Whose Sacrifice was Bigger
I was born nearly ten years after my elder sister Siya . A couple of years after my birth my mummy was not keeping good health . She barely did any domestic chores . Siya looked after me , I remember she used to take care of me like a mother . She loved me a lot and I was also comfortable in her care . All of us were enjoying a happy family life despite the limited income of my father .
My mom wanted Siya to marry a nice boy but Siya deliberately delayed her marriage because of me . She said to mummy “ Once my little sister Riya grows up ,I will marry soon .”
She wanted me to grow up to the extent I was in a position to take care of myself . However she finally married when I was approaching 18 .
After Siya left our home there was a big vacuum and I missed her very much . She lived in another state , far away from our home state . She used to call us , especially me , everyday for a couple of years . Then she gave birth to her own child , a baby boy nicknamed Bablu. After a few months Siya came to us and remained with us for a year as my Jiju ( brother in law ) was posted abroad on deputation in the Reserve Bank of India . I enjoyed Didi’s company and loved my nephew Bablu . Didi went back after Jiju’s return from overseas .
But soon there was a tragedy. My dad died of a severe heart attack . Didi again came back to us but left after a month . By this time I was in college . During my second year
I came closer to one of my classmates, Saket . Both were in love but some of my school friends warned me , especially Geeta who belonged to my caste . In fact I was not aware of casteism by that time but Geeta warned “ Do you think Saket will marry you ? “
“ Yes , once we are settled after graduation . He has promised me .”
“ Forget his promises . He is a Brahmin and I know his parents very well . His parents are dead against Saket’s intercaste marriage , what to talk about marrying a backward caste girl .”
“ I don’t think Saket will betray me . He has decided to marry me even if his parents don’t accept me as their daughter in law . He has promised to marry me in a court in the worst scenario . “
“ Hope , he sticks to his promise . “
Days and months passed by . Both I and Saket graduated with flying colors . Both appeared at a few competitive exams including those of a couple of nationalised banks . We were expecting an offer from at least one of them . I got my offer from a bank first , maybe due to women’s quota or caste factor . Just after two months Saket too got an offer from the same bank . Both were sent for training at the bank’s training institute . The duration of training was six months . During the training period I got a call from my mom who informed me about the untimely death of Siya , my elder sister . She died a few weeks after giving birth to a baby girl .
I took leave for a few days to attend the last rites of Didi . I was shocked to see Jiju’s grim face and his two kids . But as no further leave was possible during the training period I had to return . I was badly upset after this tragedy but Saket used to comfort and encourage me .
After the training period both I and Saket were posted to different cities , though just a few hours drive . The bank management had ensured to post us at the same branch after we completed our probation periods. After Didi’s death my Jiju was in big trouble especially due to his two kids , Siya’s children and my nephew and niece . For the time being both the kids were with my mom . Mom was herself not physically fit to raise the kids .Jiju had arranged for a full time domestic help to take care of the kids besides my mom .
After some days my mom called me and said “ Riya , you know I am not keeping good health . Siya’s kids are with me. I am managing somehow but that’s not a permanent solution . “
“ Yes Mama , I can understand your problem and Jiju’s problems too . Why can’t Jiju marry again ?”
“ Yes , I did suggest it . But he doesn’t want his kids to be brought up by a stepmother . He has asked me to raise them for a few more years until they are a bit grown up . But I can’t stand this responsibility . After all, I am not expected to live longer , the doctors have already warned me . I think you should marry your Jiju “
“ No Mama , I can’t marry Jiju .Why don’t you understand my concern ? “ saying this, I hung up .
After this I asked Saket to start the procedure for our court marriage . We applied for our marriage in the court of the concerned registrar with one month’s notice . Again after a few days Mama called again and said “ What did you decide ? Will you marry Jiju ? “
“ I have decided to marry Saket. Let me talk to Jiju , I will convince him to marry some widow or a needy unmarried girl . “ I said
“ No , please don’t tell him so . I have told him repeatedly . He got irritated and asked me to put them in an orphanage . “
“ I have a better idea. I want you to marry Jiju . After all you are her Mousi , half mother . “
No , Mama . It's not possible . “
“ Why ? Did you forget how Siya nurtured you almost till your adulthood . “ said Riya’s mom
“ I know but I love Saket . Both have decided to marry soon . “
“ It sounds selfish . Siya went on postponing her marriage for a long time only for you . Now it’s time for you to pay her back gratuity . “
“ Sorry Mama , this is not the way to pay back Didi . “ Riya shouted irritably and hung up .
In the meantime Saket had already entered the room and heard her conversations . He asked Riya why she was so rude to mother . Then Riya told the whole story . After hearing this Saket too became sad and serious .
Soon after this incident Riya said to Saket “ Let us get married within a couple of days and close this chapter forever . Once we are married there will be no question of my marriage with anyone else . We have already cleared the notice period also . “
“ Okay , give me two or three days' time . I am going out for a day to meet my uncle . “
Saket lied to me but I came to know about his lies only after a few years of getting married when I said to him “ I want to be a mother . I don’t know why we have no kids yet . Let us go to the doctor . “
Saket asked me to get examined first . We went to a specialist . After needful tests she said “ Good news for you . Riya is fit to be a mother . Now Saket needs to be examined . “
Saket took me to another fertility expert . After some tests the doctor said “ I am sorry . Saket is unable to produce sperm necessary for fathering . “
I asked the doctor “ Do you need any further tests to confirm or clear any doubt ? “
“ I am sure about my diagnosis . “ The doctor said
“ Should we take any second opinion ? I asked
“ You are always free but I am sure no doctor in the world can give you a guarantee in your case . I am sorry , I didn't mean to offend anyone . “
Saket interrupted and said “ It’s okay doctor . Thanks a lot . I agree with your words and I don’t need any second opinion . “
The doctor further said to me “ Still you can be a mother by IVf technology . “
We thanked the doctor and left his clinic . Months passed and one day I told Saket “ We should go for IVf , if you don’t have any reservation about it .”
“ I don’t have any reservation but we have a better option . “
“ What’s that , I didn’t know . “
“ We should adopt Siya’s kids . “
“ Are you sure ? I asked surprisingly
“ Yes , it’s the best option for us . We know everything about Siya’s children . After all, they are just like our own kids . “ answered Saket
I called my mother and conveyed our decision and said “ I am ready to sacrifice and adopt Didi’s kids . Saket has agreed to it .”
She was happy but not surprised . She said “ I knew Saket’s decision even before your marriage . “
“ What are you talking about , Mama ? “
“ I am saying what I knew long before you . Though I repeatedly asked Saket not to go ahead with his idea, he didn’t stop . “
“ Mama , still I don't understand what you mean . “ I said
“ Then listen . Saket has sacrificed his fatherhood long before his drama came to your knowledge . He got his vasectomy done before marrying you . He said Siya’s kids will be like my own kids , there will be no question about them being brought up under stepmother or stepfather . “
I was deeply shocked . I was of the opinion that I have sacrificed but Saket made a bigger sacrifice . My eyes were full of tears . My heart felt limitless appreciation and gratitude for Saket . I fell into the arms of Saket and soon fell into a deep sleep .
xxxxxxx
The End
Note - This story is a work of fiction only .
