A fear
Mayank was working as a employee of SBI bank and through years he followed same routine, getting up early in the morning going to the office and coming back at 5 in the evening. He never complained through all this years. He raised his three children shivani, naina and his son shiv on his own as his wife died five years after the marriage. But his children never had complains he has always been a perfect father. Naina was youngest of all and the only child now who was putting up with her father, shivani got married few years back and shiv was busy with his job in Bangalore as an software engineer as mayank was living in Delhi it was not possible for shiv to come home frequently he use to come home after four or five months for a week or so anyways MNC’s never give you more of holidays. So this was the typical routine the family was following from past few years.
He was now forty nine and all he did in his life was his job and raising children, life had been tough on him and never gave time for any enjoyment. But there was one thing that always kept on haunting mayank and that was he knew few years from now his youngest daughter will also leave for job or maybe she will get married. Truth could not be denied that after that he would have to live life all alone. These thoughts gave him sleepless nights most of the time, that what life will turn into he was still not ready to put up all alone. He knew that’s what life is all about. As he was busy in his life all these years he never got time to stay connected with friends or his family relatives so that was another fact about his life, not having anyone around to whom he can express what his heart feel or maybe to spend good quality time with. Leaving all these things he managed to stay happy and do his job to the best. He was very talented and was well aware of his work in office so people never had lot of complains against him. Everyone in life has something to be proud of to be happy about, so was the case with him he was happy how his children are well capable of surviving in the world and that made him pretty jubilant all the time. Sunday was always a fun day, as naina and mayank all day having fun from gardening to cooking. Every Sunday he cooked chicken as naina was fan of his cooking, and he always thought life can’t be better than this, he had it all what a man would want in life. But again how can we forget about we humans we live with fears all our life, mayank kept on living with a fear that one day he would be all alone.
Years passed things continued the same way one good happy family, till the day came when naina was getting married. Naina was in love with abhilash from college days and finally now they decided to get married as both of them had managed to get good jobs in Delhi itself in different hospitals as both of them were doctors. Mayank had no reason to say no, as he knew he can’t find anything better than this. So this was one time when the entire family gathered together after a long time. Not that mayank was not aware of the fact that now comes the time when his fears come true. But at this point of time it was a moment of joy and happiness. Celebration continued for days finally naina got married to abhilash. Now it was same old routine from office to home mayank was fifty four now. In next few years he was going to retire from his job too, and he knew after that he won’t have much of things to do. Sitting at home and findings ways to spend time. He was well aware of the fact. But still he continued living life with full spirit. As shiv from his childhood days was a reserved type of person so he never use to talk lot with family members. Mayank used to receive his call once in a week which never lasted more than five minutes, asking his father that if everything is fine or not? and how he is that was all they talked about. Expecting more from shiv was useless everyone knew his nature and that was not his fault. Still mayank always remained silent never telling any of his children what he is going through. There was emptiness all around him. at times he cried for hours without any reason maybe his loneliness made him do so . mayank was very fond of having talk with his youngest daughter and he used to make several calls in a day. But slowly he realized his calls were not invited as they were before. With time naina got busy with profession and household and in-laws were never happy with such frequent calls. As the time passed by mayank learned he would have to maintain a distance. His emptiness increased. All his life was office to home.
On one fine Monday morning as mayank entered office he saw a new face which was not very familiar, but still he felt maybe he has seen her somewhere. Shivangi was the new employee in the office who got posted in this branch of SBI bank in Delhi. As a matter of fact mayank was not wrong his suspicion was right when he was introduced to her he discovered shivangi was her batch mate at the college time. he was glad to meet a old pal from college. After office time mayank invited her to his place for coffee and that was the rewind of old college days. Mayank discovered how happy he was feeling about the meeting. Finally he came to the question about her marriage and home she answered “ mayank I never got married maybe I never wanted to, you know I have been working as a social worker also never had time for home life.” At first he was surprised but he realized if she is happy with her life then why he should interfere. With time they became very close friends and were comfortable sharing their lives with each other. After a long time mayank was with a friend and his feeling was beyond explanation.
He was fifty six already now and few years left for his service. Mayank had several thoughts in minds one day he couldn’t sleep thinking, if shivangi is such a close friend and so happy with him and he feels so glad to be with her “cant I be with her forever?” but mayank knew he was thinking out of the box. Sometimes you don’t know where things are going. All he knew was he wanting this to happen. And after a year finally he had the courage to say what he wanted. After work from office on Friday evening he invited shivangi home, and said “I love you will you marry me, you make me happy, the feeling to be with you is heavenly” mayank was afraid what would be the result he knew this statement has put his friendship on stake. Answer came as a surprise “yes I feel same for you I never thought love can be such a wonderful feeling” he was happy like anything with a sad feeling “ what would I say to my children would they ever accept my stupid thought?” shivangi tried to console him and said we will make them understand them they would understand your loneliness wouldn’t they? Mayank called all his three children and told about the decision.
Response was cold. Three of them couldn’t believe their ears for once. There was no doubt they were angry and were never ready to accept the fact what they heard. Mayank felt guilty for what he has done. He couldn’t sleep for nights thinking what he should do. Finally he made shivangi understand its not possible this society people would never accept us leave the things like they were before. She understood and they remained as friends. As months passed mayank discovered though he left his happiness for his children, they still don’t care enough for him to pay him attention they knew what mayank has been going through.
One day mayank sent a text message to all his children that he is leaving. It was never a joke he left home and married shivangi . after his retirement from bank both of them left delhi and went to gujrat for spending rest of their lives. Mayank kept waiting for his children to come back but all in vein they never did. That point of time he realized this is called life where every human being is responsible for his action and this was day when he was no more afraid to live his life the way he wanted to.
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