A Bend in the River of Life (33 page)

Rana came back to Bombay with a drooping spirit, not only because of the passing of a kindred spirit like Ramnath, but also because of his worry for Saurav and Smita. Not in the least was his worry for Iris. Ramnath was not there anymore with his vast reservoir of wisdom, but his advice was rambling through Rana's mind. His well-meaning words were rattling him. He pondered that he came to Bombay about eight months earlier on a purely temporary assignment. The actual CEO designate would be there anytime soon. Then he would be gone overseas. His job would entail lot of traveling. It would be even more difficult to take the children abroad without someone to protect and guide them all the time. So the future of his children was his first and foremost worry.

Iris exemplified the second cause of worry. He knew he was in no way responsible for Iris, yet there was a meaning to a friendship carried forward from no other person than his beloved Keka, who tried to help and support Iris at her bad times and he would respect Keka's sentiment. It was one thing to say “I am a matured woman” and completely other, when the parting would turn out to be real. So he decided to speak to Iris about it though he knew that the talks could be very delicate. However, there was no other choice but to confront reality in good time. He thought through the possible conversation points with Iris.

On the next evening, Rana brought up all his worries to Iris during his conversation with her after dinner. She smiled a dry smile and said, “Your are so conscientious! Who would not like to make friends with you? Most men would just leave a woman like me as an old and discarded garment.”

Rana said, “Iris, I am not ‘most men.' After all these years you should have known me better.”

Iris said, “Rana, that is exactly what I meant though I might not have expressed it clearly. Coincidentally, while you were away I also gave some thoughts into these matters.”

Rana asked, “To have a better picture of the future, can I ask a simple question?”

Iris asked, “What is your question?”

Rana asked, “In about two months, when I am finally asked to move abroad, do you have any plan for yourself?”

Iris responded, “Apart from being heart-broken, I will continue with my life in Bombay. However, if something serious happens to my father or he passes away, I will have to take a job in Goa and move there simply because it will not be possible for my mother to live on the paltry Railway pension that she will receive; nor will I be able to give her enough money after managing my household here. To be precise, I will not be able to relinquish my responsibility to her for the rest of her life.”

Rana said, “This might be little insensitive, but down the road you need to get married for your own future, without relinquishing your responsibility to your mother.”

Iris said, “I know you wanted to avoid these complications right from the beginning, but I dragged you into it. When Keka was still around I had the opportunity to see your love, honesty, sincerity and the sense of responsibility toward her. Without flattering you I might say truthfully that any woman who has known you that closely will not want to miss an opportunity to befriend you. And having
befriended you, I have no inclination to think of marriage elsewhere, at least, not at this time.” Iris began sobbing.

Rana tried to console her, saying, “Iris, I am not trying to run away on my own initiative. This is the nature of my job. My company has always been good to me and I am loyal to them. That does not mean I am disloyal to my friends and family. And that exactly is the reason why I wanted to stay detached simply as a friend of yours when I came back.” He continued, “Iris, I am also a human being. I too have the same feelings that you have. That is why I am discussing this now. I do not want to leave anyone who has ever touched my life, in distress.”

Iris said, “Rana, you are in no way responsible for this. Your intentions were always admirable. No body else I know of would care for a woman like me under similar circumstances.”

Then changing the subject Rana said, “Another matter that has been bothering me for sometime now is your apartment. If you don't mind, can we discuss this now?”

Iris asked, “What do you want to discuss?”

Rana said, “Once before I did raise the subject, but you kept quiet. I did not say anything further for I thought you did not want me to interfere in your personal matters. Can we talk it over now?”

Keka said impatiently, “Yes, we can. But I don't know what you are going to say.”

Rana said, “You are paying a substantial amount of rent every month, but not building up any ownership in the property. If you buy a similar apartment on mortgage with a down payment, your monthly outgoing would be much less and you will be accumulating your rightful ownership in the property.”

