Unshakable Faith

The message Iwant to convey through this story is that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are important no doubt, but the most important thing for us, human beings, to remember is there is Someone up there and He is watching every move of ours, If we are good, if we have faith in Him, things will work out for us in the end, in spite of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles and setbacks. Have faith in the ways of The Almighty.

As something is wrong with my laptop and as my Microsoft Word got crashed somehow, Ihave no other option but to attach the story here. Hope you will treat my story with due consideration.

Unshakable Faith

“And Mrs. Ghosh, how could you do all this despite all the mountainous problems in your life?’”

“I just kept my unwavering faith in God. I knew I’d done nothing wrong in my life. My conscience is very clear. I knew, despite my separation, ill-treatment at the hands of my siblings, that I have always listened to the voice in my head and worked accordingly. Truth can’t be hidden for long. I’m happy with all the accolades coming my way. I’m deserving of all this. Thank God for being with me through thick and thin …..”

The interviewer’s next question trailed off as I switched my TV off. I am aware; I have always been aware about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics but above all, I’ve never lost my faith in The Omnipotent. I think my late mother had a lot to do with this … with my upbringing, I mean. I look out of the window at the sky shining in the Milky Way and my mind goes back to those days …..

“it’s 5.30 already and you are not yet dressed up properly. How can I expect you to lend me a hand at the altar room? You’ll get married to someone not belonging to our caste and pay dearly for your carelessness and lack of faith, you mark my words.”

I have those words (warnings) still at the back of my mind. When I grew up, I realized that I was the cynosure of all the gatherings, parties, everything, wherever I had the chance to be. My friends, I am talking about my college friends here, were crazy about me and so were my teachers. No function at SCGC could be complete without my presence. I’m not being a braggart here. I was a fantastic sports person. I won almost all the events I’d take part in and I’s rightfully selected the GS (General Secretary) of my college. Sometimes I wondered if my family had anything to do with it. After all, I came from one of the most reputed families in Bengal.

By the time I was in my early twenties, I’s 23 to be exact, this man came to my life. He was tall. He’s handsome like a very popular Bollywood star of those days, and he’d a way with the opposite sex. He, belonged to another caste as well, like my late mother used to tell me. Girls of all shapes and sizes were crazy about him. I married him much against the wish of my family. We lived 30 glorious years of our married lives as a ‘model couple’ for one and all. I’d a daughter by then. I devoted my time, energy, almost everything I’d to helping her grow into a good human being. I didn’t want my daughter to be like me though. I’s miserable in studies. Maths’s my nightmare. My private tutor’d sometimes tease me by asking my youngest brother to do the sums for me though he’s in a lower class. Science was my nemesis and even if a fuse would go off, I’d make hell in my house, screaming at the top of my voice as if there’s a riot between the Hindus and the Muslims in our locality.

Dweep, my hubby, was totally unlike me. The only male child in the family, he was a self-made man. One reason, why I was so madly in love with him. From stitching his shoes to taking care of his finances, he seemed to know everything. That’s why I didn’t have to do anything in the early years of my marriage. But then differences between Dweep and the rest of the family had started cropping up. He was always siding with his family if there was anything between his family and me. I loved each member of his family. His sister, his niece and all. I went out of my way to get his sister, who was elder than him, to be married. I don’t mean to say that I’s great and they weren’t but I really adored them. Theirs looked such a well-knit family.

Sometimes, Dweep’d joke about my family – how different it was. I’d shout at the top of my lungs every time he said something about my mother. He’d always say that the reason why I got so spoilt was my mother. I thought he was kidding and didn’t pay any heed to his words. Things started changing once his uncle asked him to hand over his share of the shop they had in a very posh area in Kolkata called New Market to the niece. His niece was unemployed while I proved lucky for Dweep as he got employed in a government bank right after his marriage. I objected. I told him not to do as his uncle had desired. Life is very unpredictable and there is no knowing what might happen at a minute’s notice. Dweep got angry. He thought I’s trying to poke my nose into his family affairs, something he didn’t like. Hell broke loose then but I preferred not to talk to anyone in my family about this incident. Besides, everyone in my family, simply thought the world about him. No one would believe the other side of Dweep that was unfolded on that terrible night. He’d have easily killed me.

Dweep preferred doing things all by himself. He presented me an expensive cell phone on my 35th birthday but if anything went wrong, I’d have to rely on him. He’d the belief that the best place for a woman was the kitchen. Though I’d never learnt anything about cooking or the cutlery for the matter, I’d get up early in the morning to help my mother-in-law with the household work and all. Something happened then and one afternoon, Dweep came back from office and told me that he’d bought a flat somewhere at the outskirts of the city. I was surprised. I never expected anything like this. He rarely talked to me about his future plans and all. But there he was talking about a flat which most of the family members knew nothing about. We moved to the new flat soon afterwards.

Dweep was not the same person I’d admired all my married life. He started coming back to office quiet late. Once even I’d a strange call from a woman asking me why Dweep was late in going to her place. I became a bit suspicious after the phone call. Things started deteriorating very fast between the two of us. Finally, I’d to talk to my eldest brother about his inexplicable ways. My brother was aghast. He simply couldn’t believe what I’s talking about. One thing led to another and finally I’s back to my ancestral room in the heart of the city.

I’ve been leading a lonely life since then. Dweep never bothered to contact me after I decided to leave him. On the fatefulnight, he told me that the flat was mine. I’d take it as such. He also told me that there was no need for me to go back to my ancestral home. But I wanted to do something worthwhile with my life by then. I didn't want to live the life of a parasite. I didn’t have to stay at my parents’ for long. My mom was gone and my brothers had their own families to worry about.I applied for a job at a boarding school and despite my nothing to gloat about kind of qualifications, I was appointed. The rest, as anyone would say, is history. I learnt how to use a cell phone, a lot of other things from my students.Today I can even post on social media from my mobile. In due course of time, I bought my own laptop rather than using one of the computers in the IT Lab of our school. Life may not be shining but I’m happy with the way things have shaped up lately. By the way, I forgot to tell you that recently I have been approached by another reputed school in Kolkata with an even brighter prospect. If you are conscientious, if you never lose faith in The Almighty and if you are bent on making a difference in the lives of others, you will realize your dreams.

Life may not turn out to be the way you have visualized it, but at the end of the day, you will have lived a fulfilling life, God willing.