What's her mistake ? - 38

“Two guards came from nowhere and stood between me and the child. I tried to push them. The guards had small swords in their hands. One of them pierced just below my breast. I had a shooting pain. I fell down and stayed there. My husband’s first wife was screaming, ‘Kill that bitch. How dare she come near my child! She should be thankful that I have let her to be alive all this time!!’ As if my life was in her hands. I was trying to think fast. What should I do now? Should I fight my way and die? Or should I retreat and go back to my home without the child? Nammu, I never felt so much in dilemma. But I took a decision at that moment. I do not know whether I am regretting that decision even today” Dammu stopped to look at Nammu Aunty directly.

“I am sure whatever decision you would have taken must have kept alive till date. Am I right Dammu?” asked Nammu Aunty.

Dammu smiled. “Yes, I got up and went to my husband’s first wife. She thought that I was going to strike her. But I folded my hands and told, ‘I was a fool to fight all this time. I should be happy that my kid has got the best mother! She will give him the best of education and all other luxuries. I know I too can provide them. But you are crazy about the child and I allow you to keep the child’. She looked at me with surprise. She must have sensed the sincerity in my voice and the honesty in my eyes. She suddenly became very friendly. She shouted at her maids to get me medical attention. Within no time, they treated my wound below my breast in whatever way they knew. I was treated like a queen. I knew that that woman was still skeptical. She might have thought that I may be playing a drama to steal the child in an appropriate moment, even though she also knew that her guards could take care that it would not happen. I smiled at her and told, ‘Sister, don’t worry. I won’t do any tricks. I go out of the haveli, take a transport and reach my city. I will erase my memory of the stay here. She asked, ‘including the child?’ I said yes”

The time was almost dinner time. We freshened up and had our dinner. As usual, Nammu Aunty picked at her food. I thought, she must be really very sick. Is she already nearing death?

But Nammu Aunty was very eager to know the end of Dammu’s story. May be the enthusiasm of listening to Dammu had given Nammu Aunty the extra strength. Today, I was sure Dammu will complete the story till date. But what other ‘story’ I have to invent to keep Nammu Aunty healthy as long as possible? This question haunted me continuously.

After dinner, we again assembled to listen to the balance of the narration.

“There is not much to add Nammu! Once she found that I was not hostile, she took care of me. She arranged for a vehicle for me to reach the nearest Railway station. She even presented me a local Sari and a few gold and diamond jewels! That is the price which I got for giving away my child!” Dammu laughed.

“I felt like a surrogate mother which is now a common thing in our country.  I came back here and picked up the threads again. I had left the place for quite some time. Fortunately for me, my father’s lawyer who is even now my lawyer had taken charge of the house and kept it intact. God won’t cheat humans unlike humans who cheat other humans!” Dammu exclaimed and went on to explain the rest of the story.

It was very difficult during one or two years. She was craving for the child. She was even contemplating taking the help of law to retrieve the child. Then she thought, the child is in good hands. Of course, it was a loss for her. But why get into unnecessary skirmish? By letting the child go, there was peace in her life. Otherwise, she was to live in apprehension of an attack by the first wife of her husband.

“But do you not miss your child?” asked Nammu Aunty.

“Of course I do Nammu! But I started seeing my child in every poor child who is impoverished and sick. This expanded my vision and I am happy. Then one day I found my dear Nammu and I am the happiest person in the world” she told and looked at me and said, “Probably my child would be of your age today. May be that’s why I have taken you into my custody!” and her eyes twinkled.

My ears became hot and I must have blushed. I blurted out, “Is the child a boy or a girl?”

She smiled and replied serenely. “I do not know young man and I did not want to know. When the child is not with me, should I worry to know whether the child was a male or a female? No point at all!”