The Return

It was 11:45 am, way past the office and school going time. Mrs Kansal walked home with a grocery bag. After her husband passed away, she thought very little of things which would allow her to be happy.



Her daughter Vedika helped her through it. Vedika was a wonderful daughter and even her husband Daksh. They lived in an apartment in the same building as Mrs Kansal and wholeheartedly took care of her.



Parv was Mrs Kansal’s son who was younger to Vedika. People say that things got out of hand with Parv, when his father passed away and one day Parv left and it had been almost two years since then. Mrs Kansal did not think much about it or the absence of any words about his well being or whereabouts. There was no grief for her stronger than her husband passing away. They had a beautiful life right here.



Mrs Kansal paused her walk to look at the empty swings, there was a time, during a holiday when she would return from the market, she would find her husband playing with their children there. It was a happy memory.



Mrs Kansal continued on with her walk, reached her apartment, placed the grocery bag on the table and was about to sit down when the bell rang.



The ring of the bell sounded a little different today. Mrs Kansal opened the door to find Vedika standing. Vedika came inside as Mrs Kansal sat on a cushioned chair.



Vedika took out the grocery items from the bag to place them in the cupboards in the kitchen when she noticed her tired mother.



“You don’t have to do this,” said Vedika, “You can just ask him not to come. Who knows what he needs.”



“Maybe he misses home,” said Mrs Kansal still in the effect of the memory she had enjoyed near the swings



Vedika showed a slight annoyance, “You know, you and father, you never saw him for who he truly was, you saw him the way you wanted to, but he was different.”



“Your father was a kind hearted beautiful person. We saw both of you the same way. I agree Parv may have required more strictness when growing up. But look at you, every time I look at you, I feel a part of your father remains in the world,” said Mrs Kansal smiling



Vedika did not answer, to not let the emotions she felt within melt her down. She looked at the clock and spoke, “4 pm right? I will be here.”



“Okay,” smiled Mrs Kansal



Vedika arranged the grocery items and went back home. She came back at 3:50 pm and at 4:26 pm the bell rang again and Vedika opened the door.



Parv found it difficult to meet his sister’s eyes as he entered the apartment. He tried to smile but found no response of that manner. Inside, he saw his mother waiting for him with a smile.



Parv quietly sat on the sofa and looked at his mother.



“I know you may have questions,” said Parv



“Yes, I do,” replied Mrs Kansal, “Let me ask the first one, how are you?”



Parv was not expecting a question of nature, a fault of his own nature and failure to understand his parents. He looked at his mother and nodded, “I am fine”



“Won’t you ask mother, how she is?” Vedika asked handing Parv a cup of tea



“I can see that she is fine,” said Parv



Vedika sat down and smiled, and then uttered in a lower almost non-audible tone, “what was I even thinking”



“Are you living here, in this city? Or some place else?” asked Mrs Kansal



“No, I mean yes. I was living in another city, but few days back I shifted back to this city in a rented apartment at the Cedar Blooms,” replied Parv



“Cedar Blooms? That’s twenty minutes walking distance from here, you basically came back to the neighbourhood,” said Vedika in a tone which had hints of suspicion



“Yes, I love this area,” replied Parv



“..and home?” asked Vedika, “you know you could have come right back here or you should have never gone in the first place”



“I know you are upset, but let’s not get hostile here,” said Parv



Vedika, even more infuriated, was about to give a fitting reply when Mrs Kansal spoke first.



“Why are you here Parv?” she asked, “do you miss home?”



Parv looked at Mrs Kansal and then looked at his hand. He stayed silent for a while and then spoke, “I want to get married.”



“Oh, that’s wonderful,” said Mrs Kansal, “Do you have anyone in mind?”



“Yes, my girlfriend Uma. We have been in relation for the past 11 months,” said Parv



“So, what are you expecting? Our blessings? Our presence? Our money? You will get nothing,” said Vedika who had felt what a horrible person her brother was to leave their mother alone at a time when she needed his support the most



Parv looked at Mrs Kansal and spoke in a serious tone, “Maybe I should come back later mother and we can have this conversation alone”



“Keep sitting, we will talk now. Vedika won’t say anything,” said Mrs Kansal and she looked towards Vedika with pleading eyes and Vedika understood



“So, when can we meet or talk to.. Uma?” asked Mrs Kansal with a smile



“Today she is not at home. I will bring her here tomorrow,” said Parv



“She is from this city as well?” asked Mrs Kansal



“No, she is not from here..,” said Parv and toned down



Mrs Kansal looked at Vedika with confused expression and Vedika said, “She is probably living with him..”



“Is she?” asked Mrs Kansal to Parv



“Yes, we have been together for a while,” replied Parv



“Her parents are fine with it?” asked Mrs Kansal and Parv remained silent



“Oh my god,” said Vedika, “she has run off from her home too, hasn’t she? So, that is why you are here. Terrific”



Parv looked at her mother who was still thinking about what Parv had said and then he looked at his sister who clearly had developed a new kind of hatred for him. Parv quietly got up and walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind him.



Vedika slowly got up and walked up to her mother to embrace her.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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