Its a romantic novel between husband and wife when he uses the tool reverence to get into a women's spirit..... actually the men forgot to use the tool Reverence. Read and enjoy my story
REVERENCE- THE KEY TO A WOMAN’S SPIRIT
It was eight ‘o'clock at night. ‘Where is the key?’ Johnson, a professor by profession searched frantically everywhere in the room. With his lanky frame, he hovered over the bed where a sickly little girl of five in a red frock was lying; struggling hard in inhaling the air to keep her tiny lungs in function .Her hands and legs were going cold, ‘not a real good sign’ he muttered. As a lunatic, Professor Johnson created a ruckus of the room he was in- kicking the chair to the wall, throwing the pen and pencils out of its pouch, the bookshelf was dislodged out of its former place and while he pushed the TV in despair, he saw the key of the car lying beside it. The little one’s lungs ached from lack of oxygen. Her breathing grew heavier with the wheezing. The kid was in great discomfort. He reached for the balm and smeared it on the girl’s chest and forehead. He scooped her in his arms, frantically steering the car in the direction of Fortis Medicare hospital, Mumbai.
*******
On a secluded sandy beach, where the crimson red of the setting sun blanketed the whole area, two lovebirds- Alex and Mira sat hand in hand, enjoying the breathtaking view which lay spread in front of them.
“Alex, our life will begin tomorrow, won’t it just be great? “Mira asked with a pitch of joy, scribbling his name on the sand. The waves pushed the water forward with its foam. The murmurs of the waves elated their heart with joy. The water as a white foam splashed at their feet, washing off the dirt not only from their feet but also, symbolically from their lives. They felt the beach transforming as a purifier to the next phase they were supposed to take together the very next day.
“Tomorrow!!! (pause) will make a new launch in our lives ”, Alex replied with a zest he was supposed to have in such a situation.
“The soul mates shall be together from now on, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth” she waved dramatically in the air and then laughed in shyness and high expectations for the new life ahead of her which shall start tomorrow.
“As a newborn entering his humanly existence with birth, the partners gets into a new world of married life with extreme serenity and beauty- might be a fantasy or reality” Alex thought out loud enough for his lady to listen. The look on her face was a mix of confusion and amusement
“It is enough, all these…. shall we move “Alex got up, stretching his hands.
“I will hold you till my last breath” he offered his hands in support. Still in her own thoughts, hesitantly Mira got up taking his hands in deliberation, ‘What dark sides might this inter-caste marriage bring out… Ohhh God, is this all worth the risk? Would my God pardon me for stepping away from his teachings? Ahh come on! She assured herself, caste is made by humans, they differentiate themselves in the name of God… My beliefs teach me that the universe is one’. Her mind was clogged with thoughts countering each other.
It was dusk; the evening sun bidding its farewell for the day. “Alex, wait a minute the sun is going down. What do you think about it? Explain something symbolically as creative as you can” she asked in a romantic yet mischievous tone.
“Wow… Creative and all ehh???” Alex was a bit irritated with her childish shade but yet continued. “It’s simple. In each of our lives, a Mira and Alex wait to be sunken as a red sun and at dawn, it rises to be together in the union of marriage as one like the single mighty glowing orb in the sky” Alex interpreted by gazing the red sun and the sky without much interest.
“May be, it might or it will” she replied in a dejected tone, digging the sand deeper with her index finger.
“It’s enough, time up. I’ll drop you home” Alex commanded.
“No, please not yet, can we spend some more time here and just drive freely around the city” she said peeking at Alex’s face that was darkening with anger. He had stomped his foot strongly in the sand and walked forward, “Do hell with whatever you like, I am off this place. The sea wind makes me sick”.
Mira stared back at the sinking sun again and again. Alex was wrong with his colourful narrative about this sinking sun. It wasn’t Mira and Alex together. Here Mira was alone sinking helplessly in an endless sea of love and life. Her face saddened with thoughts and in her heart sprouted and grew a dilemma on her decision.
She stepped away from the sinking sun and strayed back to her car, drove all through the city at night and enjoyed her last day’s freedom. Half of her heart moaned for the death of independence and another half craved for his love, of being together till eternity.
*****
As per the Hindu customs and rituals, Mira’s parents had objected the suggestion of getting their daughter married in an inter-religious way. Meanwhile she stood strong against the proposals brought by her parents, deciding to be a bride only to Alex. Her parents at last limply agreed to it with a weeping heart.
