Adversity Begets Strength

- Debi Mukherjee (India,14/05/07)

Mrs. Rati Chatterjee, belonging to a middle class family, was leading a happy life with her husband and three daughters. May be in the hope of aspiring to have a son, which is the common desire of all most all the married couple, three daughters were born in succession.

Rati was a housewife with middle level education whereas Mr. Chatterjee was a Govt. Servant in a suburban town away from Kolkata.  Putting up in a rented accommodation and owning no other property of their own, they had been trying their best to impart education to the three girls, named - Meena, Tina and Rina.

The family got shattered when Mr. Chatterjee, left this world all of a sudden due to cardiac arrest. The eldest daughter was only in sixth standard.

Rati, being a housewife, was hardly familiar with the outside world. No accommodation of their own and no other external monetary resources to bank upon, it was a terrible hardship being faced by them to manage their day to day living as well as to meet the expenses of school education of the three girls.

Moving from door to door in the Govt. Department of her late husband innumerable times, Rati got a job on compassionate ground. 

In her life Rati could not complete her education as she lost her parents at young age. She therefore developed the determination to educate her daughters within the limited resources available to her. The eldest one, Meena, had the knack and aptitude for learning. One by one she could successfully complete school, college and University education and earned her Post-graduate degree. Other two daughters were not so good at studies. Despite best efforts and inspiration of their mother, they could complete education only upto middle level.

During this period with proper planning and securing loan from office, Rati could also built a two room dwelling place of her own.

Rati wanted Meena to get a suitable job before marrying her off. The purpose was not only to make her independent but also get some financial support from her in marriage ceremonies of the three daughters. But the job prospects were very dim.

A suitable match could be found for Meena. The boy, named, Robin, having a modest source of income and owning a house of their own in Kolkata assured Rati that he’ll look after her other two daughters as his own sisters.

It turned out that Robin was a good human having empathy for Rati and her other two daughters. With passage of time he fulfilled the place of a son in Rati’s life. 

Gradually, all the daughters were married off by him. As promised, Robin arranged marriages of Meena’s other two sisters. The boys, belonging to middle class families, are having their own earnings and financially sound. After the daughters had gone and settled in their in-laws home, with a heavy heart, Rati went to stay in Robin’s house after their marriage. Robin’s only vice was chain smoking. 

In due time, Robin and Meena were blessed with a son named Ron. Rati could feel the satisfaction of fulfilling her obligations towards her daughters as a widowed mother. Life was going on…

Meena also got a job. Robin was very particular to look after the welfare of Meena who had to live alone for sometime, away from home, to continue her job.

But cruel hands of destiny snatched away her mother, Rati. She passed away while in service without having time to make any deed/will.

Robin had to take the lead with the help of his two brother-in-laws to do the running around in the courts/office of Rati to bring out the succession certificate so that the three sisters could legally share the official dues as well as the house of Rati equally.

While the process of settling the case was on, Robin developed lung cancer due to excessive smoking. Within a period of five months he had to be taken in and out of the hospital, innumerable times for chemotherapy and other associated treatments. Money was no consideration but the attempt was to save his life.

Alas! It was not to be. Robin succumbed to his illness at the age of 52 leaving behind his widowed young wife and son, Ron in class Xth.

Meena, widowed at the age of 48, had to be consoled. She was reminded of her mother who could bring them up single handedly even without having any exposure to higher education.

Meena has no other alternative but to reconcile to the idea of leading her life for the sake of Ron’s career.

Let Almighty give Meena - strength to face the reality.

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