GOING ON VANAPRASTHAM... PRAKASAM'S STYLE

Vimala finished her lunch and feeling very tired, relaxed on the bed. The fever subsided today after 2-3 days but the weakness is still persisting. Slowly she dozed off. After a deep nap, she woke up with a start. It was past 3 O' clock. 'Already three! But why, Prakasam is not yet back?' She wondered. He went to attend a marriage function. As she was too weak to go, he had to go alone. 'The hosts, Narayanas are long time friends. They must have detained Prakasam. But still, it is quite late!' She was worried. 

'Ever since his retirement, Prakasam is starving for company. He must have met many old friends there and forgot all about time. Still, it is too much! Leaving a sick wife all alone at home, how can he enjoy there?' She thought angrily and dialed his mobile. The ringing tone came from the bedroom and she frowned.

'He is so careless at times! Not even remembers to take the mobile with him! No thought about me at all!' She muttered. She thought of calling Narayana but stopped. 'He must be busy with the marriage function. It is not proper to disturb him now.' 

'Had he gone to some other place,...to visit any relatives or...?" 

Vimala shook her head. 'In that case he would have called..' Then she remembered that his mobile is not with him. 

She tried to remember if he mentioned anything about going anywhere on any important work! Or..? Her mind was filled with unknown fear. Did he have any problem or any mishap...?

The doorbell rang. She jumped. 'Oh, I am unnecessarily worrying. It must be him and he must have forgotten to take the key also.' Thinking thus, she opened the door, sure that it must be Prakasam. But no, it is Krishna, a friend.

"Why, Vimala? How are you? Where is Prakasam? I expected him at the marriage of Deepa. Why didn't he turn up?"

Vimala frowned. "He left for the marriage, isn't he there?" 

"Really? He didn't come. Yesterday he was saying that you were not well and his attending is doubtful. I thought perhaps you are still sick and came to have a look... What happened to him?" 

Vimala's jaw dropped. "He left at 10 O'clock itself. I thought he is still there. Do you think he met with any problem?" Her legs became weak and she slumped into the sofa. 

Krishna looked at the watch. "It is past 5 O'clock now." He did not know what to do. He was also doubting the same but did not want to frighten her. "No, no, don't think like that. I will call some of our friends and find out. You give me the numbers of your relatives. Let us enquire all."

Suddenly she remembered their repeated conversations since a few days.

That day he was in down and low spiris and rather pensive and philosophical mood. He put down the novel he was reading and sighed.

"What is the use, Vimala, in living a long life? I fulfilled all my responsibilities and retired. Better to leave everything and go away, out of the sight of everybody." He sighed. "Before I develop some health problems and get bedridden....before I become a burden to others....how about leaving it all and go away? Like the hero in this novel? How peaceful he felt then!"

Vimala looked at him surprised. "What happened to you? Why are you talking like that? Relax and enjoy the peaceful retired life. What is wrong with you? Or shall we visit Madhu and Nirmala and spend some days with them? It will be a change for us and you will feel better." She suggested.

He smiled wryly. "We should not get too much attached to the children, Vimala. They have their own life. I had enough of the pleasure of the children and grandchildren. Now it is time to withdraw from the world."

"Ok, then, do it here itself. Where is the need to go away somewhere?" She said in a lighter vein.

"No, it is not ideal. You don't understand my point. Didn't you hear about Vanaprastham our elders suggest? Now it is the time for that."

"But where do you want to go?"

He was thoughtful. "Anywhere. Far away from these surroundings. Just disappear from the scene. How about going to some ashram somewhere? I should make enquiries." 

From that day onwards he started talking very frequently about going away to somewhere like Himalayas or some such remote place. She tried very hard to dissuade such talk and divert his mind. 

One day vexed with his repeated talk on the same lines, she said, "Ok, then. We both will go together." 

He smiled. "No, Vimala, it is not yet time for you. Our children will take good care of you, I am sure. Also, if we both go together, it will not serve my purpose of renouncing the world."