“Mira, an inter-religious marriage can cause many problems in the future. See, your decision is against our tradition and beliefs. Is there anything that we can do to change your choice, can you please change it” begged her father. Tears flowed endlessly with pain from his eyes as the same way it had flown twenty three years ago in content while he heard the good news of her birth.
“Sorry Dad, he is my man. He entails reverence- the key to a woman’s spirit, my respect, my heart”
“Mira, that love doesn’t mean life” her dad objected.
“Oh Dad, please leave me alone. You are just beating around the bush.” she screamed. Her sense of right and wrong made a little dispute in her brain about the selection. But brushing it aside with high expectations, she stepped at the entrance of married life. As a ravishing bride she would be the centre of attention at her wedding celebration. All gathered there with presents and made the occasion a blessed one except the parent’s gloomy faces. The ceremony ended without much drama and negativity.
*****
“It is an auspicious occasion, isn’t it “Alex inquired during their private silly talks.
“Yes, I devote myself to you, hubby” her comments revealed her shy face as the cloud un-blanketed the moon silhouetting in glory the couple who slept peacefully after a long day.
A few weeks into the wedding, the problems raised its head devouring her inner peace as the work of demons. She felt warmly welcomed into a conservative family where she had heavy workload and restrictions, but her husband supported her in every knotty situations.
‘I am a candle to light the lives of the members in his family. So I should submit myself to them and melt mypart in these four walls’ she accepted her pitiable life, suppressing her pain silently and created her own theory of acceptance with pride. Even though she had an overload of household duties, she found herself time to study.
“Alex, have you gone through today’s newspaper? She asked one fine morning.
“Yes! But what’s happened today” he inquired.
“The date of the final semester MBBS exam has been announced and they are issuing the hall tickets from the college” she announced, radiant with confidence.
“Do you want to continue?” Alex asked with a sarcastic frown.
“Of course!!! after this exam my dream of being a doctor will be a reality, the fulfillment of my dreams” she smiled.
“My wife, a great doctor, yeah?!” he made a comment riddled with specs and a feel of inferiority.
Next day she succeeded in gaining Alex’s approval in getting the hall tickets from her medical college. The following days grew harder for her. She spent hours in kitchen and around, then learning her lessons at midnight. But all what Alex did to support her was with a sound sleep and rhythmic snoring. Mira was angry for putting herself into this situation. But it was her selection and she didn’t want to repent on her choices, so casting an irate glance at her sleeping partner she silently pondered her anatomy lessons.
******
In the morning it was time for prayers in church kept especially for her to succeed in her exams. She being a Hindu Brahmin and not yet fully aware of Christian prayers and ceremonies (it was still the learning phase for Mira with these faith and rituals). She hesitated to go as she didn’t know how to behave there- how was she to pray there? How did people sit in a church? How was she to kneel and cross in the church? Was it different from home that she is used to? - Mira wasn’t sure of these questions in her mind. Going on a normal day to church, she would go un-noticed. But today the special prayers were for her, so unwillingly she would be the center of attraction, not knowing fully what to do there. Her mom (mother in law) forced her to get ready for prayers in the church because she never gave up a single opportunity to insult her daughter in law among the members there (Alex’s mother couldn’t yet bring herself up to accept her son’s choice). When they reached in the churchyard, the people gathered to watch the young beautiful newly married non-Christian lady. Well she was used to this by now, being a show piece sort of thing and knowing her husband did nothing to ease her, bought a thump of pain in her heart.
“Mira, be with mom, I will be back after parking the car” Alex said. Mira shook her head in an affirmative way. Everyone pointed her as an odd one in the church. She was totally irritated and followed her mom. Before entering the church, she forgot to put her sandals out. Meanwhile sensing an opportunity to berate Mira, his mom grabbed hold of her hands, dragging her out, criticizing of her impertinence. “You filthy unbeliever, didn’t your parents teach the manners to be followed in a holy place? Oh yeah they might have forgotten! Right dear daughter-in-law!? Otherwise how could u even think of abandoning a belief you grew up in?” She was centered and humiliated by the people.
“She is a burden for my family, especially my son” mom screamed with anger and a fake show of self loathing just to gather pity from the crowd. She was now the victim and Mira a sorceress.
“Hmm …..Heightened white burden”. “No… A heavy burden in white kurtha”. She could hear murmurs rising from the gathered crowd. The tears made a spring, a river and even an ocean in her otherwise pristine eyes.
