Reflection in mirror
Harish came home. He was so tired. But he looked towards clock. It was almost night. He knew that his entire family must be sleeping. His life was so busy. He needed money to pay expenses. But he felt sometimes that he was stuck in strange route of life. He was working hard for family but he never even able to meet them. He went towards kids room. He saw his two kids sleeping peacefully. He knew that they were sleep like that since he met them every day just sleeping like this. He never saw them sitting or playing. He wished that it was possible to him. He always came late. He sometimes wished only if his some family member had insomnia. But he knew that it was worst wish. Insomnia was not nice thing. He couldn’t expect them awake. At beginning his wife Shruti used to complaint but now she didn’t. She stopped it since he was earning lot more. Shruti was fond of luxuries. Kids from beginning didn’t got attached to him. His office was his life. He felt so depressed sometimes. He began to feel that he needed to develop attachment with his family too. He didn’t understand how could he find time to do it. He needed to find time for it. He came so late. He needed to sleep too. He went in his room. Shruti was once again sleeping peacefully too. At beginning she used to wait for him. But then slowly she lost interest. He felt that she could sleep during day & wait for him. But then he knew that it was impossible. He kept getting restless. He was so exhausted. He went to hall. He looked around. Table was empty. He supposed to eat on it his food. He needed to heat food. He used to come so late. He couldn’t expect Shruti to wait for him. He was coming so late. He went in kitchen. He slowly began to took out food when he saw reflection on glass of cupboard. He was so shocked. It was one woman. She was standing right behind him. He was so confused. He asked “ Who are you?” She didn’t answer just smiled. He didn’t understand who was this woman. How could she managed to come inside his house? He was so confused. He asked once again loudly “ Who are you?” She looked angry & upset. She just went away. He was so confused. Then he sensed that he didn’t even took out food from refrigerator. He thought that might be some new maid. Shruti was always busy in hiring servants. But he never saw anyone who stayed in house. Still it was easily possible Shruti might keep one lady. He didn’t ñmind paying. He was earning for them. He didn’t want them to suffer lack of luxuries. He wanted his family to enjoy every luxury of rich family. He always took good care of them. He was absent on functions but he always managed to give costly & perfect gift. He wanted their happiness & those gifts were giving it to them. He loved his work. He was so obsessed with his job. He wanted to study hotel management. But his family insisted on engineering. He disagreed after long convincing he managed to get permission. But when he studied all about hotel management he began to feel nervous. He wasn’t brave enough to take his own course. He did what he was suggested. But luckily he loved this job. He began to like it. But he still loved cooking. His wife always kept dinner for him. But he never ate it without adding some dish made by him. He cooked it for all so next day his family would enjoy it. His kids never managed to spend time with him but they managed to eat what he cooked. Once again he concentrated on his work. He managed to cook tasty curry. On that point suddenly that woman came out again. This time he saw her carefully. She seemed like old fashioned maid. He didn’t understand why she kept wandering like that. He asked her once again loudly “ What did she want?” No answer that woman went back to her room. He was so frustrated. He turned towards his cooking. He didn’t understand why did Shruti kept such a strange maid. He didn’t accepted any strange servant of this type. He managed to turn his attention to cooking. Then he took out remaining food from microwave. Then he arranged all & went in hall. He was shocked when he saw this woman was already arranged water for him. He didn’t understand why this servant was staying awake for him. He smiled & asked “ Who are you?” She smiled sweetly & said “ Your desire.” He was so shocked. He just jumped out of sofa. He went away from that sofa. He said “ I will eat my dinner in my room.” She didn’t say anything. He went in his room. He closed door. Shruti was sleeping peacefully. Room was totally dark. It had just limited light from street lamp. He was feeling so nervous. He sat on bed. He knew one thing that he needed to complaint. But he didn’t even know name of that maid. He told himself to relax. But soon he sensed that someone was knocking on his bedroom door. He was so shocked. He didn’t dare to open door. That person kept knocking loudly. He didn’t move. Finally Shruti woke up. Shruti was so scared when she sensed that he was sitting there in odd way that she screamed. Then she started laughing. “ My God you scared hell out of me.” Then they heard knocking again. Shruti ran to open door but he took hold of her hand. “ She is out side.” “ Who?” “ That girl! She was acting so strange. Why did you keep her in this house?!” He was looking so nervous. Shruti opened door. Their daughter Revati was standing outside. “ Revati! Honey what happened?” “ I heard noise in hall. Then I saw light was on. Refrigerator was open & microwave was making noise!” Harish sensed his mistake. “ So sorry. I almost forgot.” He ran in hall to close all. Then he looked towards his daughter Revati. She was so beautiful. She was just like her Mom. He bent to kiss her on cheek. But she turned away her head. Shruti smiled. “ Now she is grown up. You can’t kiss her like that.” Harish felt so sad. He was totally stranger to her daughter. Revati was treating him like some fellow on road who was teasing her. He knew that he was father but to Revati he was just unknown man. He patted on her head & went away to hall. He knew that his son Ravi would treat him same way too. It was not that Revati was girl & he was man. He didn’t have any bond with his kids. That bond between them was totally missing.
