Staying and Living
Story of a housewife
Sahana unlocked the door and went into house. She looked around with a tired and bored expression, put down the carry-bag on the dining table and slumped on the
sofa. She wiped her face with the end of the dupatta, closed her eyes and tilted her head on the sofa backrest. Feeling drained, after the busy early morning hours, she felt lonely, though she had a handsome loving husband and a cute little daughter.
Every morning, Sahana would be the first to wake-up. She would then prepare two cups of tea and take one to the still sleeping Hari. After pushing and calling him several times he would sit up with sleepy eyes and leisurely take the cup. Sahana would not wait. She had to warm up a couple of dishes for Hari and
prepare Sucji’s Tiffin box. She would then arrange breakfast and finish her cup of tea and two biscuits and go to the bedroom. She would then wake up Sucji, help her to brush her teeth and bathe her in hot water. Sahana’s mom would help her wear her school uniform, put on her shoes and comb her hair neatly. Sucji’s water bottle, schoolbooks and Tiffin box. Sucji was only four years old and in the kindergarten. Breakfast over, Hari would depart for office leaving Sucji’s to watch her favourite channel Cartoon Network till it was time to leave for school. Meantime, Sahana would change dress, switch off the TV , lock the front door and go downstairs with Sucji. The school was not far. Holding her hand ,Sucji would trudge along.
On her way back, Sahana would purchase vegetables and a few necessities from the local shops. That was her daily routine. On weekends, if Hari was in the mood, they would go out for movie or for dinner. Just an occasional deviation from daily routine.
She woke up and looked at the clock. Meena, the housemaid would be in after another hour. She would first clear all the housework and then call Sahana to the kitchen. Meena was a dutiful young girl.
For Sahana , life was dull an stereotyped. There was no variation. There was nothing different from the day before. It was boring. Like millions of other housewives, she longed for attention, not just as a wife or a mother, but also for her own sake. Something that would make her feel special , but then, that never happened.
She glanced at the clock and went into bedroom. She folded Hari’s pyjamas, her own and Sucji’s nightdresses. She cleaned the bedroom neatly. Then she looked around, made sure that everything was in order and went to the kitchen. Sahana prepared a large mug of hot bru coffee and walked to her balcony .Her heart beat faster, she was mildly excited with secret expectation.
It happened last week. Her inner desire to be appreciated as a pretty young woman was partly fulfilled. To her it was only innocent fun and she did not consider it anything wrong. In her heart of hearts, she remained the faithful, loving and caring mother. She considered nothing immoral in indulging in some harmless fun without any serious consequences. After all she was and would remain the sincere wife and mother.
The building on other side of the road had come up recently and occupants of the opposite apartment in the fourth floor had moved in about a week back. There were only three young persons and no female member. Nothing unusual about that. Many young people lived together. Its was all right as long as they behaved decently.
They slept on bed sheets spread over straw mats on the floor. There was no visible arrangement for cooking too. They would have bread for breakfast and lunch and dinner they would go out together, probably to some nearby eating-place. Sahana had never seen them going out to work. They were probably employed in some Call Center working night shifts.
They all appeared to be less than thirty. The oldest was of medium height and fat. She noticed that he seldom spoke . The second fellow was tall , with muscular long limbs. Most of the time they would be sitting together cross legged on mats and seriously discussing something. For reasons unknown Sahana did not like others. However, she found the third young man quite attractive. He was tall and fair with a mat of trimmed beard and thick dark brown hair.
Holding the cup between her palms, she put her elbows on the railing and looked down to the busy road. There were vehicles and people. She pretended to watch them, but then sensing some movement in the balcony opposite, she looked up. And as expected there was the handsome young man, with smiling eyes.
He wore a pair of off-white shorts and a blue sleeveless vest. Sahana could see his hairy legs, muscular arms with well-formed biceps and the broad chest. To Sahana, he appeared to be gentle and kind, despite his strong macho structure.
Though on the first impulse she wanted to ignore, him Sahana could not help smiling
back. Eyes twinkling, he gave an acknowledging nod. She felt her knees weaken and strange slow churning in her belly. Her pulse rate shot up and her face flushed.
The doorbell rang. Sahana gave a smiling glance at the young man and gestured that someone was at the door. He understood, smiled back, and went to his room.
It was Meena. She went to the kitchen and started her chores. Sahana lazily surfed through the TV channels for a few minutes and then went to the kitchen to prepare some lunch. Meena finished her work and left. Sahana glanced at the clock. It was almost noontime to bring Sucji back from school.
For a few months after marriage Sahana used to be excited in Hari’s company. Now even after five years of marriage, she would accept the same excitement in bed. But on most nights he would turn the other side and within minutes, starts snoring. For a long time, Sahana would toss from side to side. They loved each other very much. But somehow, daily life had become a dull routine with no excitement and surprise.
That night was different. Sucji slept and Sahana was restless. She whispered to Hari to come to the divan in the drawing room. Hari was surprised. She rarely took the initiative. Then as usual, for some time they held each other close and hugged. Sahana has prepared a candle light dinner. Hari was surprised and hugged her again. He was very happy.
That was when she had this fantasy. She suddenly imagined that it was the young man from the opposite apartment, hugging her. Then Hari lightly kissed her cheek, she returned to reality. She than knew that it was Hari who held her. Image of the young man faded. She felt guilty and at the same time, she felt a tender love for Hari. Embracing, she lightly kissed him. Soon, they fell asleep in each other arms after they had a wonderful dinner.
It was little before dawn and still dark. There was a great commotion on the road below. Both Hari and Sahana woke up suddenly and looked at each other , puzzled.