Mira resigning kept her sandals down the steps and entered the church. She was tactless of some gestures shown by the people in the church, sometimes on their feet, on their knees and even sitting on a red carpet. “It’s not like this normally” she thought. But she was determined to follow anything (she didn’t want another huge drama here) however following her instincts she knelt down gazing up to the Crucifix.
“Blood sheds from the Son’s wound, innocence indeed for the sinners” she muttered.
“My sufferings can’t be compared to God’s; however I suffer everything silently in his name without any bloodshed.” She admitted by shutting her eyelids. She heard the stories of Jesus Christ from a Christian neighbor and had embraced the Christ in her heart even before meeting Alex. She had even though at times thought that if it was not for her faith in Christ and his teachings she would not have fallen in love with her husband whom she believed to be a true follower of Christianity. “But not now” Mira muttered under her breath.
‘I sacrifice myself in the Altar of family’ she thought with a heavy sigh.
Even this time too, she felt odd by standing among the people who were seated on the red carpet . Mom stared at her with a scowl and beckoned her to be seated down. Her communication with God in closed eyes had never shown her mom‘s staring face or beckoning hands and a failure to obey mom.
‘God, because of my childish behavior…but I will suffer by keeping those in your hands’…she promised with an overflow of reflex emotions. When the holy mass got over, some members of the congregation came for an acquaintance with her and others inquiring about her family, profession etc. Her eyes were still fixed once again on the cross, wrapping her with the miracle of love even as in a coverlet. This love healed her pain as well as the wound deep within her heart which grew deeper and painful each time when Alex disagreed to stand by her.
******
During the car ride back home, everybody nailed her with cursing words for her impertinent behavior of being the center of unwanted attraction among the people in the church. Alex‘s face grew as pale and being silent for many hours. “Why is he so insensitive? Am I not relatively new to all these?” she thought with a saddened face while under her shower, hot tears streaming down her cheeks but blanketed by the water flowing down her head. After bath she tucked her hair in a bath towel huddled close to Alex on the bed.
‘Have you forgotten about my exam tomorrow? She asked curiously. He walked out without giving an ear for her words.
She finished her kitchen chores in a hurry taking her books to study. While she pore over the books, an ant started its journey over the book with a great similarity of its letters; whether is it a running letter or a running ant ‘she gave a confused smile.
‘Yes, I get it…. It’s my co-learner’ she observed and never disturbed the ant. This co-incident of the ant had seemed her some resemblance with her life. She put the book aside and learned the lecture notes that she had taken from Professor Johnson’s class.
Johnson Sir, one of her well-wisher as she called him “my foster father’. A month ago she had visited professor Johnson to inform about her inter caste marriage for a valid support . He advised her ‘Don’t forget your Semester exams. Love can either destroy or create your life, but it’s not an end of life. Let you have some maturity in making decisions. Give prominence to your profession, then love and respect probe into your way and never be a loser in life”.
She got up from the chair, keeping the pen on her book. The ant started its journey over the pen as if it was walking over a bridge.
“Learning is a monotonous job”. She said washing her face with cold water and swallowed as much as water that could quench her thirst.
“What the hell are you doing here? Turn the light off… it irritates my eyes, I am losing my sleep and yeah if not as glorious as a doctor, I still have a job to go to in the morning” He screamed with anger and an indifference towards her.
‘A doctor’s book….yah’ He closed the book which was lying open on the table and went back to his bed.
“Don’t close it, please don’t kill that ant” she bowled, but it was a delayed support for that creature.
‘You never let anything enjoy its freedom’ she chuckled like a hen. She felt herself shut in these four walls like the ant in the book.
“A highly respectable lady with a stethoscope… Sorry Doctor, Mira” he teased her by saying it twice and had slept soon.
“I need respect rather than disgust” she cried silently pressing her face on the pillow.
*****
Next morning after completing her morning routine, she dressed up and descended down the stairs with a zeal to conquer her dreams.
‘Stop here… Where are you going? Go and prepare breakfast. It is too late, now” Mom barked at her by standing down the stairs.
‘Mom, Today is my exam’ she stalled.
‘What …… Your exam ……? Are you studying in KG Class? We don’t need you to earn for our family?’ Mom replied with an exploding anger.
‘Mom, it’s for my profession, it’s my dream’ she pleaded again.