Harish went outside. He saw that all was in same way. But water that woman had brought for him in hall was missing. It was really strange. She didn’t clean all but just took away that water. She just cleaned her mess. He felt so angry. She was really selfish girl. He decided that he needed to discuss this with Shruti but then he decided that he could ignore it. He managed to put everything at right place. He began to arrange all things. Then he sensed that he didn’t had dinner. He went in bedroom. He took his plate. He once again sat in hall before TV. Shruti gave him water & said “ Good night.” Revati didn’t even took efforts to say good night. He was really useless burden in his daughter’s eyes. He knew that he gave money for all. But he never gave them any emotional support. He was so upset. He decided that he needed to push little bit. He said angrily “ Isn’t she planning even to good night to me? Grown up surely do that!” Revati looked guilty. She became nervous. She slowly turned toward him & said “ Sorry Dad. I forgot. I wish you wonderful night full of dreams.” She said it in style of adult. He couldn’t control his laughter. He said “ I am not angry just joking. Go to sleep angel.” Revati smiled & gave little laugh then she ran in her room. Shruti laughed too. “ Ohh honey don’t joke too much with her. Revati is nervous minded not like Ravi. He will answer every question without second thought. I don’t understand why did this girl needed to be so shy?!” He smiled to hide his emotions. He was angry & that was truth but he pretended & luckily his family believed him. He said “ It’s okay. She seem like smart girl. She is acting shy since she feel it’s better to not talk more with strangers. It is also better. In this world there are many threats. It is better to act shy.” Shruti nodded & went back in her room. He was feeling okay now. That servant was just maid. He needed to ignore her. He started TV. He searched for long time then he finally found one serial. It was entertaining. He started it & began eating. Then he once again felt as if he saw that maid. It was not in reflection but she was on TV. He couldn’t understand how could his maid work on TV. She was doing acting. He never remembered watching that serial. But he began to feel so enchanted by it. He didn’t understand how could she work as maid if she was earning so much as actress. Then he understood. She must be guest. Shruti might had given some room her to stay. Then he understood all. She was not talking with him. She was practicing her acting. She was no involved in it that she totally ignored him. He started laughing. He knew that if someone saw him laughing during that sorrowful scene on TV. People would think that he was mad or sadist. It was horrible scene of woman exploitation. He didn’t want to laugh while it was appearing on TV. But he couldn’t help it. He started laughing. He then decided to just change channel. He found something else. He began to enjoy his emotions. He was feeling so freak out just due to that actress. He needed to tell Shruti that she needed to warn him regarding these guests. He ate peacefully. Then he went to sleep. He needed to go back in bedroom but he was so exhausted that he just needed to sleep so he slept on sofa before TV. He knew that he needed to clean plates. But he was so exhausted. He decided that he would wake up after sometime & then he could clean them. He began to feel so relaxed. Shruti was trying to sleep in bedroom. But she was tense. She didn’t like look on Harish’s face. She knew that he was working too much. How hard she tried to tell kids that their Dad was important. It was not working. Kids were not showing same affection. Harish was working day & night for them. She understood his efforts. She managed to appreciate them. But today she doubted her decision. He was not normal. He was eating in strange way in that dark room under moon. He was looking so strange. She sensed that some thing was wrong. When Harish didn’t come back for long time, she got restless. She felt so sad when she saw him sleeping on sofa like little child who was feeling lonely. She didn’t like the way he was moving ahead in life. She knew that he was making himself lonely. They had enough money to live happily. But he introduced luxuries. Now kids were addicted to them. He was feeling so restless. But he couldn’t stop that way of life since he needed money. She could forget money but