Where life happened

Nidhi had not seen her parents for a long time. She had some memories of them but they were lacking in clarity and were rather glimpses of sight and feeling.



Nidhi was six years old, when her parents took her to her paternal grandparent’s house during the summer vacation and then they left her there. Her grandparents, Mr and Mrs Kumawat later found out in a letter written by Nidhi’s father to them that Nidhi’s parents had sold their apartment and had gone abroad to find new opportunities and experiences.



“What do they expect us to do? Look after a little girl at this age?” said Mrs Kumawat, “Did they at least arrange something for her expenditures?”



Mr Kumawat stayed silent, nothing had been planned, arranged or said. This responsibility had just been put upon them without ever asking them or the little girl.



“We will manage somehow,” said Mr Kumawat unable to believe his son had done something like this



“It must be the influence of that woman, I was always against their marriage,” said Mrs Kumawat who could almost never see her son’s fault and any fault associated with him would always be someone else’s fault or influence.



Mr Kumawat took a part time job at a supermarket while Mrs Kumawat started taking tuitions again. Nidhi hadn’t realised at first what had happened, but slowly as she did, there was a brief time when keeping her calm was being too much for old Mr and Mrs Kumawat.



But things settled down slowly, Nidhi grew up beautifully in the love and care of her grandparents who were very happy to watch her grow. Nidhi was a good student at school and an obedient and responsible granddaughter at home. One could say what had happened could have been the best thing for both Nidhi and her grandparents.



Mrs Kumawat passed away one winter morning in her sleep. Mr Kumawat couldn’t work anymore but he held on for a few more years not wanting to leave his granddaughter alone in the world, then he was gone too. Mr Kumawat had legally given his property and remaining wealth to Nidhi so that no one could bother her over ownership. A few relatives came by to stay for a while and then after they left everything fell silent.



Nidhi had learnt to be responsible at an early age, taking care of her grandparents and even starting to work at an early age. She became a freelance news editor and also practised other forms of writing. Life was quiet, Nidhi missed her grandparents, she had no plans to marry anytime soon and she had almost stopped thinking about her parents at all.



One day the bell rang and Nidhi opened the door, it was her parents. Nidhi wanted to turn them away, but then she decided a brief exchange of words might provide her with more clarity and they sat down around the central table in the drawing room.



Nidhi’s mother spoke “Look, we are really sorry..”



“Sorry about what?” interrupted Nidhi



“.. for leaving you here,” said Nidhi’s mother



“Don’t be. I am glad you left me here. I had a beautiful childhood here with them and I think they were happy with me too, we had each other. If there is anything you need to be sorry for is not calling them to ask if they were all right or not being here on their cremation,” said Nidhi



“We were in the middle of something,” said Nidhi’s father, “we are really very sorry for all you and your grandparents had to go through”



“Do you know grandma believed till the last day that you would actually come?” said Nidhi, her anger could be heard in her voice and could be seen in her eyes



Nidhi’s father stayed silent; he gave a brief glance to her mother but she did not speak anything as well.



“I won’t ask why you both left, hope you both had sufficient experiences, given what it cost you, if it was of any value to begin with,” said Nidhi, “Now, why are you both here?”



“What has happened is past now,” said Nidhi’s mother, “But, aren’t you even a bit happy that we are here? We came back for you Nidhi, to be with you”



Nidhi looked at her parents in disbelief for a minute and then she asked, “Are you both broke?”



Nidhi’s father spoke, “Not exactly broke but we might have run into some financial issues. Listen….”



“Out,” screamed Nidhi, “Get out of here right now and don’t come here again.”



Nidhi’s mother tried to say something but Nidhi’s father stopped her and indicated to her to leave. Both of them left quietly. The few calls they made or messages they sent were never replied and they did not visit since Nidhi had threatened over ther phone to take legal action if she saw them anywhere nearby. Her grandparents would be the only immediate family she would remember for the rest of her life.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

Hey, Connect with Us:)

• Instagram
• WordPress