Orphaned Children
On their final evening together, the hospital doctor informed that Ranga Patil was not expected to survive and had taken off the ventilator. While lying in the hospital bed, Neena expressed her desire for Ranga Patil’s body to be brought back home. The hospital was located a few kilometers away from the main road of RajaRajeshwari Nagar. RajaRajeshwari Nagar is a suburban area located in the southern part of Bangalore. Neena’s house is situated on a prominent 4000 sq ft plot on the main road of Rajarajeshwari Nagar. The house covers an area of 3000 sq ft while the remaining area is dedicated to the beautiful garden. The spaciousness of the house and the stunning garden is clearly visible to anyone walking past the lane.
As the ambulance arrived at their house, she could no longer keep her emotions in check and broke down into tears and loud cries, revealing her previously stoic countenance.Upon hearing the news, relatives and friends rushed to their home, and despite the large crowd, there was a palpable silence.The passing of their father brought forth bitter tears from Keerthi and Meena.The body was placed in the center, while Neena, Keerthi, and Meena sat beside it. The rest of the mourners were seated at a distance, all overcome with sobs, creating a solemn and silent atmosphere in the room.
Unable to come to terms with her husband’s passing, Neena became hysterical and spoke incoherently.Neena Patil was a homemaker who preferred to stay at home and did not socialize much. Her mother, a professional yoga teacher, had a policy of mentoring only female students.
“Why bother coming to see him now that he’s gone? It makes no difference,” Neena yelled at everyone.
Sheila, a friend of Neena’s, came to sit beside her and attempted to comfort her.But her efforts were in vain as Neena remained inconsolable.
“He’s gone, leaving me all alone,” she muttered repeatedly.
Keerthi and Meena kept their heads lowered and continued to sob, never once raising their heads.
Eventually, the priest arrived and the family took the body for the final rites. That night, Neena and her children were too devastated to eat anything.
The body was cremated in accordance with Hindu traditions, and loved ones stayed with Neena that night to offer their support.
Neena had delusions during her sleep, causing her to awaken abruptly and frantically search for her husband. Keerti and Meena were heartbroken and at a loss for how to console their mother.Keerti, who was two years older than Meena, studied home science in an all-girls college, while Meena was in the 12th grade. The two girls took charge of the household responsibilities, while Sheila offered her support to Neena.
Neena had stopped eating and attending her yoga classes, essentially giving up on life. Concerned about her depression and hysteria, Sheila took her to the doctor to get some medication.Seeing their mother’s deteriorating condition left Keerti and Meena feeling very alone and lonely. They had no one to share their sadness with, often sitting together in silence in a corner. A week had passed since Ranga Patil’s death, yet the home remained uncleaned, and a layer of dust had settled on the floor, making the place look unkempt. Neena had asked the cook and the cleaner not to come to the house. The kids bought bread from the bakery and had bread with butter and jam for lunch, but Neena refused to eat anything, and her condition was growing weaker day by day.
After almost a week, Keerti spent an entire day cleaning the home, making it spic and span. However, during this time, Neena went hysterical and kept complaining that she wanted her husband’s smell to persist in the home. Meena sat next to her mom and they both wept profusely.
All of them were broken and there was no one to pacify anyone. Finally, after completing the 13th day rituals, Keerti said, “Dad would never want to see us all broken. He would want us to remain strong in his absence, and I will do my best to stay strong.“That evening, the photographer arrived with a portrait-sized picture of Ranga Patil that they placed in the hall.
She lowered her head and whispered to her mom, “Mom, you can still feel dad’s presence in this home. It’s empty without him, but we can try to move forward and make his soul happy by living our lives to the fullest every day.”
Keerti went to the bank to sort out all the pension papers while Meena stayed with her mom for support.As Keerti and Meena went back to their respective routines, the thought of their mother being alone at home haunted them. They often worried about her well-being while they were away at college.
Keerti calls Sheila
Hello Sheila said
Keerti asked Sheila, “Aunty, would you be able to stay with mom while we are at college?”
“Of course, my dear,” Sheila replied.
Sheila remained unmarried. For 20 years, she worked at a school and eventually became the principal. However, she never found a partner for herself.She was an older, independent, and charming woman who was strong in her own right, much like my mother.
“Sheila packed her clothes and belongings, and drove to stay with my mom for a few days.”
There was a knock on the door.
With reluctance, Neena opened the door and as soon as she saw Sheila, she broke down and wept on her shoulder. “I never imagined such a day would come. I always believed that I would pass away before he did,” she said.
After Neena wept on Sheila’s shoulder, the two of them walked to the guest bedroom. Sheila placed her bag there and requested Neena to make her a cup of tea.
Sheila suggested to Neena, “Why don’t you start your yoga classes? It will keep you busy.”
“I choose to remain lost and lonely. I can’t seem to let go of Ranga’s memories. It’s been a month, but my heart is still stuck in the past,” Neena replied to Sheila’s suggestion.
Neena was unable to bear the shock of her husband’s death and subsequently suffered a massive heart attack. Sadly, she passed away a month later.The children were left orphaned with no support.
The children, along with Sheila, performed the last rites for their mother. Keerti and Meena felt adrift and uncertain of whom to trust and befriend, so the sisters grew closer to each other and only socialized with Sheila and her adopted daughter, Champa, while keeping their distance from other relatives.Keerti and Meena held a firm belief that, apart from Sheila, others approached them solely for financial gain.
In the end, Sheila became the guardian for both children, alongside her adopted daughter Champa.
“Sheila yelled, ‘This is not the way to dress, Meena! Your habits define you, and if you continue with these habits, you may end up going down the wrong path. You need to make a change!’”
Whenever Sheila raised her voice against the children, they would begin to cry and lament the absence of their parents. This would cause Sheila to feel guilty, and she would stop giving advice to the kids.
Keerthi, with her tall and slender build, wheatish complexion, and wavy hair, was always preoccupied with her appearance. She had a strong aversion to reading and studying. Keerthi had a fondness for music and watching television, and was incredibly charming. She had a particular preference for wearing short skirts and shorts, and had a soft spot for dogs, which she enjoyed keeping as pets. She wore a toe ring to college, though unmarried, and pierced her ear, nose and wore the latest trends of jewellery.
Keerthi didn’t have a strong affinity for food, and therefore didn’t eat much. Instead, she often consumed juices and sandwiches throughout the day.Waking up early in the morning was an arduous task and felt like a form of torture.Everyday before sleeping she put mask on her face.Keerthi had a habit of sleeping long hours.
Meena emulated Keerthi and followed in her footsteps.She would often skip school and stay home to sleep, which caused her to frequently arrive late to class. Meena has a natural tendency to procrastinate heavily, often delaying or neglecting to complete her daily tasks. Meena had barely passed her exams, and she had no interest in pursuing a degree after completing her 12th grade. Meena’s ability to even pass her 12th grade was questionable.
Meena had a deep love for food and would eat continuously throughout the day. Meena was both chubby and tall, almost as tall as Keerthi. Her height, being in the taller range, made her pear-shaped body less noticeable.
After noticing Neena’s children consistently showing up late to class, bunking college, and dressing inappropriately, Sheila was taken aback by Neena’s parenting style and approach to raising her children, especially given the attention it garnered from visitors.