kids couldn’t. He needed earn to keep that lifestyle. Sometimes she began to regret that she permitted her kids to live in that lifestyle. She knew that now she started it was impossible to stop. She needed to see what Harish needed one break. Then she suddenly noticed someone was in reflection on closed TV set. She sensed a maid. She was so confused. She turned back. She was shivering in fear. She didn’t have anyone in home except her two kids. She started watching then she saw no one was there. It was painting on canvas. She didn’t understand who painted it. She kept watching different colour of that painting. It was shocking when Harish painted this. She never saw this woman. But she suddenly felt jealousy. Harish never had time for her. But Harish had time to paint this woman. She kept watching carefully. She never saw Harish painting so beautifully. It was really strange. She kept watching that painting for long time. She didn’t sense that she lost track of time during observing it. She sensed that she was becoming so sleepy. She needed to hold sofa. She decided to went in room. She slept peacefully. She woke up by alarm. She didn’t understand how could she managed to sleep so nicely like baby. She was overstressed. But she managed it & she was glad about it. She still felt so upset when she sensed that Harish was already gone. He was not even stopping for breakfast now a days. She decided that it was time to convince kids to reduce expenses so that their father Harish could reduce his work. She knew that she needed to do something about Harish. She was concerned after seeing that painting.
On breakfast table when Shruti started discussing reduction in expenses. At beginning kids objected but slowly she convinced them. She started reductions in household things. It was hard at beginning then slowly she managed. Her budget started to get reduced. But at same time she began to sense that Harish was avoiding coming home. It was so strange. She began to doubt that he might be having affair. She didn’t like this. Harish was so busy in hiding his fear that he didn’t confess anything. He kept seeing that actress in mirror. Next day he did inquiries on google soon he found out this actress was living in big apartment. She was rich not someone who live like PG. He was so shocked. He didn’t want to go inside house. He kept trying to find some excuse. He even began to sense that if he didn’t confess now he might manage to destroy his marriage. But that face managed to scare him. He was sure that he was going to become mad. It was upsetting. He wanted to appear normal but he didn’t feel that way. He was so tense & upset. He knew that he was seeing woman who didn’t exist in his house. He was mad. No doubt about it. He had a family. If his madness increased it would surely damage his family. He kept seeing faces of his family. He kept sitting in one empty chair on road for hours. At beginning he was ignored then after some time a Cop started watching. He didn’t sense it but he sensed it when that Cop horned. He just started walking away. But that Cop slowly followed & finally Cops stopped near him. He had no option but to answer. Cop “ What happened? You are not drunk & no one come to meet you then why you keep waiting night after night for someone like this?” “No..no officer I am going home..” he tried while controlling his emotions. Cop stopped him. Cop“Now I am asking softly just tell me what is wrong? Do you want me to arrest you?” He shivered. He began to tell all. Cop listened with full attention. Then Cop smiled. “ You are an educated man why don’t you understand that by sitting here you achieve nothing. Go to Doctor!” “ Am I mad?” Cop gave small laugh. “ If we start to call whoever hallucinate mad majority of mental asylum will be filled! These things happen due to stress. Psychiatrist give you some medicine you will be fine. Let me give you number.” Then that Cop received one call. Cop talked on it for long time. It was regarding some robbery. Cop immediately started to go. But Cop screamed loudly. “ Don’t worry I will send you number.” Harish was so confused. Harish never gave his number to Cop how did Cop message him. Any way Harish didn’t say anything. He went home. Shruti was awake. She was angry. She started asking about his non existed affair. He was so confused on that point his mobile rang with message. She grabbed it in anger. She screamed “Whose number is it?” He was