Part 10
"He is not a child...," told Ramesh to the crying Lakshmi, frustration and worry floating clearly in his voice. It was 9.00pm and Sukku hadn't returned home yet. He had checked the school campus, the playground and called his friends' place but Sukku was nowhere.
"Call Karan's house once again," said Lakshmi unable to stop sobbing.
"'Stop crying first, please! You will attract attention of everyone in the house," replied Ramesh as he called and got a no answer again. "I'll go and check Karan's house."
Ramesh went out of the room, walking through the corridor to take the stairs when he saw Sukku walking inside the house. Relief dawned on him and erased all the worst case possibilities that was swarming silently on his mind. He ran downstairs but to stop and sigh. His father was in the courtyard. Question hour was inevitable now. Viren brought out a huge register to his father, and saw Sukku curiously. Sukku was still in his uniform and his body language clearly suggested he had been up to something wrong.
"You are coming home now?" asked Dadaji looking at his watch. "Where were you till now? Did you inform your parents?"
Hearing the voices downstairs, Lakshmi ran out of her room and was glad to see her son. Her strained breathing relaxed. "Sukku!" she called loudly leaving everyone crane necked. Her reaction was more than enough for Dadaji and Viren to understand Sukku hadn't informed anyone. Ramesh stopped Lakshmi signaling they can have the parent-son moment later. He walked into the middle of the confrontation.
"Where were you all this time Sukku?" Ramesh questioned calmly but with concern. "You know how much worried we were?"
"Don't you know the rules of the house, Sukku?" charged Viren at Sukku. He cannot bear anyone going against the rules of the house or society. Standing face to face with Sukku, his expression changed from anger to disbelief to disgust. He turned to his father wide eyed with shock.
"Sukku! Did you smoke?" asked Viren. It was more of a statement made than a question. Ramesh and Lakshmi stood shocked beyond belief. Ramesh went near Sukku and could smell the smoke. The look on Sukku's face was smeared with guilt and fear. Ramesh understood Sukku had indeed smoked.
"Sukku! What is all this?" Ramesh asked with a raised voice.
"Rehne De Ramesh!" came from Dadaji as he joined Ramesh. "What else will he do if you don't teach him the right things...When the father is you...No wonder son is like this..."
"Actually Dadaji..." Sukku began trembling. He didn't have justification but he wanted to tell what happened.
"Shut up Sukku! Committing mistakes and then lying to escape?" shouted Viren.
"Bhaiya! Please...he has something to say...let him...I will handle this...," Ramesh tried to reason.
"We are not fools Ramesh, to believe what he tells...We know how boys are in this age...," blasted Dadaji.
"Exactly Bauji! Boys at this age are like this...we have to..." Ramesh or Sukku was never let to complete their line.
"Enough Ramesh! Don't try to support what Sukku has done...Try to teach him something good...Don't make him like you...A loser..." scowled Viren with contempt.
Ramesh opened his mouth but gritted his teeth. He saw Lakshmi watching the proceedings silently, still in tears. Sukku was hanging his head in shame. Dadaji had an "I don't care" expression, he always never stopped anything that went against him. Everything was happening because of him. Ramesh grabbed Sukku's hand and pulled him with him to his room. Anger was flooding. Lakshmi was shocked at this sudden action. Dadaji glared at Ramesh.
"What's the use of doing this drama now?" mocked Viren.
----------
"Papa! I am really sorry..." apologised Sukku genuinely. "I was at Karan's house. His parents are out of town. He had this pack of cigarettes, his father's. He was excited and took out one and started lighting it. I was really scared. I knew it was wrong Papa! I know I shouldn't have...I tried only once...and then I didn't do it. I swear. I was tempted Papa! I promise I won't do it again...I am really sorry..." Sukku was shaking with fear.
Ramesh had pulled Sukku to the room, just to get out of the courtyard. The anger wasn't at Sukku but at himself. He had calmed down now, seated, listening to his son. Lakshmi was getting the dinner plate ready for him.
"Why didn't you continue smoking? You had the chance" asked Ramesh casually.
"Papa! I knew it was wrong...You have taught me..."
"Why is it wrong?" questioned Ramesh.
Sukku stood confused. Ramesh walked up to him and put his hand around his shoulder. His son was nearing his height now and was going to complete school in a year. He smiled. "Look Sukku! I asked you not to smoke because...Smoking isn't good for health...It becomes addictive and spoils your life. It's better to stop this habit at the earliest stage itself, else you get used to it. Yes...Smoking is becoming a lifestyle...But once you get into it, it's very difficult to come out..." Sukku nodded. His father had already told him this, and he understood too. But he lost control in front of his friend. Ramesh continued, "As parents, we can only warn you and teach you what's right and wrong. You are a grown up now...you should understand on your own, what's right and wrong...and whenever you are skeptical we are always there to guide you..."
