Version of grandmother
Dipti was so fond of winter that she was wishing from childhood to settle in hill station and finally that opportunity came in her hand. Her husband, Rakesh's job was on hill station. He was hotel manager and his company opened new hotel there. She was so excited. But kids were not that much pleased. They wanted to stay in same city. They wanted to go in same school. They felt that their parents were dragging them against their wishes. Her son Ronit screamed " Did you ever feel we are also human? We are not furniture which you could shift as per desire!! You didn't even ask us." Dipti " Since you are too small to decide what is good and bad for you." Her five years old daughter Priti screamed " I am not small. I have friends and I am going to miss them. I can stay alone in this house even after you left." Rakesh " But honey we sold this house!! Soon new owner will take it." Ronit their 10 years old son screamed " You sold it without our permission?!!" Dipti tried hard but she couldn't stop herself from laughing. Her small boy was saying his parents required to take his permission to sell house. It was really cute. But Rakesh seemed consider it arrogant. Rakesh " Shut up. How dare you to speak like this before your parents?!!" Now Priti became really upset. She started crying. Dipti sensed that situation was going out of hand. Dipti took her in arms like small child and said " Come on!! We need more money and this job was blessing for us. Can't you adjust?"Ronit " Adjust Mom?!! This is not small adjustment. You are demanding big things from me." Dipti gave sweet smile. Dipti " Do you want a bangalow with home theatre?" Suddenly situation was changed. Priti started to scream " I want bangalow like princess!!" Rakesh gave Dipti meaningful smile. He never able to manage kids like she did. She was main pillar of his house. His house didn't exist without her. She was most wonderful thing of his life. He wanted to admire her. But he decided that not before kids. He was so confused. He didn't understand how could he managed to forget such a big incentive. Ronit " Do you have garden?" " Yes..big one." Rakesh sensed she was making too much. Rakesh " Garden is small one." Ronit " Can I able to get basketball court in it?"Rakesh was confused by these demands. Rakesh " No you can't. But why does you need it when you will get membership of hotel which is perk of my job and they have basketball court, badminton court, Gym..many things. This is not small hotel. They have created a small town for their guests. Each guest get one cottage with garden and they get all other facilities too." " Interesting!!" Ronit was really impressed. Ronit " So they are giving this bangalow too!!" " No..no I am purchasing it on housing loan by company."Ronit " Then they cut your salary?" Dipti added with smile " But still it is double than present salary. They are giving us many comforts and large salary since you are ready to stay in village." Ronit shivered. " It is village? Do you feel I can adjust with villagers?" Rakesh and Dipti started laughing. Dipti " Come on. Villagers are not scary people. They are just like town people. They just live in village where their ancestors had stayed. Trust me. You will like those kids." Then Ronit agreed. But he was not so excited. Priti also started to look upset. Priti " Mom do you feel this new teacher would not hit me with stick?" Dipti was shocked. " Who told you this nonsense?" Priti started crying again. Priti " I saw this in movie." Dipti wanted to ask which movie but she decided to concentrate on their problem first. " Movies are just fiction not real thing." Priti smiled happily. But in her soul Dipti knew that she was lying. She didn't know much about Priti's school. In excitement of village she totally forgot all. He took deep breath. Rakesh " I will inquire about it before taking admission but truthfully I didn't think that it will be that strict. Specially with you. You are such a nice obedient girl. Priti was not consoled by it. Priti " And what about bigger boy?" She was clearly more concerned about her brother. Ronit angrily " No one care for them. No one see if they are dead or alive." Now this was too much for Dipti. Dipti " What's wrong with you? Do you want to stay in hostel here?" She said it but she didn't mean it. But Rakesh looked scared. Rakesh " We don't know much about those hostels. I don't think sending our son is wise." But Ronit looked thrilled. Ronit " My one friend went in hostel. I can make inquiries." With this entire matter took different turn. Soon they sensed that Ronit was interested in going in