“Ammi! I am 25. I will make my own decisions. Stop interfering in my life.”
“I will interfere as long as I live, you ungrateful boy! I have sacrificed a lot for you, and you owe it to me.” The atmosphere was charged with palpable resentment as the mother and son exchanged harsh words.
Finally, Farhan relented, “Ammi, I’m truly grateful for all that you have done. And I love you! You are my mother, and no one can take that place. But I want to lead my own life!”
“I also want you to have a good life. That’s why I am telling you to stop your childish ways with that dumb, stupid best friend of yours, Shyam. He didn’t even finish college.”
“Because his interests lie elsewhere.”
“How does he plan to have a life if he doesn’t get a good job”
“Things are changing, Ammi. Today, many companies seek attitude and self-taught skills, not necessarily a college education!”
“But Shyam is not like that either! All he does is spend time with his mother in the kitchen.”
“You are so stuck in your ways. Nothing is gender-specific anymore. Everyone should learn to do everything, ok?”
“Rubbish! I don’t believe in that. Your future wife should know how to cook, clean, and keep your house in order so that you are free to go out and earn!”
Farhan walked off in a huff. It was tough talking to his mother. These stormy exchanges have been going on for a year now. His marriage and his relationship with Shyam!
Shyam lived with his parents next door. The two families maintained a formal, courteous relationship. But Shyam and Farhan were great friends and were rainbows for each other.
Today also, he was waiting at the gate for Farhan. They hugged, smiled at each other, and went their different ways; Shyam back into his house, and Farhan to the office cab waiting at the end of the road. This was the routine since Farhan got a job nearly five years ago.
One evening, when Farhan returned home, his mother thrust a few photographs to his face and said, “Choose any!” Dark storm clouds were gathering on the horizon again.
“I’m not interested.” The fatigue evident in his voice.
“Why not? They are good girls from our community.”
Suddenly, something snapped inside him.
“I WILL NOT MARRY ANY GIRL, AMMI!”
“Like that weird Shyam? He also doesn’t want to marry, it seems!”
“He didn’t say he didn’t want to marry! He also said he will not marry a girl!”
“What’s the difference?”
“We love each other. I will be the father and he will be the mother of our family!”
His mother stood aghast as did Shyam’s parents who just walked in with their son after a stormy exchange there too. The boys held hands, the rainbow finally coming out into the open!
“By the way, Ammi! Shyam’s parents called me weird too!
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Ratna manages her personal blog https://nerdynarratives.blogspot.com/, her version of
Indian myths, legends, and folklore.
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