“What is the noise about?” Sahana asked.
“No idea. Let me find out.” Hurriedly Hari got up and went to the balcony.
Now Sahana could hear the sound of vehicles on the road. Someone was giving instructions over a loudspeaker. There were sounds of heavy boots and people shouting.
Sahana rushed to the balcony and stood beside Hari. There were some police jeeps and special vans flashing red and blue lights. One officer with a hand held loudspeaker instructed the armed policemen to surround the apartment building opposite. He also ordered the commandos with automatics, to go up to fourth floor and take guard . Powerful spotlights on the top of the police van were then switched on and beamed on the fourth floor apartment opposite.
Lights were on in all apartments and people crowded in the balconies. People below were silently watching the operation. On an order from the officer, they moved backward and stood at a safe distance. Armed policemen stood guard in front forming a cordon.
Apprehending something, Sahana asked Hari, in a shaky voice “What happened?” “I do not know exactly, but it seems the police got definite information that some dangerous extremists have holed up in that apartment.”
Sahana turned pale and she felt as though she was going to faint. She clutched his arm and asked in feeble voice,
“What is going to happen now?” Her body was shaking.
“Who can say? Let us see. Don’t be afraid. We have nothing to do with them.” Hari put one arm around and held her tight.
Meantime the officer shouted into the loudspeaker, “We know who you are. We have surrounded the building and blocked all escaped routes. I advise you to surrender immediately. Can you hear me ?”
There was no response. The apartment was dark and silent.
The officer repeated the same thing twice and when there was no response he shouted.
Then to those standing in balconies in the opposite building. “You all go inside. Please do not stand there.”
They all rushed in and shut the doors. He looked at his watch and started counting time. After three minutes of agonizing wait, he ordered,
“Attack.”
The door of the fourth floor apartment crashed with a bang. Then came the sound of heavy boots and exchange shots. There were two chilling cries followed by total silence for the next few moments.
Sahana held Hari tightly and buried her face on his chest. She was shivering. There were two dying cries. What happened to the third?
Suddenly the balcony door burst open and the young man with beard rushed out with a coil of
thick nylon rope, rapidly tied one end to the railing and holding an automatic pistol in one hand, started sliding down . Immediately, the commands also ran to the balcony and aimed their guns at him. The officer below ordered not to shoot . Probably he wanted to catch the young man alive. He ordered the policemen on the ground to stand around the rope and catch him, before he touched the ground.
The bearded young man was sliding down the rope. He gripped the rope in one hand with legs entwined around. In other hand he held the pistol and shouted that he would shoot anyone come near him and try to catch him. He slid down very fast like a professional performer.
“Well trained.” Hari commented.
Sahana clutching watched the young man with frightened eyes. Silently she prayed,
“Oh my God, please let him escape. His parents, brothers and sisters are probably all waiting for him to return home. They maybe innocent people and do not know what is happening here at this moment. God please let him not meet a tragic end, at such young age. Please, please!”
He was then just about fifteen feet from the ground. Policemen rushed to the dangling rope. The young man pointed his pistol at them and shouted,
“I warn you again not to try catch me. Get away.”
The policemen did not move. The young man just aimed and fired a shot at them.
It hit one policemen in the shoulder and he fell down bleeding. He fired two more shots. One missed and the other hit another one in the arm. The police tried to grab him when he was almost touching the ground. But when he started shooting randomly, injuring two more, they were ordered to shoot. The bullet hit him directly in the chest and he fell with a thud, blood soaking his blue vest.
His eyes were still open and to Sahana, he seemed to be looking at her. He smiled feebly and with a sigh closed the eyes. His head tilted to one side. Sahana let out a shriek and clutching Hari buried her face on his chest.
It was not dark anymore. The eastern sky was now glowing red, waiting for the sun to rise. In the bedroom Sucji was still sleeping.
The ambulance arrived with sirens and a red light on the top. Hurriedly they left with
The wounded and dead. Police and press photographers were busy taking photos. Next the TV people appeared on the scene and started to record what was happening there .Then came the forensic and investigation experts, who interviewed some people and went up to the fourth apartment.
Police guards were posted at the entrance and no one , including residents was allowed to go out or come without a check. Few curios onlookers still hung around.
Hari held Sahana tenderly and said, “Let us go in, there is nothing much to see now.” He felt sorry for her. Poor girl. She had never witnessed such violence. It was horrible. It was a good thing that Sucji was sleeping. Slowly he closed the balcony door.
Sahana looked pale and dazed. She silently sat on the sofa for sometime and then went to the washbasin and thoroughly washed her face, and slowly sipped the other. She felt a bit better right now.
She told Hari to bathe and get ready for the office. Hari looked at her for sometime, and then asked a bit hesitantly, “Are you alright? What a horrible scene you have seen this morning. If you want , I can stay home today to accompany you.”
“No, no. I am perfectly all right. I shall go out with Sucji now. Then Meena will come. Then I shall cook and go and get Sucji. Don’t worry. You need not miss office just for me.
She glanced at the wall clock. It was the time to go to the kitchen, prepare some food, and pack Hari’s lunch and Sucji’s Tiffin box, wake Sucji up, bathe her and change her dress and help her with her shoes and school bag and lay the breakfast table, take Sucji to school and return back alone. Then, she would once again make her daily cup of hot coffee and sit alone, watching TV. Sahana would not go to the balcony from today.
She knew that whatever little diversion she had for the past few days was now gone forever and would never return. It would be the same routine tomorrow, and then the day after, then the next, and the next. She did not know for how long.