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This is the promise of love
“Myself, Kash…..”
“Glad to meet you. I'm Pushp. The new Mathematics and Science teacher, I assume.”
“Yes Ma'am”
“Welcome, to our staff.” Pushp introduced the newcomer “This is Kash, a new member of the staff.”
“New only for today, seasoned by tomorrow.” Kash was welcomed with warm laughter in the staff room.
Soon, he became the most seasoned member of staff. Advising people about finances, health care and life insurance policy every now and then, at times on request at others for pleasure. He was well versed in worldly affairs and possessed a witty sense of humour that added to his popularity among his students and fellow staff.
* * *
“Craft exhibition? When Ma'am.”
“Yes, on School Annual Day, it's mandatory for all; class teachers to set it up. We will all help you, not to worry.”
Kash's coworker Mrs Gordon helped him to buy material for the craft work, often shopping late into the evening. He sat with his pupils over the weekends and holidays creating different items from beads, ribbons, cardboard, ice cream sticks and glazed paper. His class setup a creative exhibition that was praised by one and all.
As the praise skyrocketed, a gossip monger informed the audience
“He locked the room from inside. The mother and son were having an argument, we could hear the high pitched voices but the words weren't clear.”
“Why?”
“She was wailing and crying.”
“Oh, no.”
“He was also in a temper.”
“When was this?”
“Almost every evening Ma'am.”
“ ….must be a personal matter. He is so humble and helpful here at school…”
“.....That's the thing Ma'am, here he is a different person and the same with the mother; totally different ..polite, gentle, concerned... when he talks to us.”
* * *
“I believe your Mom is here Kash.”
“Yes Ma'am.”
“Was she a working lady?”
“Yes Ma'am, very much and very independent too.”
“Likes to take her own decisions.”
“Not only for herself but for me as well.”
“Like?”
“.... as of now we have a single bedroom set house which she and Dad built with their savings. I’m requesting Mom to use the money she's got from Dad's insurance policy to build another storey, rent it out and get some money for the space on the roof, she won't listen.”
“O, oooo, oohh, that is called generation gap!”
“She doesn't trust me with her money, on one hand, on the other she insists I get married!”
“It's time you did, she is right but you are not wrong either.”
The staff grapevine had more to gossip about
“How word spreads? The mother and son are confused about family matters and the gossip mongers believe that the two are in conflict!” Pushp thought to herself, glad that she had spoken to him to hear the facts straight from the horse's mouth.
She could empathise and understand the predicament of a widowed lady with a young son well into his twenties, rearing to go, yet reined by family ties.
Evans and Jones were great friends and lived in the same colony and had worked in the same railway booking office for years.
They married almost at the same time. In time Evans had a son whom he named Kash. For Jones it was a long wait of seven years before he and his wife were blessed with a daughter, Dilasha. Jones, following Evans' advice, had undertaken a pilgrimage; within a year, he was blessed with a daughter.
Soon after the baby’s birth Evans was transferred to Cawnpore.
The two men, colleagues and friends had secretly joked and promised to marry Kash and Dilasha.This had never been mentioned openly to anyone, not even as a homely joke.
* * *
Kash grew up in Nucklao. He, a student at Central School, Rocher Road, was a passionate cricketer from childhood. Till High School his day was occupied between school, extra classes and tuitions, leaving little time for cricket. Later, he joined the Solomon Academy, his passion earned him a place in Northern XI.
His mother was working with the PWD. Her job was to check the papers and documents of all the contractors. She was a God fearing lady who carried out her work very dutifully and turned down any gifts and services that were offered as bribes.
The only advantage she ever took was when she and her husband were building a small one bedroom house on the land they had bought. She managed to get a reliable contractor to build it well within their budget.
By the time Kash passed out of Intermediate they moved to their new house.
After passing with fairly good marks in High School, Kash wanted to take up Commerce but like all educated guardians, his parents, too, managed to persuade Kash to study Science.They arranged for tutions to build his confidence and attain excellent marks.
At the tution he met Nikki. A smart, studious girl. Together they cleared college and then went in for an MBA course, as was the norm.
While in college he gave up cricket and developed a passion for following the stock market carefully and advising his parents to invest in various stocks and applying for shares.
