89) Forgiving Angel

Sheila Das was the volunteer psychologist at Alcoholic Anonymous and she provides both expertise and friendship for those wanting to kick the habit. AA meetings would be held in the school on Sunday evenings and since I was the general secretary of the school, I would join these sessions. I have been witnessed to some outstanding human interest tales and I have seen the power of transformation.

We became good friends and I would invite Sheila to my house for a home made dinner and my wife too liked the girl. Soon both women started to go out for shopping and that more than anything else cements ties in our times!!!

Sheila was already in her mid 30s and yet seemed in no mood for a marriage. It looked strange for she earned fabulously well and her looks, almost knockout. It seemed she had some kind of a mental baggage when it came to men; even as my wife and I speculated as to the cause.

We invited Sheila to join in for Deepavalli celebrations when my wife humoured: You will celebrating next year’s Deepavalli at your husband’s place.

Sheila just froze and we knew that hurt had gone deep. She forced a smile and carried on with the crackers and flowerpots.

After dinner, when it was time to leave she said, “Uncle, I am sorry but marriage is not for me. I grew up in a dysfunctional family where my dad used to physically abuse my mother for no reason. There were times when he starved us after locking us in our rooms.

I still remember that when I was in 5th standard in a convent school, he refused to pay fees before I was actually expelled. He had nothing against me but for him, women were like speck of dust and to be ordered around. Women are nothing more than instruments for pleasure and production of babies.

My mother suffered almost all kinds of abuse- burns, lashes and that fellow would kick for no reason. She couldn’t walk out of marriage for she had no economic resources or any support for her side. She bore it all for my sake so that I study and grow up to be a useful member of the society when suicide would have been such relief.

Having dropped out of 5th, I restarted school in a government school and I found the contrast too stark and yet I persevered; as children always do. My father was such a sadist that he would not give me the bus fare on most days and that meant I walked or hitchhiked to a school 4 miles away.

Appearing for the X standard exam was a milestone and so were every other exam: XII and graduation. Even my academic progression did not satisfy my dad and I too would experience bruises from him almost on a weekly basis. Whenever my mom was writhing in pain and should I go to her aid, his ire would be directed on me. In short, we lived straight out of hell.

Then I did my masters on a scholarship and staying in hostels and doing a part-time job to pay for my food and clothes expenses. From then, it was a steady climb to my post graduate thesis and I am now a qualified clinical psychologist.

Uncle, you know what. My dad used to hit me till I was 23 and that those were such trauma.

I took a job in another city and when I heard that mom was suffering from tuberculosis, I brought her home and gave her the best treatment. My dad had lost his money and begged to stay with us. What could I do?

Mother easily forgives and to please her, I provide shelter to him in my house.

Uncle, I have seen the brutal side of a man and I can never get married after all that I have been through. The scars are too deep and I will take a long time for healing”.

I heard her sage of courage and felt moved beyond words. Here was a fashionable woman with hair made up and dressed to perfection and driving a Honda city and yet suffered beyond endurance.

Later in the night my wife said,” Sheila is all class and won’t it be nice to her in the household as a daughter-in-law”.

After a year, my son proposed to her and today she is so chirpy and full of life.
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