REVELATION- A SHORT STORY

Vanessa walked into the club house of her apartment .She was very new to the place, had just moved in, and this was her first residents meeting there. She looked around to see anyone she could befriend and her eyes alighted on a lady clad in a pink salwar. She smiled at her and the other lady smiled back hesitantly.

Being a naturally friendly person, Vanessa decided to sit next to the lady and try making friends with her.

“Hi, I am Vanessa; I am in B Block, 3 rd floor.”

“Hi, Iam Paddy, I too am in B block, but on the 4^th floor’.

They exchanged pleasantries, and they found out to their surprise that both their daughters had the same name. Paddy’s child was just in the 5^th while Vanessa’s was completing her Masters.

After introducing their husbands to each other, they promised to keep in touch and took leave after the meeting.

A week later, , Vanessa felt lonely waiting at home for her husband. Her daughter had been her best friend but now she was miles away at Pune and suddenly, while sitting at her desk at home, she felt very lonely and felt like reaching out to someone. Her new found buddy Paddy came to mind. They had exchanged numbers the other day and Vanessa decided to ping her.

Paddy answered on the second ring-“ah! Vanessa, I am a little busy right now, I will call you back in a while, let’s go veggie shopping’.

“Ok Paddy, let’s do that”- Vanessa smiled.

Slowly, as days rolled on, Vanessa and Paddy became good friends. Vanessa was a voracious reader, loved watching movies but Paddy just loved to talk, and talk she did, all the time, very loudly. It was mostly about her husband, her family and how she was very proud of the fact that her husband was a senior official in the UNO, and so on.

Even though Vanessa felt claustrophobic at times talking to Paddy, she kept her cool and was very tolerant about her.

Things came to a head one day when Paddy barged in on Vanessa.

“Van, you must come home, we have bought new furniture. And here’s some foreign shampoo for you. Iam sure you don’t get to have any foreign products to use since your hubby is in the media here”.

Even though Vanessa felt her temper rise, she managed to stave off sharp words in order not to offend her.

“Pads, I really don’t want these. My hubby has been travelling extensively on tours all over the world, and foreign goods do not hold any special allure for me”.

Paddy just smirked and walked off.

A week later, Paddy invited Vanessa out for lunch. While returning, Paddy asked-“How much does your hubby earn? I am sure he earns 2 lak per month. I just won’t allow my hubby to work in India. What do they pay here? Just a pittance. How can anyone live like this in India earning just 1 0r 2 laks? When we were married he was working for the CBI and it was me who pushed him off abroad.”

Vanessa was a patriotic soul and it hurt her sentiments to listen to Paddy. From then on, she devised excuses to avoid meeting Paddy. When Paddy asked her out, she politely declined.

One evening, Paddy dropped in at Vanessa‘s place. Over tea, Paddy opined,’ Vans, I have noticed that you are very careful in your spending.”

“Yes, I am, Paddy, I don’t believe in splurging and wasting money”.

“You know something, Vans, My brother also feels so. He is one happy soul who is content working for a pittance in India. He has a small flat that he owns, he is happy that his kid studies well, and he has a car. That‘s it. I asked him point blank, that once he retires, how is he gonna live? He might get his daughter married off with the money we throw at him but then what happens after that? I am happy that my hubby is working abroad and that I have enough and more to spend”.

Vanessa felt disgusted listening to this soliloquy. She felt that Paddy had stooped so low to be making such remarks about her own brother. Indeed, Vanessa knew Paddy’s brother was well settled in a good job right here in Chennai.

“Paddy, I don’t think you should be speaking about your brother that way. He has a good job, and he is well settled in life. Stop making derisive remarks about others.”

‘What derisive remark? Let me tell you, once he retires he won’t even have money to feed himself!”

Vanessa felt sick to her stomach, but thankfully, her hubby walked in and Paddy made her graceful exit.

Months passed by, and except for a cursory hello, Vanessa decided to stay clear of Paddy.

Once while discussing Paddy with her psychologist friend Ann, the latter was intrigued and wanted to meet Paddy. Since Ann was dropping in to have lunch at home the next day, Vanessa promised to take her to Paddy’s place.

The next day, before Ann dropped by, Vanessa rang Paddy on her mobile.