Iris answered, “Yes, I checked on that, Rana. But I kept quiet because I don't have the money that the developers ask for as down payments plus all the other initial expenses. And frankly, I do not want to borrow money from the bank to bind the mortgage.”

He said, “I thought so and that exactly is the reason I have decided to raise the subject all over again.” He continued, “Iris, if you don't mind, let's check this weekend what would be the initial lump sum payment for an apartment identical to the one you are living in now. I would like to pay that as a gift of friendship so that you don't keep losing forever.”

The eyes of Iris were filled with tears. Rana put his arm around her shoulders and said, “Iris, at least let me have this peace of mind before I go. Otherwise, I'll always feel guilty before my own conscience. And if you could understand Keka really well, she would be very happy to know this wherever she might be now.”

Iris could not say anything, for emotion choked her voice, but she nodded her head in agreement. On regaining her composure, she brought Saurav and Smita in the discussion, saying, “I also think often about these two poor children, living without both parents. Yet they never have any complaints, always smiling, always obedient.”

Rana said, “Iris, you are right about that. They are two invaluable gifts that your friend left behind for me. I cannot tell you how worried I am for them.”

Next few weekends Iris and Rana looked around her neighborhood both for new and not-so-new apartments for sale. Finally, she got one to her liking not far from her apartment. The building was in the finishing stage of construction. Occupancy was guaranteed in three months. The broker lady was really helpful. On a Sunday, immediately after her church service, the check for the down payment was handed over to the broker. Iris felt very happy and relieved at the same time.

However, the eerie darkness of the evening descends early at a place where the residents are mentally paralyzed with the rampant fear of a tiger allegedly sighted in the neighborhood. That was exactly what happened to Iris. Her constant worry about her father was paralyzing her thoughts. Unfortunately, her fear was beginning to
take shape of reality. In a few weeks her mother called to say that her father was hospitalized in a disabled condition arising out of a severe stroke; his condition was critical. The shock of the news shattered Iris' faculty to think cogently. Rana bought her airlines ticket and drove her to the airport. He tried to give her as much psychological and moral support as possible. During the next few days he stayed in steady touch with Iris. Notwithstanding all the efforts, her father suffered another stroke in the hospital and succumbed to it. Heaven fell on her! Rana flew to Goa to stand by her and give solace to the mother and daughter during the darkest hours of the family.

When the funeral was completed with all its solemnities and sanctities and Iris calmed down a little, Rana spoke to her about the prospect of bringing her mother back to Bombay. Iris said, “My mother always preferred to live her life in the serenity of Goa rather than in the bustle of Bombay. She was the one who influenced my father to the retreat of Goa on his retirement. Now, after his passing, she would be doubly reluctant to go back to Bombay. However, I would try to persuade her to change her mind before I return to Bombay.”

Rana said, “Iris, if your mother does not really want to go back to Bombay then you have to move. In that event, in the next two weeks you have to take some very critical decisions with regard to your job and the new apartment. On my part, I will keep the broker lady informed that you might have to move because of the tragedy.”

Iris said, “Rana, I cannot thank you enough for all that you have been doing for me.”

Rana replied, “Iris, if I don't do these simple things on the demise of your father, then my friendship with you does not carry any meaning. So don't worry about that. In any case, I will await your return to Bombay. Please let me know your flight details so that I can pick you up at the airport. Meanwhile, take care of yourself and your mother.”

On his flight back to Bombay, Rana's mind continued to dwell
on Iris and her impending decisions and actions. He always perceived Iris to be above ordinary. Now he really believed that she was exceptional. She was ready to sacrifice her career, her youth and her significant other for the sake of her beloved mother. Not many people could do that. Rana pondered that another relationship in his life was poised for an abrupt end in a way different from the one he visualized. He felt a sense of loss.

