Chapter 4 - Serial Novel Stubs and Roses By Irene Dhar Malik, Mumbai, India
Posted by Team 4indianwoman at 29 September 2007, 2:34 AM and is filed under Serial Novel Stubs and Roses 
RECAP
They are at Springfest, Karagpur, enjoying the festival, the nip in the air and the togetherness. During the train journey back to Calcutta, there are some awkward admissions of love and a general feeling of headiness. It is very late when she is finally home and her mother complains about the lateness of the hour. Even as Nihar comes back for a final goodnight!
They are at Springfest, Karagpur, enjoying the festival, the nip in the air and the togetherness. During the train journey back to Calcutta, there are some awkward admissions of love and a general feeling of headiness. It is very late when she is finally home and her mother complains about the lateness of the hour. Even as Nihar comes back for a final goodnight!
Chapter 4
Ila was living in Calcutta with her mother for the last three years. Ever since the psychiatrist had said that her mother’s condition was serious enough to require constant monitoring. Glad that her officially mentally unwell status absolved him of having to put up with her tantrums for any longer, Ila’s father had set up his wife and daughter in their Calcutta house. His office had conveniently posted him at Kazakhstan, so it was ostensibly for her `education’ that Ila and her mother needed to be in Calcutta. Ila didn’t really mind their being in Calcutta for she wasn’t too close to her father. In fact she hadn’t been too close to her mother either as a child, growing up in a cocoon of her own creation. And now that her mother needed so much looking after, it was as if the roles were reversed, and she found she minded this less. It spared her the anguish of feeling let down by her mother. She also knew why her mother had never really been there for her; she had possibly been too busy fighting her own demons to know about her daughter’s.
Ila was living in Calcutta with her mother for the last three years. Ever since the psychiatrist had said that her mother’s condition was serious enough to require constant monitoring. Glad that her officially mentally unwell status absolved him of having to put up with her tantrums for any longer, Ila’s father had set up his wife and daughter in their Calcutta house. His office had conveniently posted him at Kazakhstan, so it was ostensibly for her `education’ that Ila and her mother needed to be in Calcutta. Ila didn’t really mind their being in Calcutta for she wasn’t too close to her father. In fact she hadn’t been too close to her mother either as a child, growing up in a cocoon of her own creation. And now that her mother needed so much looking after, it was as if the roles were reversed, and she found she minded this less. It spared her the anguish of feeling let down by her mother. She also knew why her mother had never really been there for her; she had possibly been too busy fighting her own demons to know about her daughter’s.
“You know, my mother is a loony.”
“That explains things a lot.”
They were sitting at the National Library canteen, drinking tea and sharing a cigarette.
“I’m not kidding, Nihar. She suffers from severe clinical depression. My grandmother too had a history of mental illness. My mother even had a maternal uncle who was a loony.”
“I’m scared.”
“That explains things a lot.”
They were sitting at the National Library canteen, drinking tea and sharing a cigarette.
“I’m not kidding, Nihar. She suffers from severe clinical depression. My grandmother too had a history of mental illness. My mother even had a maternal uncle who was a loony.”
“I’m scared.”
She couldn’t help smiling.
“You know, they had got an ojha to exorcise my grandmother. He hit her with a broom to drive the evil spirit away. Then he asked her to lift a pitcher full of water with her teeth and run. She did as told and ran for a while and then fell and passed out. The ojha said when she’d come to, the spirit would have gone.”
“Did the spirit leave?”
“They tried to believe so for a while. Later, my grandfather took her to a shrink. She was in hospital for months and is still under medication. She’s just there – after all those years of medication, she’s just like a part of the furniture.”
“So what you are trying to tell me is that a hat-trick is about to occur and I should stay away from you.”
“Well, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”
He took a deep drag and stubbed out the cigarette.
“Shall I take the vows now?”
“What?”
“The marriage ones, about us being together in health and sickness and-”
“They aren’t a part of Hindu marriage vows.”
“What do you know, they are.”
“Nihar, I haven’t had an easy childhood. I’ll tell you about it some day. There have been periods of severe depression-”
“You know, they had got an ojha to exorcise my grandmother. He hit her with a broom to drive the evil spirit away. Then he asked her to lift a pitcher full of water with her teeth and run. She did as told and ran for a while and then fell and passed out. The ojha said when she’d come to, the spirit would have gone.”
“Did the spirit leave?”
“They tried to believe so for a while. Later, my grandfather took her to a shrink. She was in hospital for months and is still under medication. She’s just there – after all those years of medication, she’s just like a part of the furniture.”
“So what you are trying to tell me is that a hat-trick is about to occur and I should stay away from you.”
“Well, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”
He took a deep drag and stubbed out the cigarette.
“Shall I take the vows now?”
“What?”
“The marriage ones, about us being together in health and sickness and-”
“They aren’t a part of Hindu marriage vows.”
“What do you know, they are.”
“Nihar, I haven’t had an easy childhood. I’ll tell you about it some day. There have been periods of severe depression-”
“Ila, can’t you see that I love you? Let’s not go crazy trying to guess the future. Lets take each day as it comes, shall we. It’s more fun when I open my wallet to check how much change I have and suddenly discover a fifty rupee note. If I had calculated every paise spent and known I have a fifty rupee note left, it wouldn’t be as much fun.”
“That explains your not getting the change from the guy at the ticket counter!”
“You know Ila, I never thought I would fall in love, that I could love the way I love you… I think you are becoming such an integral part of my life that if you left me, I wouldn’t know how to fill the gap.”
“Hey, I was just talking about madness, not about farewells. Now, shall we go in and study for a while?”
