Would we feelit a bother?

Prakash was aghast, while Riddhima felt so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear from there. But Suja saved the situation saying "Yes amma if that miracle is possible, you should go ahead with it. Of course, we need to talk to your doctors first." Seeing Riddhima uncomfortable Armaan said "That we'll do. But right now let's resolve this issue. What do you say Prakash?"

P: It sounds a good idea but I need to find about the chances of my getting a transfer. Only after that I can make any decision.

The next day both the men decided to handle the kitchen giving the women a break. But they asked so many questions regarding the whereabouts of things that the women felt like sending them out and doing the cooking themselves. But finally at around 1 pm they were served lunch of rasam and beans poriyal(bhaji). Suja was famished by then as they had only had chutney sandwich for breakfast.

Monday morning Suja had a tough time getting Priyam ready for school. She refused to go to school because her grandparents would leave before she came back. Finally she left for school only after they promised to wait till she returned. Seeing Suja's hectic schedule that morning, preparing breakfast and packing lunch boxes for Prakash and Priyam, Riddhima was more than convinced that she needed help.

On Tuesday night Suja called, after meeting her gynac with her sonography report. She told her amma that the doctor was happy about the child's growth and development. Then as usual, after talking to her amma, she spoke to her appa. She said, "Appa, there's some good news. I spoke to my doctor about amma's case. She said it isn't impossible with the latest technology. But she says Apollo hospital doctors, who dealt with amma's transplant, are the right people to guide us further. You are going to Chennai on Friday na? You ask them."

A: Yes, I'll do that Suja. And how's my angel?

S: Angel? Only you can call her that. She seems to be getting more and more adamant with each passing day.

A: Suja, it's her insecurity which makes her behave like that. She feels that way she can get your attention. She's afraid that with another baby coming along, you'll neglect her. Keep reassuring her that as your first born she'll always remain your favourite. Don't scold her for her tantrums but just try to ignore that and behave calmly towards her as if her tantrums don't affect you. And don't say things like "because I'm pregnant I can't do this for you or that for you." Then she'll start blaming the baby for coming between the two of you.

S: Thanks for opening my eyes appa. I'll try to follow your advice.

A: Why are you being so formal ma? I still remember, Karan got all the more closer to his Perima, when Karuna was pregnant with Arun and we didn't realize this till much later. He had by then become so adamant that he wanted to spend every waking hour with Riddhima. When Karuna sought the intervention of his pediatrician in this matter, she was the one who explained to us that it was just a result of his insecurity. I'm only repeating what I learnt as a parent, so that you won't make the same mistake which we made, of not giving the elder child enough time.

After cutting the call when he looked at Riddhima, he saw her very pensive. Sitting beside her and putting his arm on her shoulder he asked "What happened dear? What are you thinking so deeply about?" She just shook her head saying I just realized the difference between a real parent and a pseudo parent like me. I was very stupid to think I have been an excellent mother to Karan, Arun and Suja, though I didn't give birth to them. I thought Karan loved me so much because of the love I showered on him, not because Karuna didn't give him time.

A: Of course Riddhima you are a wonderful mother. No doubts about it. And Karan loved you so much only because you doted on him. Maybe he turned towards you in the first place because of the lack of his mother's attention. But he kept running to you every time only because of your love for him. Even his grandma was with us at that time, but he never got attached to her. The greatest mistake me and Karuna did was to take the kids away from you. See how we messed their lives. They don't even want to talk to me now. Whereas see Suja, whom you brought up single handedly. She's not only a loving daughter, but also an understanding wife and a wonderful mother. Everyone needs some guidance from time to time, but one needs the maturity to discern which advice to take and which to ignore. Your upbringing has given her the maturity to make that choice.

She smiled after listening to him spellbound, and said "You are in the wrong profession athaan." When he looked at her with knitted brows she said "You should have been a lawyer. You manage to convince people so well, you'd have won every case." Both of them burst laughing at that, side hugging each other.

Riddhima and Armaan left for Chennai on Thrusday afternoon itself so as to not tire out Riddhima. When they met the doctoron Friday morning, he was extremely pleased with Riddhima's progress. Finally Armaan put the question which had been nagging his brain since over a week. At first the doctor was shocked.

Dr: A baby? But I thought,'. wasn't that pregnant lady your daughter?

Armaan explained to him about Suja being adopted and also about him being away in the US for 20 years. The doctor didn't reply immediately. He seemed to be weighing his words. Then after a few minutes he said "I'm sorry i never thought of discussing this matter with you before the surgery because I wasn't aware that you'd been planning for a baby."

A: Actually doctor at that time this thought wasn't in our mind either.