ROOTS. (Family Story )
STORY LINE…

A middle class parent brings up their only daughter with lots of love and affection, only to find their dreams shattered at the end. Their only daughter chooses to live with her girl friend as living partner! How her aged parents cope up with their tragedy forms the rest of the story.

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I was a proud father of my daughter .her every achievements at school made me think of her bright future. Now she had competed her higher secondary studies .I want her to study for C.A .with my influence in a bank as a charted accountant I can get her good job here in Chennai. My daughter Anu insists that she wanted to study for MCA. Even when she was in high schools she was not satisfied with computer software programs .she always complaint to me “it should have been programmed like this...”..You know the way she wants .I mean in her Taurus way. At times she says she want to modify software programs .even though I use computer at my work place It never occurred to me that the computer programs should be modified .here my daughter want to rewrite the programs. I am comfortable the way computer functions. “Who knows? Some other day software will be named after my little genius!”

Being a tarus girl she always got things done it in her own ways .she was very stubborn. At last, I gave in. tried to get her admission at MIT in Chennai. She could not get admission there. At the last moment she got a seat at Coimbatore engineering collage. My wife felt very sad, our only daughter had to study far away in Coimbatore. There was a special bound between my wife and my daughter, there are more like friends. I only convinced my wife “why holding our little genius, her heart belongs to computer engineering. If only she study basics, her innovation can take wings.”...

I took three days off from the bank. We went for shopping to purchase all new items for our daughter, by evening train we left for Coimbatore. Next day she got admitted in her collage. I had paid her fees and hostel charges. We visited our daughter’s hostel .she had to share her room with another girl from Mumbai. Her name was Nisha, a very modern and sophisticated looking girl.

Me and my wife stayed near by a lodge for two more days only to make sure that our daughter was comfortable with her stay at hostel .we met our daughter after her collage hours. My daughter complained me about substandard food served at the canteen. We thought it was natural since our daughter was missing her homemade foods.. Nisha came to RLY station to give us sendoff .At the RLY station our daughter started crying. We asked Nisha to take care of our daughter. On the third day we left for Chennai

Without Anu our house was not lively .I had some how managed to carry out my rutine at office but at home i missed my daughter. Now and then our daughter spoke to us over the phone most of the time she complained about canteen food. We really felt sorry for her. With my wife she spoke about Nisha for long time. She said her friend Nisha gave her emotional support... it seems there is some thing common between them. Nisha cannot be a Taurus girl if that was the case they would have locked horns now .may be an Aquarian. I guess. They are not bad people, little bit eccentric, but no harm.

My daughter may not be eating properly I was worried about her canteen food. My ex colleague cashier Ravi was working at Coimbatore branch .I must write to him asking whether he can accommodate my daughter as a paying guest in their house. Just one bathe attached bedroom and homemade food. That was more than enough for her.

(1)

I willing to pay whatever the amount Ravi asks for it .My daughter’s health should not get spoiled. Next day I got our Coimbatore branch office address .I wrote a lengthy letter requesting him to consider paying accommodation for my daughter. After one week I received reply letter. he was more than willing to help me...

Again I had to take leave from office to go to Coimbatore. Next I met collage principle

And explained to him about the paying guest arrangements I made for my daughter.

Ravi had signed papers as a local guardian for my daughter. My daughter settled down at Ravi’s house that was just five-kilometer away form, her collage. Ravi had two children one boy about ten years old and a young daughter aged seven. I gave him one-month advance amount of money for accommodation and food. I promised Ravi that I would send cheque every month for that same amount .I thanked him for his help. Every thing was fine. I was happy no more food problem for my little genius, she can now concentrate on studies. I returned back to Chennai.

Our bank offered voluntary retirement scheme (VRS). .I had five more years of service left to retire but if I opted for VRS I will get extra amount of money with that money I can built first floor and give it for rent .I asked for my wife’s opinion , when it comes to making decision she will always leave it to me but Still I ask my wife’s opinion. I had applied for VRS scheme and got extra amount of money; along with my settlement amount in about five months of time. We built two bedrooms with bathe-attached house on the first floor. Just the same as our ground floor. Ground floor we gave it for rent .our tenets were good people. An old retired gazette officer with his wife .two of his daughter were married and settled down in abroad. They never gave us any trouble.

After constructing first floor balance amount of money I had put it in fixed deposit scheme in my wife’s name .I had slogged for thirty year for my office. Now all I want is to enjoy the retired life. After my daughter’s graduation she should get married and settle down. If her husband permits she can go for work.