‘What profession...your profession is in this kitchen’ mom again shrieked with impatient’
“My god …” Mira ran back to Alex, (she could feel herself blacking out) swathed with sweat and fear, she begged him for an opportunity to complete her course.
“First, you learn how to obey elders, especially my mom. Then think about the course” he shrugged
Like a lunatic he forbade her from stepping out, her wishes were chained by the family in the four walls of that house. Her vulnerable heart was extremely sensitive to accept her fate; she wept the whole day with the thoughts of professor’s words, “love can either destroy or create your life.Give prominence to your profession.Then love and respect turns your way”
‘Yes professor, you have seen the reality. I can’t attain my dream and give up it before my fate ‘she wept with bowed head.
She stared the crucifix lying on the table ….”God help me please. I admit my faults after travelling a long road of mistakes. Now I can see the worry and pain in my parent’s heart. How much I humiliated my parents among our relatives and the society? How can they live with raised head now? From the moment of my birth they melted as a candle for my secured life, I repay them with a humiliated tribute like this???“She drifted in and out of the trance blabbering like a maniac. She was remorseful of her actions.
She longed for an air of freedom while her eyes stuck on the book and it gleamed with hope. ‘Wow, the ant moves downs after struggling the whole night’ her smile beamed watching the ant passing forward and out through the edge of closed book.
“I can overcome my problems as the ant has done” She laughed euphoric with joy.
“But, how can I?” She withdrew back again, her brain clogged and confused.
“Education enlightens everyone except this whole family. Why are they so adverse to my studies? Artificial pride of a daughter-in-law earning or the inferiority complex of their son being less qualified than me?” She conversed silently to her soul trying to solve her situation by approaching it calmly. She made a painstaking attempt to change Alex‘s mind but it was in vain.
‘Initial love has gone and now, I’m living in reality. So be a wife rather than a doctor.’ she whispered by accepting her fate along with the exam bell that recurred in her heart.
‘Do whatever you can with this’ she said by throwing the hall ticket at his face and wiping out her tears. He gazed on the hall ticket and pocketed it.
“My dreams of becoming a doctor ends here…”she shrieked aloud by holding her head between her folded hands.
“Why are you making such a scene here?” he inquired without catching the glimpse of her face.
‘You killed my dream and even my life’ she shouted without sense.
‘I never killed the dutiful wife within you, It is still there and it only should be there.. .’ he said with the power of his dominating gender, the ruthless mind of a dictator crushing his subject with his controlling authority.
‘You are too selfish and put noose to a doctor’s profession who should have served this society.’ she burst into tears.
‘But Mira………I need a half doctor as my wife” He laughed with contempt.
‘Education expands our eyes and thoughts wide, but in your case it contracts everything...one day you will realize the exact value of education’. She warned.
******
After their breakfast Mira was expecting for a miracle from God to attend her exams. Suddenly the phone rang with a violent vibration ‘z z z……’
‘Is it Alex David’ the voice inquired.
‘No, I am his wife. Hold on a minute please…’ She handed over the receiver to Alex scavenging her memory to find the owner of the voice she just had heard over the phone.
‘Yes, Alex speaking, How can I help you? Alex Quizzed.
“Professor Johnson here, Sarah is in Fortis Medicare hospital, Mumbai”.
‘What happened to my little Sarah’ he stood there as if struck by a lightening and the phone dropped from his hands.
‘SARAH... My dear... Oh God, please! Please keep her safe’ Alex wept. Mira could see his face filled with anxiety and dreaded panic.
“Alex, who is Sarah?” (No response) “Alex, who is Sarah?” She shouted. He withdrew from in front of her eyes to avoid her looks, hiding the bundle of truths they had struggled to keep away from her. Truths so deceiving that it would break their union.
‘Who is Sarah?’ she forcefully seized his collar and began to hurt him physically.‘Was she your wife?’
‘No…..Mira…… She is my little daughter.’ He had no way other than to admit the truth related to that girl, hastily pushing Mira away, fetching the key anxiously from table and pocketed it along with mobile phone. But he failed to start the car because he had mistakenly picked up the wrong key. Mira had held up the right one sitting beside him in the car. There was a flood of emotions in their hearts while she sat calm in the car. He accelerated as fast as he could and parked it next to Fortis Medicare hospital, opposite to Fortis medical college. She read the name of that familiar hospital and stood there as a mere spectator while Alex was conversing with Prof.Johnson.
‘Sir, what is with my little Sarah ‘he quizzed.