“Hi Pads, how are you? I have a friend who is dropping in for lunch... Why don’t you join us too?”

“Hmm.. no Vans, I don’t think I will.. I am busy’.

“Ok, if you are busy, can I bring her over to your place? After lunch?”

“Ok, do come’.

After a fruitful afternoon of chatting, laughing and having lunch, Ann and Vanessa decided to drop in at Paddy’s place.

Paddy welcomed them warmly. Once seated, Paddy asked Ann, “So, tell me about your hubby. What does he do?”

Ann was amused by her question and with a smile curling at her lips, replied,’ Paddy, ask me first about myself. I am a psychologist. My hubby is a film director.”

Paddy’s face flushed in excitement.” Wow! Vans, you never told me that your friend’s hubby is a film director! I would have definitely come to your place for lunch”.

Noticing how shallow Paddy could be, after the initial pleasantries, they took leave.

“Well, what do you think of her?’ – asked Vanessa.

“Isn’t it obvious? She is pretty shallow. I just hope that life doesn’t hand out a blow to teach her a lesson”.

Months later, Vanessa got a call from Siba, a neighbor and a common friend.

“Vanessa, did you know? Paddy’s hubby had a cerebral hemorrhage and is critically ill and in ICU”.

Vanessa was shocked. Paddy’s husband is a truly nice person with no airs or attitude, a down to earth, good human being.

 She frantically dialed Paddy’s number but it kept ringing. Early next morning, she rang again, and this time, it was Paddy’s brother on the line.

‘What happened to Paddy’s husband Jo? I just came to know yesterday.”

Her brother replied in somber tones-“Jo was returning to Chennai from Kerala when he had a stroke on the train. He has been hospitalized unconscious for over a week. Doctors have given him just 1 percent chance of survival. He has been placed on the ventilator.”

It was a sad day for everyone at the apartment, especially for Vanessa and her family. However shallow Paddy had been, her husband Jo had been great friends with both Vanessa and her husband Harry. They had shared moments of great camaraderie

Vanessa refused to believe that Jo would not survive and for the entire day and night, she spent in prayers. She spoke to her sister and all those who had known Paddy and Jo and asked them to fervently pray for Jo.

Vanessa got up very early  the next day and with great trepidation, called Paddy’s brother.

“He has been taken off the ventilator. It’s nothing short of a miracle, but the worst is over. Now we just have to wait patiently for him to recover and regain all his faculties”- Paddy’s brother informed Vanessa.

She felt weak with relief. Every day, she continued to pray for Paddy’s family and for the two young children of hers. Every week she diligently called Paddy’s brother and asked about Jo. He was indeed on the road to recovery.

Months after Jo was discharged from the hospital, Paddy dropped in at Vanessa’s place.

On seeing Paddy, Vanessa rushed to hug her and Paddy collapsed crying into her arms.

“Vans, I have learnt my lesson, a very hard lesson; remember how I used to look down on others? On my brother? Now he is my sole pillar of strength. Jo can’t work for at least two years, and after that, God knows... But I am happy; it’s my brother and mom who are supporting me. I have realized that life is not about earning in laks, it’s the quality of life that we should uphold.

I knew you used to disapprove of me at times, when I used to say all that, but I used to think I was above all of you. I’m partly to blame for Jo’s illness. Despite knowing that he had high BP, I neglected his health and was focused only on him working and earning a fat pay packet abroad. Now I just want him to recover and be normal again. I don’t even care what happens to my kids; whether they learn and get good jobs or anything.” – Paddy kept sobbing

Vanessa‘s heart went out to Paddy and hugging her, made her a cup of hot tea. Then she made Paddy sit down beside her and said-‘Pads, stop blaming yourself. Just be grateful that Jo is on his road to recovery. He will be fine in no time. As a mom, as a wife, you need to be strong. For your Jo. You need to motivate your kids, be there for them and see to it that they excel in studies and in life. Years later, when Jo is fine again, he will be proud of you for having been supportive and caring and inspiring in these trying times.”

Pads was silent for a while, then with tears in her eyes she hugged Vanessa and said’ Yes, Vans, I promise, I promise to do just that. Thanks for being there for me.”

Vanessa hugged her in return and said, ‘I am always there for you dear”.

by

Valsala Menon