ANIRUDH'S FAMILY

ANIRUDH’S FAMILY

Chapter 1

“You really mustn’t,” Christy sounded annoyed.

“What?” Anirudh, her husband asked from the living room. He heard his wife’s sounds coming from the kitchen.

“I am sure you understand what! You pamper her too much. You are spoiling her,” she responded.

Their daughter Jodie was sitting on her father’s lap, her eyes riveted to the cartoon show on the TV screen. It was already 10pm and she should have been asleep a long time ago. But her father had allowed her to stay awake. Christy was upset. Her husband really indulged their daughter a bit too much.

“It is Friday night honey. I will put her to bed as soon as this show is over. I promise,” Anirudh tried to pacify his wife. He was speaking loudly so his wife could listen in the kitchen. “Right Jodie?” he next asked his daughter in a soft voice.
Jodie turned her face towards Anirudh. He winked at her. She suppressed a giggle. He put a finger on his lips motioning her to be quiet. He didn’t want to infuriate his wife any further. The little girl was used to this now. Her father indulging her, and her mother protesting about it.

They both did not see Christy walk into the room carrying two mugs of coffee. She saw this mischievous exchange between father and daughter. It provoked her more. Putting the coffee mugs down, she put her hands on her hips and glared at them. She was wearing a simple floral dress and her waist length blonde hair hung over her shoulders. “She looks even more beautiful when she is angry,” Anirudh thought.

“You both think I am a fool?” she queried, her eye brows raised. “Calm down, honey. She doesn’t have school tomorrow,” he replied.

She shrugged in exasperation. She sat down on the chair next to them and started sipping her coffee in silence. Anirudh looked at her from the corner of his eye. She looked upset. He felt he should placate her.

“Baby, we got to go,” he whispered in Jodie’s ear. The little girl was in no mood to go, but she was smart enough to gauge the atmosphere in the room.

“Ok, papa.” She agreed.

Anirudh got up and scooped her up in his arms. She was old enough to climb up the stairs on her own, but he loved carrying her. He walked towards the stairs, holding her in his arms. “Good night, mama,” she waved at her mom.

Christy looked at them and sighed. She knew that she had played spoilsport, but it was for the child’s good. “Tomorrow morning we are going to the beach, “she offered.

Jodie gave a shout of joy and clapped her hands. Anirudh loved the twinkle in her blue eyes, and caressed her blonde curls. “Go thank mama,” he said, putting her down.

Jodie ran to her mom and hugged her. Christi hugged her back. “Good night, baby. Sleep well,” she said, before kissing her.

Jodie ran back to her father who scooped her up in his arms. He pressed his precious burden close to his chest and carried her to her room. He helped her pack her knapsack for the next morning, before putting her to bed. He switched off the lights, and joined his wife in the living room.

“Your coffee is cold. Should I get you a fresh cup?” she offered.

“No, honey. Thanks. It’s ok,” he replied.

She got up and sat next to him on the sofa. She stroked his cheek, “Do not be upset with me Ani.” Ani was the short for Anirudh.

“Darling, I try very hard, but can’t do it,” he explained with a serious look.

“Try hard for what,” she asked.

“To be upset with you,” he chuckled.

She smiled at him.

“Ah, the moon shines at last,” he flirted.

She came into his arms. They held each other for a very long time.

“Christy, I know you are right. But the child has lost her father recently. She has gone through so much of sorrow at such a young age. I am just helping her out.” It was Anirudh’s voice.

“I know you are,” she said, kissing him gently.

Later, that night Anirudh lay in bed thinking. He was a lucky man he thought and said a silent prayer to God. He had a loving wife and an adoring daughter. True, he indulged the child a lot, but if it was not for her, he would probably never have been so close to Christy. His thoughts went back to that incident that occurred about a month back.

Chapter 2

Anirudh had taken his daughter to her ballet classes. While returning, their car broke down in the middle of a deserted stretch of the motorway. His cell phone was not catching any signal. He was forced to start walking with the child, hoping that he could hitchhike. Jodie walked beside him, her little right hand curled around his left index finger.

