OH, WOMAN!

Sujatha and Arun shifted to this town recently as he is on a transferable job. And she is maid hunting. That day she opened the door on hearing the calling bell and found a middle aged woman standing there. Immediately she guessed it must be a maid and she was not proved wrong. 

The woman was neat and tidy. Something about her looked familiar. Sujatha looked at her closely. Yes, she is Rani who worked for her mother sometime back. She was very sincere and pleasant. Sujatha, then in school, was very close to her. "Are you not Rani? Did you recognise me?"

Rani stared at her and then gushed in an excited tone, as realisation dawned on her. "Oh, my goodness! You are Shobha madam's daughter! Sujatha madam! How can I ever forget you?" 

"But...then...why did you suddenly disappear? What happened?" She remembered the talk about her being arrested for killing her husband, though her parents did not believe the rumour. But they had no idea about what actually happened. After that Rani never met them. It was all about ten years back. 

Rani sat down sobbing. How can she relive those horrible moments of her life? Yet, she can never forget either however hard she tries to. Shobha madam was very kind and compassionate towards her and Sujatha and her sister, Suguna were very friendly with her without any airs or arrogance. Still she had to flee the town in the midst of that terrible night all of sudden and how she wished to go to madam and cry on her shoulder to the heart's content! But circumstances did not allow her.

Then her kids were 6 and 8 years old. Gopal, her husband was a drunkard and frequently abused and hit her. That day they had a scuffle and he stormed out of the house in a rage. He swaggered and fell in a ditch hurting his head and died. Next day police came and arrested her accusing her of murdering him. She was shocked to hear the news of his sudden death as well as at her own misery. 

"My neighbours, Santhi and Suri took care of my kids. They informed my husband's people and they looked to his funeral etc, cursing me bitterly, of course. And there I was, locked up for no fault of mine!" Rani wept inconsolably. 

Sujatha patted her shoulder. "Control yourself, Rani. What happened then? How and when did you get out? How did you come here to this town?"

Rani smiled wryly. "What is there to tell? The inspector knows very well that I did not commit the crime. So.."

"So? Did he release you? Why didn't you come to our home? Mother would  not have driven you away."

"How innocent you are, madam! Do the police let off so easily without demanding anything, even when they know others are innocent? He sent me out only after collecting his due." 

Sujatha looked at her with pity. "So he demanded bribe for releasing the innocent! How cruel! You should have told my father. How much did he want and where did you get the money from?"

Rani kept quiet for a while. "What is the point in knowing all those details? Leave it."

But Sujatha insisted. Again Rani broke down crying and between sobs she said, "He asked for twenty thousand rupees! Can you believe, twenty thousand for my release! That too because I didn't commit the crime. Otherwise it would have been much more! But how can I pay? Ours is a hands to mouth existence. And who is ther to lend me such a big amount? So he suggested it need not be in cash..."
Her throat went dry and she could not continue.

Sujatha's jaw dropped. "You mean...he means.."

"Yes, I obliged him and got out. I know you do not like it. You hate and despise me now, don't you? But what could I do? Did I have any option? The uppermost concern in my mind was my children. Unless and until I come out...what will happen to them? Their lives will be spoiled. So I had to agree. Then I did not want to continue there and immediately left the town and went to my aunt. She found me some houses to work and my life became stable. Then I met this man known to my aunt, who is a widower with two small kids and we came to this town and started living together. We consider all the four kids as our children and are living happily." She wiped her eyes.

"Means, didn't you marry? Does he know all this? Did you tell him?" Sujatha asked curiously. Rani shook her head. "Why should I? That was past. He never told me anything about his past either. We are happy this way."

"What if he knows..?"

She shrugged. "So what? If he has any complaints he is free to go away with his kids."

"But...but...don't you feel guilty?"

Rani gave her a surprised look. "Guilty! Me! But why? Oh, you mean, character, purity, chastity.. things like that? Tell me, madam. Should I feel guilty? But why? There is no fault of mine in whatever happened. In fact I am grateful that I have my body to buy my freedom and my life back. I know, that inspector is crooked and grabbed the opportunity. But at least he kept his side of the bargain. Oh, yes, he could have released me unconditionally. But human nature, madam! The man who married me did not fulfil his responsibility towards his wife and family. Everyday he used to show me hell and never bothered about running the home. I never mourned his death in fact. He did not deserve all that. But this man at least set me free, although after extracting his fee. They and their like should feel guilty and ashamed, not helpless and weak women like me!  And now, this Satyam offered me shelter and support and he is very good to me. It takes all types of people to make this world, isn't it?" She paused.

Sujatha is lost in thought. How true her words are!

"Now I am happy and contented with my life. Only if and when I remember that black night, I feel gloomy. That's why I try not to think about that." She wiped her eyes and smiled.

"By the way, madam, how is Shobha madam? And Suguna madam? I often remember all of you."

Sujatha sighed. ''What can I tell you?"

She remembered Suguna, her darling sister. She was a brilliant student. She was an officer in a reputed bank and continued to work after marriage too. But unfortunately she met a tragic fate. One night when she and Shyam were returning home from a movie, some unruly men accosted them. After beating him black and blue, they carried her to the bushes nearby and brutally raped her. 

Rani was aghast. "How sad! How is she now?"

Sujatha looked at her gravely. "She was mentally shattered. Shyam sent her to my parents and did not want her back. After a month or so, she committed suicide. And my parents too felt depressed and passed away soon, grief stricken."

Rani stared at her. "Really! But how could her husband do this to her? He knew she is innocent and helpless and he was a witness to whatever happened. Still, how can he blame her and ditch her? And what did you people do, just looking on mutely? Could you not offer her solace and support? What is this, madam? How can you be all so cruel to the poor girl?" She was in tears.

Sujatha shifted awkwardly. "We tried our best, Rani. Still she could not come to terms with her sad fate. If only she met you and learn about your story! Then she might have developed some positive attitude!"

Rani was still in a pensive mood. 

'What drastically opposite outlooks!' Sujatha wondered. 'On one side is this uneducated Rani without any means or anybody to support and on the other side is the well educated Suguna with a secure job and loving parents to help! Still how differently they handled their lives! And finally who emerged the winner! How could Rani face the adverse circumstances strongly and mould her life in a satisfactory manner? And why did Suguna fail to rise to the occasion bravely? From where and how does a woman draw necessary strength to solve her problems sensibly?' She doubted for the first time the relevance of women enlightenment and emancipation!