All was well, when like many other investors they lost their earnings due to the infamous Zarshad Aehta scam.
* * *
During the vacation Kash did comply with his mother's wishes. He returned to work with his young wife for the new school session
“Hi! Kash..”
“Hi! Mrs Gordon, meet my wife Dilasha.”
“Hi Dilasha, come, welcome. Come in, what would you like? hot or cold?”
“No, Thank you. Nothing. We were setting up our kitchen so what will be some basic things we will need, just guide us.”
“A gas stove or induction heater…o, …not….electric heaters, no good.”
“Yes, we have an LPG connection transferred ... a pressure cooker, a frying pan and a rolling pin with a board…two plates, bowls, cutlery.”
“Well that's all you need after all the meals are provided by the school in the tiffin, only breakfast is to be cooked!”
“That's right.”
“Anything else for the house? This weekend I'll be going down to Doon. You can come with me. We can pick up the curtains, floor rug and sofa covers.”
“Right, Mrs Gordon. We shall do that. Thank you.”
* * *
“Is Dilasha a qualified teacher?”
“No, Ma'am she's doing her Masters in Hindi.”
“O, then she is a young girl.”
“Yes Ma'am, many years younger to me. I wanted to marry an older girl but Mom wanted it this way!”
“Obedient son..ha.. ha..”
“No choice Ma'am, an only child's dilemma, emotional blackmail and family duty.”
* * *
His father had passed away after the Zarshad Aehta scam. It was a depressing time for Kash. The young bubbly companion Nikki somehow managed to cheer him up, but his mother no longer trusted him with money matters.
Feeling guilty, he hunted for a job for a living. At first he joined a coaching institute as an instructor and then a school at an administrative post but the working hours were endless and he was expected to work on Sundays and holidays.
That's when he started smoking, chewing tobacco, fond of eating, he had always been, mughlai korma and biryani along with butter and naan. Mugs of tea with loads of sugar was part of his daily diet.
Nikki had joined the hotel industry and was doing pretty well.
She went for an interview to Muzorie, a hill town with many hotels. On her way back, unexpectedly, the branch of a tree fell on her car and she passed away instantly.
Kash was really devastated, saddened he decided to leave Nucklao and work in Muzorie where he had been offered a job in a boarding school. He and Nikki had planned to work in the same town but tragedy struck! Now to honour her memory he was going to this new place.
* * *
“Wonder what prompted Kash to leave his Mom and home and come here?”
“He had a friend Ma'am, she died in a car accident. There was a storm like the ones that hit Muzori in April. She was travelling by road to Doon. She was hoping to spend the June weekend here. The tree fell on the car, on the spot she expired.”
“That explains why he didn't want to get married in a hurry, but his Mom compelled him, family drama, crying, wailing, it seems !”
“Well the poor girl Dilasha is caught between the two.”
“Maybe she wasn't aware of it!”
“No, the families are well known to each other.”
“In that case they must be knowing what they are doing!”
“She is no poor girl, well versed with the ways of life, strong, self-willed, compassionate, caring and loving.”
“I just hope Kash and his family haven't tricked her.”
“Why would they?”
“Rich, young, only child.”
“Two incomes, one child, that's becoming the norm. Gossip has it their fathers were colleagues.”
* * *
Dilasha’s family, unaware of the events that took place in Kash's family, met them when she was doing her Masters. They had been out of touch for years. Dilasha’s father wanted a local guardian for his daughter, and could think of no one better than his once upon time colleague's widow.
Kash's mother managed to convince him to marry Dilasha after much hue and cry. They were destined to marry so in the Christmas season Kash and Dilasha were pronounced man and wife; just as Evans and Jones had agreed to years ago, in secret!
“What a pretty bride!”
“Kash is a lucky boy.”
“He is handsome, too.”
“Made for each other.”
“Not quite, she's much younger to him.”
“A sugar daddy.”
“Not really, he's only a teacher, she is a caring girl. She is aware that he lost his good friend Nikki in an accident, but then her father was a good friend of his family. I guess he managed to explain matters to his daughter and convinced her to marry Kash.”
“A good friend or girlfriend?”
