Ashramas

It was a national holiday and crowds were out in Surat to celebrate. Aashi and her mother had been to the temple and were returning home by auto rickshaw when they observed one of the chowkidars at the security office checking people into and out of the gated community. He’d prevented a disheveled woman clutching a small suitcase from entry and she was wailing pitifully.

Each family was issued with an identity card at the time they signed a contract to occupy one of the apartments in one of the three towers. If one of the chowkidars happened to be new on the job he’d insist on viewing each ID card. Guests were permitted if accompanied by a resident or specific instructions had been left at the security office with a name to be let through and an appropriate identity card. Contractors and delivery people were signed in and out. The security staff who were regulars would see occupants of vehicles entering and if they recognized who was there would just wave them through.

The chowkidar glanced up and recognizing memsahib and her daughter waved them through but Rajvi shouted at the rickshaw driver to stop, and she alighted to look because this woman looked vaguely familiar. She walked up to the office and went into shock at what she saw. Unpleasant memories filled her mind.

“Kamini what are you doing here. Where is your husband?”

Kamini was covered in bruises and her clothing worn and torn in places. She subsided into involuntary silent sobs and just stood there. Finally. she whispered in response.

“My husband has never wanted me, and mother-in-law treated me like a servant in the home since our marriage. She beat me again today and told the driver to bring me here and for me not to come back to their home again. I have nowhere to go. Let me work as a servant in your home and I’ll be happy to live in the servants’ quarters if you’d be kind enough to give me a job. I do not expect to be taken back as a family member and have no children.”

Rajvi’s mother’s heart broke as she viewed the condition of her eldest daughter. Yes, she’d been trouble to the family but obviously paid a heavy price for that. Rajvi stood swaying with emotion and Aashi viewing this from a distance and not knowing who her mother was talking to alighted from the rickshaw and ran to her mother’s aid stopping abruptly in surprise.

“Kamini?”

Aashi burst into tears at the sight of this damaged sister. Thoughts of anger against her sister evaporated as she observed her present condition, and this anger was replaced by sympathy. She recovered quickly and took hold of her mother’s arm to steady her.

“Better phone dad Ma-ji!”

Seeing her mother incapable of doing this she reached for her cell phone and contacted her father working at the office reporting what had happened. There was a long pause on the line then Gopal spoke.

“I’m coming home so take her to the entrance of our tower and leave her with the building chowkidar and I’ll talk with her there.”

The three women proceeded silently to the Desai tower after paying off the rickshaw at the gate. Aashi carried her sister’s small bag of clothes. They waited silently trying to deal with their emotions and after twenty minutes Gopal’s driver deposited him at the entrance and parked the car in the sheltered parking area by the community swimming pool which was being well used on this national holiday.

Gopal strode up to the entry and waved the chowkidar away out of hearing for this was a private matter. He looked at his eldest daughter and was shocked at her appearance. There was no evidence of resistance or rebellion there now. He saw an empty human being stripped of self-worth. He was appalled at what had been done to her since her marriage years ago. His paternal instincts were aroused. He turned to Rajvi who was closely watching his reaction and without emotion spoke.

“Take her upstairs and clean her up and attend to any medical needs she may have. If she needs a doctor, then have him make a house call. Better put her in a separate room and find some decent clothes to put on her. For the time being send her meals to her room and have someone attend to her needs until she is well enough to cope again. I’ll think about what will happen to her after she has been restored to health. Oh, and take pictures of her before you do anything else. I want to send them to the father of her husband so he can see what a monster his own wife is and shame on his son permitting that kind of treatment to a daughter in law for any reason.”

He stormed off to find his personal assistant Iditri and discuss this situation. He was thinking of finding some rooms for her within their towers where she could be by herself with a servant to care for her. When she was well enough, he’d put her to work at the factory where she’d worked before her marriage and pay her enough to care for her personal needs. He needed to have her watched carefully to ensure it was safe to keep her at home or at any of his workplaces permanently.

Months passed by and Gopal paused to take stock of his family situation. His eldest son Chandresh was back from Belgium and proving to be capable as his understudy and quick to learn. He was becoming confident that the plan to turn management over to his sons after a trial period would be very successful. Ambaresh had proved to be a willing learner under the mentorship of Iditri and was glad for the additional support of Sanam Patel. Gopal had observed Iditri’s other son Prerit as he worked for his father in the real estate business and noted his skills in negotiation but also his grasp of financial matters. Gopal moved him in as an understudy to Aashi who was soon to be married. This time he’d taken special precautions to see the daughter he cherished would be in a loving and supportive relationship in her marriage. Prerit would be a useful eyes and ears for his son Chandresh when he took over eventually ensuring the Desai relationship with the Patels would carry over another generation.

He’d sadly noted the declining health of his lifetime friend and personal assistant Iditri and suddenly realized he too was feeling the effects of a stressful hard driving lifestyle. He’d done it for the extended family as expected and reviewed in his mind steps taken to ensure the continued prosperity of the Desai clan far into the future. It would be up to his sons now to take up the challenge on behalf of the family and he had confidence they could do that.

His kindness to Kamini was rewarded by humble diligent work at the factory. She made no demands as a daughter but did everything she could think of to communicate to the family her deep regret for past actions and appreciation for being rescued from being homeless. Gradually there was a rapprochement and over time she was treated like a daughter again and tentative feelers put out to find a husband to care for her when parents had departed this world. It would be very difficult now as word spreads quickly in India and she’d be considered damaged goods. But Gopal would keep trying.

He reflected on his duties as a good Hindu. It was expected he’d pay attention to the ashramas all his life. He was well past the Ashramas Brahmacharya or the student learning requirement and presently engaged in Ashramas Grihastha and approaching the end of that stage according to customary practice dating back as far as 500 BCE. The next stage Ashramas Vanaprastha was now not far ahead according to tradition though modern Hindus were putting that off to a later period than original custom suggested. This was the stage of gradual withdrawal from professional life and pleasure. The final stage was Ashramas Sannyasa in which he’d be a wandering devotee completely detached from this world and awaiting moksha the goal.

Gopal sighed as he thought of the many issues to be faced before he could follow the next stage. He looked forward to future pilgrimages with his Rajvi by his side after he’d accomplished everything possible to protect the coming generation of Desai’s interests. He wondered if Iditri had thought of the ashramas and was willing to commit to this with him when their children had taken over responsibility for the extended family. He hoped in the next reincarnation he’d share that experience with his oldest trusted friend.

Conclusion.

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