The Unwed Mom: A Hidden Truth That Changed Everything
A Quiet Evening and a Hidden Secret
Milu heard footsteps along the passage outside the window, moving towards the door. Ma was back early this evening, she thought. Then she realised that it was a Saturday, therefore a half day at the private school where her mother taught. As far as Milu, a medical student in her final year, was concerned, she was back home for the holidays. She hurriedly put the thick envelope with the photo of that handsome man back inside the leather suitcase, on top of the pile of letters and other things tied with a pink string.
The bell rang inside. Though shell-shocked, she still had the good sense to get up from the sofa.
“Hold on a sec, Ma. I’ll open it in no time,” Milu cried out, pushing the leather suitcase back under the bed. She was aware of her hand shaking as she shot her hand up to the latch and pulled it down.
Hi, Ma. How was your day?” she asked, wrapping her arms around her mother.
Looking visibly exhausted, Sunita smiled at her normally bubbly daughter. Then, having disengaged herself, she handed the sidebag to her.
“I’ll put the kettle on while you wash up, Ma,” Milu told her. Sunita cast a look in the direction of the altar to silently thank God. Milu, her daughter, was a blessing for her, a joy to be around. What would she have done without her? How could she have struggled through life without Milu? she wondered as she headed to the bathroom.
Memories That Didn’t Add Up
In the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil, Milu found her mind wavering back to the photo. Why did Ma keep her graduation results a secret? It was not that she was a bad student. In fact, having looked at her Part-I marks, Milu now understood why Didun (maternal grandmother) would tell her stories whenever she accompanied Ma to Kharagpur.
Pulling Milu towards her bed and making her sit on her lap, Didun would exclaim:
The Suitcase Beneath the Bed
A Conversation from the Heart
“Your mother was an obedient daughter and a good student, just like you. I never received any complaints about her during her student life. She used to get high marks in English till her last year at college.”
Did Milu imagine the sigh escaping from Didun, or was it real?
I decided to keep you at any cost.
“She was a good sportsperson as well. In high school, she was even selected for the District Athletics Team. She preferred Roma, who is now an officer at SBI, to represent her school instead,” Didun concluded as the maid brought her a steaming mug of Horlicks.
Later, when Milu pressed her mother about her college days, especially her selection to the District Athletics Team, Sunita tried to avoid the topic on one pretext or another. But finding Milu persistent, she finally quipped, “Roma’s a long-distance runner just like me. Unlike me, she was serious about her career. Had I decided to join the 1500-meter event from our district, Roma would have sat back.” Sunita paused briefly, possibly reminiscing about her college days. “Besides, she came from a needy family. I was really proud of her when she was offered the SBI job under the sports quota from our college.”
The Suitcase Under the Bed
That Saturday, while cleaning the room as directed by her mother, Milu chanced upon the leather suitcase under the bed. She was dusting when the hand broom slipped from her hand and rolled under the bed.
As Milu held up the corner of the bed cover to look for the broom, she caught a glimpse of the small rectangular suitcase tucked between the wall and the giant tin box. Milu had never seen it before. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she knelt down and craned her head under the bed.
When she opened the suitcase, she found all sorts of things—a small embroidered frock, some silverware, a pile of letters, a toy dining table with two pairs of tiny sea-green chairs, and a ribboned packet containing half a dozen tiny sparkling bottles. She was so taken by the showpiece wine bottles that she nearly missed the big square envelope lying at the bottom.
That’s how she found the marksheets and the photo. Ma was a good student. Why did she drop out of college after the second year of the three-year Honours course in English? Milu knew she couldn’t broach the topic directly. With Didun gone, there was no one else who could answer the questions that nearly drove her insane.
A Mother’s Fear
After Sunita had tucked the blanket tightly around her daughter, who had fallen asleep, she switched off the tube light and turned on the dim light. Something about the way the tin box was kept under the bed caught her eye.
At first, everything looked neat and clean. She bent down to take a closer look. In the semi-darkness, something behind the tin box caught her attention.
What was that peeking out from the leather suitcase? She distinctly remembered hiding it well. Silently, Sunita bent down and pulled the suitcase out.
She knew, even before opening it, that her daughter had seen what she had tried to hide all these years. What she had dreaded had finally happened.
The Question That Changed Everything
The next morning, at breakfast, both mother and daughter looked uneasy. Missing were the usual hugs and smiles. Finally, Milu spoke.
Ma, why didn’t you tell me you scored well in your second year but left college?
Sunita looked pained.
Milu, more hurt than angry, asked the question that followed:
Did your college days have anything to do with the father I never met?
The Truth Revealed
The colour drained from Sunita’s face. It was time.
“I was in my first year when I completely fell for Ayan. When his parents learned that I was pregnant, they refused to accept me. They called me characterless. I was only in my fourth week of pregnancy then,” she whispered.
Milu remained silent.
“When he chose to listen to his parents and asked me to abort the child… I decided to keep you at any cost. I was ready to raise you alone. Didun was my biggest support during that time,” Sunita said, her voice breaking.
A Bond Beyond Words
As Sunita wiped her tears and tried to smile, Milu wrapped her arms around her and pulled her closer.
About The Author
One Comment
Rathin Bhattacharjee
Dear January Chapters,
Thank you so much for the publication of my story. Despite my initial hesitation, I understand now that the story reads better this way. Thank you for the photos as well.
I sincerely hope and pray that our association and friendship proves a long-lasting and impactful one in the days to come.
Thanks again and all the best wishes.