“Well he isn't the girls type of guy. He is quite a loner happy to share his views in the right and limited company.”
“That's right, well educated reads a lot. She is just completing her Masters.”
The priest was saying “.....say now or hold your peace forever more….”
No one said anything.
There was a hush Kash and Dilasha were pronounced man and wife.
Dilasha walked down the aisle of the Cathedral on her father's arm.
Jones, thinking of his colleague Evans “If only time had been spared to you, dear friend, if time had spared you, dear friend, we would have embraced each other and blessed our children together, our manifestation for the wedding is fulfilled, perhaps we didn't imagine our presence at the ceremony. Maybe I only saw myself giving away my lovely girl, my child. Peace be on you, wherever you are. Hold on, till we meet again.”
The family had begun singing ‘Showers of blessing…’ Jones put his hands together ‘....this is the promise of love.’ the sweet voices filled the Cathedral.
* * *
Kash complied to please his mother. Dilasha was too young to question her parents' judgement so the two came to settle down in Muzori where Kash now held an administrative post.
* * *
“Congratulations! Sir, happily married. Many years of togetherness, love and fruitfulness.”
“Married, yes! Happiness is a matter of debate!”
“Rather soon you've caught on!”
“Always knew it, now experiencing it. Smiling and being polite to unknown faces and relatives is very time consuming.”
“True, in India we marry into a family, not just a person.”
“That's the best part.The two who marry may or may not know each other, the families just put them forward and say go ahead you have our back.
As soon as the vows are done, the bride and groom turn, a host of guests, politely smiling, cheering, throwing confetti vanish very soon. They are all gone as the celebrations conclude and you are left to deal with the rest.”
“Well said,Sir.”
* * *
“Hi, Kash, sitting alone? Wifey?”
“Now she's gone out shopping with Mrs Gordon, shopping in town, let's see what a big hole there will be in my pocket.”
As the TV was switched on the shoppers barged in
“What's wrong with you Kash? You gave us your id card instead of the credit card.”
“What a fool we made of ourselves at the ATM..”
“Look how he is enjoying himself playing a prank on us, Dilasha.”
“Now you go pay Mr Karma and bring the groceries, Man, we left it all in his shop!”
“Bye, Dilssheey, I'm going home! Coming?” said Mrs Gordon.
“Yes, Kash, come home soon. Just call me, when you are back.”
* * *
The visitor and Kash walked to the bike
“Why did you do this?”
“Just see; who I've married, she was ready to share the password with anyone and everyone! Also I didn't expect the ladies to carry all that they bought. I'll bring it on my bike now!”
“Whatever your intentions you'll really have a tough time this evening!”
“No! I'll take her out for dinner! Tuesday, today only veg food in the tiffin. She ain't going to cook, she will be bitching with Mrs. Gordon till I turn up. Then I will go out. We'll have frozen chicken wings, salami jiii and butter naan.”
“You sure know how to get around people!”
“Life lessons, life skills, the faster you learn them, the better.”
“Gems, your words are gems, priceless.”
The bike sped away to Karma Stores.
* * *
Day by day, Kash became lethargic sitting in front of the heater, working on the computer, often with a blank expression on his face! His zest seemed to wane away. All the time, mellow and silent.
He had begun to feel that there were some terrible health issues but didn't dare to share it with either his young bride or his elderly mother.
He stopped smoking and chewing tobacco, a healthy change attributed to his young wife.
In reality, his health was a matter of concern; the functioning of his kidneys was deteriorating at a rapid speed. The symptoms aggravated, he found it impossible to walk.
Finally, he was taken for pathological tests and the disease was diagnosed.
All of a sudden Dilasha’s world was falling apart; she didn't want to believe it was happening to her! She had not anticipated anything like this to happen.
She did have an inkling that there was something amiss.
The medication and twice a week dialysis did not change the condition of the patient, rather it was a financial strain on the young family.
* * *
“They are flying Kash to AIIMs Chandipur”
“AIIMs? Flying!…What happened?”
“Kidney failure..”
“His wife, Dilasha is accompanying him?”
“No clue…I think her family is there, she'll travel by road!”