‘She had a sudden breathing problem. Now she is ok.’ Prof. Johnson replied by placing the glasses back on his eyes. His words and the situation made a sudden jerk in Mira’s heart.
‘Aunty, how are you? , You look pretty so today’. Sarah’s puppy face blinked with happiness.
‘My Neha’s sweet little baby’ Mira kissed her several times and paused for a while ‘what is the relation between Alex and Neha’s little one? Is he her father and is Johnson sir her grandfather???’. She thoughts clogged up.
‘Dad, are you tired? Don’t be tensed please. Your sweetheart is with you, daddie’. Sarah beamed with a cherubic smile. He tried to laugh but it seemed as a grin.
*****
Neha was Mira‘s friend, moreover her classmate, college mate, hostel mate and even treated as her twin sister. They shared everything and never lied to each other. She recalled those memorable days with Neha. She was a slim, attractive lady of eighteen, with chocolate brown hair with copper streaks which she had done with much fondness that swept her face with the tenderness of a cotton candy. Her blackberry eyes gleamed with love and beauty.
‘Neha, can you get my purse’ Mira searched everywhere including her bag.
‘No madam, search wherever you kept it’ Neha replied.
‘It’s urgent Neha. The warden is waiting to collect the hostel fee ‘she said.
‘Money is with me. Is it Rs 4500???” She inquired.
‘Yes’.
‘Today I have a date with my soul mate’ Neha said shyly.
‘Neha, Remember one thing….. It’s not acceptable for Indian culture to mingle a lot before marriage. ‘You better give up those matters.’ Mira warned her with a motherly affection.
‘He is a handsome guy’ she defended.
‘Neha….Leave it….This relationship will hurt your parents .Your father is a respectable professor. Remember that....’Mira advised hoping to change her view and decision.
‘How come l will leave my love? I sworn my life to him. I expect my parents to agree with their daughter.’ she handed the hostel fees to Mira.
Mira, out the corner of her eye saw a photograph in her purse. ‘Show me please, give me that photograph. Just for a glance of your handsome dude” she laughed.
‘Next week, next week you will meet him’ Neha slapped her face in a childish manner, gave a sweet smile and went her way to meet up with her man.
*****
‘I will reveal the truth before you. But first, you go and write your exam’ Johnson sir ruffled Mira’s shoulder. She stared at Alex‘s face whose head was bowed with guilt. Sarah was in Alex‘s hand playing with his unruly hair.
‘Sir, it is a closed chapter. My dreams have dried up’ she refused to write exam. ‘Shut up with such stupid talks, take your hall ticket and hurry up to your exam’ He scolded Mira by giving his pen.
“Sir, pen is not enough to attempt the test but the hall ticket is a must, l lost it” she shrugged.
Eventually Alex searched his pocket and handed the hall ticket with a bended head to avoid her presence and flammable looks.
Don’t waste your opportunity. It flies as fast as an angel’s hair. Let you go and hold it’ professor continued.
She crossed the road and stepped through the college gate .It was left wide and open as if to receive her. Trees showered its leaves and the nature inspired her to expose whatever knowledge she had that had to be transformed into answers on the exam sheets. But her mind puzzled with questions about Sarah. She couldn’t write the exam in a good way while little Sarah conquered her mind and Neha’s face blinking on the answer papers. She became radiant after rewinding the words of prof. Johnson, her “sensible foster father”. ‘Give prominence to your profession, then respect turns your way”. She had done her exam well with blessings of the Holy Spirit.
‘Now I can conquer my dream even though I will be in trouble’ she said after closing the pen with its cap.
After the exam she came back to the college entrance and got into a double decker. She got seated in the front row and Neha‘s thoughts gulped her. Her frozen body was lying on the floor, the commotion of cries polluted the silence of her house.
‘He cheated my baby and let her die after having a girl baby’ professor screamed keeping his little fairy on his lap.
Mira had departed to Chennai for her further studies. She was totally disappointed for not being able to see Neha’s guy, however Neha informed about her exile, inter caste marriage and even having a child. When Neha eloped from home, Mira had gone to professor‘s house to comfort them. It was a heart weeping scene that Neha’s parents were locked in their house in isolation of humiliation. Neha’s mother had a stroke and got bedridden.
“Johnson sir, leave about Neha... now she is leading the happiest life and please be happy about it. Everybody forgets this after a while” Mira advised
“She wounded a father’s heart. You know I was a friend to her more than a father. She destroyed the freedom, my love and even my life which l gave her. Our society, religion and institution treat me as the father of an eloped girl whose parents forgot to install in her the duties and values of a good life and respect. How can stop my tears” he wept again.