hostel. Dipti didn't like that idea much but she was forced to accept it. It was so upsetting. Dipti kept feeling sad. But she sensed one thing. Her son Ronit was determined by thought of going in hostel and no one could change it. They did inquires about hostel. It was nice one. But they couldn't join in middle of term so they waited. They needed to complete term of both kids to change school. So Dipti had no option. She was forced to stay and Rakesh forced to go ahead. She needed to stay alone and it was not positive for her. Entire time Ronit kept discussing about hostel. He even started to make little bit friendship with boys of hostel who came home in vacations. He started wandering with them and that hostel life seemed to suit him. Dipti still couldn't forget how thrilled he was. He came home and said " Mom that is true life. We can take decision. We can become ourselves they also give us proper training to handle world. Mom you should have seen those boys they are so talented!!" Dipti gave sad smile and said " I can't since you don't bother to introduce them to us." Priti was sitting there with sad looks. She was feeling sad. Priti was sensing that her brother was going away from her. Ronit was clearly obsessed with hostel. He was no longer concerned with his family. Dipti felt so hurt. But Ronit didn't bother. Even after hearing Dipti's comment. He seemed shocked as if he didn't sense. He said " Sorry My mistake. I will invite them all. What time you prefer?" Dipti sensed that she supposed to give them nice party so she decided to wait. Dipti " I think they didn't have time to come twice so when your Dad come we will call them on lunch. Ronit smiled and said " Mom you are so wise and practical. I can't help admiring your intelligence." Dipti was uncomfortable now. He was admiring her but there was lack of emotion and artificial touch in it. But she couldn't object since it was way to talk but it was too perfect and it was taking him away from them. Still it was right thing so she just smiled and thanked him.
After that for Dipti felt each day was burden. She used to get so upset when Ronit started act with those manners. Every morning he started to wake up with alarm clock. He was told that in hostel he must wake up on time otherwise he would be late for classes and that manage to upset his teachers. So he woke up then he went down for jogging in society compound. He felt that he needed to lose some weight. He started doing exercises every day. Waking up early.. doing daily exercises.. everything was perfect. They couldn't see any fault in it. In fact he started to get admired by neighbours. He was becoming perfect or ideal boy. It supposed to make her happy but it was irritating her. Priti was getting upset too. Priti " Mom do you feel hostel is so nice than house?" " No..no house is better." Priti smiled. Priti's smile showed that she felt same way. Priti"Every day staying with teacher can't be pleasant." She came in arms of Dipti. " Mom I will always stay with you." Dipti hugged her back. As she took her in arms she began to remember her old days. Her Mom used to take her in arms same way. She always felt that she could stay with her. But it didn't happen. They were so happy in village. She started remembering all. Those pleasant winds of village!!Those big houses!! They had little trouble about electricity. Truthfully large trouble but air was so cool and pleasant that they never miss ceiling fan. Elders might get upset but for kids it was fun. It was such a pleasant and peaceful life. She still wanted to remember it everyday. But then she started to think of it's negative side. She was not interested in remembering those worst days. She was hoping life to be fine. But one day when she came home, her Mom was burning with fever. Her father told her to stay away from her since she needed rest. She began to stay with her grandmother. It was not pleasant. Her grandmother always treated like burden. She always kept saying that she needed grandson not granddaughter. One day she heard her chatting with another woman from village. " I wanted a boy from my daughter-in-law but she gave birth to girl child and now she is dying. Now what is use of so much wasted on marriage?!!" Another woman nodded. " I know but you can't change destiny and money was paid by her parents only." Her grandmother looked so angry. " Really I have invited so many guests in this house. They stayed in it. I needed to treat them like some King and Queen. It was so expensive. I did it in only hope of grandson !! But this girl and now she is dying. I mean she was supposed to give me a grandson too. She