Rishtey..(रिश्ते)... A short story

Rishtey…  (रिश्ते)

Short Story  by g.Balasubramanian

Now-a-days Geetha loves her loneliness. She spends most of her time in the open terrace, admiring the setting sun.. the long strains of red lines on the far sky… the return of those flocks of birds to their homes.. and hearing the rustlings of the leaves of the nearby coconut tree…

“Let us be alone dear.. no one will disturb us here..” she whispers..

Are you wondering to whom she is talking?.. she carries a small baby in her womb that is just eight weeks old.. though whenever she talks to her doctor, she calls it baby, the doctor just says.. “the fetus..” and she doesn’t care. It is her baby..

“Cool.. why are you stressed?.. Relax.. No one will bother you from this dirty world.. you are safe with me…” she counsels her little shaping life..

“Geetha.. Geetha… “ her mother was calling from the ground floor.

“Ouph! Amma doesn’t allow me to be free even for a few minutes…OK.. Bye for now.. I will talk to you tomorrow..”

Geetha had just read from a book recently that in Africa there is tribal group. A woman who intends to conceive a child will go and sit under a greenwood tree and imagine of the kind of child she wishes to have. She looks at the nature, the environment around and starts composing a song for this little child she wants to bear. That song becomes an iconic song..

When the baby is born, as the baby grows, and in all important occasions of this baby’s life, on the occasion of marriage …till the life breathes the last and on the burial ceremony the same song is sung. It is unique for the individual life..

Geetha was wondering whether her baby really listens to her.

Next day.. the same time.. Geetha was on the terrace..

“hey.. what are you doing?”  she started her conversation with the life she has initiated..

“Are you listening to that song played so loud?.. Yeah.. that is a wonderful song.. I also love it.. “Zindagi ek safar hai suhanaa..” True.. Life is a great journey.. lovely journey… get ready for it.. In life no one can make you happy.. You have to seek your happiness.. But keep always smiling..God creates us only to be happy.. not to be sad..we only choose unhappiness..”

She started talking like a counsellor to the fetus..

She felt a small movement…” What?? … are you trying to ask me why I am unhappy… Why I sit always lonely and in a very melancholic mood…you are right.. but you can’t understand…when you grow up you will know all these things…”

“Geetha…”this was mother again..”don’t sit there during the dusk. This is time for the evil spirits to wander around.. not good for the baby…”

Geetha started smiling…

“Heard it? Evil spirits… do you believe? All the spirits have already hit me..I don’t have any spirit to live except for the love I have for you and the energy I need to keep to make you healthy?”

“Come down, quickly” –mother.

“yes.. yes I am coming down.. don’t shout.. Ok dear, bye.. will catch up with you tomorrow..”

Next day Geetha was taking a walk in the nearby park.. “Oh dear, I am not able to walk so comfortably.. let me sit.. you know doctors tell me I have low B.P .I must be careful… Don’t worry.. I will take care..I want to ensure you have a safe journey with me till you start facing this world…” she sits for sometime and then moves along..

“Hey hold on.. I forgot to ask you, are you a boy or a girl?..” She finds no response and then murmurs to herself..”How does it matter? Now a day’s girls are equally enterprising sometimes more than the boys.. I know many girls who take care of their parents…I am sure, when you grow up and I can’t walk..I will hold your hands..Will you help me?.. Will You? You don’t want reply.. don’t worry.. “ she smiles at her foolishness..”Walking in the old age holding the hands of my child?” 

She knows it is a far-fetched dream..

Days pass on with her increasing intimacy with the little on..

“amma.. “ she shouts one day..”It is paining…”

Geetha’s mother rushes to the next door neighbour.. “sir,, Can you please help me? I need a taxi.. Geetha has got labour.. I need to rush her to the hospital…”

“she had a perfect delivery”  Dr. Malini reports as she walks out of the ward..

“It is a boy….” The nurse brings the new born wrapped in a towel.

Anjali, who was standing by the side of Geetha’s mother looks at her husband “Subash, the little one looks exactly like you..”

Subash smiles..

“Subash.. The baby has to be fed by the mother for at least one week.. after that you can come and take the baby..”says Dr. Malini..

“Why doctor…Can’t I take today itself?”  asks Subash..

“Why hurry? After all the child is going to be with you for life” smiles Dr. Malini..

A few days later Geetha is on the same terrace all alone.. looking at the setting sun.. those red streaks of light.. She questions herself.. "Why did I do this? Why did I start loving this child? After my husband deserted me, I had to accept for surrogacy for some money to eke out my life.. I never thought ........."

“Geetha.. come down.. The new serial “Rishtey” is starting in the next two minutes..”

Geetha smiles as her mother starts watching the serial on the new colour television purchased out of the five lakhs Geetha got for her surrogacy..

“Amma…”   Geetha looks at her mother..

“Will this baby ever remember me?”

“Don’t worry dear.. Change your mind.. this serial “rishtey” will be a good relaxation for you…

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