Mukti, the liberated!

Mukti, the liberated!

I don’t want to be the one, who will keep waiting for her man, each day. I will make him wait for me! Those were her thoughts, as she was about to make an important declaration to her dad, the next morning. Thinking so, Mukti went to bed.

The new day dawned with lots of hopes for everyone, also for Mr. Raghuram, Mukti’s dad. He was very happy when Mukti agreed to get married to this boy whom he had proposed. Mukti wanted to talk to the guy, Ragav. Mom and Dad hesitated and Dad wanted to know what does she want to talk! Amma came with her flashback that she didn’t talk anything much to Appa but Mukti was adamant. She had decided to talk to Ragav and nothing could now stop her! Appa called Ragav’s parents and set up an appointment for the young ones to meet.

Note: Appa means Dad in Tamil and Amma is mom.

By 4pm in the evening, Mukti left for the coffee shop saying good bye to parents. By 4:30 she saw Ragav waiting for her, the moment he saw her, he gestured her a hi and offered her a seat. They both didn’t feel like having a coffee and so they left the place in 10 minutes and started walking towards the beach. Ragav asked Mukti, if she doesn’t like this coffee. She said, I am very simple person and prefer homemade filter kaapi to this rather expensive coffee to which Ragav smiled. When asked his preference, he said he did like coffee and it doesn’t matter what form it is in!

As they walked along, Ragav asked her what she needed to know from him.

Ragav: My mom said you wanted to talk to me, may I know what’s that about?

Mukti: well, I thought of clarifying certain things first, before we proceed

What are your expectations?

Ragav: well, nothing much, I want a good wife, being able to be with my parents and me and be a good mother to the kids!

Mukti: smiles and says, is that all?

Ragav: yeah, see I am earning well and I don’t expect your money to buy another apartment, if you wish to pursue something, it’s totally up to you. I wouldn’t force you and I wouldn’t discourage you from trying that you want to. Do what you love to do, but be with me.

Mukti: Blushing... Alright! I of course want to do many things in life and I wanted to know what are your thoughts! I need that support from you and your parents just like you all expect the warmth from me. I will be with you, if we can decide upon the few things:

We will stay in the same city even after wedding, I mean I will not travel abroad, may be for a holiday it’s okay but not for our living! We will stay in the same house where you are all staying now, we will adjust. I want to pursue my career, till whenever I feel like. I will share my financial details with you, just as a friend. Most importantly, I do not want a grand wedding! We’ll do it in a simple manner, can you convince your parents? If you can talk to mine, that would be great too as they would respect their future son-in-law’s words!

Ragav: Is that it?! I was so concerned! Great then.. yes, I am ok with us staying here in the same city and same house.

So, its all set, a non-typical wedding much to the contrast of these days. A close circle of relatives were invited, the wedding ceremony got over and they all had a sumptuous lunch. Everyone was happy! After all the formalities, Mukti was dropped at Ragav’s home, from now on, her home!

She enjoys being in the present and has an adaptive attitude. She entered the kitchen only to be sent away by her mother in law. Mrs. Shakuntala was very sweet and accepted when Mukti said can I call you Mami, please? I cannot call another woman as Amma and I am so reminded of her! Mrs. Shakuntala is also well educated and could understand the girl’s thoughts, it’s all what she faced some years ago and that she would want to correct some of the things, which she couldn’t accept herself.

Mukti and Ragav wake up to a sunny Monday morning and after taking bath, both come down. Ragav’s parents are waiting in the hall for them to have a family breakfast and to discuss the temple visits they need to do right after the wedding. After a medium breakfast, they all leave for the temple, 4 hrs drive by car. Once they are back, everyone is tired. Ragav asks Mukti when she should join her office to which she replies in a weeks’ time. Ragav says he has to go on Friday for an important meeting but be back in a couple of hours. Mukti says that’s okay and he can goto work.

Ragav works for an investment bank while Mukti works in IT as a developer. Soon, the weekend gets over and its time to goto work! Mukti is very happy to be back in her cubicle! Friends surrounding her, she says hows everything at home. Usual things at work, then lunch. Mukti eats with others and someone laments how its tough to manage both cooking and other chores with work! She just listens and doesn’t comment. The project is nearing the release date and so they are expected to work even more. Mukti ends up going home by 8. Everyone is eagerly waiting. Mukti freshens herself and gets to the dining table, and explains that work will be the same for another week or so as its nearing completion. Everyone understands and says its okay, you go ahead. As soon as the dinner is over, Mukti gets to bed. Ragav looks up at her and says in a friendly manner, why can’t she help his mom down with the dishes. Mukti says shes too tired and have already told Mami about it. She hits the bed and is sleeping. Ragav wasn’t feeling comfortable! He goes down into the kitchen and sees his mom clearing the dishes to be put to wash for the maid and tries to pitch in. Mrs. Shakuntala asks her son to get to bed. Ragav leaves quietly.

The next morning, Mukti leaves for office by 7 before Ragav wakes up. He asks his mom about it and she asks him to be quiet about it as its her work pressure! The whole week, both are busy and don’t get time to talk to each other. Ragav waits for Friday so that he could take her out somewhere in the weekend, but Mukti has different plans! The release is expected to happen the coming week and so the team members are asked to work in the weekend. Even though they tried to exempt Mukti, she said she will come to work. After the release work is over, Mukti gets an award for her stellar performance! She comes home very happily and shows the award to her family. She also thanks her Mami for being so understanding and not forcing her to be at home and take care of the kitchen!