is living this burden." When she heard it then she shivered. She didn't want her Mom to be dead. Then that woman suggested worst thing. She said " Come on your son is still young. He could marry again." That day she ran towards her Mom. She wanted to go near her Mom. But when she came near, Mom immediately called maid who forcibly took her away. She was not permitted to go in her mother's arms. Her life was changed. Dipti started remember her sorrows. She suddenly took Priti in arms tightly. Priti sensed something wrong. Priti smiled towards her and said " Don't worry Mom I will not act like Ronit. I will like my home." Dipti was frustrated after hearing this. She was not insecure regarding her kids and even if she was still she didn't consoling from her small daughter. She was clearly upset. " I am not worried about your brother. And since when you started calling your elder brother by name how many times I suppose to tell you that you should give respect to your brother?!!" " Since he started to ignore me and began to chat only with his hostel friends. Mom I didn't want to talk about him." After that one thing became clear to Dipti that her kids were no longer attached to each other. She began to sense as soon as they left to their destination it was better and finally that day came. Today she started packing for hill station and Ronit was packing for hostel. Priti was only person who was not sure about this arrangement. She kept coming to her and clarifying her doubts. When she packed half clothes, Priti came in room again. Priti sat on corner of bed with sad face. Priti " Mom are you sure we are doing right?" Dipti couldn't control her laughter. Her daughter who was so small acting like mature person and questioning their actions quietly. Priti looked angry. Priti didn't like it that she wanted to be treated like mature person. Priti went out of room and Dipti went after her. " What happened?" Priti " You were laughing on me!!" Ronit suddenly joined conversation " Since you never talk wisely." Priti felt so upset. She just ran away in room she started crying. Dipti was so angry. Dipti " Why did you talk like that with her? You don't care for her now a days just ran after your hostel friends." Ronit looked so angry. " Mom I am getting adjusted to life style of hostel. You are suppose to be proud of me for it." " Why? Because you are wasting so much money on hostel? Instead of going in school like Priti?" " She is not smart like me." Dipti was so angry after hearing this. She started hearing her grandmother's words. Her grandmother always told her that she was not as wise as her step brother. She was so angry. She just slapped him without second thought. Ronit was so shocked. Ronit screamed in pain. Ronit " Mom you slapped me." " Yes if you want to become perfect for hostel then you might practice this too. It's possible your teacher might slap you." Then she went away. She could sense that Ronit was shivering but she was happy. She felt one thing that Ronit deserved this treatment. She went in her room and began to pack again.
Ronit was so shocked. His Mom slapped him like that. His cheek was truly paining. It was not just about insult. It was strange. His Mom never hurt him like that he made many mistakes. He went in bedroom to check mirror. He saw red mark on cheek. He could see it was going to increase but he was supposed to feel anger towards his Mom. But he didn't. He felt so strange. She was his Mom but at same time she was not. She didn't seem like his Mom at all. He couldn't believe it was his Mom. He could see difference in her eyes and gestures. He knew from heart his Mom was wanted him to get good education and stay in hostel. She always wanted best for him. She couldn't object his fees of hostel. He was so confused. He knew that something was wrong in her. His Mom was not normal. He knew that his Dad needed to handle situations. But he knew that it was not possible. He decided to talk with her. He slowly went out. He was trying his best to ignore pain of his cheek. When he entered in room, Dipti was busy in packing. She was arranging all in proper order. She needed to arrange it in proper way. He smiled and said " So Mom you are packing." She didn't even look at him and said in unconcerned tone. " Yes and you needed to pack too. You are also going away." Now this managed to confuse him. It was decided that he should go to hostel. And hostel was not started. " Mom but to where? Hostel is not open." She gave him angry look." I know that but I don't want to wait so I have decided that you can stay with your grandmother." She gave strange sort of smile. She