“But what happened? All of a sudden; so suddenly…?”
“Yesterday evening he took ill but wasn't willing to be taken to the hospital, then the nurse compelled him ….by this morning the update is that they are taking him to AIIMs.”
“Doesn't he live in the same building as yours?”
“Yes he does, they do, but I don't visit them, the last time I went his wife questioned me as to why I call so often. She feels I'm having an affair with him!”
“An affair? an affair with him? Mrs Gordon! What utter rubbish! You have a son almost his age!”
“Yeah! But that's the way they think, I don't bother, ’cause it's their life, their marriage never really took off, she is a good eight to ten years younger!”
“Hummm…..”
* * *
“Kash is being flown to AIIMS?”
“No Ma'am, all rumours.”
“He was pretty unwell just the day before, during the march past practice he was unwell and I sent him home.”
“That's right Ma'am but yesterday what a tough time I had convincing him to go to the hospital for a check up!”
“A check up? Sister, you mean he hasn't been keeping well for some time now?”
“Yes, Ma'am blood pressure, high blood pressure, sugar on the border line, likes his butter and sugar won't listen to anyone…loves his food.”
“Yes, he can be pretty stubborn, at times, no, very often.”
“Wife, a smart girl, is also not able to control him.”
“So they are flying to Chandipur for a kidney failure check up?”
“Check up in Doon first, then his wife's parents, his in-laws will decide.”
“Okay.”
The talk continued
“He sat all evening facing the heater only the other day when we visited him. Dilasha took me aside and cried in my arms. O, Aunty, all the neighbours are saying he's not well but he’s stubborn about his illness.”
“Mrs Gordon, you've always been so close to them.”
“I was close to them to begin with, Ma'am, the wife would ask me about his whereabouts. She was suspicious, suspected that he spends time with someone.
Late in the evening when I would be home or shopping and was teaching weak students in school, she would turn up wanting to know where I had been.”
“Anyone would!”
“l became weary when during the vacation also she would be checking out on him through me. I stopped visiting as often as I did earlier.”
“The right thing to do, when under suspicion.”
“Yep, hearing that he was ill, we, the building residents and I were visiting him.”
“Indeed a kind, neighbourly act.”
“I went daily. One evening she kept crying like a baby in my arms, O Aunty, O, Aunty….”
“You have been a mother figure to them….”
“Well that's what I thought till one day she said she didn't want me to have anything to do with them.”
“Misunderstanding, maybe.”
“Then again, the other day she cried on my shoulder asking for forgiveness and saying that he had been ill and depressed by his illness; she had said things and so on…Anyway that's that. …
I just heard her out and I don't want to have much to do with them…”
“I can understand that but something is amiss. Whatever, till they are here, we must help.”
* * *
“Any news of Kash?” the phone receiver conveyed the message
“He is on medication, dialysis twice a week, Ma’am though the doctors have recommended a kidney transplant!”
“That will be a long wait.”
“They say it's easy in countries like Siam, but that will be very expensive for us.”
“Wait patiently Dilasha, that's the only way out!”
“Yes Ma'am, he'll join school from Monday.”
“Okay, take care!”
* * *
With the doctor's consent Kash reported for work along with Dilasha for two days before the vacation. This would entitle them half the salary and some perks instead of the vacation being treated as leave.
“Hullo, Kash. Why don't you apply for kidney donors in Siam? It's easier there, Kash.”
“No, Mrs Gordon, it's not safe, it's an underworld market, grey zone. Can't be sure if it's genuine. We’ve applied in all government and private hospitals in the country. Let's hope for the best!”
“It's going to be a long wait.”
“Yes, I will have to survive on medicine, a strict diet and little water!”
“Little water! Why?”
“Water retention. Kidneys can't take in more water. The intake is to be maintained in the body. Only half a liter in the entire day! Including liquid food!”
“Half a liter! It's fine in winter but summer it's gon’na be difficult!”
“Creatinine levels also have to be kept under check!”
“Go by doctors’ advice!”
“Yes, wipe the lips with a wet cloth when thirsty.”
“Sometimes the temptation to drink water while having a bath gets the better of me. Then the frequency of dialysis increases, that's that for now, till a donor kidney matches my parameters.”