The walk was pleasant. There were oak and cypress trees on both sides of the road. They heard the chirping of birds and the humming of insects coming from the trees. A nice natural fragrance born out of a heady concoction of the smells of leaves, soil and wild flowers stimulated their nasal buds. There were a few errant clouds in the sky as the sun prepared for its rest. The air was cool and caressed their cheeks like silk.

But Anirudh was worried. The child would be hungry and it would soon be dark. He wanted to carry her, holding her close to him, but she offered to walk. He did not protest, as he wanted to conserve his energy. He would anyway have to carry her carry her in a little while.

He was relieved when he heard the siren of a police van. The van stopped and an officer jumped out.

“Good afternoon officer!” said Anirudh.

“Good afternoon.” The officer replied. Anirudh did not like the expression on his face.

“Our car broke down. I was taking my daughter home after her ballet classes. My phone did not catch a signal. We were hoping to get a ride.” Anirudh explained.

“Could I see some ID please?” The officer sounded curt.

Anirudh showed them their IDs.

“She is my daughter,” Anirudh explained.

“I am sorry, sir. But you will have to come with us.” The officer announced.

“But why?” Anirudh enquired.

The officer made no attempt to reply. But Anirudh knew why. He was an Indian walking in the middle of nowhere with a white, blonde child. The officer doubted that he had probably kidnapped her. He was acutely reminded that his white wife and child were racially different from him. There was no way he could prove that Jodie was his daughter.

“He is my father.” Jodie announced in a determined voice. Anirudh could sense that she understood why the officer was doing this. He sighed. This would not be good for her.

He did not try to explain any further. He would have to explain to the officer that Jodie was his ‘step-daughter’, and he hated that term and he did not want the child to hear it either. She was his daughter.

He scooped Jodie up in his arms and carried her to the vehicle. She put her little arms around her father’s neck, as if to comfort him. There was sufficient space in the police car, but she chose to sit on her father’s lap. Anirudh drew her closer, her small head resting on his chest. She put her small hand in his. Both father and daughter felt a bonding they had never experienced before as they rode to the police department office in silence.

Jodie had lost her father a year and a half back. Her mother Christi had met Anirudh through a mutual friend, about one year after that tragedy. They married after a brief romance. The couple was worried about the effect this marriage would have on the child as she had been deeply attached to her father. It was Christi’s idea that Jodie should spend more time alone with her new father.

At the department, Anirudh seated the child in the waiting room and met the officer-in-charge, explaining his position. They called his wife. She would have to come down to the office and prove that they were family.

He was asked to wait. He went to the waiting room and sat next to Jodie, putting his arm around her.

“Your mom will get us out of here soon. Do not worry. Are you hungry?” he asked. She shook her head in the negative.

“I am sorry,” she said in a quiet voice.

“What for baby?” He asked looking at her. Her eyes looked red. Perhaps she had been crying.

“They are doing this because you don’t look different,” she offered kindly.

Anirudh smiled at her wryly. “They are only doing their job, honey. Such things do happen. We have to take them in our stride.”

She did not seem convinced.

Anirudh probed her further. “Does it bother you, that I look different?”

The hurt in her eyes showed that he had asked a wrong question. He wanted to apologize, but her answer was prompt.

“Off course not. You take good care of my mom. She used to be so sad before she met you,” she answered without hesitation.

“Don’t I take care of you Jodie?”

“You do.” Her voice lacked conviction.

She paused for some time, before continuing. “Last time I had my skit in school. Alice, Cathy, Ron were there with their dads.”

The message was clear. He remembered that event clearly. Christi had wanted him to go, but he had avoided. He was not sure how the other kids would react when they saw him. He winced. He had hurt the child. He could have kicked himself for his lack of confidence. Deep in his mind, his racial difference had created a complex. But to the child this difference really didn’t matter. He promised to make up for it when he got a chance.