said " Actually grandmother are perfect sort of companion." Ronit was confused now. He didn't consider his grandmother as best companion. She couldn't play game with him. He wanted some one who could play games like football, basketball as his companion. But he didn't want to argue with Dipti so he nodded. She began packing all. Ronit kept watching her carefully. He began to feel sure that something was wrong with her. She was so packing in strange way. She didn't look pleased as she always did. He kept watching her when she screamed on him. " Aren't you planning to pack your things?" Ronit felt so scared that he ran out of room. Dipti saw him going away. She knew that she slapped him in harsh way. But she was so angry. He was calling his sister stupid. In her eyes Priti was lot of nice than him. She was little child but she didn't made unreasonable demands like her elder brother. She was so irritated by Ronit. He had his expensive dreams and he didn't care for anyone when it reached to completing them. He didn't think about their financial conditions. His hostel was too expensive. Dipti didn't want to talk to him. She began to feel that he was an arrogant stubborn son. But she knew that she couldn't improve him. She was so frustrated. She decided to ignore him. She went to Priti's room who was crying. Dipti sat near her. Dipti " Priti you can clearly see that your brother no longer care for anyone. He just wanted to go in hostel. He is no longer like us so what do you plan? Do you want to cry for entire life?" Priti looked at her with eyes full of tears. Priti " So he will never care for us again?" Dipti decided to tell what she felt truth to Priti. " I don't think so." Priti came near her. She took her in arms. Priti cried. Then Priti controlled herself and smiled. Priti " So what did you feel? How big should be that bangalow!!" Dipti smiled. She started describing her their life. It began to sound so interesting that Priti started to get thrilled by this. Priti suddenly began to laugh. Priti sensed that it would be nice to have life without her brother too. She no longer needed to share Mom and her things. She felt that it was nice thing. She began to plan whole day according to her choice. Now she could watch TV as per her choice. She was truly happy now. She knew that having TV remote in her hand was one dream she never achieved since her brother had it. She started laughing and chatting. Ronit didn't went in his room. He slowly went after Dipti. He was shocked when he heard her plans. She wanted to throw him out of house. She was turning his sister against him. She was not acting like his Mom at all. He needed someone's advice to handle her. He decided to call his Dad. Rakesh was surprised to receive call from him. Rakesh " What a pleasant surprise?!! You called me!!" Ronit was shocked so she was also posioning his father's brain against him. Ronit sensed that she was little bit successful too. He asked Rakesh angrily " Who told you I don't care for you? Did someone told you something against me?!!" Rakesh started laughing. Rakesh " Hey..hey what happened?!! I just said it as joke since you are planning to go in hostel. Nothing serious!!" " But Dad for me. This situation is serious. Mom is posioning Priti's thoughts against me." Rakesh started laughing loudly. Ronit became so angry. He sensed that Rakesh was not taking him seriously. " Dad you don't seem to believe me!!" " Come on. Your Mom always did good things for you. She never did anything wrong." " Ohh really!! She slapped me today. Wait I will send you picture of it's mark." He took camera clicked it and sent it before his Dad answered. Rakesh shocked by that picture. Rakesh looked little bit convinced now. He said " Don't worry I will talk to your Mom." " No..no Dad I don't want to be punished again!! You can talk with her only when you are here." Rakesh "But.." Ronit screamed " No but Dad promise me." Rakesh promised. Then he disconnected call but he felt that it was not enough and he needed more help so he decided to call his friends of hostel. It was news for them. Before Ronit could understand that news spread like fire in people. Many people started discussing Dipti's abusive attitude towards son. Soon Dipti became villain in people's eyes and Ronit became victim. Ronit didn't even sense what he had done. He managed to create biggest trouble for their entire family. His innocent questions managed to put him in trouble. He just wanted to know what was wrong in his Mom and he just managed to spread everywhere that something was wrong with his Mom. He started to create his biggest trouble by his own hand.
