After a long, tiresome week, I chose to watch a South Korean movie, 'A Moment to Remember,' suggested by one of my friends.
I wanted to relax, but the movie left me restless. It reminded me of someone my mom told me, years back.
I remembered clearly that particular visit to my maternal place when I met Ridhima Mashi; young, beautiful and an energetic teacher. Like every curious girl, I asked my mom, 'Is she married?'
My mom did not give me a direct answer.
'I will tell you later.'
I forgot and she too never told. The years rolled by. And I almost forgot about her until we met her again on my last visit.
She was now a principal of a government school. Nothing had changed much except her hair. She still stood tall in her beauty and personality. I observed her minutely. She did not carry any sign of a married woman. But then I thought, why did my mother not say no directly?
So, now as a grown up lady, I asked mom again. This time she narrated me the story.
Ridhima was the youngest daughter of her parents. After her birth, her mother had an unusual disease. Ridhima's mother was diagnosed with eclampsia and then after a few years with Alzheimer. Ridhima's mother never knew she was her daughter. As her abnormalities increased, Ridhima's mother kept aloof from others in a separate room.
Ridhima never got her mother's love and care. Her family too tagged her as a cursed child. With time, Ridhima grew up as a beautiful lady. Her eldest brother became a doctor. Her elder sister got married early even before she could complete her graduation.
Ridhima completed her graduation in chemistry. Soon after her graduation, her marriage got fixed to a football player of a famous football club of West Bengal.
She got married to that footballer. As per rituals, she came with her husband to take the blessings.
During their stay, Her husband observed her mother. And from one of her relatives, he came to know about Ridhima's mother's conditions.
Once they returned back, Ridhima's husband told about his mother-in-law's mental state to his family. They only knew that she was not well. But now he knew everything. The guy's sister-in-law told him that Ridhima too might develop this after her pregnancy. And it left him disturbed.
Ridhima was witnessing all these discussions. But she chose to remain silent. Their honeymoon was already planned. And as scheduled, they were about to leave for Shimla. They reached the station before time. Her husband told her that he would bring some eatables and would be back soon.
She waited for him. The train came and left. But he did not turn up. That whole evening, she sat in the station waiting for him.
She knew he would never come back. So, she returned back to her home.
Ridhima then did some professional courses and joined a school after three years of that incident. She did not remarry. Her brother along with his wife and two daughters left Ridhima and his ailing mother, and settled in Delhi. Ridhima took care of her mother and she continued working in that school. Her mother passed away at the age of 77.
Now, Ridhima lived alone in the house with the memories of her mother who never gave her the recognition as a daughter.
Readers, this is the story of my mother's friend. I know some diseases are incurable. And so was in the case of Ridhima's mother. But what was the fault of Ridhima? Don't you think she was punished for being an Alzheimer's patient daughter?
I wanted to relax, but the movie left me restless. It reminded me of someone my mom told me, years back.
I remembered clearly that particular visit to my maternal place when I met Ridhima Mashi; young, beautiful and an energetic teacher. Like every curious girl, I asked my mom, 'Is she married?'
My mom did not give me a direct answer.
'I will tell you later.'
I forgot and she too never told. The years rolled by. And I almost forgot about her until we met her again on my last visit.
She was now a principal of a government school. Nothing had changed much except her hair. She still stood tall in her beauty and personality. I observed her minutely. She did not carry any sign of a married woman. But then I thought, why did my mother not say no directly?
So, now as a grown up lady, I asked mom again. This time she narrated me the story.
Ridhima was the youngest daughter of her parents. After her birth, her mother had an unusual disease. Ridhima's mother was diagnosed with eclampsia and then after a few years with Alzheimer. Ridhima's mother never knew she was her daughter. As her abnormalities increased, Ridhima's mother kept aloof from others in a separate room.
Ridhima never got her mother's love and care. Her family too tagged her as a cursed child. With time, Ridhima grew up as a beautiful lady. Her eldest brother became a doctor. Her elder sister got married early even before she could complete her graduation.
Ridhima completed her graduation in chemistry. Soon after her graduation, her marriage got fixed to a football player of a famous football club of West Bengal.
She got married to that footballer. As per rituals, she came with her husband to take the blessings.
During their stay, Her husband observed her mother. And from one of her relatives, he came to know about Ridhima's mother's conditions.
Once they returned back, Ridhima's husband told about his mother-in-law's mental state to his family. They only knew that she was not well. But now he knew everything. The guy's sister-in-law told him that Ridhima too might develop this after her pregnancy. And it left him disturbed.
Ridhima was witnessing all these discussions. But she chose to remain silent. Their honeymoon was already planned. And as scheduled, they were about to leave for Shimla. They reached the station before time. Her husband told her that he would bring some eatables and would be back soon.
She waited for him. The train came and left. But he did not turn up. That whole evening, she sat in the station waiting for him.
She knew he would never come back. So, she returned back to her home.
Ridhima then did some professional courses and joined a school after three years of that incident. She did not remarry. Her brother along with his wife and two daughters left Ridhima and his ailing mother, and settled in Delhi. Ridhima took care of her mother and she continued working in that school. Her mother passed away at the age of 77.
Now, Ridhima lived alone in the house with the memories of her mother who never gave her the recognition as a daughter.
Readers, this is the story of my mother's friend. I know some diseases are incurable. And so was in the case of Ridhima's mother. But what was the fault of Ridhima? Don't you think she was punished for being an Alzheimer's patient daughter?
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