CHAPTER – 6

  

Almost a week passed; Aaradhya wound up her business affairs and is ready to go back to Dubai. Azmia will join her after some arrangements are done regarding the passport and visa. It is decided that she will pursue her studies and do part time job in Aaradhya’s company and stay with her, until she find a better job and arrangement. Till her time to depart, she will stay with Tejaswi.

Co-incidentally, Thara also decided to leave back to Bangalore on the same day as her. So Aaradhya picked Thara from her home and they reached airport together. Once the airport formalities were done, they relaxed on to the seats since there was time for their flight. It was then Aaradhya decided to confront Thara.

“Are you happy Thara?”

“Huh?”

“Are you happy in your life?”

There was a moment of pause before Thara answered.

“You understood my sarcasm that day!”

“Yup”

“Hmm”

“So what’s up with you? Why aren’t you working, when that’s what you always wanted?”

Thara answered her question with a counter question and a smile to lighten it up.

“Why are you working, when that’s not what you wanted?”

“So are you pinning it on destiny or are you telling me your preferences changed with time?”

“What was it for you?”

“We’ll talk about me later. First tell me, what’s going on”

Thara did not know if she should talk about it. But then maybe letting it out to someone might get her some relief. Meeting her old friends has led to her developing an inferiority complex. Even the less studious Anjali has landed herself an impressionable job which has in a way instilled jealousy in her.

Maybe I need to talk it out.

“Ok the thing is, my husband is a busy body Scientist at ISRO and he wants a wife, who looks after his house and kids. Not a partner who would go out and work to come back equally tired; to him a working woman means a woman who has no time for her husband, kid and home”.

“Ok it is his right to have such preferences. But if you knew about it, then why agree to marry such a guy? You could have just waited to find a guy who will allow you to work”.

“Aaru....unlike yours, my parents are very conservative and actually share the same ideologies as my husband. They bring up daughters so that they can make a good home for a man some day. So when they chose Mahesh for me, he was the best in their eyes!”

“Have you really talked with Mahesh about your ambitions? You were really ambitious back then about going for IAS and had inspired even me, who wanted to be a housewife”

“Before marriage yes we talked about it. He appreciated my thoughts but then clearly told me that he is looking for a housewife”

“Hmm”

Silence prevailed after that between them. Soon boarding call is announced for Thara’s flight.

“Ok I have to leave. And Aaru, I’m sorry if my comment that day hurt you. Trust me; I’m very proud of what you have achieved. I truly am”

“Hey, it’s okay. But Thara, I want you to rethink. You must talk with Mahesh again. Try to make him understand how important your dreams are to you. Make him understand in a way he can apprehend. After all he comes from an educated family and is himself an achiever. If he doesn’t understand, then who will? Maybe when you gave up so easily, he hasn’t realised how serious you are. Tell him, it has been your lifelong dream and how passionate you are about it. I’m sure he will understand, maybe after a little persistence”

Thara smiled and hugged Aaradhya who returned her hug in an equally affectionate manner.

“Thank you Aaru”

“Life doesn’t wait for anyone Thara. Your dream must be your reality; and I know you can do that. Regret is one word we will all hate as our life passes by. So at least talk to Mahesh once more”

“Hmm....I know there is no hope. But I will try”

“Good”

“Bye”

“Bye, stay in touch”

Thara headed towards the gate for boarding. But much to her surprise, her mind started wheeling in the direction Aaradhya suggested. She had stopped hoping for a long time now, but seems like her heart and mind was urging her to try once more.

                                            *****************

That was four days back. Those four days went by in her contemplating and reflecting on the correct time, mood and circumstance to discuss this with Maheshwar. The truth is she knew the outcome and simply didn’t want to try. But today she was compelled to confront him. After all, today they attended the after party of a successful venture by ISRO. And there she met Dr. Geetha Pradeep, her husband’s colleague. 5 scientists including her husband and Geetha had pulled off something big ISRO can boost off and the party was to honour these five.

But what astonished her was the appreciation and praises her husband was showering on Geetha and her contribution. Geetha’s achievements were glorified and pointed out as path-breaking and inspiring by her husband.

 If he can think so tall about other women’s achievements, he MUST be able to digest his wife’s dreams and ambitions too; so that even I can go out and become that achiever of whom my husband will be proud of. But as expected the conversation, when it happened didn’t bear fruit.

“Thara, we had discussed this way before our marriage and I’ve made my stand clear. What is it with you all of a sudden?”

“But I don’t understand Mahesh. If you can be appreciative of a colleague’s talent, then why not of your wife’s?”

“Exactly, Geetha is a colleague while you are my ‘wife’. There is a difference”

“What difference Mahesh, why does your wife’s aspiration hold no value in your eyes?”

“Thara try to understand. Geetha is an unmarried woman and yes as much as I hate to say, it is because of these same achievements and talent, she is still alone in life. She doesn’t have the blessings you have – a husband, kid, family, home. And you don’t have hers. To attain one thing, we have to give up something else”

“And what have you given up?”

“Huh?”

“Yes Mahesh. You have both.....a family life and a respectable career. What have you lost to gain both of this?”

A heavy silence stretched between them. Her eyes did not waver from his; she wanted an answer today.

“If you wanted more than this, you should not have married me”

“You are right, but unfortunately for me, I landed up a husband and parents’ who never understood my desires”

He walked towards Thara and held her shoulders.

“If that’s how you want to take it, so be it. Make peace with it, because now it’s too late. In my life, only I can have ambitions; my wife should be my support system”

“What if the wife wants the same support back from her husband?”

“I don’t have time or interest to support my wife”

Thara stared into her husband’s compassionate eyes. His soft voice did not reveal the brutality of his thoughts.

“I have a happening career which doesn’t leave much time for family. If my wife also goes ahead to build her career, then what will happen to my son?”

“He is our responsibility, not just mine”

“I guess you are in no mood to understand now. Ok, let’s just forget this conversation. I’m tired. I have a busy day at work tomorrow. I’m going to sleep”

He walked into the bathroom and closed the door effectively ending the conversation.

                                              ****************

Next day when he woke up he saw Thara going about her routine as usual. She was getting his lunch ready handling their son alongside. He was happy that Thara, as always, has put the fight behind and is back to being a good wife.

It’s not that he is a villain in her life; he credits himself as a good husband who doesn’t ill treat her in any manner and takes good care of his family. He hasn’t made her cry or ever made her struggle for anything. Luxury was always prevalent in their life. So in his perspective, since he could provide all the luxury and stability to their marital life, it was Thara’s duty to provide the compassion and emotional quotient to it - by making a home for him to come back to and giving undivided love and attention to him and his son. If she is to pursue her dream of Civil Service, then they would never have a life, and he did not get married for that.

So seeing Thara being her usual sensible self, he happily went to office. He was in a particularly good mood that day and his colleagues also noticed it. He decided to return home early for a change and reached home by 5pm. But what awaited him were an empty flat and a crying toddler that his neighbours brought to him. They also handed over a letter Thara has left for him.

                                           *****************

Thara has boarded a bus back to Kochi hours back. As the bus took her ahead, she is seen lost in thoughts.

I have taken the biggest decision of my life.

I’m prepared to face the consequences no matter what.

After seeing my husband’s hypocrisy yesterday, I don’t think I can be the wife he needs me to be.

I hope my son would be able to understand me some day.

If not, that might be a price I will have to pay.... to fulfil my dream.

PRECAP: Thara or Azmia or Aaradhya – not decided!!!!!