But the case that came before Supriya madam today was very different. And it was Police Inspector Nandan Gaikwad who filed the case! That is, there was no ordinary person. A well versed in the law today came to Supriya madam’s cabin for his “family problem” by way of counselling.
A 25-year-old unmarried Nandan came with his family. His family consists of his three older sisters and his mother. His mother-Anuradha’s age will be maximum 50/55. And among the remaining three sisters, the elder sister is Swati-38 years and the other two sisters are 2/2 years younger than her namely Geeta-36 and Shaila-34 years. At first glance, there was no difference between mother and daughter. It seemed that Nandan had brought his 4 sisters. But the 25-year-old Nandan looked very young. Nandan’s mother-Anuradha was only befitting Nandan’s mother. Among the three sisters, 34-year-old Shaila’s face
shone with wisdom. Her modern dress looked like she had just arrived from abroad! The other 2 sisters and their mother were in simple sarees and typical village attire.
Supriya found this very odd ! To know the same, Supriya said, “Speak Nandan sir, what is your problem.”
Nandan,” This problem is not only mine. It belongs to our country India. In our country, when a woman gets pregnant, she is expected to give birth to a boy. But if she is pregnant for the first time and instead of a boy, the girl is born accepted without complaint. But if a girl is born for the second time, then the whole family gets a big depression. Then the third chance is taken by breaking the family planning law of our country but even the third time a girl is born again or an illegal pregnancy gender test is done in some clinic and if it is a female pregnancy then an abortion is done. In our country, in modern cities like Mumbai-Pune-Delhi, the law is being trampled on. Then 40 years ago in our Tujgaon what law will people follow? My mother Mrs. Anuradha Gaikwad got married at the age of 16 by breaking the child marriage laws. In the next 5 years after the marriage, my mother gave birth to three daughters with the hope of a son as I have mentioned earlier. After that, an illegal pregnancy test was performed at a clinic in the village and the abortion was performed due to female fetus detected. Similarly, in 1997, a gender test confirmed a male fetus and I was born in 1998. As a boy, I was pampered like a prince in the Gaikwad family. But in that my 3elder sisters suffered, especially my third elder sister Shaila, yes or no Shaila tai?” Nandan said looking at Shaila.
Shaila, “Exactly, very bad.”
Nandan.” Now you tell me how much injustice and oppression you have faced as a girl in your Gaikwad family.”
“Because I was the third daughter, there used to be constant quarrels between my grandmother and my mother. As if I had committed a big crime by being born as the third daughter. My two elder sisters Swati and Geeta took care of me a lot. All three of us girls were enrolled in a cheap government school in the village. Where free tuition was provided, free meals were provided every day, saving us a lot of expenses. There were no facilities in that school. Teachers used to come to school sometimes. But Nandan was admitted in an expensive convent school, he was getting a bus for pick-up-drop to the school. Food box was prepared and served. At that time, the annual cost of his school was around 1000-1200,” said Shaila, shaking with anger.
Stopping her in the middle, Supriya said, “But looking at you, it doesn’t look like you have been educated in a normal school. Looking at your dress, it looks like you have just come from abroad.”
“Yes, I studied in Nandan’s school from 5th standard.” Shaila.
“In Nandan’s school? How is that?” Supriya asked in surprise.
“When I was in class 5, My parents had to put me in the same expensive convent school where Nandan was studying.” Shaila.
“Unfortunately? What was the problem that your parents had to send you to Nandan’s expensive convent school.” Supriya asked curiously.
“On January 26, a storm called Alandi Chhatre was invited as the chief guest at a school function,” Shaila.
“Alandi Chhatre? This is the same lady who is now a minister in the Delhi Parliament. What is her relation?” Supriya.