“During the vacation will it be possible?”
“The kidney transplant? Very unlikely Ma'am”
“Yes.”
“Mom can't give hers, she is aged, I have no siblings!”
“The kidneys have to match.”
“Yes, there are going to be endless tests for that during the days to come. Then, search for a donor, let's see. So far I don't see a ray of hope!”
“Medical science has made a lot of progress now! Go by the doctors’ advice. Happy holidays!”
“Same to you, too, Ma'am.”
* * *
The well wishers continued
“His wife can donate her kidney. She is young!”
“But Mrs Gordon, it won't necessarily match his body type.”
“Yes, but they can provide another one and give hers to someone else!”
“Like an exchange offer you mean. I doubt it!”
“Mrs Smith got that done for her husband in Siam. She didn't have the money so she donated her kidney!”
“Not necessary that Dilasha would want to do that. She's a young girl and they don't even have offspring yet!”
“Yes! We can't be sure about their marriage, after all he was pretty depressed before this illness took over!”
“He spent hours in the school even when it was not really required, just wasting his time on the phone or in the library!”
“Is that so, Mrs Gordon? You seem to be close to them!”
“What could I do Ma'am? That was the time his wife would ask me about his whereabouts when he didn't take her calls.”
“Amazing are the ways of life, he didn't want to make it known to her.”
“What about what?”
“His bank balance and today she's handling it all!”
“Yes, that's also true.”
* * *
Twelve weeks of winter vacation over, the staff returned rejuvenated. Those concerned about Kash asked
“Did you manage to get a donor?”
“No Ma'am, not easy at all.”
“Spent the entire vacation standing in long queues all over the country. Each one conducts their own tests. No uniformity. Finally our hope is that some one known and willing to donate is the only solution”
“What about your wife? “No, she's still young. I don't want her to do that. Already she is going through so much because of me. Her parents are checking out for donors in the meantime!”
“O, good I had called to tell you that there is a vacancy for a hindi teacher till April and if Dilasha is interested she can join.”
“Thank you Ma'am, that would divert her attention from my illness for a while, at least when she is with the students.”
* * *
Dilasha ironed her husband’s white shirt and blue suit to wear for work. It hung loose on his shoulders, he had lost far too much weight, but she was happy he was back at work.
The following day she accompanied him to join work as a Hindi teacher and that made life worthwhile spending time with the children.
To get familiar with the children she asked them to share a joke.
One of the kids, Dev, shared a joke.
दस दिन से बीमार टप्पू ने नर्स की आँख में आँख डाल कर कहा “तुम ने तो हमारा दिल ही चुरा लिया.”
नर्स ने कहा “दिल को हाथ नहीं लगाया किडनी चुराई है।”
In a lighter vein it was funny, but in real life she had stood for hours with her aged parents pleading in clinics and hospitals to contact a donor but all in vain. Hospitals from Calcutta to Vellore to Chandipur to Chennai wherever there was the slightest hope she would fly down. Running from pillar to post, meeting nephrologists, donors, physicians. The medical file became thicker. The same queries to be filled a number of times. Answering every detail was a long and weary process.
Looking at Dilasha, her sunken eyes and sinking cheeks, the colleagues exchanged opinions
“She has lost weight!”
“Well what could she do? All winter she was running from pillar to post with her husband.”
“She's a brave girl. Has no option.”
“Dedicated wife.”
“At this young age!”
“At least she is coming out, dressing up, looking cheerful with the children around.”
“He is looking pale, I thought, his feet are swollen, that's why he's wearing sports shoes.”
“Around his eyes also, there is swelling.”
“His lips look so parched and colourless.”
“It is no less than a miracle that he's going on with his work in spite of all the medication, dialysis and stress.”
“It does require mental and physical strength.”
“He is blessed to have a wife and family like hers?”
“Just two years of marriage and what a test of patience!”
* * *
Sitting quietly on her bed, after washing the dishes, Dilasha looked at Kash who was lying with his back turned to her.
