Anvi was in deep shock, she never thought a question like this will disturb her to this extent. She being a homemaker, had given up her rewarding career just to raise her two kids. Ten years back, when she had made this choice, she was the happiest being on earth. She knew she had to do this, in order to raise her two kids. Madhav’s was a marketing job and hence he always had to travel, leaving Anvi with the kids. Anvi too explored various options and finally when nothing seemed to work, she decided to be a stay at home Mom. Today suddenly when Vansh asked her this untoward question, she was baffled…
“Why are you a homemaker Mom? Why aren’t you working like Akshat’s Mom, Vani Aunty? See, how smartly she speaks!” Anvi never expected such a question from her eight-year-old. Many unanswered questions started making waves in her mind “Are my kids not happy that I am a stay at home, Mom? Are they feeling bad that their Mom is a homemaker? The decision I took ten years back was worth it or not?
Anvi’s peace of mind went for a toss. She sat in the living room chair, starring through the terrace to the blue sky. She looked at the photographs hung to the left of the TV unit in the living room, in one she was felicitated for being the top scorer in high school and in another, she was with the group that represented her college in the inter state quiz competition.
She remembered her good old days when she had visited Shimla to participate in the national quiz competition. All the past memories were flashing across her mind’s eye. Suddenly her phone beeped…It was a notification on a social networking site. A friend request from Rita Das…
“Rita Das”, a sudden chill ran down her spine. Rita Das, has been her school buddy, who had traveled to US for further studies. All these years, she was so much engulfed in household works that she never had the time to check the whereabouts of her friends. Reluctantly though, she clicked on her profile photo. It was of a gorgeous lady in sun-soaked San Francisco beach. Anvi’s curiosity increased manifold and she explored the photos and posts of Rita. A successful career woman, Rita was now the product manager of a top US brand and all her pics bore testimony to the same.
Her cover photo too spoke volumes about her good-looking husband and kids. Anvi felt bad, something was disturbing her from within. Reluctantly she clicked on the accept button and thought if at all she had made the right decision by quitting her job. May be if at all she would have continued, she too could have been at the top of the corporate ladder.
Today, she has forgotten all that her course taught her. Her svelte figure has been transformed into a fuller one. Her English accent has gone for a toss. She doesn’t know, if at all she can grab a job at this age, Maybe her decision was not right. She wants to run away to the quietude of her inner self. She doesn’t feel like doing the household chores, which she always used to do on time. She feels helpless and inert. Never
in these ten years, she had felt this way, but today Vansh’s question seems to have disturbed her from within. She stands in front of the mirror and tries to look at herself. Her hair has lost its volume and faint lines have started appearing on her face. As she touches them, tears start rolling down her eyes.
She remembers Rita’s svelte image and stares at her not so curvy body. “May be some people have all the luck,” she says in a soft murmur. Suddenly her door bell rings and she rushes to open the door. “Ma’am, letter for Anvi Sinha” There’s this courier boy, standing with a white envelope in his hand. “Hmmmm…” Anvi murmurs, wiping her forehead with her hand, a behavioral trait that reflects the ongoing tension in her mind. The moment she takes the sealed packet in her hand, a shiver runs down her body.
The sender’s address sounded familiar. There was a time, when she was a regular to this place. “Navjyoti children’s hospital, Pune” ……………. a place she can hardly forget. It was the place she had been frequenting in the past for treatment of Vansh, when he was a toddler. Vansh, her adorable younger son, had speech and hearing problem and it was after successful multiple therapies, that he could speak and behave like a normal boy of his age. Even Doctors had given up hope, but like a true warrior, Anvi fought and came out victorious.
When Vansh spoke for the first time, Anvi was euphonious. She couldn’t have been happier. Today this lifeless white envelope suddenly invoked these past bittersweet memories in Anvi. Hesitantly she opens the letter, and is taken aback looking at the contents,
“Dear Anvi Sinha,
We would like to invite you to our Hospital’s Annual program. In these past years, your case has been a true example of how hope, faith and hard work makes everything possible. We would request you to come and speak about your experience, which would be an inspiration for all.”
Thanks” The tears which had dried up again start to resurface, but this time they take a violent form.
Anvi cries at the top of her voice. Rita Das, her career, her job everything goes off her mind. She thanks the almighty for giving her the strength to fight against all odds. She has nothing to repent for, and with a full spirit, she marches to complete the pending chores as a homemaker.
