Homecoming

By Jaibala M Rao

"Life as we know it is about to change forever", Sanchi smiled with that thought and she looked at her son, luckily Parth was sleeping and would not wake up soon at least that is what she hoped. The thought of walking out of the door was overwhelming but she was determined not to change her mind. As she stepped out of her room she heard her mother crying “Don’t do this, what will happen to Parth. I really don’t care about what happens to you, but Parth; this…your mistake will ruin his life.”

“Don’t look back, don’t say a word, you don’t want to be stuck here forever, you are better than that”, Sanchi kept repeating in her mind. Her mother suddenly went quiet and all she could hear now were sobs. As she walked towards the door her, silently crying “Never wanted this, but have to do this”. As she looked at her the little boy sleeping in her arms, her wavering step steadied.

She could foresee the problems that lay ahead of her, but she did not want to live in the past - The past where she had always lived in a cocoon because she accepted that as the norm, the past where she was told exactly what to do with instructions on how to do it also, a past riddled with mistakes that she made and those that she suffered. Any dissent in her voice always was quelled by a sharp look or a loud voice, even drowning out her protest against marriage. For some time, she preferred being physically abused than being emotionally imprisoned. The effects of the same leaving her a single mother, living with her parents and a person who now had lost all hope and faith in life.

Only if she had Reet by her side right now, she knew it would not be so hard. He would have stood by her side letting her do what she wanted being her confidence and her safety. Oh how she longed to be in his arms right now. He had rebuilt her heart with trust, faith, dreams and love. And Sanchi stared living again, dreaming of building herself a white picket fence home where she would belong and be strong. Reet if only she could be in his arms right now, her life would be alright. He was her reason in life. She could do anything for him, except the only thing he asked her to do. Give up Parth and marry him. If society was his reason to do that to her then, she would live with a broken heart for the rest of her life.

She could not hate him. She just realised that, it takes only a moment to fall in love for a life time, but to live the life together two people have to be in the same moment at the same time. The person who loves you must love whole heartedly not in bits and pieces; come what may happen and who stands in the way. But Reet did remind her to dream. She had refused to believe this truth when her Nani (granny) told her. “Remember always keep dreaming. Those dreams are what will make you into the person you are to be. Whatever anyone says, and I mean anyone, don’t give up on the dreams. They are yours. They make you complete and they will help you lead a successful life eventually. Do not ever give up your dreams for anyone, they are too precious” wise words from a very wise woman that were not understood that day.

The repercussion of what was about to happen was totally lost on that boy only two and a half years old, but Sanchi knew what she was about to face was real and difficult, and that scared her. Without Reet she was truly alone, but then she had to stand tall and strong for Parth. She had to instil in him the same faith that she had rediscovered in herself and her dreams.

Sanchi was brought back from her memories by her mother’s voice. “Beta”, she said between sobs “carry something for Parth to eat on the way. He will be hungry and I am sure you forgot to pack anything. You never remember such things”. Sanchi just smiled, picked up her bags in the free hand and walked out the door. She could hear the sobs of her mother and her saying that she was making a mistake. She just walked on and stepped out of the house. Now in the bus as Parth sat happily munching on his packet of biscuits Sanchi knew that everything will be okay and that she will get there eventually even if she did not know where there was.

By Jaibala M Rao