“That explains your not getting the change from the guy at the ticket counter!”
“You know Ila, I never thought I would fall in love, that I could love the way I love you… I think you are becoming such an integral part of my life that if you left me, I wouldn’t know how to fill the gap.”
“Hey, I was just talking about madness, not about farewells. Now, shall we go in and study for a while?”
.....................To be continued next week
Irene,
Now I will start my disagreement with you...why did you have to make it hereditary, poor Ila couldnt probably escape it...but let's have lots of that romance in sepia tones...
suneetha
Reply to this
Perhaps she didn't go mad because of hereditary reasons... read on...
Reply to this
i m really hooked to this story. waiting eagerly for the next. but dear, please write a longer chapter.your writing is so nice that i want more of it every time. cant wait for one week
Reply to this
My chapters are even shorter than this! Am trying to make them longer... read on...
Reply to this
Great story so far, but the chapters are getting shorter and shorter
Reply to this
Sorry... I though people liked reading short stuff on the net! Seriously though, its not a conscious thing. I'm sure there will be longer chapters too. Thanks for reading Shalini.
Reply to this
A well-written chapter, Irene! But, even I felt that it should have been a little longer (please please please, don't hit me for that
Reply to this
Sorry yaar, I seem to be believing in brevity to a fault!
Reply to this
Hi Irene, so far so good. Was waiting to see what was happening next. And it's true na, that when good things happen to us when we least expect them. Life is full of surprises and we need to be happy with each day that we are blessed with and be prepared for the worst but of course hoping that things will be fine.
All the best. waiting eagerly for the rest of the story to unfold.
Reply to this
Thanks Jessie... please keep reading.
Reply to this
hey Irene, you said the mad woman is like me, but today I found a fifty rupee note in my purse when I thought I was broke! So you see, you love me so much, you have put me in everyone!
Reply to this
Remember the hostel days, when any money found in some forgotten place seemed like such a treasure.
Reply to this
Nihar appears to be walking into it willingly, after knowing the family history and warnings about her own episodes of depression! A character with deep commitment and compassion.
Reply to this
He's in love, and when people are young and in love, heart rules... always! Thanks for reading Subra.
Reply to this
Hi Irene,
Madness in the family,then?Well written as usual.And yes,do make it longer.Can't wait till next week!
Reply to this
Thanks Doc, everyone is complaining about the length it seems... Maybe I am a woman of few words!
Reply to this
Dear Irene,
The Ila-Nihar romance seems like a good vintage wine. Or should I say your chapters are getting better and I want to savour like my favourite white wine!
Reply to this
Enjoy the wine woman... I feel like having some too. Love a good wine.
Reply to this
its ur novel so u write the way u wish, i will only say that i am enjoying the flow of writing, and its developing into a gr8 story! i wonder why u always write short posts when u blog. esp u r damn gud at conversations....
Reply to this
Irene, I agree with Anand here.
Reply to this
I promise to keep all the comments in mind and write longer chapters soon... thanks for reading Anand.
Reply to this
Still good! but I guess the build-up was shade better .... and as Subra says I tend to believe too that Nihar is dragging himself ... there shud have been something else as an enticement for this love ... something sweet and purifying ... anyway, remain urs truly!! ... long wait for another chapter ...
Reply to this
Love isn't necessarily sweet and purifying... in fact the love Nihar feels for Ila does eventually reach a higher plane, when he looks after her selflessly... when you are young and in love, is it necessarily sweet and selfless?
Reply to this
Hey Irene,
Guess what! Even I found 60 bucks in an old purse today! So, what will you call me now?
Reply to this
I''d call you lucky I guess! Its such fun finding forgotten money, isn't it?
Reply to this
Such fun finding money... wish I'd find some... would have to have some to begin with! Lucky you.
Reply to this
engrossing... To wait for a week for the next post seems such a long wait... especially when it gets over so quickly. love the 50 Rupee bit.
Reply to this
Thanks Ashish, but do try to like my brevity too... its a part of my style!
Reply to this
Hi Irene. Good work as usual. I am getting used to your brevity. It always seems to promise something better at the next turn. Nihar's love seems to be adventurous at times—like walking knowingly into the fire to test one's endurance?
Reply to this
Love ya for getting used to my brevity... maybe its something to do with the fact that I am a professional editor. Isn't love always an adventure? Thanks for reading.
Reply to this
hi wisey quite interesting asusual..nihar goes to these long territory called love arena knowingly..maybe he loves her so deeply..
Reply to this
Thanks yaar, finally someone likes brevity... you made my day!
Reply to this
Their love story tocuhes a core somewhere deep in the heart. I don't know why I ahve sort of started identifying with Ila. Very nicely written, you bring out the emotions in your character beautifully.
Reply to this
Thanks Sandy, was really looking forward to your comment.
Reply to this
I have been reading about love all my love. I have even tried to write about it. But to tell you frankly, I don't believe it exists. Yet when I read this chapter, I ended up with the feeling that some people at least have felt its existence. I had a similar feeling when I read Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. But I was quite young then and most of my life lay ahead of me. It was possible to hope for miracles. Now that most of my life lies behind me, I know it's impossible. Somewhat like Hemingway again, in the Old Man and the Sea. You will recall that he had a wife whom he had forgotten. Yet, he lived for a single belief: "Man is not meant for defeat. You can kill a man, but you cannot defeat him." As I am reading your piece, I can't help asking myself, "Is she writing out of conviction? Or, is she studying "love" with the sterile interest of a pathologist analysing specimens under a microscope? Does the author believe? Or, is she simply playing games, taking advantage of the readers' gullibility?"
Reply to this
The author believes in love... period.
Reply to this