“Can I ask you something?” She said.

He nodded.

“Why don’t you come to church with us?” she asked simply.

It was again Anirudh’s turn to be flustered. It was such a simple question. But his impressive education and exalted degrees could not help him answer it. He had always avoided going to church with his family because he thought his religion was different. But was it? Did his education teach him that? Did his Hindu religion prohibit him from going to church? Was his God different from his wife’s? Did his Indian culture teach discrimination? The answer was no every time. It was a difference he had created in his mind. The child had made him conscious of his hypocrisy.

He had no answer. He was helped out of his embarrassment by the officer who announced that his wife had come. The officer apologized to the family. There had actually been some incidents on that road and he just wanted to be careful. Anirudh complimented him for doing his job well.

That night, the couple was alone after dinner.

Anirudh held his wife and looked into her eyes. “Mind if I ask something.”

“Sure honey,” she replied resting her head on his shoulders.

“Can I take Jodie to school every morning?” he pleaded.

“If you really want,” she responded.

“I would love to.” They kissed each other with much tenderness, wishing that moment to never pass.
Next Sunday, Christi and Jodie were getting ready to leave for church. They met Anirudh at the door.

“Mind if I come?” he asked.

“Off course not honey,” his wife answered.

Both father and daughter looked at each other. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. He stretched his arms towards her. She came running to him, her golden curls flying. He lifted her up in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him on his cheek. “My young teacher,” Anirudh had thought as he caressed her curls.

Since that incident, Anirudh and Jodie had formed a special bond between them. Christi was relieved that the two were getting alone so well. They were a very happy family. Fond thoughts filled Anirudh’s mind as he put his arms around his beautiful wife and entwined his left leg around her smooth, white thighs. She purred with satisfaction and responded with a loving kiss on his lips.

Chapter 3

The next morning, Anirudh was jolted out of his slumber by the rude sound of the door bell. He turned his head to the clock on the bedside table. It was 07:00 am. He remembered it was Saturday. He wished for whoever it was at the door to go away.

He groaned and disentangled himself from his wife who was still asleep. The bright rays of the morning sun streamed in from the window, highlighting her exquisite features. He kissed her and caressed her blonde tresses, before forcing himself out of bed.

He peeked into Jodie’s bedroom before climbing down to the hall. Only her golden curls could be seen from the door. Her packed knapsack was on the study table. In a little while, they would all leave for the beach. He looked forward to lazing in the sun with his family.

The bell rang again. He opened the door.

“Hi, son.” Anirudh froze at the sight, his face contorting in a mask of dismay. It was his parents from India.

“We wanted to surprise you.” It was his mother. She smiled warmly.

His discomfiture was not lost on them. “All well son?” his father asked getting inside the house without waiting for an invitation.

“How nice to see you both,” he managed weakly not sounding happy at all. He closed the door behind them.

“I had a meeting in New York. Your mother insisted on coming along,” his father explained.

Anirudh walked his parents to the sofa and seated them.

“Who is it darling?” He cringed at the voice behind him.

His parents were shocked at the woman standing beside their son. She was wearing a robe over a single piece camisole. Anirudh worried that his parents would not approve of her dress.

“Baba, Ma,” Anirudh started meekly. Baba and Ma, being the Indian term for father and mother respectively.

“My wife Christi,” he managed to say at last. “Christi, my parents.” He wished the earth would swallow him.

“What! “ Both his parents screamed in unison.

“Have you gone mad?” His father screamed. He was glaring at his daughter-in-law.

“Why is that man screaming, papa.” Anirudh closed his eyes in despair as he heard his daughter’s voice. “Why did God have to take me through all this?”

“Papa!” This time it was his mother screaming in surprise.

“This is Jodie my daughter.” He stammered.

”I will not wait here to be insulted any longer,” Christy said and started to walk out of the room. Anirudh held her hands. “Please do not leave. I am sorry it happened like this. I wanted to inform my parents all along about our marriage, but could not”. But she jerked his hands off and stomped out angrily with Jodie.

