Taking care of Mom
Priti decided to spend her one day with her Mom. She always had busy life. She needed to manage her house and go to office. Her Mom was staying with her sister. Her sister was staying in their house. She got house and responsibility of her Mom too. They never discussed it but it was understood. She didn't have time to take responsibility and her sister's in-laws were not interested in keeping her. It was so strange. Her sister was nice and simple woman. Priti didn't understand why did her sister was not accepted by her in-laws. But She knew that it was truth. They didn't want to give her their flat. They kept it for their daughter so her sister decided to shift here. Her sister wanted to get one flat while Priti didn't have much time to take care of their Mom so it was arranged. At beginning her brother-in-law didn't like idea of staying in wife's house but slowly he got adjusted towards it. Priti knew that it was hard for her sister Ankita and her husband Anand. But she tried to avoid it's mention. Priti in fact avoided visiting them since she always saw that irritating look on her neice Trupti's face. Trupti hated visitors because every visitor kept talking to them about staying in that house. Actually it was not fair. If son were permitted to stay and take care of parents why did they needed to show it as something different if daughter did same thing. She began to feel so strange when she came towards that door. It was looking so different than last time. When she came last time, she was just married. She was so excited about her new job. She bought sweets for Mom. Her sister was staying in her husband's house. Her Mom was alone. Priti sat with her. They chatted for long time about different subjects. Then finally Priti asked "Mom how could you stay alone like that?" Her Mom smiled and said " I am just fine honey. I don't like house full of people. I love my privacy." Priti smiled and nodded. Then Priti went away. In few days Ankita needed place to stay and her Mom forced to compromise. Her Mom spent entire life in just compromising. Priti wanted her Mom to at least live her old age as per her choice but Ankita needed house. She knew that they didn't have much option. Priti always felt guilty about taking away Mom's last chance of freedom too. Their Dad was not nice person. He always kept screaming on family whenever he wished. Sometimes they didn't even understand reason for it. She felt so sad by remembering those days when her Mom forced to suffer. It was so wrong that she needed to compromise again. Priti took deep breath to control her tears and pressed door bell. Trupti opened door. Trupti was once again upset to see Priti. Priti smiled and said " I came to meet Mom." Trupti just gave one forced smile and said " Grandma is watching TV in her hall." Priti nodded. She went in hall and then she sensed that hall was no longer big. They had created two room out of one hall. Those rooms were small but still they were nice. They managed to give one room to everyone by this. But she knew that her Mom's room was no longer airy as it once used to be. Everything was altered to please Trupti. Trupti wanted one room and they needed to manage. Priti knew that Trupti was getting stubborn day by day. Trupti was so fond of her grandparents that she hated her parents for not adjusting with them. Trupti kept blaming her parents for entire mess. She never understood that they didn't have much option. According to her they could have found option if they decided to search for it. Priti tried to talk but it was clearly useless. Priti was never that much close to Trupti. Trupti always kept one distance between them. Priti never understood why but Trupti never liked her that much. Trupti kept feeling frustrated every time whenever she needed to talk with Priti. Priti went inside and sat beside Mom. Her Mom turned towards her. Priti could see emptiness in those eyes. She sensed that her Mom didn't understand any word she spoke. Priti shivered with fear. She wanted to call Trupti but then she decided against it. She knew that Trupti hated when disturbed due to these kind of conversation. She didn't dare to ask about Ankita. Ankita was taking some classes somewhere to earn some money and Trupti was clearly upset due to it. Trupti needed money but she didn't want to take care of her grandmother. She kept feeling so upset. On that moment Priti just wanted to take her Mom in her home. But she knew that it was not possible. Specially now since she had already forgotten her right on flat. Her husband would surely get upset. Her husband Rohit was not interested in her property. But he hated when he felt someone was cheating and if Ankita used Mom's flat and Priti took Mom in her house. Then it was cheating in his eyes. Truthfully most of the people would support his thinking. But Priti didn't understand what was right. She didn't like look in her Mom's eyes. Priti decided to talk with Rohit on that day. She turned to her Mom and asked " Mom do you like to stay in my house?" Her Mom smiled and nodded. Her Mom looked so happy that she sensed that she needed to do it. She decided that she would do it. She loved her Mom more than anything. She was not ready to sacrifice her sanity and life to prove she was smart and no one could fool her. Priti smiled and said " I will take you soon in my home." Her Mom smiled happily. She was so happy to see smile on her Mom's face. She went back in her home. She started planning all when she received call from her office. It was her Boss. She was promoted but for it she needed to go in some other area. She couldn't say no. She knew that her entire household would adjust. Rohit taught kids to adjust with situation. He was such wonderful husband. She told him all and he started to support her. She began to plan all and she totally forgot about her Mom. She began to plan all. Boss told her to leave immediately and she did it. She felt immediately without giving second thought to other things. She started to feel so hopeful regarding going to bigger post that she totally forgot about her Mom. She went away to chase her dream.