‘Sir, please be calm, she too will realize this when she becomes a parent’ Mira said.
‘How can i walk in this society with a raised head? Everybody is mocking me for having an untrained daughter. Can you give me a scarf to cover my face’ He wept hard pointing at the opened magazine on teapoy and budged back to his room. An article in the magazine ‘The immature emotions of a girl wounds her parents’ was laying wide opened on the table, which she had taken and put back.
As Neha’s body was taken for cremation, Mira stood aside like a sister who had lost her twin. As a queen bee the crowd gathered around Neha‘s body. She heard from professor later that day,that a fight had occurred between Neha and her husband who had travelled to Delhi as part of his project. She never cared about her little one and her suicide took place when she had a sudden bout of depression. Her husband wasn’t aware of this and failed to attend the funeral.
Ticket, ticket…. The conductor patted on her shoulder and woke her up from her flashback dreams.‘ May be my parents too might be cursing me like Johnson sir, they brought up me with care but I have broken their heart. I have forgotten their love and lived only for my love’ she said regretting about her action. The conductor had given the balance with tickets and moved to another passenger .The thought of that early article ‘The immature emotions of a girl wounds her parents’ pricked her eyes with the likeness of the pointed tip of a sharp needle and she pressed her face tighten with fingers in pain , getting down from the bus , she felt her head wheeling around like a merry-go-round.
*****
‘Is it a ghost house’ she murmured looking around. Unable to bear the humiliation of Mira’s marriage her father changed their flat and turned to a cottage in a remote part of the country. .The broom had never touched the floor to be cleaned around the ground and everything lay carelessly inside the rooms. Her parents welcomed her with extreme affection even though with a bleeding heart and ruffled her head even though she could hear their weeping. Both of them were reluctant to leave her from their embrace. This was their second life as their daughter had come back.
‘It looks nice there. Don’t leave it.’ Mira‘s mother said by staring her stethoscope dangling around her neck.
‘Sure Mom…. Oh! I can hear your heartbeat’ Mira replied with placing the stethoscope on her mother’s chest.
‘I will be a doctor after my exams’ she smiled.
‘Are you continuing your course’ mom asked in surprise. She had thought otherwise.
‘Yes mom, after few days ….your daughter,Mira…..will be a doctor’ she said with profound pride. She had done her exams well without bothering about Alex and Sarah. She regretted her immature behavior after realizing the value of her profession.
******
After the exams got over she requested Prof. Johnson for a chat in the college canteen.
‘Tea or coffee’ asked the waiter.
‘Tea’ she ordered.
‘Why did you hide the truth behind Sarah?’ she questioned without having an eye contact sipping the hot tea. It burned her lips as well as her mind.
‘I am sorry’ he replied with a bowed head.
‘I need a mother for my little Sarah. I have seen a mother in you…. instead of my Neha, I got selfish’ he wept in silence. So Mira could get no more chance to argue with him.
‘Mira I have an advice for you. Don’t live in the kitchen, kitchen should be a part of your life not your whole life. ‘ He advised and blessed her to achieve highness in profession.
******
She got up really early, the day was just a dawn and the sky had not even begun to shed its night blanket. The wind calmly patted the sky with its lullaby to take a little more time .She dressed up for a morning walk to the sandy beach to enjoy the sight of rising sun. She recollected the memories of the sinking sun and that its effect proved with their separation
‘Divorce is a must’ she thought with vengeance .The sun rose with all its delightful rays smearing an orangish red tint in the sky
Rising image of sun provoked her to think of life.
‘May our life might rise again? Is there any hope for that?’ She doubted her fate. She deeply felt an urge to have a meeting with Alex as part of God’s incantation. When she visited his home, Alex was in his room wearing a new attire and a tie having black and white patches. When he saw her, he picked up his glasses and beamed at Mira.
‘Are you going anywhere?’ Mira probed
‘Hmm….’he tightened the knot of the tie by sliding up the narrow end.
‘Would you have time to talk to me?’ she asked in a heart rending manner
‘With pleasure…sit; I will tell you the whole truth… I have been waiting for such an opportunity for days’ he gave a smile of relief.
