Revathi

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I sat there spellbound. Thinking do I really wanna hear her story, do I really wanna know what could have happened to her? Because I always thought she was born insane and her family just hid the truth from everybody.

 She was staring at me, trying to gauge my reaction. I gave her a small nod. She sighed and started again.

 “I am from one of those big small villages in our province. May be you have heard about it. It’s called Mirana. It’s 150km from the capital. My father was one of the eminent man in the village. We had many acres of land and every year our produce was really good. I was the only child and hence totally and completely pampered. Every whim and every wish of mine was completed. My mother used to dote on me and would take care of even those needs of me which I don’t even know they existed. My father he used to totally love my mother and me. To him we were his whole world. He used to go to the farms in the morning and come back in evening. And daily he would bring some fresh fruits and vegetable on the way back. When it was mango season he used to bring so many mangoes because I used to love them. And I would devour each and every mango as soon he bought them. During day mother would get busy taking care of our big haveli. Our haveli had 10 rooms and mother used to clean each room daily.  Then she would start making food. I would go near by paathshala and study. I would be back in generally two or three hours. When I reach home my mother would have been eagerly waiting for me. As soon I come home, her whole demeanor would brighten. She would give me food and tell me stories. It was perfect little world of mine with not even a single tinge of sadness”

 As she was telling me about her happy past there was a sweet smile on her face. She was looking so serene and pretty that if one doesn’t notice the rag she is wearing than no body can doubt her sanity.

 She would look at me during her reminiscence and I would nod my head. And so she continued.

 But like everything in this ever changing world, nothing is permanent. If one has money today, he can be poor tomorrow. If one has friends today , he can be living in a hut tomorrow. If one has”

 “I got your point. Please stop with these examples”, I said impatiently.

 She became flustered" Sorry, I just get carried away sometimes."

 "I can see that. Now please continue"

 She smiled " That eager to listen my story"

I shrugged " Any how I don't have anything better to do. So please carry on with your tale."

 "Like I was saying, my happiness was ephemeral. Uncle, do you remember the plague which affected half of our country.”

I nodded my head, “That plague was highly lethal. It’s after effects were particularly gloomy”

 She nodded, “Exactly. At the time it spread I was just 11.  That plagued was spread through out the country like fire. People were dying like leaves falling in winter. By the grace of the god our village was safe from the plague. One day my mother received a letter with some shocking news. My mother’s parent used to live in another village. It is a small village known as Kanhera. The letter said that both of her parents have become victim of plague and there is no one to take care of them. My mother had a brother but that insolent scoundrel, after realizing that my grand parents have become victim to plague, left them alone in their hut and ran away some place safe with his family. My mother was beyond furious and worried. She was at fix on how to help her parents. She eagerly waited for father to come back. When he came back my mother told him about the situation and asked his permission to go tend her parents. My father blatantly said no. But my mother was firm on her decision. She said she can’t leave her parents when they need her. Even if their situation was terminal, she believed if her being there can make the situation even 1% better than she should be there.”

 “Your mother seemed to be a lady of high principles. I admire that”, I intervened.

 She smiled with pride gleaming in her eyes. She said,” Ya, she was. She was the kind of person who will always do what is right and wouldn’t care how tough it would be to do right.”

 I smiled at her love for her mother.

 She continued, “My father also knew there is no point in arguing with my mother. When she set her heart to do something, she won’t rest until she does it. So he reluctantly agreed but on some conditions. Number one: She would take the medicine prepared by local doctor or vaid. Number two: I can’t go with her. Number Three: She would try her best to come back in one week. Number Four: She would try her best to send a letter every alternate day, even if it doesn’t reach us. My mother easily agreed to these conditions. When my father mentioned 2nd condition she looked at him like he has become mad and replied “I was never planning to take Revathi with me.”

 “That night my mother packed her belongings for one week. She had to leave at dawn. As Khanera, my grand parents village was a half day journey by foot. She kissed me good bye and explained me how to take care of myself and father. I was crying when she put me to sleep and never wanted to let her go.”

 She was crying when she was telling me this part of story. It was tough for me Hiralal, the jailer who always had comparatively easy life to comprehend what she went through. But it was obivious that she loved her mom a lot.

 I was waiting for her to continue. But she just kept on crying. Than her cries became wails and I started to panic. I tried to soothe her, “Revathi it is okay. Don’t cry it was a thing of past.  It’s all over now.”

 But she was beyond listening. She kept on crying louder, her whole body trembling with each sob. Then she suddenly stopped. She looked toward me with such blank eyes that it made me shiver. Those eyes were full of compassion and life few minutes back and now they have nothing. They were so dark like they were sucking all the light around. It was freaky. I called her name, “ Revathi!!!” But she gave no response. I tried again and again but still she was looking towards me. But she was looking through me.

 Finally I understood what Revathi meant when she said she didn’t have much time. I sighed, stood up and went away from her, while she was still staring in one direction with those blank eyes.