Priti was so happy when she started planning all. She did packing and took flight tickets. Then she went on airport. She was about to enter for check in when she remembered her Mom. She watched her mobile. She saw there was no call from her sister. She hoped that her Mom forgot all about it. Then Priti went away. Priti called Ankita when she reached to destination. Ankita was clearly upset. Ankita " Did you lied to Mom?" Priti felt so confused. She didn't lied. She just forgot all. Priti " I didn't lie. Actually my Boss sent me away." " I know your Boss always did this." She began to feel so restless. She knew that she cheated her Mom. She was not intended to cheat. But she did it. Priti " I know I shouldn't have promised but I will take her when I come back." "When next year?" " No..no this is just small visit of one week." " It always start that way then it will increase. It start to cross limits. Then it began to create worst effect on soul. I know it. First you promise then you break it. You hurt Mom. She kept waiting for you." " But this is happening for first time." " I know but this is wrong in every way. Now Mom is waiting for you. Do you understand it's meaning?" Priti didn't answer since truthfully she didn't. She never saw her Mom so stubborn. Her Mom used to nod at every thing. Now she sensed that she did some big mistake. " I don't understand." " Now she is sitting near window every day. She is waiting for you. She keep asking me and Trupti about you. Trupti is getting frustrated. Why don't you understand? I need some money!! I need to take extra classes and due to this stunt Mom started irritating Trupti with your name. You must call Mom and tell her the truth." Priti shivered with fear. She knew that this was going to be hard. She took deep breath. Priti didn't want to tell Mom but she said "Okay." Ankita suddenly sounded pleased. Ankita " Great tell her." Priti felt as if someone punched in her stomach. Her Mom was on mobile. Mom " When you are coming?" " I need a week Mom. I am out of town now." Suddenly she sensed that Mom controlled her tears. Mom didn't say anything. Priti " Mom this is question of just week then it will be over." Mom didn't answer. Ankita took mobile. Ankita " Thanks. Now she will not cause further trouble." Priti didn't like the way Ankita was talking about Mom. Priti wanted to be with her Mom but she knew that it was not possible. She needed to do her work and fulfilled her commitment. She needed to work hard. After all she needed money. Then one day she might able to keep her Mom in big luxurious house. She knew that if she had big house then no one from her family object her Mom. They needed one room for everyone. But at this moment they were living in small house. She needed money. She took deep breath and decided to work hard. She did everything in perfect way. She started planning all in such a way that she received just claps from everyone. They all admired her brilliance. She was so happy. She did all with perfect dedication. She managed to forget everything. She didn't let her personal trouble distrub her during her work. She did all in perfect way. Her entire project was big success for her. Then finally week was over. She booked tickets to come back. She called her Mom. Mom didn't took her call for long time. She began to get tense. She finally decided to call Ankita. Ankita didn't answer her for sometime then said " Mom is no longer using her mobile." " Why?" Ankita sounded upset again. Ankita " Stop questioning me. I don't understand swing of Mom's mood. She starts to use something one day and next day she didn't want it." Priti felt so upset. She needed to talk to Mom. She needed to express her apology. She needed to keep promise. She knew that she needed to do everything but truthfully she didn't know how to explain this to her Mom. Priti " Just give your mobile to Mom!!" Ankita sounded upset. Ankita " It is not about not having her mobile!! She is no longer using mobile. She feel it have some sort of rays." " What sort of rays? I don't get it. She feels mobile use is risky?" " Yes. She said she saw it on some TV." " What?" " It's some famous movie. They said mobile kill birds." " Really?!! I am sure that films every actor and director is using more costly and powerful mobile than us at this moment. Tell Mom to stop this nonsense and speak with me." Ankita sounded so angry now. " Do you feel I don't want her to do it? If you take her away for few days, it will be relief for me too. You know my position. I keep begging to my own daughter to take care of Mom and house. You can't imagine my happiness if I get relief of few days!! But she is not ready." Ankita was