The other day my daughter rang up and asked me whether her friend Nisha too can stay with her as paying guest at Ravi’s house .she said Nisha had too problem with canteen food. I told my daughter I would get back to her after I spoke to Ravi .Next day I spoke to Ravi over the phone. I told Ravi that there are some problems with hostel canteen food. The management people are making a killing out of hostel facilities. Collage management was charging heavy rate for substandard food items at canteen. Even after repeatedly complaining about it management had not improved the quality of food. I had asked Ravi whether he could accommodate my daughter’s friend Nisha as a paying guest. .he did not say anything immediately...l continued “ just one extra cot she will stay in my daughter’s room .they are good friends .it will help them to study better by discussing their subject .Don’t bother about preparing north food .Nisha will get used to our food . Idlees, sambar and rasam like stuffs .she can have north Indian foods on Sundays at the fast food restaurant. I do not think she will be a burden for your family. She is from well to do family, If you want you can charge extra amount form her. Think about making extra money for another four years. You talk to your wife and see what best you can help her”.

After a week’s time I had received letter from Ravi .He wrote to me that he had purchased one colt and bedding for Nisha and she is allowed to move in any time. He also mentioned four rupees he will charge per unit of current consumption. That could be his wife’s idea. I said I will inform my daughter and they will get in touch with you. .Nisha’s parents came from Mumbai and she was shifted to Anu’s room as a paying guests .Nisha’s parents thanked me over the phone .her father assured me that next time he will meet me in person. It seems she too was pestering her father with canteen foods. Nisha send me a big greeting card thanking me for arranging accommodation for her.

(2)

On Christmas vacation Nisha came and stayed with us. There seems a special bound between them just like the sesame kids. They were always together. They spend vacation time watching movie everyday at the theater. Nisha spent lot of money on branded clothes .she bought some clothes for my daughter too. She had great taste and sense of color.

On the final year, one of the leading international software giants called on for innovation ideas in software. . My daughter Anu had submitted her thesis for the contest .she was one among the three students selected by the company. Even before she could write the final examines she was hired for the company’s R&D division at Mumbai. She asked for my permission to join their head quarters .I told her she can sign the contract but only after writing your final exams she can join for work .my daughter’s job was assured I felt very proud of her. My wife was apprehensive about sending our daughter far away. I told my wife that she should be proud of her daughter.working in R&D for a world’s leading company is just a dream for any aspiring engineering student. They are offering initial salary of 30 K! If she can prove her mettle one-day she will work for their head quarts at Silicon Valley. Our little genius is no more a girl she can take care of herself “. My wife asked me.”Where will our daughter stay at Mumbai. Will she be safe alone?”. I told my wife not to worry about her accommodation at Mumbai. There is YWCA and there are good women hostels too. After she complete her final exams we will decide about it ” .

After three months our daughter wrote her final exams and came home with Nisha. My daughter had only one month left to join for work at Mumbai head quarters of MNC. I deiced to celebrate my daughters appoint order. Booked dinner at Sheraton hotel. On Sunday we had dinner at Sheraton. While having dinner I told Nisha about my wife’s concern for Anu’s stay at Mumbai.

Nisha. “Why worry about your little genius’s stay at Mumbai when we have a big bungalow there? IT park is just about seven kilometer from our home .my papa can drop her on his way to his office .I am unemployed. I can drive her for work and back home in my car; provided that I am paid for it!”

I...”Do not worry Nisha once our daughter join for work she will try job for you. What Viji, anymore excuse you want to make? ”

Wife...”Thank you, Nisha .I was really worried about my daughters stay at Mumbai “

Nisha...”Auntie, it is no big deal. After all she is my intimate friend “.

We were very much worried about our daughter’s safety. She will have a homely atmosphere at Nisha’s place. After a week’s stay at our home Nisha left for Mumbai by flight.

We had decided to go to Mumbai three day prior to Anu’s appoiment at her office. We left for Mumbai my train. After thirty hours of journey we arrived at VT station. Having informed Nisha she and her mother were waiting for us at the station. We got into their new car. Her house was a big bungalow .a five-bed room house with a big garden in the heart of the city!. I could not imagine a house with big garden in Mumbai. It must be worth cores of rupees. May be their life style demands opulence. Her father was running export business. They were exporting Precious, semiprecious stones, designer and ethnic jewelry to U.S and Europe. Her elder brother was married and settledown in U.K. he was looking after their family business there. Nisha’s father joined us for lunch .He brought a gift packet for Anu. His way of celebrating my daughter’s appoiment. He told Nisha to take us around the city .after lunch he left for office .time is money .he must be a busy man. After lunch Nisha took us to gateway of India, Nariman point; marine drive and Malabar hills.we enjoyed watching sunset .we had coffee and snacks at Hilton hotel. We then went for shopping at Crawford market and returned back to her home at 8.30 pm.

