A Dream Floats in Oblivion & Other Stories
By Raja Sharma
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About this ebook
The world of stories is so enchanting and vast that there is always scope for innumerable new ideas and styles. Some write to give vent to their emotions and it is a kind of catharsis to them, some write to instruct and teach and it is a platform whence they are able to show their superiority over millions, and some write to leave their mark on the posterity, but I write for the sake of writing for I don’t know anything else, and it gives me extreme satisfaction.
Raja Sharma
Raja Sharma is a retired college lecturer.He has taught English Literature to University students for more than two decades.His students are scattered all over the world, and it is noticeable that he is in contact with more than ninety thousand of his students.
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A Dream Floats in Oblivion & Other Stories - Raja Sharma
A Dream Floats in Oblivion & Other Stories
By Raja Sharma
Copyright@2011Raja Sharma
Smashwords Edition
Chapter 1: Preface
The world of stories is so enchanting and vast that there is always scope for innumerable new ideas and styles. Some write to give vent to their emotions and it is a kind of catharsis to them, some write to instruct and teach and it is a platform whence they are able to show their superiority over millions, and some write to leave their mark on the posterity, but I write for the sake of writing for I don’t know anything else, and it gives me extreme satisfaction.
I am a kind of scavenger and I am often successful in picking the shreds mostly left by others. With a little effort I join the pieces and create something that delights me and my readers.
In this book, I have a few stories which will acquaint you with the contemporary life which the Western World is mostly ignorant about.
Raja Sharma
Chapter 2: A Dream Floats in Oblivian
This wait has become intolerable to them and they have started leaving one by one. They know that the moment is approaching and it may happen any instant but they are not ready to prolong their stay there. They have been waiting for twenty two days, expecting it to happen any moment. Some of them joke that she is going to take twelve months. My pregnancy has become a topic of discussion for the big family of sixty five members.
Though they have their separate kitchens, the mentality of the joint family is still there. They keep on peeping into the lives of others: what is being cooked in the elder brother’s house? Who is visiting them today? What has she brought for her daughter? Why have they not woken up early today? Who, among the daughters-in-law, touched the father-in-law’s feet without covering her head? What did mother-in-law say?
They do not hesitate from asking about the things which take place in the bedroom of a husband and wife. In my first year, I felt very nervous while facing their questions.
In the presence of my husband I felt quite comfortable because he handled the barrage of questions. In this big family, in early days, it was like my Math class where I relied mostly on my memory. My father-in-law has seven brothers and their seven wives. Then they have their daughters-in-law, and their children. My husband has three brothers and two sisters, one older and the other younger than my husband. Then there are hundreds of relatives. It used to be quite difficult to choose among the elders while it came to touching their feet for their blessings, for preference to one could anger the other.
The mother-in-law and other elder women would attack me with their questions: what have you cooked today? The smell is very sweet. Did your parents sent this dress or Vicky bought it for you? We have cooked rice and curry today. Green vegetables are hard to find…Do you know how to stitch and do embroidery?
My mother-in-law often came to my help while answering such questions, though none of them seemed to be concerned about the answers because they asked continuously, without waiting for the answer to their earlier querries. I think they gave vent to the thoughts which got accumulated and it was a kind of catharsis and they felt happy after that.
Some of them brought their dishes from their houses and in return I gave them some parts of my cuisine. There was no problem because if you did not like one dish, you could always exchange it. We generally have five or six vegetable dishes on our table.
I was from a small family and my mother often said to my father, We shall marry our daughter in a big family. Look at me, I am alone in the house and it is very difficult to pass time. Living in a joint big family has many advantages, no one feels lonely.
She was right because I am never alone in this big house, even when Vicky, my husband, is out of station.
In his absence, my younger sister-in-law shared my room with me. She would read every letter which Vicky wrote to me. I would be frightened lest she should tell about those letters to the other members of my family. She used everything without any kind of hesitation: my cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, dresses, and even my shoes and slippers. Since there were so many relatives, the entire day passed in meeting one or the other unknown face. Mornings began at five and the day ended at about 11:00 pm. In those days my condition was quite ridiculous; I could neither smile nor cry at my own will. I had to do everything taking account of the other members present there. I knew that I had to spend my life in this house, so I began to learn things patiently, trying to adept myself to these new surroundings.
In the third year, when I conceived for the first time, a wave of joy ran through the house. The news spread to the neighbourhood and people began to flock our house. There were good wishes and congratulations from all sides, with all the laughter and sweets to eat. My mother-in-law began to collect things for her grandson who was still in my womb. My mother began to send me letters with innumerable instructions: don’t climb stairs fast, don’t pick heavy things; don’t lose your cool if you feel angry; read good books; eat healthy food; speak politely with everyone…..
Nothing impressed me, for I felt that I had been fighting a lonely battle in this big house. During the nights, with Vicky, I forgot everything for a few hours but the morning light reminded me over and again of the routine of the house and my responsibilities towards all of them. I would shed the veneer of myself and put on a mask that pleased them.
Finally, the period of nine months was over. There was no sign of pain or impending delivery. My mother-in-law had to go out to attend a marriage. Though she could have easily refused, she decided to attend the marriage and left me in the hospital, perhaps, relying heavily on the nurses who were there to care for me. My mother had sent my younger brother to the hospital, thinking that his absence would strengthen me and he could be a great help if I needed anything.
When Vicky returned from his business tour, he stayed with us for ten days. The elders in the house had already begun to count days, ten months had passed but nothing had happened. I was back in the house.
They did not want to consult the doctor because they knew that he would advise them to go for caesarian.
They advised Vicky to go back to his business. How long it was going to take was not certain. According to them, Vicky’s wife was a brave woman and she could face the situation without him. Finally, he went back. He had never developed courage to disobey the commands of his father and his seven uncles. I did not want to put him in any kind of problem, so I did not force him to stay with me.
Two days after Vicky’s departure, one night I felt a little pain. I had heard that the pain would be intolerable but it was not so severe that night. The dinner had already been over and the other members of the family had already gone to bed.
I began to prepare for my journey to hospital. I kept little clothes, two bed sheets, and some other things in a basket. I did not sleep that night because the wave of pain erupted suddenly and it shook me for a while but then it receded and everything calmed down. I knew that it would not be possible to take a bath for a few days in the hospital, so I took bath at 4:00 am.
My elder sister-in-law entered the room and said, It is too early to go to hospital. Prepare a cup of tea and keep walking.
After her piece of advice she went back to sleep.
Somehow I