Cheeru muthachi

STUBBORN

They made their way back to Cheeru muthachi’s room. Achu didn’t say anything after their mother’s entry. Her mother was frowning and shaking her head from looking around. There were cobwebs and dust everywhere. Some movements in the dark corners suggested presence of mice also.

“We should have cleaned the house before moving her” Janu blurted out.

Her mother sighed.

“We would have if that stubborn old woman didn’t suddenly gave an ultimatum like ‘I want to go home now; this instant’. She is not healed and was supposed to stay there for at-least a few more weeks. But she was not relenting to anything we said and was making a huge scene there. So I had to give in at the end. I called for people to carry the manchal, the stretcher, and send someone to inform Ramettan.”

“Why did she suddenly make such a request. Did something happen?”

“Well.. she was getting impatient and frustrated with her slow healing. She is old and an injury like this will take it’s time. She didn’t take it well when the vaidyan informed her that. She claimed we were making her stay there to torture her. I think she has become a little crazy with her solitude. She..”

“So you are making your children watch a mad woman?”

Achu interrupted her. He wouldn’t leave an opportunity to express his displeasure.

“She is not mad! I just meant..she can be...uh..a little stubborn and.. unreasonable sometimes.”

“Of-course..”

Nobody missed his mock tone. Mother sighed.

“I know she will be a handful. In fact she has become more bitter over the years. But we don't have much choice. You know I can’t stay away from home any more. And someone from the family should stay here even if we hire help. It's our duty and also what will people say otherwise?”

“Why does it matter what people say?” He muttered in irritation.

“Of course it matters when you are living in a society. You want people to say we are not looking after our elders! You want to bring shame on our family name. Even if not ,hiring someone alone wouldn’t work. She won’t have it. I tried to get someone to stay with her to go home for a few days. That was when she lashed out and demanded she wants to go home.“

“So she will be a pain in the ass to her grave.“

“Achu!!Don’t be so disrespectful. And don’t say things like that about your elders.” Mother chided him.

“WHO IS THERE?”

They had reached Cheeru muthachi’s room by that time and by the sound of it, she is awake too.

“It’s me Kalyani.” Mother replied and entered the room followed by her children.

“You!! Why did you come now? To check if I have died yet?”

Janu exchanged a glance with her brother. “Ah! Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” She thought while entering the room.