“Sharade”… Venu Mash didn’t hear the answer and looked back.. When I started walking, she was with me like a shadow.. Where did she go now? Venu Mash looked around nervously.. “Mash.. wait..” Sarada ran after wiping her face with a saree. Where are you going?” Teacher Sarada blushed and lowered her face at Venu Mash’s reply.. while walking holding Venumash’s hand, the teacher asked “Does Mash remember the first time he met me?” “How can you forget all that? Seeing you, calling you and starting life in a way that makes anyone jealous… and our children too… Unable to complete the rest, Venu Mash looked into the distance.. “What is this, ma’am… what is wrong with the children? They are capable and efficient. Aren’t they living a good life?” They live with a good family and a job. When we realize that they are a liability to our children, we move away.. That’s it..” Even though his eyes were filled with tears, Venu Mash didn’t see Sarada teacher and turned away..
“We thought that they would take care of us in our old age.. But when we realized that they didn’t, we thought that they would leave us at least in an old age home.. My daughter-in-law started being stingy even in giving us medicine and food.. I never thought that he would tell us to leave the house in the end, Sarade… because they are raising us too…” “Mache…” Sarada’s teacher called as a warning.. “How can you forgive them, Sarada?” “Mash didn’t you say? That’s the reason.. No mother can curse her children except me.” “Your hands feel very warm.” Before he could finish speaking, Sarada had already left Venumash’s hands. Venu Mash didn’t know what was happening.
People are standing at the intersection.. One person is narrating things from the middle of the crowd.. “I saw them when I went to the rubber plantation in the morning.. When I saw them lying down I remembered that they must be some beggars.. When I came back they were still lying in the same way.. What do you want to see my lady..” “Haven’t you seen them anywhere in this country? Do you know when and what? Didn’t Mahesh go with you? Did you call…” One of the locals said to the person who was standing nearby.. After a few minutes of phone calls, the one who came back told the others who were also standing. She died earlier.. It was an attack.. The woman said that she had taken poison and now she has opened her eyes. Oh, and where did you get the poison from?” The soul of one of the locals prepared a way for everyone to think.. Someone’s phone buzzed as a shackle to their thoughts.. “Really. He called me while talking on the phone and said, “That woman is also dead..Mohana, aren’t you the one who saw it first and informed the police?” Don’t leave here, the police are coming here.” But why would they? The locals continued to discuss..
Venu Mash has not taken a single step from the place where Sarada Teacher disappeared a while ago.. He sees a shadow there. The face is not clear.. Yes Sarada.. “Sarade…” Venu mash called as loud as possible “Mash… Sarada teacher ran like a little boy and came to Venumash’s side.. “Are they trying hard to hold my life there..” Venu mash before saying the rest. Mash held the teacher close to her.. Chukki ran her fingers through the teacher’s hair and asked, “Are you still going back?” “I don’t want to go back, Masha.” Saying that, Venumash didn’t feel that Sarada teacher was disappointed at all.. Her decision was right. When I got down and walked for a long distance, I felt a chest pain.. I finally saw the face of Sarada who was crying because she couldn’t bear my death even though she had decided to die.. Soon after she also arrived. As she said, let the children live comfortably… Venu Mash was awakened from his thoughts by a question from the teacher, “Really, where is this walk going? “Venu Mash held teacher Sharad and said, “Don’t you see a light? All those who are going there are going there… and we too..” Like an obedient child, Sarada teacher walked along with Venumash..
Not knowing the time and the evening, they kept walking. “Is there still a lot to walk? Can you ask someone? Don’t you see anyone here who knows?” Looking at the person walking in front of him, Teacher Sarada lowered his voice and said, “You can’t believe just one person.” Venumash smiled and understood the meaning of that smile.
Content Summary: Malayalam Short Story written by Meenu Rajan