Crucifixion

Shivram is looking at Supriya in wonderment!

Supriya, his daughter has asked him a question that has evoked mixture of emotions in him. Importantly, he did not expect such a question from twelve year old Supriya.

Supriya had come up to him this morning and asked him in a matter – of –fact tone : “daddy, I want to know the truth. Please tell me only the truth. Am I your daughter?”. Shivram was jolted. He was looking at her for a whole minute before deciding how to respond. He nevertheless hugged her kissed her on her head and said “of course darling”.

But Supriya persisted: “Then why is grand ma saying I was not born to mummy and you. I was brought from some where”.

“So, that settles the matter!” said Shivram to himself. His mother is at it again, but only difference is now she is using Supriya.

Shivram and Sumitra were married in 1994. Sumitra wanted a child as soon as possible. But as she did not conceive until 1997, they decided to consult a doctor. The tests quickly revealed that there was fibroid in Sumitra’s uterus, and that needed surgery. Soon after the surgery, a biopsy done on the tissues removed, showed traces of malignancy. This resulted in removal of Sumitra’s uterus. Sumitra was devastated. Shivram stood by her side and consoled her. He managed to convince her that they could adopt a child.

There was a problem though. Gowri, Shivram’s mother was opposed to him marrying Sumitra. There was another girl Gowri wanted Shivram to marry. Shivram had refused and gone ahead and married Sumitra. Gowri did not bother to hide her dislike for Sumitra. Sumitra was worried how her mom in law would react to this tragedy. Shivram had asked her to leave the matter to him. True to his style, one day during dinner Shivram announced, for the benefit of his mother: “ My medical reports have come today. They suggest that I have some problem with my reproductory system, and I can’t father a child”.

Sumitra cried uncontrollably. She knew Shivram was telling a lie and he was doing it to avoid Gowri branding Sumitra as “barren”. But Gowri thought, Sumitra was crying because she cant bear children! Gowri, even went to the extent of telling them to adopt a child. She suggested they adopted a child of a relative. But again Shivram decided to adopt a child from an orphanage, and thus Supriya became part of their lives.

Gowri always nursed this grudge that Shivram did not listen to her, and was looking for an opportunity to ‘break the news’ to Supriya! And now the cat is out of the bag!

Shivram sighed and told Supriya that, he had a problem and that prevented them from having children. So, the decision to adopt. He even made up a story that how Supriya came in mommy’s dreams and they tracked her down to a ‘home’ and brought her home.

Supriya hugged him tight and kissed him and dropped the other bomb shell sweetly: “ You love mommy so much! Right daddy? It was mommy who had a big growth in her tummy and she had to be operated upon. That prevented her from having children. But you don’t want anybody talking bad about mommy, and tell everyone that you had a problem. Mommy told me this today. I had gone to her to tell what grand ma told me, before I came to you”

“But I am not sad daddy. I am happy to be the daughter such nice parents, who love each other so much. I love you both so much!!” She showered him with kisses and left the room. His eyes were mosit, but his lips broke into a smile!!