FICTION-HELPLESS WOMAN

I came out to take the newspaper. Who is this woman, lying on the steps,, apparently asleep?

I called my wife. She was furious and shouted at her: “Who are you? Go away.”
‘Amma, I am hungry; have not eaten for two days.”
I pleaded that we give her something to eat.
So she brought some rice and curry, left over from last night. She ate it in a hurry and was about to leave. I told her to wait.
We hurriedly consulted among ourselves. We were unable to get any maid and I thought it right to try her. If we find it OK, well and good; or else, we fire her.
“Did you not notice she is pregnant?. Who will look after the children?”
“I shall put her salary in the bank.”
Reluctantly, she agreed. It will be a great relief to my wife, harassed with domestic duties and her work in the office also; so she agreed.
The woman silently went about working, cleaning dishes, washing cloths, looking after the children going to school etc. We had an outhouse, which was given to her.
We did not learn much about her. She was reluctant to speak.
In due course, she delivered twins, both boys, very cute and fair, unlike the mother, who was dark as coal. I suspected that she had been cheated by some wealthy man, or by her employer.
I engaged a woman to help her, but soon she was working as before, unmindful of my wife’s caution. She worked in other houses too, to enhance her earanings.
The boys, whom I named Lav and Kush, were bright in their studies. Kush was good in sports as well and earned scholarship money as well.
We suddenly shifted to Australia, to be with my son Ashok, who was running an educational institute. I found life there very pleasing. As a retired teacher, I could find work easily. People were friendly and cultured. It was difficult to believe that they are the descendants of criminals.
The climate is harsh and dust is every where. Inside the hose it was very clean. As usual, my wife did the house keeping.
I was curious about the Kangaroos. God’s ways are strange. This animal carries the baby in a pouch attached to its belly!
Australia is a continent, with mountains, rivers, deserts and sea shores. Every Sunday we used to go out.
My wife began pestering me, about our son’s marriage.
“He may marry some native lady; why interfere in his affairs?”
“Oh, no.” She said.
Ultimately I gave in and Ashk agreed to come with us.
At Madras airport, we were received by Lav and our daughter Nidhi, who had become slim and tall. We were returning after several years and could hardy recognize her, with her modern dress and manners! She introduced a “friend,” and my wife was visibly upset. But Lav winked, to indicate silence. He lives in Madras, in his own flat.
“Where is Kush?”
“He is in the hospital for a check up. Doctors are unable to give any opinion. He has become very weak.”
“Shall we go there, right now?”
“OK”
It was shocking. His body very emaciated and there was a strange look in his eyes.
That night we started for Thiruvanthapuram and reached home by morning.
Where is our house? Instead we found a huge mansion with several bed rooms. They had deliberately kept it a secret from us; all by Lav, who seems to have a roaring business in Madras.
His mother lay prostrate in front of my wife and touched her feet. She began to cry.
“All by your blessing! If you had driven me away, on that fateful day, we would have been beggars…”