“Yes, the same Alandi Chhatra who is now a minister in the Delhi Parliament. But at that time she was a party worker in our district. When she conducted a short examination of the children in her school, she was very impressed by my intelligence. When they inquired about me, they came to know that being a girl, my parents put me in a government school and my brother in a convent, they got very angry and came straight to my house, where they further came to know that my father was doing a government job and that he has also given birth to four children by breaking the family planning law. Then they first took strict action on my father’s job. His promotion was banned, and he was forced to admit me to Nandan’s school. After getting admission in Nandan’s school, I made great progress there due to my intelligence. I stood first in merit in class 10th.And with a scholarship I went to London for higher education. Having studied there in medicine, I have been working there as a respected doctor.” Saying this, Shaila introduced herself.
“Okay, so how did you get here?” Supriya asked.
“2 days ago, Nandan sent a message that we want to divide the share of land and house property near our village among our 4 siblings. I came for that.” Shaila said with a smile.
Nandan, “You will get your share in that house and land. But before that, the debt on that land and house must be paid.”
Shaila, “Why? You and Baba haven’t paid yet? Why did you have to take out the loan by mortgaging that land and house?”
Nandan, “So you don’t remember? You got admission in London on scholarship but you took the ticket cost to send you to London, hostel cost to stay there from Baba. You sent a letter to Baba for that. I still have the copy of that letter. Let’s read it now.—
dad,
I got admission in a college in London with a scholarship but you have not yet sent the money for accommodation and food here. If Nandan was in my place, you would have sent him the money before he came here.
That was all written in the letter. In full letter and in the last 10 years you have never questioned any of us. How was dad sending money for you? How are we three your siblings now? How did we complete our education? It was never investigated. You never gave your home and office address.
My poor father sent you money by mortgaging the house and land. Died of a heart attack at 60 while dragging debt, you didn’t even come to see the last one. There is no money left for my education. Swati Tai and Geeta Tai were not married. The two of them, mother and I, are working hard day and night to repay the loan.”
“Karma pays its dues, it was just a punishment for the second-class treatment I was given as a girl through no fault of my own as a child,” Shaila said angrily.
“Excuse me, Shaila madam, it’s not your job to decide who should be punished,” shouted Supriya.
“Second-class treatment was given by grandmother, parents. But why was Swati tai, Geeta tai and me punished?” Nandan.
“You are the first one to be responsible! It was because of you that grandmother, mother and father were distancing us three. Not even one of them approached me with simple love. If I accidentally touched my mother’s body in sleep, she would push me away. Swati tai and Geeta tai took care of me as a child only as a duty. ” Shaila’s eyes watered as she spoke.
“Am I responsible? Just like Shaila tai, it was not in your hands to be born as a girl, it was not in my hands to be born as a boy. I was only 3/4 years old when my parents danced with me on their heads as a boy. I didn’t tell anyone, that I am a boy so put me on the head. But like grand parents you still treat me like a criminal and punish me. After completing your studies in London, you joined a hospital there and started earning money, but you did not inform us about that. We were repaying the loan taken for you. But you did not send us a single penny. Finally, with the help of the internet, we traced your address in London. And invited you here with the lure of your share in the estate.” Nandan.
“So this was all your ploy. It’s nothing, I’ll go back on the evening flight,” Shaila said.
” Shaila ma’am can I see your passport?” Supriya stops Nandan and Shaila’s fight and speaks.
Shaila immediately gave her passport. Supriya hands the passport to Nandan and says “Shaila, now you don’t want to go back unless you pay your father’s debt.”
“Madam, I am working in a hospital in London. If I stay here, I will have to find a job.” Shaila.
“There is no dearth of jobs in this country for London return doctors like you.” Supriya.
“Exactly, just yesterday I spoke to the doctor at Hinduja Hospital. He will give you a job.” Nandan.
“Oh, but let me go today. I will bring the money deposited in the bank there and pay off your debt.” Shaila.
“Shaila tai”, Geetha opened her mouth for the first time. “I work in a bank. You can withdraw money from your London bank while staying here. We will not give you a chance to run away to London again.”
Hearing this, Shaila bowed her head and quietly left Supriya’s cabin with Nandan and his sister.
THE END
