My Son

Shailaja was about to leave that day. She bid good bye to all. She got blessings from Sudan ma. Gayathri gave her haldi and kum kum with a eversilver tray and a Saree . Anu gave her a small watch as present. Anu was in tears . later that evening she got a good news from Arjun that they are moving to a New Delhi in two weeks. Now Anu was overjoyed. Everyone were happy at home as there was a salary hike. Gayathri told Anu was a lucky girl and was very happy for her son as they are going to lead their lives them selves and become more responsible people. Anu too wanted a transfer , but she didn't get it.so gave notice and she was asked to relieve in two days. Packing work started. Anu's mom prepared her a recipe book , little chillies powder, dhania powder etc. Gayathri too prepared chillies powder for her. Sudha ma gave Anu a silver lamp.

 

It was time for their flight so Any and Arjun took leave from all. Anu was happy that she achieved privacy at last from a big group of people at home. She can cook, she can serve her husband , Arjun and herself can watch tv in the hall on Friday late night with out interruption saying its not good for health to sleep late at night by her father in law .
Arjun can help her in cutting veges. She had lots of dreams. A month went great with both of them cherishing their new nuclear family freedom. In the second month Anu started trying for job.
But the jobs she got were far from her present home. So she thought she can wait for the right job with in 10 km radius. Meanwhile she started feeling lonely during the day time . She talks in Skype to her mom and mother in law. Sudha ma asked if there was any good news. Anu simply smiled .
She started missing her in-laws home and told herself she could have stayed there itself as she never felt lonely there. In a few days she got a job which is only half an hour by bus.
Her job time was 8 Am to 7 pm. She starts by 7 in morning and reaches at 7.45 pm. Walking to and fro to bus stop etc made her tired during week days. Though Arjun helped her she had lots of work and tension to keep the office timing which made her sick sometimes with body pain . Arjun's office timing was little flexible , and moreover he was in a managerial role , so he got his office car to pick up and drop him. Second time she thought she made a big mistake by coming far away from a supportive family. But she was determined to go through this face. She was adamant to come out , now she wanted to take up the responsibility .

 

Six months went by, Anu became pregnant. Everyone back home were happy. Anu wanted to visit everyone as she felt little homesick and had morning sickness. Anu took 15 days unpaid leave.They flew to their place. Gayathri was happy to receive them. Sudha ma hugged her and blessed Arjun and Anu. Gayathri told she wanted a grand daughter. Anu's mom came to take her to her home for a week. Arjun was to leave in 4 days. So Anu told her mom that she would come once Arjun leaves to Delhi. 4 days went with laughter and long chats, watching movies etc as a family etc. Sudha ma too liked thriller movies. Gayathri made healthy food for Anu. Anu was in tears and told she missed all of them and good food of Gayathri back in Delhi. Gayathri consoled her saying that it was how a girl's life is destined to be. She is the queen of her family. Every woman has to take the responsibility of building her home.

 

The next day Arjun left and Anu went to her mom's home. She was pampered. Her relatives came to see her with foods she like dand sweets, gifts etc. She talked with her mom and went to nearby shopping mall . Her mom bought her a Saree. She too gifted a watch to her mom.
The talk regarding her baby shower to be held in her 7th month and that too in a grand manner came up. Anu wanted a simple one though. With all the happy talks Anu's parents were happy for her .
Anu's mom expressed her satisfaction of having got a good life partner for her and that too in a nuclear family.
Anu's face turned little dark and she told how she felt lonely and how good she was in her joint family. Anu's mom consoled her saying it is a norm to be in nuclear family now a days. She can't expect everyone to be around her always.
This will give her the upper head in the family else she should be always submissive to in-laws , in her case her mom in law 's mother in law too. But Anu said she likes all of them. Her mom told sternly that this shifting to Delhi is good for her and she will understand later .
Now Anu turned up to her dad for advice. Anu thought she can again shift to her native here where her parents and in-laws both stay. Her dad understood her and told her that since the relocation was her choice and there was a lot of plan associated with it, now uprooting it ,is not feasible. She needs to go with the flow. Her aunty and mom had a different life , they are advising her based on their experience.
Anu is educated . she should have weighed her life along with pros and cons of joint family which should be. Only based on her experience in the home. Since they were good and she liked them, she could have waited a bit rather then rushing up . But this all happened and everyone are happy with the arrangement , so now disturbing this. can be overwhelming for her husband . Getting a transfer is not easy. So he adviced her to move on.