trying to convince her. But Priti didn't believe her. Priti kept thinking that Ankita was lying. She knew that Mom wanted to come with her. Priti " I don't believe. There is any such film which convince mobile using can kill birds." Ankita sounded so angry. " Really? They go and watch new movie starring Rajanikant and Akshay Kumar. They both use mobile as per their desire but simple people like Mom keep faith on it." Priti started to feel sad. She wanted to understand her Mom's thought. " I will come to you immediately when I come back." Priti was so upset. She knew that her Mom was not sound. She knew that her Mom needed help. But she was not sure who would start that topic. She was so frustrated that no one was ready to do something about it. She decided that she needed to convince Mom but first she needed to convince Rohit. She needed to start treatment after his permission. She decided that she must call him. She knew that she could start talking with subject of returning home then she could change subject and began to shift to subject of Mom's treatment. It was necessary and needful. She smiled happily at this idea. She began to think that now she could do for her Mom what she wanted. She began to dial Rohit's number. She started to create sweetness in her voice. She was going to make this request very sweetly.
Priti sensed that Rohit was happy and relieved when she told him that she was returning. It was clear that very thing was not fine in her house this time. She was needed. She didn't like this. She needed Rohit in relaxed mind to convince him about his troubles. But he was already in trouble. It was clear that her house needed her attention so she must needed to shift her concentration now. She was so confused and upset. She kept thinking some way to keep peace of her mind. She kept feeling so tense every day. She needed to relax first then only she could help others but she was stressed herself for entire day and it was not helping her at all. She needed to create calm. She needed to plan all. She began to feel that if she planned properly all would be fine. She asked Rohit " What happened?" " Well it is not easy to handle grown up kids. They are so demanding. Our daughter wants to go on trip abroad." " What?!! When?!!" "They said it will be told soon." " From that coaching class!!" " Yes..yes regarding some performance of music. Truthfully I don't find it so reliable. I mean I am not interested in sending my daughter away with unknown person. She might feel teacher are trustworthy but we can't trust them." " No..no we can't!! I don't want to send her but she will listen to you not to me. For her I am always over protective father who object to all." She couldn't help laughing little. She knew that it was sort of truth. But this time Rohit was right. She smiled and said " Don't worry I will handle her." She started talking about her daughter and totally forgot to mention her Mom. When her call was completed she sensed her mistake. She began to feel so upset. She looked around herself. She was always busy in her work but still she managed time for all until now but now a days she was changing. She began to ignore her Mom. But she never managed to give time for her Mom any way. She just never considered her as responsibility. She always thought her sister Ankita would handle it. Even today somewhere in her heart she wanted to do same thing. She was feeling so upset. Then she began packing. When she came back, she began to discuss matter in her house. She started to convince her daughter but she didn't seem to be agreed with her. She tried so hard but it didn't happen. She was so upset. Then she suddenly remembered her Mom. She didn't understand why but she was no longer interested in convincing her daughter. She felt sure that she was not going to agree with her. She just went away. She could hear her daughter calling her from behind but she didn't stop. She kept moving ahead. She didn't sense when she reached in her Mom's home. She went near door and rang door bell when neighbour opened door. Neighbour " They went away." " What? But what about my Mom?" Neighbour looked confused. Neighbour " They took her too. Your Mom wanted to go." " But I told them. I am coming!!" " I don't know much. But it was trip they planned. Just their daughter Trupti stayed back but she is in college now." Priti thanked neighbour and went away. She called Ankita as soon as she reached to garden of that building. She chosed lonely spot to talk. She didn't want anyone to hear their arguments. It was clear that Mom didn't want to meet her but why? She was so confused. She began calling. Ankita took her call after her six missed