Just A Tale

Nest

"I wasn't just a mother anymore,I became a lioness" That was Fatima, we studied together when my family was living at Nadapa, Gujrat.Then we moved on when my father had transferred to the city and I couldn't even remember how did she look like. But when I met her again after thirty five years later,at that very moment I realised, I didn't forget her. We went on talking, talking and talking. Fatima had come from a modest family, she used to look pretty in school days and she had a desire to learn. However, her story amazed me through my bone!!
"I got married after the year you left Nadapa"
"Didn't you go to school anymore?! How could you do that? You were so keen to learn"
"No my in-laws didn't like that, and honestly saying, I didn't feel like to study,got so busy with my family, works,responsibilities"
"Huh! Are you kidding me? You were only fifteen then" I couldn't resist my laughter imagining her being responsible (probably didn't mention that,Fatima often put on her shoes in a wrong order and sometimes came to school by wearing her regular pajamas because of her little bit of carelessness)
"My husband was looking over their family business. They had a huge business of clothing stores. You would be jealous to know that how much he had loved me. Within the eight months of my marriage I got blessings from the Almighty. I had conceived my first son".
I was like "what?" Had she gone mad? She became pregnant at the age of fifteen and that was a blessing!
Fatima went on, "When my son turned three we went to live in district town, because of his father's work. We opened a new branch their. We rented a house,everything was going absolutely fine. One year later, I gave birth of my second son. But suddenly one day, some unknown people rushed to our house and they were saying that my husband was in hospital. I was so shocked! Couldn't believe my own ears. I hurried to the hospital and saw my husband was lying on a bed with some strange lines and machines. He had a heart failure, after two days,he passed away"
I felt sorry for her. She was sorry too. However, she didn't stop,as if she wouldn't get chance to finish it later.
"After my husband's death my whole world collapsed. Nothing was left to hold. Few days later my mother in law came and took all the money, furnitures, my jewellery because everything was done by HER son's money. I was ignorant about my husband's property, so his brothers took care of all of that. That moment I was not aware of what's actually going on. But then some of my well wishers came and told them to take my son's responsibility instead of assets.That moment when my in-laws wanted to take my sons away I got my senses back. I did anything and everything to keep my sons to me. I wasn't just a mother anymore, I became a lioness. Sometimes one has to be".
I wasn't talking anymore. Rest of her journey was filming inside my head.
"So Fatima, you didn't get married again."
"Oh believe me, I did want to get married again. Though I loved my husband, but I wanted to be loved again. But couldn't do that because of my boys. You know our society, rigid ness hasn't left us yet and that was many years ago."
I couldn't deny her.
"So, what are your boys doing now? I guess they've all grown up?"
"Oh yes! I played my part very well. They are doing very good"
"Well Fatima,you had spent your whole life for your children, still I would tell you, you could have done more for yourself"
"Probably or probably not. Your story was completely different than mine. But, we both are listening to each other under the roof of this old age home. We all tried to built our own nest by our own way. Some succeeded, some not. That's how the world goes,na?"
Fatima went away. Yes, after thirty- five years, I met with her in that old age home. She was living their for two years. As I was pretty new, she came very handy. Next day when I woke up, I heard that some one had died. That was Fatima. She died after narrating her boring story to me. But that whole day,one sentence was hovering around my mind
"We All Try to Built Our Nests"