Hi
This is Mathew Nynan Koshy from Gods own Country, Kerala. Yesterday evening I had a fierce verbal fight with my Wife, Rachel. The reason was the most common. I couldn’t take her to our son’s school Annual Day Celebration. Actually the reason was something different. Our Kid’s Annual Day Celebration was an Open forum for society ladies to showcase their newly bought designer sarees and that was one place where there was throat-cut competition between mothers to virtually determine who looked the most natural out of the heaviest of the make-ups. But to her hard luck I couldn’t make it from
office Yesterday. So she had to take sunny(our son) to school all alone. Since Sunny was with her she couldn’t fully get involved in gossips and “beating her own trumpet”. Usually on occasions like these Sunny stays with me. Rather she put him with me. Though he is only a 6 year old,he also knows its better to stay with his Dad.
When I returned from office at 10.00 at night , both of them were at home. Rachel’s nose Were red. I ignored her and went to Sunny. He jumped to me in affection. “ Dad where Were U…..?”.. he asked …..It was Rachel who responded for Sunny’s question . “Your Dad is the next Prime Minister of India. How come U didn’t know this Son……?”. It was sheer sarcasm. I Ignored her. I spoke to my son. “How was the day dear….?”
“Dad I won the SMILE BABY competition along with Neena.” He responded and showed the prize and the rose bouquet. “Oh fantast….” I started . but Rachel interrupted.“From where did you learn to smile sunny? I haven’t seen your Dad do it. He doesn’t have time to do it.” This time I couldn’t hold it. “Rachel … stop …. No abuse infront of the kid atleast”.
To this she darted back. “ Oh.! There were hundreds of Kids today at the school. All of them were happy to walk into their school with their parents holding their hands. It was only our Son who didn’t have his dad to hold his hand. Don’t you think that was an abuseto him . What sort of Dad are you…?”
I groaned “ Can I expect you to come to my office and finish my work then…..?”
She thrashed… “Gosh…..You………”
What followed was nothing less than a battle atleast for an hour. By that time Sunny had gone to sleep. After sometime both of us were tired of arguing. She went to sleep. I settled into a arm chair. A few moments later I caught sight of Sunny’s prize. Smiling Competition Prize. The One he won along with his best friend Neena. I looked at the prize . I looked for some resemblance. Atleast any resemblance to the prize that I won years back for the same competition. When I was a kid like him …… The Prize I won along with my then best friend….In Fact my first Love in my life. Memories fled back.
Year :1985
Venue: St. Mary’s Convent Lower Primary School, Trivandrum.
It was early time of my life. As early a time when I was asked my school’s name I would Proudly say …UKG B(Imagine …an age where I was not even able to differentiate between a school and a class) .That was the time when Rosa walked into my life. Rosa was a nice cute girl. Our relationship got away once when I was caught by our class teacher for not summarizing the rhyme. Then there was Rosa behind me helping me out. But Rosa too was caught for helping me. Both of our diaries were stricken with RED on that day and were sent to our respective homes. I felt like killing Sister Rose Maria, not for striking Red in My diary but for penalizing my angel Rosa. But that’s when we made friends. Friends… Big time Indeed. Sharing every new stuff that came up in our hands
like once she brought a new re-filler pencil(pink coloured) and gave it to me . I gave her my scented rubber (the one my uncle brought from gulf … the one I treasured ). As days went by .. we became the best pair in the convent.. winning the “Smile-Baby –Smile” competition at the same time. I even remember at one of marriage functions ,a distanat relative asking me with whom I was getting married. I was not at all hesitant to say Rosa’s name. All laughed around me. But I wasn’t joking . I wanted her.
All was fine till the end of UKG-B. That was the time when her father felt his daughter should be moved to a more socially respected school. So she was moved into a school where children of “Elite “ class got educated.
She was leaving. Rosa turned to smile ,tears running down her cheek. I forced the smile. I didn’t want her to see me crying. However I remember Crying when Rosa had gone. Gone to eternity.
Today….. after long 23 years, The only thing that I know about her is that
that she is married and she is mother to a kid. Her pink re-filler pencil lies Somewhere in my memories just as the ripe memories of a last bench of UKG B in St Marys Convent.
I felt someone’s hand on my forehead. I slowly opened my eyes. Rachel stood
There tears running down her cheek. She said “I m sorry for what ever I said
today…..wont you forgive me?” I stood up. I looked into her eyes. It resembled that of a cute little girl’s…. With whom I fell in love for one and only time…… Years back at the last bench …of UKG-B in St.Mary’s Convent school.
I remember her name being called out for attendance…. “Rachel Rosa Mary”… Then a Cute sound next to me used to respond … “Preshent Sishterrr….”. I felt her tears …. The same old tears which ran down her cute cheeks …when she had left me alone years back at those large gates…..!!
Today she is the mother to my Kid. The only love in my life……I took her in my
arms….as she fell onto my chest….i kissed her on her forehead. “ I love You Rosa…for what you are……”
You know what …. When you are destined to fall in love ….. there is nothing that could ever be in your way….. Rosa and I are living testimonies. And our little Sunny is the Best gift God ever Gave us……
NB: This is an article which is the result of pure imagination. All characters in this are unreal.
Author : Jean J Kachappilly
Infosys Technologies Limited,Bangalore
Posted on : 20th July 2008