calls. Ankita sounded so upset. Ankita "Sorry Priti you must be upset but we don't have much option. Mom just wanted to take this trip. You know Mom when she took something in her mind she didn't listen." She asked about location which was truly far away. She started to feel so angry. Priti " I want to talk with Mom." " You know Mom and her mobile phobia." Priti suddenly lost her control and screamed on Ankita " You are lying. You don't want to send Mom to my house." Ankita sounded hurt and angry now. Ankita "Fine, when we will come back we will send Mom to you." Priti felt so relieved. Priti sensed from her thoughts that she needed her Mom. Then she returned home. Rohit was so upset. Rohit "Why did you left like this in middle conversation!!" " Because I need to bring my Mom!!" " For what?" "To solve this entire problem!!" " Are you saying your Mom can convince our daughter but you can't?" Priti nodded. Rohit was shocked. Priti smiled happily and said " I just need to bring Mom and everything will become normal." Priti went in bedroom to change her clothes. For first Rohit sensed that something was wrong with his wife. Then suddenly their daughter came from behind " Dad what is wrong with Mom? She is acting strange." " Only if I know!!" Rohit was so tense. Rohit turned towards his daughter and requested her " Please cancel plan of your Trip. I request you. I really feel we need to give more attention to your Mom." And their daughter nodded immediately. It became clear to him that even she sensed her Mom needed help. But Priti was not concerned about these things at all. She was preparing everything to please her Mom. She knew that Ankita was lying. Her Mom wanted to be with her. Ankita was lying because she wanted flat. Her Mom never liked Ankita that much. She was her beloved. She knew that her Mom was waiting for her. She couldn't wait until end of Trip. Then she got another idea. She could join them there. She called Ankita and asked for location. Ankita looked confused at beginning then she gave it. Priti came out running and told Rohit that she was planning to join her Mom in her Trip. Rohit was so shocked but he sensed that Priti was beyond reasoning. He could let her go alone so he decided to join her. He was scared to keep his daughter alone but it was necessary. She told him that she would careful and he went away on that trip with wife.
Priti was so excited on trip. Priti started telling Rohit about her Mom. Priti " My Mom wanted to stay with me but Ankita stopped her. Ankita is becoming so greedy.." She kept criticizing Ankita non stop. She kept telling him whole time how did Ankita was trying to grab flat. But Rohit knew that was not true. Ankita didn't want to grab flat. Ankita was just taking what was her right. Priti's Mom needed someone in house with her. Priti kept saying that her Mom wanted to stay alone but Rohit didn't feel that it was possible specially after her blood pressure trouble. Priti's Mom was not in such good health. She might have fainted in her house and no one wanted to take that risk so it was practical to keep Ankita with her. Ankita needed flat no doubt but she never objected taking care of their Mom. She did all maintaining of flat. They knew very well that Ankita never wanted to stay there. She wanted her own house. Anand was still trying hard to find some cheap flat but buying property was not so easy. He couldn't able to find such a cheap flat. It was not possible. He worked so hard to earn more money. He didn't like to stay in that flat. He wanted to stay in his own flat. He didn't like idea of Priti talking like this about that man. Rohit decided that he heard enough and said " I don't like the way you are talking. You want to keep Mom with us. Fine. But don't abuse them." Priti felt so shocked. Priti " I am not abusing." " You are!! You are calling your sister greedy. Person who kept you away from your Mom for flat. Don't you feel it? I mean this is wrong!!" Priti started to control her tears. Her own husband was standing against her and supporting her sister. She felt so hurt. She was most unwanted person in world. Her Mom didn't want her and now even her husband was against her. She started crying loudly. Rohit felt so shocked. He didn't said anything so wrong. All people around them started to watching them. Priti looked at him with anger and asked " Do you like Ankita more than me?" Rohit was so angry after hearing this. He literally wanted to slap her but he controlled himself. He screamed angrily " I consider my sister-in-law as sister. I don't understand how could you think like that." Priti " Then you love her more as sister." He looked in her eyes. He sensed