Vindicated

I rummaged through the rags placed shabbily inside the wooden box. “I can’t find it Maa!”, I shouted. The attic was dismal, so were my chances of finding the shirt my mother had asked me to fetch. I grabbed the box-intending to take it down to my room and getting a better look at it, when my fingers sensed something plastic. There, on the bottom of the box was a polaroid stuck where the wood had splintered a bit.

It was of the day I was born. My mother on the hospital bed, my father looking dashing as ever in a black tee holding the infant beside her, along with their two college best friends- Uncle Veer in a bright blue tee and Uncle Ajit in a dark red shirt. I smiled when i saw their happy faces. I flipped the photograph and there, in almost illegible handwriting were these words- “You two will always be the closest to my heart”. Who had written this? Which two were they referring to? Why was I discovering this photograph 30 years after it was taken?!

I had a lot of questions. I stormed down the staircase and found my mother busy in the kitchen. A sight I had become accustomed to seeing ever since I was a little girl. Papa had died of stroke a few years back. She was a strong, pragmatic woman and I hardly ever saw her embrace her emotions much. She was making supper for the guests who could arrive anytime soon. I was about to inquire about the photograph, when the bell rang and my favorite human stepped through the door. “Uncle Veer!! You made it!”, I leaped into his arms. Even though I was a grown woman now, seeing Uncle Veer still brought back the little girl in me who had grown up listening to stories from him. “Happy Birthday Ruhi!”, said Uncle as I released him from my ecstatic embrace. I had completely forgotten about his poor hip. After the generic exchange of pleasantries, I took Uncle upstairs to show him the latest project in Florida I had been working on. Meanwhile, the guests started arriving.

Once in my room, I started to open my laptop and conveniently the 30 year old polaroid dropped from my pocket. I saw a golden opportunity and showed the picture to Uncle. “Look at you all! You were so handsome in your youth Uncle!”, I teased. The smile lines around his lips didn’t curl, the frown lines around his brows did. “You remember this day don’t you?”, I lead on. “How could I forget this day my dear, it was fateful in every sense of the word.” “Are you in touch with your fourth best friend from college- Uncle Ajit? I haven’t heard much about him ever. Just that you four were the inseparable lot back then.” Uncle gave a weak smile as his eyes kept fixed at the picture in his hand, it was uncommon seeing him like this. He is usually the chatty types. “We four were the closest people in college. Your father was the scholar, your mother- the college princess, I was the class clown and Ajit…”, he broke off midway, “He was different from all, mysterious even. Never revealed much about himself and yet was one of the most loyal friends.”

This was getting interesting. “Oooh Maa never appeared as the campus crush types”, I grinned. He did not. “Oh yes but she was. Both your father and Ajit had a major crush on her when they first met.” “Wowww did they like fight for her or anything?”, I was thoroughly enjoying this dramatic turn of events. “No, your parents’ families were business partners from before, and then they took it to the next level. Back then you see, two people weren’t married, two families were.” “No but they both loved each other right?” “Your father was madly in love, your mother liked your father too…” I could see Uncle reminiscing the past. A painful past. His eyes didn’t leave the photograph.

Before I could ask any further, my mother stormed in. “Did you find the t-shirt i asked you to?” “No”, Uncle had turned to the window with the photograph tucked away. She mumbled something about me still being immature and heaved herself up the stairs. She was in an atypical haste. Silence prevailed for a few minutes. Uncle was still. Maa returned, looking pleased with herself. “Veer, the guests are calling for you…. if you’re done gossiping with Ruhi, attend to them please.” Uncle turned and started towards the door, mute. Maa held up a dark red shirt, and said -“This was your father’s shirt Ruhi. I thought you might like to wear it today.” She smiled a rare, sad smile and hurried out. I looked at Uncle Veer, he was at the door, his eyes glistened. He walked over, handed me the polaroid and said, “This was the last day they both met. Ajit disappeared as if he was never a part of our lives, your mother made you her life.”

Words had left me. I pulled myself together. “Did Papa know? Before he…”. Uncle shook his head softly. He rubbed my shoulder, turned and walked out. A few moments passed, I went to the party, time went by quickly. Guests started to leave. After he helped us clean up, I saw Uncle to his car. We hadn’t talked throughout the rest of the party. “He truly loved her. She loved him too. But Life got in the way.” I opened the door for him. “ Your mother is one of the strongest women i have known, she loves you with her life. Take care Ruhi.” I saw him drive off, I still hadn’t come to terms with what ensued today.

Maa and I were taking our nightly stroll in the garden. “Do you miss Uncle Ajit? Uncle Veer said you guys were close friends in college.” Maa smiled faintly and kept walking. “It has been 30 years since i last saw him. He was a good man, although he kept to himself, he had a pure heart. Yes we were close, but he had to leave due to some personal reasons. And since the day you were born…he hasn’t returned.” She sighed. In her voice, there was no regret, just longing. “You loved Papa?” “Heartily. He was the most wonderful husband…and father.” There was regret….no longing. I hugged my mother.

Before leaving for Florida the next day, I went up to the attic. Had one last look at the polaroid. “You two will always be the closest to my heart”. My vision blurred as I placed the photograph back between the splintered wood.

“Maybe he misses her, maybe not. Maybe she hopes he would return one day, maybe not.

But it was in this separation, that they feel right, that they feel vindicated.”