"I know Papa!" Sukku was in tears. He was expecting his parents to blast him for the mistake, but here they were, understanding him and forgiving him. "I promise I will never do anything like this...I am very sorry..."
Ramesh ruffled his son's hair lovingly, asking him to change his clothes and freshen up. Sukku reached the door but turned. "Can I ask you something?" Ramesh gave a curious nod. "Papa! You know it is wrong...then why do you drink? It's also bad for health."
Ramesh felt a slap on his face hearing the question. His heart lurched. Lakshmi was shocked. "Sukku!"
Ramesh raised his hand with a sad smile. Standing rooted to his place, "I told na Sukku...Once you get into it, it becomes very difficult to come out of it, you get so addicted...That's what has happened to me...I have gone so deep into this habit that I can't turn back now..." Ramesh replied honestly. If he said his son was a grown up, he had to treat him as one.
"Why didn't Dadaji stop you?" Sukku asked confused.
Ramesh felt a pang of pain. "He wasn't with me...I was in Mumbai then...alone...But you don't worry...I will never leave you alone...," Ramesh winked forcing a chuckle. "Now get back soon and have dinner. You must be very hungry..."
Sukku left. Lakshmi eyed Ramesh keenly knowing lot of things were running in his mind.
"How can I tell my son...I drink because I am a loser...Good for nothing...Useless son of the house?!" Ramesh felt a lot of emotions gusting through him. But he knew that cannot justify his habit of drinking.
*******
Ramesh stood facing his entire family with his daughter standing next to him glaring at everyone. It was yet another day where Ramesh had to fight the family for his daughter's wishes.
"What else can be expected from Ramesh's daughter," began Viren caustically. Dadaji sat with his eyes filled with rage. "What do you think in your mind Nisha? You are a superman? Saviour of the world?"
"Bhaiya! Please calm down...," said Ramesh. "Nisha has done nothing wrong..."
"Rehne De Ramesh!" Dadaji stood up, shoving Viren back in angst. "Because of your girl, the entire family's name is on the street. What respect will our family have now? As a girl, she has lost all respect too..."
"Dadaji! I did..." Nisha interrupted.
"Stop it Nisha! Enough of your nonsense..." roared Viren.
"Bhaiya!" retorted Ramesh. "Nisha has done nothing wrong. She did what a girl has to do..."
"Fight with boys on the road? Uh? You call that respectful?" yelled Viren.
"Those boys were teasing my college mates...and hence I fought with them..." spoke Nisha strongly.
"Boys will be boys. As girls you have to just ignore..." commented Viren.
Nisha felt disgusted at the thought and started to argue, but Lakshmi held her hand to stop her from talking.
"Nisha will not go to college on her own from now on...She will be dropped and picked up by the driver every day, got it Nisha? This is the only way to stop your recklessness..." Dadaji passed his judgement.
"But Bauji! What is Nisha's mistake? We have to be proud that she stood up for her friends bravely..." Ramesh looked at his father with incredulity.
"Today she fought...Tomorrow she will influence Kirti and Jwala to fight too...then what will happen to the future of my daughters," asked Rupan. She had been waiting to jump into the clash.
Ramesh wasn't going to back down. "You have to be happy that your kids would be responsible enough to take care of themselves..."
"You don't take about responsibility, Chote! You can't do one work properly in the shop, and you are talking about responsibility?" countered Viren.
Ramesh rolled his eyes, growing impatient. "Bhaiya! Where are you taking this conversation?"
"Why not? What's wrong with what Bhaiya said?" Rupan continued ignoring her husband's attempt to stop her. "Ramesh! I have told this many times and I am telling you again...You and Lakshmi may have given all the freedom to your kids and have spoiled them...But we want our kids to live a disciplined life...Got it?"
Ramesh looked at his father and mother who stood silently listening to all the shots at him. He looked at his brothers, whom he had helped selflessly many times in the past. He loved his family a lot but had never got the same love in return. He didn't expect them to love and respect him, but at least his wife and kids deserved better treatment. He regretted taking all the blame in the past which had led to his poor status in the house.
"I am proud of what Nisha has done...And she will continue to go to college in her scooter..." Ramesh told strongly, gathering himself.
"But Ramesh! Bauji is right...Those boys might come back and harm Nisha..." told Lakshmi with doubt. "It's our duty to protect our daughter..."
"Yes...and protection doesn't mean restriction. Nisha has been brave to fight those boys...and she has no fear to face them again. I won't diminish that boldness by keeping her closed in our four walls of protection..." replied Ramesh, making his point clear.