(3)

Next day Nisha took our daughter to her office in her car. Since we were returning back to Chennai by evening train our daughter came early to home .we all got into the car. Nisha drove us to central RLY station. We asked Nisha to look after our daughter and I left for Chennai with a heavy heart... Some time our daughter spoke to us over the phone .she was all praise for Nisha. Every day Nisha drives her to her office. My daughter said she was trying to get a job for Nisha at their office. I said “Good, some thing in return. “.After two months, Anu was able to get job for Nisha, not in her research department, she said some software development related work.

Every year-end our daughter came and stayed with us. Anu told me that she is doing higher studies in her specialized subject. She said her ultimate goal was to work for the company’s R&D center at their headquarters in Silicon Valley .she had not changed much. Still our same old Anu…. At least we believed....

When she came to our house on her fourth year of her service, .my wife reminded her of getting married. At first Anu told her as if she was married to her work .I mean she was not interested in marriage, commitments and responsibilities. Just like any other over ambitious girl would have talked at her age. There was something wrong….. Something we parents were not prepared for it.….

We gave our daughter more love and affection. Unlike other parents we also gave her more freedom. We were over confident of our daughter. Even when she was a young girl I taught her how to be self-reliant .we tolerated all her tantrums she was our only child. we pampered her every whims and fancies...but then she was not a spoiled child.

On fifth year of her service Anu got promoted to head of their department. She was asked to take incharge of their New Delhi branch .she got her friend Nisha transferred to their new office. They took an apartment at a posh locality and settle down.

I had gone for my usual evening walk. Our daughter Anu had flown from Newdelhi for her official work at Chennai branch. After her office hours, she came to our home in the evening. After serving coffee my wife spoke to her about her marriage.

Viji ...”Anu, it is right time for you get married and settle down in life.”

Anu.. “Ma ... I had recently taken incharge of our new branch at New Delhi. I do not want to get married at this time of my carrier life .I am aiming to work for our head quarters at Silicon Valley.

Viji...”Do not get married to work .you have your own life. Slow down. See whether you can get some work from your company and start something here in Chennai. I will ask your daddy to make arrangements for loan from the bank. Your hetric work schedule will not permit you to look after your children properly. Your daddy insist that we will bring up your children .he is looking for a little companion in his retired life.”

Anu...”Ma...Our work schedule is very hectic .you do not understand work pressure and deadlines .I cannot do justice to my married life. Commitments and responsibilities ...sorry ma...Don’t force me for marriage now...”

Viji…” .Anu, don’t tell me all those lame excuses, people are getting married regardless of their work pressure. Shall I ask your daddy to look for a bride groom?”

Anu...”Ma... please tries to understand me ...” (4)

Viji ...”Are you looking for Mr. Right? Anu...There is no Mr. Right and nobody is perfect. Success of married life depends upon the mutual understanding between the husband and wife. it will not happen over night ,married people developed it over a period of time .in married life you follow simple rules like .Do not constantly nag your husband .when he throws tantrum just ignore him .he will come around ,pamper him when he is good .do not have ego hassles with your husband . , Do not try to reform him .men are like grownup kids with age they will became matured, and most import thing even in married life do not encroach onto their territory. They need freedom and breathing Space.. That is all they ask for you...If you follow these simple rules you can enjoy married life .now tell me are you in love with some one? You know your daddy is very broad minded person .he will not be bothered about his son in laws religion, cast, north south or rich or poor. Your happiness means every thing to him “.

Anu was fed up of her mother’s constant nagging .she just flared up.

Anu...” Every time I came home you are pestering me to get married .yes I am in love .I cannot live with out her! . I am not getting married to any other guy “...

Viji... “What nonsense are you talking about? You are in love with HER?. With whom?”

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********Rest of the story explainsabout Anu’s life with her girlfriend! How her aged parents cope up with their loss of only daughter. Their life with Mini. Even after the death of Anu’s father how her mother brig up Mini takes you through the rest of the pages. ***************************

Before their first wedding anniversary, our daughter Mini derived a healthy boy at the city hospital. On the third day she was discharged from the hospital. They got home by taxi .Mini unlocked our main door. Wife brought my grand son close to my garlanded photo. Pointing her finger at me my wife told my grand son “Look, that is your grand pa..” she wiped tears ..