Dipti didn't sense that Ronit was creating issue out of her slap. But Rakesh called her. Rakesh was very angry. Rakesh " Don't you have brain to understand that you should not slap young boy like that?" She didn't felt guilty from heart. She sensed somewhere in her soul. She no longer kept any emotion for her own son, she was feeling so much aloofness towards him that she didn't feel that he was her son. She didn't understand how could she express this to Rakesh. But she knew that she must. She just kept thinking. Rakesh screamed on her " Did you hear me? I want to go and apologize!!" She was ready to do that she felt guilty for hitting unknown person. She kept reminding herself that he was her son. But she didn't feel those emotions. But she was happy about this solution. She could apologize without any second thought. " I will do it immediately. I accept I did big mistake." Rakesh sounded happy. Rakesh smiled and said " Great. You must do it. I don't understand what happened!!" Dipti " I am confused. I mean I don't feel as if I am his mother. He is acting so different." Rakesh didn't speak for sometime. Then he said " I don't understand what you are trying to say!! But I feel it is impossible to discuss it on phone. I will come and discuss. But you must apologize first." " Yes I will." Rakesh disconnected call. Dipti immediately searched for Ronit. Ronit was in his room. He was doing something on computer. When she came from behind, she began to see screen. He was chatting with his friend. It was video chat so she got confused. His friend must had seen her. His friend looked scared. He said something and left chat room immediately. Ronit turned and looked at her. He had many emotions on his face but they were not touching her soul. She felt as if her soul turned in stone. She decided to concentrate on her job which wanted to complete. This apology was just on job to be done for her. She didn't feel any emotion about it. She created artificial smile and said " Sorry I am disturbing you. Actually I wanted to apologize. I know I did wrong by hurting you this way. It was my mistake and I will never repeat it again." She said anything but everything was in same tone as if she was typing some letter. She could sense it herself. She could easily feel those emotions were artificial created but she didn't understand what chord of her mind turned in wrong way that she didn't feel any emotions towards her son. Ronit was listening to all with his hurt face. Ronit could clearly see there was no sign of emotion on her face. She was not feeling hurt or guilty for slapping him. She was saying it all without any emotion. She didn't have any feeling. She was saying it like a child who was repeating dialogue taught by teacher for annual function. Ronit sensed all but he kept nodding. He smiled and said " Mom it's alright. Every human did mistake. I have forgotten it." She nodded and then she went away. Ronit was shivering in anger. He was so upset. His Mom was pretending to be sorry when she was not sorry at all. It was his nightmare. His Mom who slapped him and she didn't feel sorry about it. He couldn't able to control his emotion. He started crying loudly. He started shivering. It was worst day. He didn't understand how could he handle it. Then he saw video call of his friend. He slowly took call. He needed someone. He found that help in his friend. He began to talk on video chat. His friend was nice and friendly person but when he started to tell all this his friend shivered. His friend " When you are coming in hostel?" " This year." " Good." At beginning Ronit felt that his confession was helping him. But he was shocked when one day a letter came from hostel that said they couldn't take him. Dipti was so shocked. Dipti couldn't believe her eyes. She knew that everything was going in right way. They even gave them date to give fees but suddenly they informed that they could not take him. Dipti was confused. Dipti called Ronit. Dipti " Ronit your hostel is not giving you admission." Ronit was shocked. He started to scream angrily. He said " You did it. You did it by purpose. You wanted to watch me suffering. You wanted to see me in pain. Since your favourite daughter Priti couldn't go in hostel." Priti was standing in corner. She was so shocked. Dipti was so upset. She forgot everything and she screamed on him. " I don't care for you. I don't think you as my son why did I want to drag your burden with me!! In fact I feel you told some things stupidly on computer which managed this mess. What did you tell them?" Then suddenly Ronit remembered that he told everything about his Mom. He even exaggerated it on some point. He didn't mean to but he might have. He had sent picture which he created for Dad even to his few friends. But it supposed to increase their sympathy for him. But it seemed to work in totally wrong way. He had fully understood what happened. They felt that he was abused child and his Mom was mad but instead of helping him. They all decided to take safe way out. They did not want to relate with mad family. That might be their thought. If Mom was mad then her son must be mad too. So their parents must had contacted principal and school decided to object his entry. He began to feel so sad. On other point he began to feel scared. He knew now his parents would do inquiries. He didn't want them to know. He smiled and said " I was not interested in that hostel any way. It was too expensive." Suddenly Dipti looked so upset. She came on verge on crying. "No..no you must go to hostel. I want to go in village with just my daughter." It was so strange. For first Ronit sensed that his Mom didn't want him at all around her. He didn't dare to say anything. He didn't want to mess things further. But Priti was listening to all and she didn't like it. Priti screamed " My brother will stay with me." Dipti looked shocked. Dipti went to Priti. " You don't need your brother. He will destroy your life. Everyone will began to love him because he is boy." Ronit was shocked. He screamed " Enough Mom!! I am calling Dad." Dipti ran towards him to punish him. But Priti started calling neighborhood. Dipti stopped. She turned to Priti. She screamed " I am not hitting your brother. Stop it." But harm was already done. Many neighbours were already watching them. Dipti tried hard to hide all but she could see harm was already done.