Neha was my beloved and gave her life to me. She bloomed by spreading fragrance around my existence. She never relaxed until she worked hard in office as well as at home. She felt neglected when I searched her faults rather than good deeds.I never disrespected Neha who shouldered the responsibilities of our family without considering the gender difference. But I chewed over her worth often commenting ‘what a simple job it is?’ we had a huge fight whenever we gathered around the dining table for food.The day before her death we had a huge argument and humiliated each other as burdens. These happen daily in the life of married couples but her immature behavior….. He wept and resumed after a pause;
‘If I respected Neha genuinely as a woman, she won’t leave me alone. She would have gone beyond my means so I decided to let her down a little so that she would always be competing for my warmth and be at my side.’ a flood raised in his eyes.
Mira couldn’t believe her ears, this chauvinist of a person... Her anger flared up, ‘You cannot bear people greeting your wife because you yourself have deprived her of that. First learn to respect the personality of your wife... then the lion’s share of the problem will be solved by itself’ She said getting out of his room and even the house.
‘Mira, wait…..i am not a liar…..please be with me….’ he screamed, he begged after her.
On her way to home she went to hair salon and had a haircut, chopping off the long tresses )which on insistence of Alex she had grew) representing her freedom. She rubbed her tired eyes after reaching home, having a warm shower to refresh her physically and mentally, wrapped in a woolen blanket and slept soon
******
Three years later
“Can I meet doctor Mira?’ Alex enquired at the reception.
‘Have any appointment?’
‘No!’
‘Please, just take your seat’ the receptionist replied.
“Madam, a man is waiting to meet you’ the receptionist interrupted Mira on the intercom while she attended a patient..
‘His name please’
Name please… she asked to Alex.
‘Alex’ he replied expecting a no.
‘Let him to come in’ she hanged the call and examined the patient sitting beside her. While he entered into Dr. Mira’s consultation room the last patient standing outside scowled at him for snatching away his chance.
‘Dr. Mira’ just observing the situation and he resumed, ‘It is too late for you ….please can we speak about a compromise with me’
‘What?’ Mira inquired
‘Sarah has been waiting at her school for 3 hours without taking food after the annual day celebrations’. Don’t forget to pick up our little angle from school’
‘Oh my god, it’s too late, but I keep a snack box in her bag’ Mira laughed, keeping her stethoscope on the table.
‘An ideal mother, yah....’ he commented, he was impressed especially after she decided to mother the little girl. She still had not forgiven him but with the responsibility of giving Sarah a mother she still stuck with Alex. But situations were improving and if not for love but a friendship and respect were blooming between the pair once again.
‘Madam, one more patient please ’, the nurse reminded her.
‘Ok, call him’ She replied
‘Mira hurry up’ he rushed looking at the clock hanging on the wall.
‘It’s already late at 2 pm… Let’s go and meet our angel Sarah she said in hurry after removing the Doctor’s white and hanging it on her arm along with the stethoscope in the hand.
By saying ‘Hurry up’ she held her hands tightly on to his with high emotions of security.
‘Give prominence to your profession,then love and respect turns your way’. The words of her mentor echoed in her ears when she came out to get into the car. The afternoon sun streaked into her eyes with its delighted rays delighting her life. She squinted and adjusted her seat leaning back to rest a bit before Sarah filled their life with her blabber and kiddish talks bringing delight and joy to their existence. This is a pleasant verve, Mira smiled to herself…
End
I agree with Eva. I think you could have made Alex more compassionate and understanding. He, too, was caught up in cultural/religious inconsistencies.
However, based on a little bit of experience I've had with men from India, there is a sense of superiority, arrogance and mistreatment of women that still persists.
I found your story a bit difficult to read. If you could get a good editor it would improve your story a great deal. There are places where your meaning is not clear and even opposite from what you would want as a result the way it comes across.
I've been fortunate to have two couples, friends from Mumbai (Bombay when they left India) who were from mixed religion marriages. The one couple happily argues to this day and the other couple divorced after she got her MBA and a good job with Microsoft in the States while he was studying for his doctorate. Both met in college in India and were not part of arranged marriage.
Your story is inspiring by instilling hope and encouragement for women to break from cultural traditions and follow their dreams. You created a strong character in Mira. Frankly, I don't know what she ever saw in Alex, whom I found extremely dislikable and insensitive.
Crystal Reed thought she had met the perfect man. Instead she finds herself entangled in a web of obsessive love and dark secrets, a world that has become tainted by deception and treachery.
REVERENCE- THE KEY TO A WOMAN’S SPIRIT
