The Value Of A Family

Venu is such a guy at home that he chooses to prefer serving the society and friends, keeping family at stake. With respect to money/property/ time and health, he never bothers the condition at home, neither his mother corrects him in this because she falls for flattering, and people get their tasks done with these two. But at least after getting married to a girl and having kids, he needs to change his behavior. His wife, who is unaware of this nature of him, always used to suffer due to lack of money and could never really understand what's happening with her money or her family; neither could dare to ask him because, on the first front, Venu, as a person, is so good and on the other hand, if his friends or mother corrupt him, becomes adamant and keeps screaming at wife without listening to her. This way, he made her and his kids suffer many times, but is never bothered about their well-being.

It so happened one day after spending his entire salary on two of his friends for their entertainment, he is left with nothing. Unfortunately, Venu's wife Kavitha had some medical emergencies that month and is unable to save a single penny, on which Venu felt, he could rely upon. On arriving at home, and finding no money with Kavitha, he has become furious and started shouting, without even listening to what happened to her money or to her and least bothering about kids and their school fees.

The next day, on seeing bills in her bag and she consuming some medicine, he became a little concerned and inquired about her health. Feeling pleased with the change in him from night to morning, she had excitedly spoken out regarding the problem she has been undergoing overages and years and how she finally had consulted a doctor at the office as she became sick suddenly when in a meeting, and how she was being treated by the doctor there. Ideally, insurance would cover everything but since it is on priority, without waiting for papers and all, her colleagues had helped her on the spot with money for medicine and treatment, for which she had repaid as soon as she has got her salary. She also tried to convince him she was about to say this last night with the same issue, and Venu has become cool all at once. At this moment, his mother had begun dialogues that had enraged Venu. She started saying that unnecessarily Kavita had spent money and that too on her personal issue, without bothering about integrity. Poor Kavita couldn't speak as she couldn't really understand how come spending something for herself is breaking the togetherness while her husband can spend it for someone else's luxury and entertainment. She remained silent, as usual.

Since it is Saturday, the weekend, Venkat has left out of home, after shouting at his wife listening to his Mother. Unable to decide to leave to which place to feed himself for breakfast, (ignoring family's condition at home), he simply had left to one of his friend's home whom he had given his salary the previous day, usually, he has a habit of calling anyone to whose house he's going that time, but this time, out of frustration, he really had forgotten to give a ring.

While he has been going through the staircase, he had accidentally heard some conversation. Though he knew it won't be good if someone sees him doing eavesdropping, he couldn't ignore to leave from there without listening to the full conversation. His friend, Ramesh and his wife Rani have been speaking with each other.

Rani: Ramesh, I remember you telling last week that this month you will not have anything remaining in your salary as we are into some debts. But how did you manage to get us this much luxury now, this new TV and the A/C and ordered this costly food home today...

Ramesh: Oh poor Rani, we need not be bothered until our Venu is there. Poor guy, once we tell him that he's the only genuine guy we have ever come across, he will bend for flattering. Even before that, if we say we are in trouble, despite thinking whether we're truthful and honest or not, he will simply lend every penny of his.

Rani: Ohh no! But that's not good. Isn't it?

Ramesh: Of course yes, but do you want ethics or enjoyment? Money or Morales??

Rani:...

Ramesh: You try, just say once to him that you are not able to do all alone, the domestic work. He will send his wife without a second thought. You know, to get out work done, we often keep bullying in various manners that his wife isn't going according to his mom. Of course, you are also the same way but here playing the pawns is what matters. We keep hiding our matters and project our family as integrated and keep him distant from his family, and shower a little sympathy towards him. We wouldn't stop there, we would direct him on how to align his wife with his mom. This would pacify his mom and make him feel we're concerned about him and are helping him. So his mother would take care of us and he will be running behind us.

Rani: You're so talented, it's okay, so hereafter, I will never be bothered about money, we can have luxuries at the cost of their family's necessity and health, education, etc. Hahhaa...

On listening to this, he didn't anymore feel like to get into their house nor to meet anyone else but turned back and kick-started his bike, straightly heading towards his home. Hearing him starting the bike, Ramesh had come out running to check from the first floor itself, looking down, if Venkat has come there but couldn't find him. By this time, Ramesh's child has accidentally dialed to Venkat's number, that's on the top of the dialed list of Ramesh's phone, as it's a touch screen, immediately the call has been placed, and Venkat, though is with anger, had lifted the call. Not knowing this, Ramesh and Rani started to speak again.

Rani: What happened? Why did you rush out?

Ramesh: Just heard Venkat's bike's kick sound, so got a doubt if he has come here.

Rani: So is he there?

Ramesh: If so, he would have come here, and of course, he won't come without calling. Highly ethical person. You know, right?

Rani: Of course, yes, but (in a low and sinking tone) what if he has come here and listening to our words, he has left...

Ramesh: Oh poor Rani, come on, just now we had spoken na, he is highly ethical, he won't come without calling and he wouldn't overhear someone speaking.

Rani: Ha, true... but what if in the future, this kind of scenario you encounter with?

Ramesh: Nothing, we will just go to his mother and pamper her, showering sympathy towards her that how much she has been bearing and suffering from her daughter-in-law and kids. She will drive the rest. His mother is our biggest tool and weapon and his wife and kids are our scapegoats. Hahhaa...

On hearing all this, and unable to hear more, Venkat himself had disconnected the call. Watching light glow on his mobile screen, Ramesh had picked it up from his kid and identified a call has been placed to Venkat and it was ON for some time. But, he is not sure whether Venkat has heard it or not. So, he updated his wife on the same and started to Venkat's home, to check how the condition there is.

By the time Venkat is at his home, his mother, eating away the last piece of tiffin in her plate, kept on scolding her daughter-in-law for spending money and time for herself despite saving it for the family, and poor Kavitha had been trying to console the kids who are pathetically crying due to hunger. His heart melted down on seeing this, and just then, back to him, Ramesh had reached this house, parking his bike. Venkat, who was about to say something to his wife regarding kids and food, was interrupted by Ramesh, who came in saying, "Good Day Aunty! Are you fed with breakfast, or are you starving because your daughter-in-law usually gets up late on weekend, stating she's an employee (this is not true, Venkat himself is a witness for this!) and that she needs rest on holidays! My wife had got up early and though she didn't have a servant maid at least, although she's an employee, and had prepared this for you. Saying this, he had opened a box with some tiffin in it, and out of excess hunger and in a hurry to satisfy Ramesh, and to project to Venkat how pathetic her condition is at home, Venkat's mother has grabbed the tiffin box and asked Ramesh why didn't he bring his wife here while he's brought the tiffin. Ramesh responded, stating, you know na aunty, she's least bothered about credit to her or to come outside, she keeps doing some or the other task at home without taking rest, and I have brought it to you. By this time, already the children's cry was at peaks, and again Ramesh, in an irritation tone and face, started speaking, with an expression that he's trying to control his anger, that the kids are really mischevious and that he really doesn't know how the aunt, who is elder, and Venkat himself, who's always tired at office completing many commitments, is really bearing this torture. Kavita felt enraged but she knew that if she responds it will be in vain. Already her kids' hunger is bothering her and she has taken more words and pains than this right from the day of her marriage. So, she remained silent. Taking this as a chance, Ramesh and Venkat's mother had started hurting more.

Now whether Venkat changes and secures his wife and kids or not, only destiny and these poor peoples' fate should decide, because the phrases like "All is well that ends well", and "they lived happily ever after/thereafter", happens only in fairy tales but not in real lives. In the real-life story which I have witnessed and written in this story, Venkat hasn't changed.