Vanshika was watching Rakesh and Dipti for such long time. She didn't believe when first neighborhood started talking about strange nature of Dipti. But today she was shocked something was wrong with Dipti. But she didn't understand what did she supposed to do. Then she decided to chat with Dipiti in friendly way. Dipti was crying when door bell rang. Ronit was sitting in corner with Priti. Dipiti didn't wanted to open door but she knew that it was her neighbour and she didn't have much options. She was so upset. She didn't want to look bad but it already happened. She wished from heart that Rakesh was there to help her. But Rakesh was far away. She went ahead and opened door. When she saw Vanshika anutie her smile relaxed. She liked her. Vanshika Auntie was helpful to her on every step. She gave her sad smile and said "I hope they are not planning to throw us out of society. Don't worry we are leaving soon." "No..no nothing like that happened. I came here since I am concerned. Dipti nodded and offered seat to Vanshika. For some seconds they sat without talking but finally after sometime Vanshika talked. " I know you might think I am pushy but can I suggest solution?" Dipti looked confused but she nodded. Vanshika " I know one psychiatrist.." Dipti screamed " I am not mad..just go out of my house before I will do something wrong which we both might regret later." Vanshika stood up immediately but before going she said " No doubt I will regret but I have doubts about your regrets. Did you feel regret for hitting your own son like that? Everyone who know you already knew this. If you didn't consider it mental trouble then I don't know what should considered as mental trouble." After saying this Vanshika went away. Dipti was so shocked. She looked at Ronit's face mark was visible and now even Priti was looking scared of her. She sensed that something must be wrong with her. She began to feel upset. She immediately called Rakesh and told him all. " I still didn't feel that sorrow which I suppose to feel!!" Rakesh kept quiet for some moments and then he asked " Then why don't you take suggestion of Vanshika Auntie? Come on. You are well educated woman. Why don't you understand importance of psychiatrist?" " I am not mad. Do you feel I am mad?" " I don't understand why did you needed to put things like that? I mean if someone suggest you that you should visit some Doctor and you feel something is wrong in you then you should visit!! No need to become judgmental like that." She smiled. After speaking to Rakesh she began to feel so relaxed. " Yes you are right. I will go to Vanshika Auntie and visit Doctor with her. This all might vanish before we join you." " No need to demand such a hurry. You can always go back when you need." She said " Thanks." " Since when you started thanking me. Now this calls for celebration!!" Then both laughed. Then Dipti immediately went to Vanshika Auntie. She thought that Vanshika might get angry on her. But Vanshika smiled. Vanshika said " I will take appointment and let's take kids with us too." Dipti nodded. Then they took appointment after two days. They both went there. When they reached there, kids were not even talking to her. Both kids were moving around house totally scared. She was feeling so upset. She wanted Priti to stay with her but Priti managed to become shadow of her brother. She was trying hard to control her anger. When psychiatrist listened to them, he suggested that he wanted to talk with them individually. They agreed. Dipti needed to talk for long time. Finally Psychiatrist said. " I feel you feeling this stress since you are going to village. It is good decision since it is bringing out your anger which was generated due to your grandmother. On every step she considered you less and abused your sick Mom. You didn't want it to happen. But sadly you are becoming another version of your grandmother. You are abusing your son and harassing him while hurting your daughter in that process. We need to convince your mind that past will not repeat. You will not die and your husband is far more responsible than your father. Maybe his sudden departure from your life sent wrong signal in your mind. But they were not true. He was concerned. He told Vanshikaji to keep eye on you and help you. He just didn't inform you since he thought you might took it in wrong way." Dipti felt so confused. Dipti " So what did you feel? Do you feel that I should not go to village?" Psychiatrist " No..no you must. I will do counseling for few times and you will be fine. In fact I feel your son and daughter might need it too. You just need to keep visiting." " If it help I will." Then Psychiatrist talked with them all. When they went out, Vanshika suggested icecream. They all agreed. Dipti sensed that kids were once more normal with her. She was happy. She didn't feel normal but she forced herself to treat both kids same way. She didn't want to become another version of her grandmother.
The End
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