Mahashweta-Sudha Murty

A woman with a serious heart condition had gone into labour, and Dr. Anand had stayed at her side the whole night. By the time the child was delivered, Anand was exhausted. He gazed at mother and child, wondering whether the precise moment of birth was determined by the baby or its mother.

Both parents play a equally significant roles in the birth of a child. But at the moment of birth-the moment of truth-the only reality is the mother. She is the one who sheltered and nurtured the baby withing her body while the father watched the sidelines.

Initially Anupama did not bother much about the patch. But as the days passed, she realized that it was growing bigger. Anupama had seen many people with leukoderma, but had hardly given them a fleeting thought. Anupama could not share her agony with Anand.

Anu hesitated for a momet then raised her sari, so that her foot was exposed. The doctor was aware that tiny white patches like that had ruined many marriages, shattered many hearts, broken mant engagements. He did not try to stop her from crying. These patches may come anywhere at any age. There is no explanation for them at all. Some women even get them during pregnancy.

Shammana was called."Take ur daughter back with u; she need not come back until she is completely cured and my son returns and send for her. we have been deceived. Make sure u leave all the expensive gifts we have given u in your room, and take only what is yours when u go". Knowing that Radakka would humiliate him further, Anu went up to her father & stopped him from falling at Radhkka's feet. She wnet o her room collected a few things that beloned to her, Anand's photo's and left with tears in her eyes and did not look back even once.

Days passed and there was no reply from Anand. Anu sat down on a stone outside the temple. If anyone jumped from there, they would definitely die. She thought-how would it matter once she was dead? Nothing would hurt her. would anybody feel sorry for her? Miss her? Anand....he would be relieved once she was gone. Her mind was made up now. Some unseen power was holding her back. Anupama was better than Girija (SIL), but a small white patch was pushing her to her death. Was it fair? She had finally discovered the real Anand. He had loved her beauty and married her for it. He was not ready to accept her if her beauty was marred. Ppl would pity him and that would be unbearable for him.
She looked down at the valley again, and saw it in a different light. Life had begun to have new meaning for her. She was now ready to face the word. She looked back and prayed to Goddess, give me courage to live no matter what happens. Anu returned home and walked up her father to say----Appa I am getting bored here. I want to go to B'bay and stay with Sumi (her college freind).

Hari was surprized when he saw her. From Sumi's description, he had imagined Anupama as an ordinary girk with white patches marring her face and body. But the girl he saw standing b4 him was breathtakingly beautiful; she was like a heavenly vision come down to earth. Compared to Anu, Sumi looked plainer than ever.

Anu was invited to a wedding..a grand one. What was the use of all that expense? The real success of a marriage depended not on superficial factors such as those, but upon love and mutual understanding btw husband and wife.

Hari reached for anupama while she was changing her sari. She slapped him across his face. "u should be ashamed of urself. U have called me ur sister..will u behave wit ur sister like this?"
Hari reurned home from work and found Sumi cooking dinner. The house was quiet.Where is Anu?....Sumi replied--Oh!! She left this morning. She got a PG accommodation in Bandra.

Vasant was concentrating on the unconscious woman in front of him. She looked in her early 20's. What a blemish on this beautiful portrait! One of the para's from the book found in the patients purse was something Vasant still remembered reading from his school time--
There is no perfection in anything in life.
Even in the great river Ganga there are black serpents.
The beautiful saraswati has jet black curls;
The moon has a dark spot
Because even in nature perfection is not possible.

Anupama do u consider urself unfortunate?
No Satya--Ofthe 1000's of flowers that blossom on a tree a few will bear fruit. And out of those few fruits, insects and squirrels will eat some. Th etree does not keep anything for itself. Does that mean that the life of the tree is wasted? I have great freinds and good students, and I am econimically independent.

When did u come from england?...Anand---"2 yrs back. Anu plz forgive me Every1 makes msitakes"
Pls sit down. Which mistake are u seeking forgiveness for? Pls remember that saying the right thing at the right time is waht makes a conversation meaningful. Language is a tool we use to express ourselves. It is what differentiate animals from animals.
Anand found courage to say--Anu, Avva is old fashioned. She was worried that if we had daughters their future would be difficult.
U were worried abt ur unborn daughters' futures. I am also sombodies daughter, did u worry abt my future. U have never treated me as a human being. I was only a beautiful object u wished to possess and flaunt. Had I known ur attitude towards life, I would have told u to marry simebady else. Suppose u got leukoderma, do u think I woludl have left you for some other man?.

I have excellent friends who trust me and will not hesitate to help me if I am in trouble. Their unconditional love has never made me think of myself as blemished. I cannot help feeling sad for those women who are still at the mercy of their husbans and in laws, and are emotionally and economically dependent on them. I am independent and I thank God for having been so fortunate".

Anupama, think one more time about what I have said..come back to me!

Anupama picked her books, "U are a well educated man from a good family. But there is one thing u have not learnt..U should never call a woman whom u do not know by her given name"
Anand watced and Anupama walked awa

Vasant was supposed to leave for his village in 3 weeks. He still wanted to know what Anupama had decided to accept his proposal.
I am sorry Vasant, but pls forget ur idea. I dont want to get entangled in the same circle of husband and family.
Anupama u won't be 4ever young. Who will ook after u in ur old age?
Do u think we should marry and have children so that we have simeone to look after us in our oldage? This is not right..others have their own lives to lead.
Anupma smiled and Vanst tried hard to hide his unhappiness. Oh goD! If only I had known her before her husband ruined her life, I would not have lost this priceless jewel!