Sketchstory No. 16 - 'The Waiting' by Nandini Sarkar

Holding on to the edge of the wall she stood looking at nowhere. How long would be this waiting?...........

Saanika grew up in an old European mansion, located beside the beach, which her grandfather had bought from a Portuguese merchant after Independence. A typical Mumbai bred girl, very independent in her views and attitude, she went to specialise in veterinary sciences in Texas. She still remembers the first day she unfolded her plans to her mother. Her mother was in the kitchen. Saanika was back from her daily pet visits. It was dinner time, and Mrs Desai was warming the food for her daughter and herself. Very casually she had told her mother, “Mumma, I want to go for my MS. The University of Texas is offering a scholarship.” Mrs Desai froze for a moment. Couldn’t believe her ears. What was her daughter saying? How could she think of leaving her and go? This huge house had only two inhabitants for the past ten years, after Saanika’s father had left them. Silently they had eaten that night. Each keeping to her own self. Saanika knew her mother was unable to swallow her food. To lighten the mood, she had told her mother, “Wait till I get the scholarship, Ma. I might not be their chosen one.”

Eventually the scholarship did happen. Saanika did leave home and shifted to Texas. Within two years she finished her Masters. Mrs Desai went to attend her daughter’s convocation ceremony. Saanika had celebrated that evening with her ‘firang’ friends and her mother. Her medal had rested on her mother’s bosom that night, and Mrs Desai proudly flaunted it.

Saanika introduced her mother to Jason, a bright young man of Saanika’s age – although he looked much matured and older. Born of a Punjabi mother and English father, Jason was a practising lawyer who lived in the same apartment as Saanika’s. Mrs Desai was happy that her daughter was thinking of settling down. It was February, and they planned to be married next winter. Everything was hunky-dory for the mother and daughter.

Once the convocation ceremony was over, Saanika planned to go to Bombay (as they lovingly call their city) with her mother. She would stay for a few weeks in her old house and do some shopping before coming back to Texas for good. This time Jason felt sad, but allowed her to go with her mother; after all she deserved it after two long years.

Once at home Mrs Desai stitched lovely dainty dresses for her daughter. Made her wear her chiffon saris in the evenings. Each afternoon, mother and daughter would sit with their cuppa on the ledge of their extended terrace overlooking the sea, and talk about everything they missed out for so many months.

**

Since February it’s been four months now. Saanika doesn’t know when the things would be normal again. She is not yet a citizen of Jason’s country. She doesn’t know, if at all, she would be allowed entry there any more. And Jason?????? Will he be allowed to come to her land? May be yes. But when? Sipping her cuppa, that afternoon, at sunset, she didn’t even realise that her mummy was standing behind her. Suddenly she felt a tug at her tummy. 

The view of the sea and the beach was far from tranquility. Her clutch on the wall grew tight. And she thought,  How long would be this waiting!

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