so confused. He just said “ I don’t know.” She called back without second thought. She was shocked when Cop took call. Cop slowly explained her that how did her husband had mental trouble & due to it he was sitting hours near area of robbery. Shruti said nicely “ My husband is gentle man. He never go against law..” Cop “ I know. I did background check. So I am giving you number of psychiatrist otherwise he might get killed by some robber one day if he kept wandering in night like that.” Shruti thanked. Shruti looked towards number & said “ Take vacation from office.” “ But..” “ No but.. if they fire you find new job. Call your Boss now.” “ At this time!” “ Then message. just do it. I convinced kids they manage all in less money. I will start saving..” he didn’t like this idea. He knew that she was trying something impossible. Her savings were not big & kids couldn’t compromise so much. But he decided that he could tell Boss all. He needed to take chance. He decided to call. His Boss sounded irritated at beginning but when he started telling his problems. Boss sympathised. He got vacation of week. They decided to take appointment of next day. When they called next day, they got appointment of next day. They waited with patience. Kids were happy to have him at home. He took them on picnic. He wanted diversion. But it was not working. He kept feeling as if someone was watching them. He knew that he would see her in night. He was got so scared to go home. When they came to door, he tried to make excuse to go out. But Shruti forced him to come inside. On that time he survived only due to Shruti’s support. Next day Shruti sent kids to her sister’s home. They were so tense. Finally they waited outside. Whole time Shruti was holding his hand & he was holding his tears. Finally they went inside. Then he told all. Psychiatrist listened. “ I feel this is happening due to extra stress. You want someone with you so you created this woman.” “ But I never saw her before.” “ Think carefully. That one whom you see in reflection is not that actress..” he tried to think but he couldn’t. But after discussing he felt relaxed. Psychiatrist permitted him to work for normal hours. He needed to avoid just work of extra hours. He smiled happily. He began to feel relaxed. He went back with medicine. Then he called Boss. Boss “ You need to train others.” He didn’t like this. Next day he went office. He was told to train new recruits. New staff was excited. But he was not ready. He was feeling so insecure. He told Boss. He would select tomorrow hard to decide. Boss smiled. “ Yes hard to choose out of this talent. I suggest why don’t you teach them?!” “ All!” “ Come on you can do it.” He nodded. But he was so restless. Then he called psychiatrist. Psychiatrist slowly explained that his fear of substitution was causing trouble. Soon he began to sense that he needed to sense that he would be replaced one day. He needed to let it happen. He nodded. It was hard but he did it. He started to do it. Step by step he got time for family & he got special respect. He even got time for his habit. He started gardening. Even kids began to garden with him. They developed nice small garden behind Society. Society members happily agreed to it. They were taking care mosquitoes wouldn’t spread too. Harish was so happy in this life. That woman stopped appearing in reflection. Then one day he sensed that she was one maid who used to take care of him as child then one day she ran away with Driver. There was big issue. Her parents abused to his family. Cops were called. Her parents needed to go to Police station. He never saw her again. He told this to Psychiatrist. Psychiatrist said “ Psychology is strange. Is it possible that this maid never showed or taught her skills to your Mom!” Harish nodded. He smiled & now he sensed his mind was telling him to not be selfish like her. He was glad that he was on right route of happiness. He was earning nicely & happy too. He couldn’t give enough time to kids but still he could surely give enough to make their life normal. He was happy & normal. He called Cop to thank. Cop acted as if he didn’t even remember him. Clearly it was routine to Cop but it was greatest thing to him. He tried to invite him for festival but Cop denied & disconnected call since it was clear that Cop wanted to spend time with his family or work not with him.
The End
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