that something was not right. He never saw that strange look in them. Rohit " What's wrong?" Priti " Everything is wrong. I know everyone is cheating me. I can sense it. Ankita took away flat and for it she took Mom." "Ankita didn't took Mom. We are going to go there and bring Mom with us." Priti smiled. " Really?!! But what if Ankita kept flat?" " Still we can keep Mom I will not mind." Priti jumped with joy. " I love my Mom." It was horrible. Rohit wanted to take her to Doctor but he didn't understand which one. He never visited psychiatrist. Rohit asked her " Did you ever visited psychiatrist?" Suddenly Priti started to look angry. Priti " Why should I visit one? Do you feel I am mad person?" He could sense that it was not just him but every passenger traveling with them feeling same thing. Rohit "We need to think about our future." " Yes we must." " I thought that talking to counselor might help." Priti shivered with fear. But then she understood that Rohit was talking about their daughter. " Yes..yes we must take our daughter to counselor." Rohit was so shocked. He never suggested such a nonsense. Their daughter was perfectly normal. He knew Priti needed psychiatrist but she was not ready to accept. During traveling he kept convincing her. But she kept ignoring. It was strange and frustrating. She needed to understand but she kept changing subjects. He kept trying. Finally they reached to location on which they were going. When they reached to location, Ankita looked genuinely happy. She took them immediately to Mom. Priti sat near her Mom. Mom's eyes were no longer vacant. They were full of hopes. She didn't seem to be interested in chatting with Priti. Priti was upset. Priti turned to Ankita and asked " Did you told something to Mom against me?" Ankita started to look nervous. Priti sensed that Ankita did something. Priti screamed " Did you tried to tell her?" Ankita " No..no but are you alright?" Rohit immediately sensed that Ankita knew something. Rohit " She is not fine. She is acting strange. Do you know cause?" Ankita began to look away but Anand also gave her angry look. Finally she told " Actually Priti use to show some signs of too much jealousy from childhood.." " Like?" Priti began to look at Ankita in anger. Ankita was so confused. She didn't want to backstab. But she didn't seem to have much option. Her Mom was not healthy to take Priti to psychiatrist and it was not wise to hide all from Rohit. After all Rohit needed to handle. But the way Priti was looking at her. She was so scared. In fact she was always scared of Priti. She decided to avoid subject. But before she could say anything. Priti took flower vase and hit it on her head. It was so sudden that no one expected it. Ankita screamed. Everyone came to help her. Priti kept telling all. " Ankita took my Mom.. my husband and everything." Anand looked at Rohit with shock. But Rohit couldn't control himself this time. He just stood and slapped Priti. He screamed " She is like sister to me and you have tried to kill her. Do you sense meaning?" Suddenly Priti looked at Ankita and started crying. Ankita was immediately admitted to hospital.
Police came in hospital to take statement. Rohit and Anand explained everything as much as they knew. It was clearly not enough. They tried to question Mom but she didn't answer. Finally psychiatrist came to talk with Priti. He talked then he came to Police. Psychiatrist " I think she is patient of paranoid mood disorder or schizophrenia. I need to study her to give proper diagnosis. Who is her husband?" Rohit came forward and said " I am. But I don't sense before! " " Because she must be taking medicine. I feel she managed to hide all with help of her Mom. But now her Mom is sick so she couldn't able to get any help." Rohit understood all. Rohit " She was keep telling me that we must keep her Mom with us. I ignored that suggestion since Ankita is staying with her. I never able to guess that it was for her own treatment." Rohit began to cry slowly. Psychiatrist patted on his shoulder to comfort him and said " Don't worry. But she must stay in hospital for few days now." Rohit was so shocked. " But what about her job? She worked so hard for this promotion!" " But we don't have much option." Then they took away Priti. Priti just kept watching her manicured nails as if she did it for first time. Anand ran to Doctor and asked about Ankita's health. Doctor said dryly " She is recovering." It was so shocking. Anand and Rohit sat side by side and kept crying while Mom was watching TV on hospital wall peacefully as if she was not part of these scenes. She was already lost in her own magic world once again.
The End