"Chote! She is a girl not a boy remember? As a father, it's your duty to protect her...At least take that responsibility..." said Viren with derision.
"My duty is to protect her, yes...I agree...But I believe, as a father I have to give the courage to my daughter to protect herself...And that's what I am going to do. I have full confidence in my daughter that she can protect herself and her cousins and friends and her parents if needed too...and incase she needs help...She will definitely call for one..." responded Ramesh strongly.
"Enough of the nonsense Ramesh! I have the experience of life. I know what's right and what's wrong. Learn to trust your father like your brothers. Look at their life. It's because they trusted their parents, their life is good. You didn't trust and did what you wanted...and look at your life. At least safe guard your children's life and stop trying to turn their life like yours..."
"Dadaji! You are right...and that's why I trust my father...and if my father feels I have the ability to take care of my life...then I can take care of my life...So you needn't worry..." Nisha couldn't stop herself from talking. She couldn't see her father attacked from all corners.
"NISHA!" bellowed Viren. "Mind your words...Look at your arrogance. This arrogance won't take you anywhere."
"Bhaiya! This isn't arrogance. This is determination," replied Ramesh in the same tone as Viren. "Bauji! I have let my kids lead their life as per their wishes...and if Nisha wants to go to college on her own...She will go on her own..."
"See how ungrateful you are, Ramesh!" taunted Rupan. "This family has given you so much love and respect and ignored all your carelessness and this is how you repay them? By going against them?"
Dadaji raised his hand to stop Rupan from talking further. "Since I have got the scooter for you, I am taking it away...You can go to college by local transport or whatever way you wish..."
Nisha looked in disbelief. She couldn't believe her grandfather would go to any extent to stop her from commuting alone. She looked at her father, who nodded at her with a smile. She looked at her cousins who were standing behind pillars at various places, closely watching the drama. They all nodded in unison.
"In that case...I will buy the scooter from you Dadaji," replied Nisha confidently taking Dadaji aback. "But the scooter is mine...and I will go to college by scooter..."
Viren looked disgusted at the thought of a girl being independent. He looked at the proud smile on Ramesh's face. He was sure he felt no happiness for his brother.
*********
Ramesh looked at the courtyard from upstairs, with concern. The celebration has suddenly turned into a fight. Umesh and Sukku were having a huge argument with the cousins divided among themselves. Sukku had teased Umesh and his cooking which wasn't taken lightly by Umesh. He had commented on Sukku's careless attitude and his number of arrears which had angered Sukku. Ramesh didn't want to play referee. He knew the cousins would sort out among themselves. They had always have done that, never prolonged their arguments and fights. Nisha had always kept the cousins gang together. But she wasn't present at that moment. Viren walked out of his room hearing the noise and saw the fight of the cousins. He also saw Ramesh, who signaled him to stay away from it. He too quietly watched the proceedings.
Viren sensed the fight would go for days seeing how Umesh and Sukku had to be taken away from each other to stop them from charging at each other. He couldn't restrain the glint of smile on his face. He always envied the cousins and their unity and believed it wasn't possible for them to continue their unity when they grew up, considering his own personal experience. Viren's belief was Ramesh's fear. Ramesh didn't want the cousins to end up like the three brothers.
In a few minutes, the turn of events left Ramesh happy and Viren fuming. Umesh walked to Sukku, hugged him and resolved the issue easily. Viren turned and walked to his room, with Ramesh looking at him longingly. Can they ever be together? A question he had had for years now.
*********
(Present)
"Did he tell anything?" asked Dadi. She was in Ramesh's room attempting to find a solution through Lakshmi. She knows Lakshmi is the only person who can stop whatever was happening.
"No!" Lakshmi told blankly. "He seemed pretty determined, Maa ji. I don't think he will change his decision this time..."
"Lakshmi! He has to...He has taken this decision impulsively. You know how emotional he is...Whatever happened today, it didn't happen for the first time. This has been how..." Dadi knew she was making no point. She knew Ramesh wasn't wrong.
"Everybody has a limit Maa ji! May be Ramesh has reached his..." replied Lakshmi. Sitting alone and thinking from Ramesh's point of view, she had realised her husband wasn't wrong totally.
"But dividing the property...leaving the house..." Dadi was in tears at the thought of it. She felt like her world was breaking seeing her family break. She didn't want to see it. "Please talk to Ramesh, Lakshmi...Make him understand..."
"Did you talk with Viren Bhaiya?" asked Lakshmi. She knew the answer. "I will talk to Ramesh Maa ji...But the solution you are expecting...It's not here...but with the rest of the family..."
********
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