'Did he put it into practice now? Did he find any suitable destination? Did he leave the mobile behind on purpose?' Her face blanched. 

She went inside. In their bedroom she found not only his mobile, but his purse and his house keys too. She came out and sat still like a statue having her suspicions confirmed.

Krishna put down the receiver and shook his head. "No information, Vimala. No one heard or met him. What shall we do? Shall we complain to the police? Perhaps he met with some..." He could not complete.

Vimala shook her head. "No use, Krishna, absolutely no use. He left on purpose on his own." She started sobbing.

"On his own? On purpose? What do you mean?" Krishna looked puzzled. Vimala told him about Prakasam's recent talks and her apprehensions. "That's why he did not take either his mobile or his purse or the house keys. He just left.." She concluded.

 Krishna listened with wide eyes and open mouth. 

"I don't think you are right. How can he...?" After second thoughts he added, "Of course, of late he has been talking on those lines with me too. But I never thought he is serious about that."

Vimala looked at him triumphantly. "See what I meant? Definitely he went away...ran away... From me....his wife of more than three decades! Without telling me..or at least leaving a small note..." She could not speak further.

He sighed. Both sat silently. After some time, Janaki, his wife also came and joined them as he called and told her the news. She too suggested going to the police but Vimala did not agree. "What for, Janaki? When he so strongly wants to leave, what can we gain by tracing him? No, let us leave him alone." She declared with tears streaming down.

The couple tried to console her and made her eat something. They decided to spend the night there and see what should be done in the morning. 

Next day started on a dull note. Vimala who could not sleep properly was wide awake by sunrise. Mulling over the happenings of the previous day, she again started to cry. Her heart refused to believe that her husband so cruelly left her. What is the use of her continuing to live? How about ending it all....just like he left this scene..

Janaki approached her. "Give me the numbers of Madhu and Nirmala, Vimala. We will ask them to come. And your brother in Chennai too..."

Vimala looked at her blankly. She realised that she has to inform them all. She obliged silently. Krishna sat with the phone.

Then the phone rang. It was Prakasam's mobile! Confused, she picked it up.

"Is it Mr. Prakasam's residence? I am speaking from Karuna Nursing Home. Yesterday a patient by name Prakasam was admitted here after an accident..."

Vimala shrieked, "How is he? I am his wife. What happened to him?"

Krishna and Janaki rushed to her.

"Nothing to worry. He is fine. He got severe injuries....."

"I am coming immediately." She switched off the mobile and looked at them. They all hurried to the hospital.

After a week, Prakasam was discharged from the hospital and lying on his bed, he looked at his children who came with their families immediately after receiving Krishna's call, Krishna, Janaki, and other close relatives, who all gathered around him. Then he narrated about that day. 

"I started for the marriage and as I was on the way, my auto lost control and overturned. I lost consciousness and when I opened my eyes, I found  myself in the hospital. It seems I was unconscious for a long time and after that, was under heavy sedation. That day unfortunately I forgot my mobile and my purse too. So nobody knew anything about my name or address. Only the next day, after I regained my consciousness fully, I could give them my details and phone number. Meanwhile these people decided that I ran away from the house and not even bothered to make enquiries!" He pouted.

Vimala felt ashamed. "What else can I do? You went on talking about going away again and again. That stuck to my mind deeply. Added to that as I was sick on that day, I could not think properly. Now I feel really sorry and stupid to conclude so."

Prakasam laughed heartily. "Don't feel guilty, Vimala, it serves me right to engage in loose talk. But I am glad that you did not resort to any drastic step on that count. I would never be able to forgive myself if any such thing happened." Then he added in a mischievous tone, "Even if I decide to go away, I promise, I will never choose a day when you are sick."

She looked at him angrily and was about to retort.

He laughed and drew her near. She wiped her tears and smilled. The onlookers looked at them in amusement and with relief. 

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