“I owe you both an explanation.” Anirudh said, looking at his parents.

“I met Christi in New York and fell in love with her. Her first husband is dead. Jodie is his daughter. We got married six months back.” Their silence was tearing him apart.

“I did not have the courage to tell you. Christi is not Indian. I was hoping to inform you, but could not bring myself to do it. I did not want it to be like this.” He paused, hoping they would react. His mother was sobbing.

He sat next to her and put her arms around her. “Ma, she is a nice and simple girl. I really love her.”

His father cleared his throat. “Anirudh, our family has no place for her. You have to choose between her and us.”
Anirudh knew his father too well. The old man had built a huge personal fortune by dearth of his courage and determination. He was not one to waste words.

“It is not a matter of choice, Baba.” I love Christi and Jodie as much as I love you. Anirudh knew that he had just kissed his father’s huge personal fortune a goodbye.

He went up to their bedroom. The door was closed. He heard Christy sobbing inside. He knocked on the door.

“Christy, honey, please do not cry. Please open the door. Let us talk about this,” he pleaded.

“Go away,” she replied from inside.

“Please, honey. Just open the door once and let me get in. Give me just one more chance,” he insisted.

The door opened and Jodie came out. Anirudh knelt in front of her. “Jodie, I need to speak with your mom,” he told her.

“She is very angry. Come back later. I will try and convince her,” she said like an adult.

Anirudh took her advice. He walked out of the house. He needed some fresh air. He thought of the plans they had made for the day and felt sad for the little child.

He returned home only late evening. The house was pitch dark. He knew his parents would be gone. And he feared that so would be Christi and Jodie. His entire world had come crashing down on him in just one morning. “He had been such a jerk and a coward. I love them so much, but I never had the courage to tell my parents. I deserve this,” he said to himself.
He walked into the hall with stooped shoulders. Suddenly, the lights switched on. The scene that greeted him was a dream sequence out of a family album. It took his breath away. The house was decorated to give a festive look in sharp contrast to the gloomy atmosphere of the morning.

He saw Christi looking beautiful dressed like an Indian bride in a silk sari, with vermillion in her hair. She was bedecked in fine jewellery, some of which he recognized as his family heirlooms. Jodie was in his father’s arms. His mother was beaming.

“Welcome home son.” It was his father. “Our coming here was no surprise. Christi had written to us about everything. She told us about your marriage and that how you were suffering internally as you could not muster the courage to tell us,” he continued.

“Son, you have found yourself a wonderful wife. She is brave and honest and she loves you and cares for you. That is the only thing that matters. It is true that we wanted an Indian wife for you. But after meeting her we know you chose wisely. We have no regrets. I am disappointed that you could not tell us about her. You need heart and lots of courage to love, my boy,” the old man went on.

“It was Christy’s idea that we come down. She could not bear your sorrow that you had to hide your family from us. What you saw today morning was all her plan to see whether you really love your family. We now know that you really do and so do we. You have married well my son. We know you are in safe hands,” his mother added.

“We are all leaving for India tomorrow. So better pack your things. The wedding is next week. You mother always wanted an Indian wedding for her younger son,” said his father.

Anirudh found his voice at last. “India? What about my work.”

“You only need a computer and an internet connection. And you may come back after the wedding. Christi and Jodie will stay back. They will come back after the baby is born. It will also help her know her husband’s country and relatives.”
“Baby!” Anirudh looked at Christi in bewilderment. She was blushing.

“Yes, son,” his mother continued. “The reports came in today. We visited the doctors also. He has allowed her to travel. We will stop in London for a couple of days so that she gets some rest, before we continue to Kolkata.”

Anirudh walked over to his parents and touched their feet.”Thank you,” he told them.

“It is my lovely daughter that needs to be thanked,” his mother said putting her hand on Christy’s arms.

Anirudh walked to his wife. “Thank you my love.” His voice was choked with emotion.

The couple hugged each other as everyone in the room applauded.

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