Facing Life’s Challenges
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Facing Life’s Challenges
Sheela and Kiran were classmates during their graduation. They are residing in the same colony. Sheela was whitish in colour, tall, lean, with a straight nose, bright, beaming eyes, and smiling lips. She looked beautiful in the salwar-kameez dress. Kiran was brownish, well-built and handsome.
Sheela helped Kiran with her class notes and clears his doubts about the subjects. Sheela’s father was a retired primary school teacher and her mother was a homemaker. Kiran’s old-age parents were from an agricultural family and lived in their village.
Sheela passed her under graduation in first class with distinction and Kiran in second class. The IT industry was in the developing stage and a large number of computer professionals were in demand. Sheela and Kiran joined a computer training institute to improve their employment prospects in the IT field. Sheela went daily to the computer institute on Kiran’s motorbike. Their friendship blossomed, and soon they got married with the consent of their parents.
Sheela got a job in a multinational IT company. They were living happily in a rented house. One day Kiran developed a problem in the stomach. They consulted a local doctor and used medicines. It did not subside. Sheela took him to the specialists. Diagnostic tests confirmed cancer. Doctors advised the treatment in the USA.
On hearing about Kiran’s cancer, Sheela was heartbroken. She had never been to the USA or her parents. No one known to her was working in the USA. Kiran’s parents had no idea of the USA. They even had no passports.
Sheela started the process of applying for passports and then the Visa to the USA, which was very challenging. She requested her company to post her in their head office in New York and they accepted her request. With this posting, she took Kiran to New York.
Sheela got Kiran treated by specialists. Doctors confirmed that the cancer was at the last but one stage. Later they operated and removed certain affected parts. Kiran was hospitalized for one more week. Afterwards, they advised intravenous injections to be taken every three weeks at the hospital under supervision.
It takes a full day for the intravenous injection process to complete. There were lady assistants to help with the process from admission, bed allotment, administering injections, checking frequently, and informing the concerned doctor in case of a problem. This went on for six months and later frequent checkups with the specialist every fortnight for another six months.
Sheela worked overtime for paying Kiran’s hospital expenses.
Kiran was soon cured of the cancer with the care and concern of Sheela.
When he was in the hospital and during visits, Kiran came in contact with a lady assistant Jennie helping him. Jennie used to help him get up from the bed, take h take him to the washroom and let him sleep on the bed. She supplied him with magazines for reading or sat by his side discussing New York and America. Whenever he felt difficulty, she called the doctor to check on him.
Jennie was a young, local American, stout, short, and attractive. She was taking care of Kiran in all aspects. In the process, Kiran and Jennie developed an attraction for each other. Jennie proposed to Kiran, that, they live together. Kiran gladly accepted thinking that he can settle down in the USA.
After going to the USA Sheela gave birth to a girl child.
Kiran started visiting Jennie at her house when Sheela worked day and night to pay for his medical expenses. When Sheela inquired, he said he was in search of a job. Sheela trusted Kiran blindly and never doubted him. One day after his complete recovery, Kiran announced that he is leaving Sheela forever.
Sheela was in shock. She told Kiran in an angry and distressed mood “See my dear husband, I brought you to the USA for your cancer treatment. I have no interest in coming to the USA except for your sake. In this new country, the only person on whom I am hoping for my future and that is you Kiran and only you. If you desert me at this stage, what is my future? What shall I do? I have put all my hopes of life on you and you only and came to the USA. I wanted to return to India after your recovery but today you decided to cheat me and leave me forever. I never expected such behaviour from my husband.
I spent all my time and fortune for the sake of treating you. I came to the USA facing all the difficulties single-handedly, worked overtime to earn for your treatment, and today you desert me in this unknown country.
Is this the punishment you are imposing on a woman, with a loving, caring and helping heart?”
Kiran did not answer Sheela, kept quiet and left the house to stay with Jennie.
Sheela hoped that Kiran would support her and they would have their own house, and lead a beautiful life with children, in India after his recovery.
It took a few months for Sheela to recover from the shock. When she came to the USA, she was young and immature in understanding men and society. Sheela was determined to face the challenges of life alone, with courage and confidence. She resolved to develop herself and bring up her child.
Sheela concentrated on her job, learned new technologies in the computer field and rose to the level of CEO of a company in the USA. She got her daughter ‘Padmapriya’ educated up to PG.
Padmapriya started working in a software company. She knew of her father’s cheating and hated him.
Sheela invited Kiran to the wedding ceremony of Padmapriya. She lavishly celebrated the wedding ceremony. Kiran was jealous of the grandeur of the ceremony. He was nowhere near her either in social or financial status. Padmapriya did not care for Kiran.
Kiran felt sorry for leaving Sheela a beautiful, loving, intelligent and caring woman.
He asked Sheela, “Please excuse me for my mistake of leaving you and I want to live with you from now onwards. Please accept my proposal.”
Before Sheela could answer, Padmapriya intervened and told Kiran “My mother brought you to America, struggled for your recovery from death due to cancer, took care of me, educated me, and lead a lonely life, all these years, in this unknown country. I never felt the dearth of a father till today. We lived happily for the past 25 years without you. All these years you never enquired about your daughter or your wife. Today after seeing our social and financial status, you are revoking old relationships, for your greed and hunger for money. Mr Kiran, these are my mother’s earnings with her sincerity, devotion to duty, intelligence and hard work. Do you still think that we need you? I still want to thank you for making my mom and I, face the challenges of life and society with pride and confidence.”
Padmapriya turned facing Kiran with folded hands, “Kiran ji to tell you frankly, you have no place in our hearts. We do not need you. Thank you.” And she showed her right-hand forefinger towards the exit door.
Kiran felt sorry for leaving Sheela and his daughter Padmapriya.
Filled with tears in her eyes, Sheela felt proud of Padmapriya for having understood her difficulties all these years and hugged her. The bridegroom was fully appreciative of Padmapriya’s words, he hugged and kissed her.
Prabhakar M