She thought to herself about Kash’s behaviour and how she took it as the result of withdrawal symptoms as he had stopped smoking and chewing tobacco. She recalled that she tried to take Mrs Gordon into confidence but she too, had misunderstood her! She took it undue suspicion and prying of a new wife. Dilasha had sought her assistance about Kash and his whereabouts, as she was not familiar with the other staff members on campus.
The people began to gossip and spread rumours about the families and personal life of Kash and Dilasha. She had confided, in bits and pieces, to her mother. She assessed the situation, being his mother-in-law she decided to take the brunt and told her daughter to be strong. Then her parents had taken over the situation and researched as to what would be the right course of action to fight this medical battle, to its end .
On the advice of the counselors they let Kash continue his work and along with the medication.
There was family medical cover that covered mother and son this helped with the expenditure. His mother took out a loan by mortgaging her house.
Dilasha stood strong
when he was around but when alone, she would weep, bring her fears to her lips, speaking to herself aloud, then wipe her tears, wash her face, apply the moisturizer, rouge, eyeliner, lip gloss and lip eye liner to resemble the bride whose photo was on the wall, above the bed head along with her groom whom she had vowed to be her wedded husband ‘till death do us part.’
Kash sought leave now and then for the tests
“I think Dilasha can continue in the hostel as a dorm parent.”
“Thank you, Ma'am, that is really considerate of you!”
“What about the transplant? Any progress?”
“At least six months waiting in government and three months in private hospitals.Then also will have to go through all the tests.”
“The surgery will be held only after they are absolutely sure that your body will accept the new kidney.”
“Yes that's right, they have been giving us medical advice and counselors have been telling us how to go about it!”
“That's how we both have lived through it all!”
“Medical Science has made a lot of progress”
“Indeed it has!”
“Anyhow for now faith, willpower and patience is what will help me to live through all this.”
* * *
Time passed slowly, that year, till Dilasha got the call from Nucklao, their hometown. The tests were completed on schedule in the first week of January. Within a week the surgery was over. Two years of untiring effort finally paid off. Recovering from the surgery, Kash joined work in March. The colleagues flooded him with endless queries which were answered stoically
“The surgery was held in mid-January.”
“The whole of December we were standing in queues, in venues from one end of the country to the other. Each state and each hospital has its own protocol. Too much paperwork, verification, getting the nod to go ahead. Time was slipping away, running away.”
“Finally, by mid-January in Nucklao, we got the right match for the kidney transplant. Hundreds of tests, reports, appointments, schedules, re-schedules, re-tests, new reports.”
“It was a six hour long ordeal in the O. T.
For a major part of the procedures I could witness what the doctors were doing, but after that I was totally out. All of a sudden, at two in the morning I felt an unbearable pain in my chest, I had been warned this might happen and the heart could be affected.
I tried hard to find the bell and ring it to call the attendant. At first my mind was too fuzzy and when I did I think I did ring it because I collapsed after that.”
“Did the attendant come?”
“Luckily the attendant was close at hand to revive him. But for us who were sitting outside the ICU, it was a long wait of over a day before I was permitted near the glass window to see him.”
“After I collapsed I could hear voices trying to revive me. Then some time later I saw the dim lights, the oxygen mask over my face, but no one was around, I could not sleep. The attendant came and whispered ‘By faith, you saved yourself by ringing that bell on time. You were alert in such a big emergency. Bravo’.
I was overwhelmed, my teacher's training had worked subconsciously. Be alert at all times, children need constant supervision.”
“Responsible attendant.”
“ Yup,how humble” I thought ‘Man, you are one responsible soul, you knew about it all and saved me, yet you are giving credit to me! Wonderful human.’
Then he injected the medicine in the I V tube that put me to sleep.
More than a day, I was exhausted, sleepy and woke up looking for familiar faces, but when the attendants came and checked the blood flow and I V trickle I wasn't aware!
The whole ordeal of waiting was over, but will I survive to see my loved ones was a question that slithered in my head every time I came around for a while.
It was a long wait before the doctors were fully satisfied by my progress. I looked out at the small glass window on the door and I saw Dilasha smiling at me through it!”
“It was that he had lived through death and I felt the fear and pangs of losing him any moment. Phew, no one should have to live such moments.
For hours on end it seemed the doctors just kept saying his condition is stable every six hours they wanted blood from the blood bank.
