“You are NOT going anywhere!”
“I shall go anywhere and everywhere and you are NOT going to stop me. You can’t rather.”
“We give birth to children and take care of them and grow them up to face this in the end! Oh Jesus!”
“You gave birth to me because you were interested. I never asked you to. Rather you never asked me if I wanted to be born. Now in case you think that you gave birth to me so I should feel all so faithful and thankful and do everything that you want, well, let me tell you that’s just not possible.”
“What rubbish she speaks! The very satan in her voice!”
“Oh no. that’s not exactly like that, you know…everything that doesn’t suit you, needn’t necessarily be termed DEVILISH and SATANIC. I have my own ideas and thoughts…those which you shall never understand. So lets drop the thing and do as we like. Alright?”
“Jennifer! I shall speak to your father soon about your inexcusable behaviour. Be sure about it.”
“Oh yes I bet. Since you know logically you can’t possibly do anything much about it, so you must ask someone else to do it for you. And what difference is your husband going to make in all of it?”
“Jennifer! You don’t speak like that about your father!”
“I really wouldn’t...if you wouldn’t compel me to. I love him too – he’s my father. And I love you too – but it doesn’t make any difference, does it? You damn care and what you only care about is what people will talk about. So WHY are you bothered about me? Or is it that this week no gossiping party being held, you are after my life?
You think that’ll take your time?”
“Why are you like this? Why can’t you be a good child and listen to me, to us, to your parents?”
“Because ‘good’ for me and you isn’t the same anymore.”
“What is good by God and Religion, is really Good. What is not, is bad. Its as simple as that!”
“Alas! It isn’t!”
“Look child…I’m your mother. Whatever I say, must benefit you. You must take care of us and make us happy as we have done for you…”
“Sorry. The investment you put in to the business called your ‘Daughter’ isn’t going to bring out any profits.”
“What?”
“I’m not a bank or a business. I don’t have a deal with you. You gave birth to me because you wanted a child. I’m just that. Now besides being a child, I am a human being too. And please let me be one. Mother, have you ever seen any animal nagging their children as human parents do?”
“We are not animals. We are social animals.”
“Exactly. And so, you rather sacrifice your children to society rather than vice versa. Right?”
“Oh God!!! Look dear, I only want you to be happy…to settle down well in life…to not face unnecessary troubles…”
“Then you wouldn’t have been nagging me right now. I am 22 for God’s sake! You have given me education, you have taught me what u wanted to…God has given me brains…I understand. I can think, I can live. May I live my life? Would you go back to yours?”
“You must be taught a proper lesson. You better listen to what we say or we stop all your financial facilities. You have tried my patience girl…now I’m serious.”
“You must be. All parents blackmail their kids when they are serious. Anyway, you needn’t worry. I shall not be blackmailed. I can fill my own tummy. You may stuff yours as you like.”
“What impudence!”
“Self confidence and dependence, mother. Everything that you taught me.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Get a job in a call centre, thanks for teaching me English. I’ll stay in a PG. I think the call centre job will be enough to pay the rent and my college fees. I can also give tuitions if I need to. Don’t worry Mom, wont do anything IMMORAL. And certainly won’t blackmail anyone like you.”
SLAP!
“Get out of my house immediately!”
“Bye Mom. I wish we would understand each other and I wish you would believe that I do love and respect you in spite of my language.”
“I do not want to see your face ever. You may go to hell!”
SLAM!
“Oh Jesus! Save my child…what have I done?!! What will she do?...How could I…”
“VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM…CRACK, CLASH, SLASH, DUMP, BUMP.”
SILENCE.
DING DONG, TRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGG…
“Hullo?”
“Mrs. D’Souza, your daughter has had an accident just in front of your building.
The car came crashing on her. Its an old man, driving in a drunken state…we don’t know if your daughter is alright…I think you should come immediately…
………..