The next day when Mukti’s parents come to meet them, Mukti’s mom tries to convince her as it’s not good for the daughter in law to not work and mother in law to do all the work! Mukti says, she knows it and she’ll do her best! She also says her rapport with Mrs. Shakuntala is good and that she doesn’t expect her to work! She tries to pitch in whenever she can and soon Ragav comes to take her out. She gets ready and both go out. Ragav asks her about work, its pressure and stuff and Mukti explains how she will have to do the maintenance tasks now at work. End of it, Ragav doesn’t seem happy and something troubles him. When asked what, he says he has a project now that requires him to travel to Germany for 2 weeks and she says that’s great! When he asks her to go to her moms place, she politely refuses and stays with his parents. She also says that its her responsibility to take care of them in his absence. Ragav is touched! Those two weeks, she comes back on time from work and even manages to take them both to near by temple on Friday and calls up a restaurant to deliver food for Sunday brunch. Her in-laws are very happy that they got such an understanding daughter in law! The 2 weeks stay extend to one more week and nobody at home fusses about it. End of 3 weeks, everyone is waiting for Ragav to come home. He was told how Mukti took great care of them and he was very happy! They decide to go out on a long weekend and Mukti insists everyone could go, Ragav ends up booking 3 rooms, one for them, one for his parents and the other for his in-laws.

Life moves smoothly and soon Mukti gets pregnant. She refuses to quit her work and soon a baby boy is born! She was pampered at her mom’s place and by the end of 3 months, she decides to go to work but everyone tries to stop her. She finally has to give in to another 3 months of loss of pay and by the end of 6 months, she and the baby comes back home. Mrs.Shakuntala is now very busy with the baby, the kitchen and all the chores at home. Mukti decides to join work in two weeks time as the 6 months maternity leave comes to a close. She slowly learns from her mother in law the tasks in the kitchen and her mother in law takes good care of the baby. Mukti gets up early, feeds the baby twice, helps her mom in law in the kitchen, has breakfast with Ragav and leaves for work. When the grandma is busy, grandpa manages the baby outside by singing and saying some rhymes and stories. Ragav plays till he leaves for work and in the evening, Ragav, Mukti take the baby out for a stroll. Thus the baby, the eldest grandson of the family is pampered by all. He’s called Rutvik.

Mukti tries to manage her work but sometimes, it gets too much for her! Ragav questions if she needs to work to which Mukti replies that its not the money that’s the driving factor but her work is her passion! He couldn’t say anything more to it and life goes on. One Sunday, both the women are busy with bathing the baby, Ragav gets hungry and then angry that nobody is serving food. Mukti casually comments him to serve himself and he gets upset. Soon his dad gives him company and they both serve and eat. Mukti says theres nothing to be upset and he can very well learn to cook by himself! Though uninterested at first, when Mukti blamed her Mami for pampering her son, Ragav had no option. That evening, he makes tea for everyone in the home. Though it wasn’t great, its was not bad. Mukti also says that the frequency of the men in the kitchen should be increased to which her mother-in-law nods in agreement!

Soon, its promotion time for Mukti and Ragav and they both get promoted respectively with more responsibilities. Mukti sometimes feel Rutvik is away from her and he’s so happy with his granny. When she discusses this with her dad, he asks her to take a break from work! Mukti wasn’t happy to hear this and says its okay appa, I will push and see till when I can continue. But for this reason, I have no regrets! Soon, Rutvik becomes 3 years old and has to be joined in a play school. The elders say no to it but the parents insist. Mukti finds one nearby and joins their son there. She talks to Mrs. Shakuntala and says Mami, even you need rest and so please rest up when he is away at school. You can pick him up by 12. Though the initial days were too tough for the grand parents, they silently accept the fact that its so busy with a small kid around! Now everyone’s life is in a balance.

Mukti is recommended for a course at work and for that she needs to spend 4 weekends in a row. When she declares it, Ragav wasn’t too happy for her and says how Rutvik will make more mischief in her absence. Mukti says that’s the need of the hour at work and she herself cannot step back as it would set a bad example to others. So saying, she joins him in a music class on Saturdays. That way, he’s away for couple of hours and Ragav can pick him back home for lunch. The 4 weeks move on and soon Mukti is certified in the course as a topper!

As the days move on, elders want to visit some pilgrimage and Ragav says no to it. They discuss it with Mukti and she is all supportive for it. Ragav worries about their health issues and the climatic changes but Mukti says, if not now, then when? Let them go and come. They will need this break and since its made as a group tour, there is not much to worry. So saying, she checks if her parents are interested too but Mrs. Shakuntala says its better for one set of elders to be there to help them and Mukti accepts! She books all the tickets and sends them off with new mobile phones and all the necessary medicines and stuff. They were supposed to call them every night and inform them. Soon the tour comes to an end and the elders are back home safely! Rutvik jumps up and down in joy as he was the one who missed them the most. He had to stay in school till 4 and then his mom or dad came to pick him up, the routine games, dinner and sleeping only to wake up next morning and go to school. Once in two days his other grandparents came home to check up on him and he was happy playing with them!

This Mukti, is an example for the liberated woman in our country who could have it all, with everyone’s support, she is able to pursue her career and her personal life without any hitches and misunderstandings and climbed her professional ladder much to everyone’s surprise. May her tribe multiply and the in-laws like Mrs. Shakuntala and Mr. Raguram encourage and also support the daughter-in-law as they do so for their sons and daughters!