Iris came back to Bombay after a week, reconciled to the inevitable and prepared to close down her household in Bombay. On the way from the airport to Rana's apartment she said, “Rana, I spoke to my mother about moving back to Bombay with me. She would not budge an inch from her decision to live the rest of her life in Goa. She said she would be able to live alone with the Railway pension that she would receive.” With a pause she continued, “Rana, I told her about my new apartment and said if she came here we would live well. But she would not listen. On the other hand, if I have to send her money every month, I would not be able to save enough for the bad days, nor for the future. Under the circumstances, I have no other alternative but to wind down my establishment in Bombay and move to Goa lock, stock and barrel. That means I have to find a job there. I know I have to settle for less salary there, but then I don't have to pay rent or mortgage since that is a family owned house.”

Accordingly, Iris resigned from her job and gave notice to her roommate. Fortunately, Rana got back the deposit money for the new apartment. The broker was very understanding and compassionate. Rana gave that money to Iris, saying, “Iris, you can use this money toward your moving expenses and the process of settling down in Goa.”

She did not expect that money and cried in gratitude. She said, “I know what I am going to lose in you. But I have no brother or sister and my mother has no one else to take care of her.”

Rana's mind then switched to the prospect of finding a comparable job for Iris in Goa. It did not take long to pinpoint a
few large companies who had long established businesses there. Two largest conglomerates in Goa, manufacturers and exporters of nylon and terylene fabrics, cotton textiles, wine and a wide variety of canned fish were important corporate clients of Rana's bank. Since the financial capital of India was Bombay, they used to maintain their marketing and finance departments in Bombay. He had a hunch that it might be possible to secure a job for Iris in one of these conglomerates in Goa. However, before talking to them Rana wanted to have Iris' consent. So he asked her, “Iris, do you want me to check with them if they have vacancies in equivalent positions in Goa?'

Iris answered, “That would be a great help only if your reputation and image are not tarnished.”

Rana said, “Iris, I have always done favors to all my clients without any exceptions and never asked or taken any favors. Even in this case I am going to do them favors, because if they really need experienced and efficient employees at your level in Goa, by recruiting you they will get the best of the best. You have been trained by one of the most respected British multinationals in the world for over ten years. That might not be easily available in Goa.”

Iris said, “Many thanks for the compliments. It is good to know that you have so much confidence in me.”

Without mincing words further, Rana got down to the task of finding a good job for Iris in Goa. He had his periodic client relationship luncheon with the Marketing and Finance Directors of one of the two conglomerates. At the end of the business talks he asked them if they needed any confidential secretary or staff in similar positions in Goa. He gave a general background of Iris to them. It was a matter of sheer coincidence that they were looking for an Executive Secretary for their Chairman whose principal office was at Vasco da Gama, which was where her mother resided. Rana also knew their Chairman very well because he negotiated with him their large loan proposal under an international financing program.
They said they had already put up ads in the newspapers both in Goa and Bombay and received many applications. The interview process was going on, but in general the quality of the candidates was not up to the mark. They also added that good secretaries were in great demand but hardly available in Goa, for they get much better offers in Bombay and migrate easily. In the circumstances, learning her experience with the British multinational they were rather eager to interview Iris. The first interview was arranged through Rana. After a couple of interviews they thought she was perfect fit for the job. The Chairman also interviewed her on his weekly visit to Bombay in the next couple of days and approved her appointment with immediate effect. He offered her 10% more than her current salary with the British multinational. In fact, their need was so urgent that the Chairman called Rana to thank him profusely for referring Iris to them instead of his thanking them for recruiting her.

Rana was greatly relieved that in the midst of her grief, at least, Iris did not have to worry about job and money. However, dismantling one household and settling down at a different place was not an easy task by any count. During her last week in Bombay, Iris remained mostly in her apartment; packing her personal stuff; paying off bills; helping the movers; and doing miscellaneous other things. Rana helped her sell some of her furniture that she did not want to take with her and wherever else his help was needed. She was now ready to leave physically.