We had no clue whether or not it was for him.
They wouldn't even allow me to look into his I C U ward through the glass.
I was frantic after a day of waiting. First I pleaded then lost my cool till they finally allowed me to have a look l saw him there with the machines, tubes, IV. The display monitor showed green, not yellow or red lights, a clear indication my man was alive. I smiled. Hopefully, he will be kicking soon. My smile widened.”
“Our eyes met for a split second as if saying “Till death do us apart”
“All's well that ends well. God bless the person who donated the kidney!”
“That the world will never know who it was! The surgeons have requested us to never ever reveal the pseudonym given for the act or try to contact anyone associated with the case in any way in the future.”
After a month of recovery they had joined work. His mother insisted that they resign.There was no need not go to the hills as regular check ups wouldn't be convenient. Heeding her advice, he resigned. Dilasha had no option but to follow him.
Times were hard; the interest against the medical loan was making it unmanageable. Dilasha offered to mortgage her gold jewellery but Kash was not in favour of such an act.
Their cousin came forward to help. She offered a good price for the house on the condition that they live there till the financial condition would stabilize.
His Mom took up the offer, the legal formalities in place, and his mother invested some money in a bakery after repaying the bank medical loan.
The start up was a success with his M B A skills in marketing. The sale was well taken care of, loaves of bread, buns, rusks and pav sold like hot cakes. The culture of street food was on the rise. The demand rose rapidly as vendors used them for burgers and vada pav. His mother was an expert with baking cakes and pastries, a talent which she willingly passed on to her daughter-in-law.
* * *
Life has to move on, the medical expenses had to be met along with the daily work and routine.
Dilasha joined the baker's team, while her mother- in-law ran the bakery.
Kash used his financial expertise to become a Mutual Fund broker. Times were tough but they worked patiently to gain ground.
They would encourage each other “We shall overcome. We have come so far, we shall repay all the debts.”
“Monetary debts, yes, but not what the donor, the doctor, the school, Heather, our cousin have done for us.”
“Treat these as precious gifts and give them to another when an opportunity arises.”
“For now, let's get on with the baking, we don't want the customers complaining about delays or bad items.”
* * *
Time flew, the burdens of their new work left little time to think.
Two years later Kash stood outside the labour room.
Krupa, his former student from coaching days, stood in front of him.
“Sir, myself Krupa.”
“What a pleasure to see you.”
“I am a physician here. How do you do, Sir?’
“I am good. My wife is in labour.”
“I know that, Sir, why don't you join me in my consultation room? There is still time for the baby to be delivered.”
“Okay.”
“It's personal, if you permit, may I ask?”
Kash nodded in the affirmative.
“Have you fully recovered from your surgery”
“Yes, it seems like it. Some medication is life-long. Thanks to the unknown donor.”
“Sir, do you know, Ma'am Dilasha has pledged her body organs for donation after her demise. She signed the papers last week. Her cadaver is pledged to a medical college.”
“What do you mean, Doctor? Is her life in danger? Will the delivery jeopardize her life?” Kash stood up.
“No, no, nothing like that. The gyne has assured a normal, easy delivery. Please sit. She just wants to show her gratitude for organ donors.”
“Oh, ok.”
The door opened, a nurse rushed in
“Congratulations! Mr Kash you are blessed with a baby girl!”
“Thank you so much!”
Kash was overwhelmed with joy.
“How is my wife, the mother?”
“She is perfectly fine, Sir along with the baby.”
“Have you thought of a name for her?”
“Asha, that is hope.”
Asha, like her grandmother, mother and so many other sisters, wives and women who silently bear the burden of life unsung and unknown. To the world they are women of strength who bring cheer and happiness to everyone's life!
The universe and destiny have their role to play but wives like Dilasha and her mother-in-law fight tooth and nail, fighting it to the end for their children and family!
They are the rays of hope - Asha.
* * *
Kash worked seriously to become a renowned stock broker. With newly acquired wealth in the years that followed he managed to set up a trust that helped people with illness related to kidney diseases.
Dilasha and Asha standing firmly by his side, often looking at the photograph of the newly weds taking the vow
“Till death do us part!”