Life Happens, and Death Too by Latika Mangrulkar

Author:Latika Mangrulkar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publish on Demand Global LLC

9.

Loving is Leaving

Loving is leaving

An old adage trite

It comes when

It should not

It goes where

It cannot

Passion primeval

Fresh

Like the dew

A spring bud

A metaphor, a cliché

Nameless aches

Yet leaves

Tinder

Blazing flame

Warming the night

A Wild fire

Leaving nothing behind

Taking Leave

IT’S BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE BABA CAME TO STAY with me. The last time he was here, Ayee was alive—but for this trip, we had to bring him by himself. For a man of eightyfour, he looks good. He still has some dark, black streaks in his snow-white hair. Tall and rather gaunt, he looks much younger and carries himself with the dignity of a lion.

Except when he starts walking, then his step falters, and suddenly he crunches his knees because a few drops of urine have started trickling down, and he does not want to be embarrassed in front of Asha and Mohan, who have stopped by to wish him good-bye.

My heart aches, a deep pain that has been my companion for the last several days. Tomorrow he must leave.

Tai and Nanasahib have to go back to India, and Baba must return with them. We were not able to extend his visa and getting a green card is out of the question in the current political climate. Besides Madhukar, my husband did not really want Baba to stay. After all, taking care of his elderly father-in-law would have disturbed his tidy routine.

I seem to be functioning like an automaton, numb with sadness, carrying on the social niceties that offer a transient cover. But my mind is not on the task at hand, the tea that I must offer my guests, along with the obligatory snacks of chivda and ladu. I put the water to boil and rush back to the family room just to make sure everything is okay.

Baba has left the room. I know where he is—in the bathroom, squeezing out the last few drops so that he can join the company and not be so uneasy.

Asha is telling Madhukar about the latest achievements of their son who is in medical school in Santo Domingo. There is no way he could get into an American medical program with his grades, I think a bit spitefully. Madhukar is trying to cover his anger by being overly attentive to the guests.

Our Reena, who could have gotten into any medical program in America, has chosen to become a teacher instead. Madhukar simply could not understand why she would turn her back on medicine and the golden opportunity to earn a lucrative living. He keeps telling her she is going to spend all her life in poverty.

What good were her years at Cranbrook, one of the most expensive private schools in Michigan, he would repeat but of course, it did no good. We had shelled out hard-earned dollars so that she could get the best of education. We ourselves never had been given such privileges, Madhukar reminded her again. Now that she had finished this two-bit degree in education, she could not even get a decent wage, he liked to tell anyone who came within his earshot.

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