Reunion

Ram sat on the window sill contemplating what to do, while trying to keep his mind from screaming in panic. It first started as a mere irritation, turned into a bit of anger and slowly metamorphosed into the panic that was beginning to gnaw at every cell in his body. He suddenly felt so helpless, so small, so….in need of her.

Today was Wednesday, when Geetha had her weekly meetings, hence came home after 7pm. It was Ram’s duty to make sure that he came home early to take care of little Sid. The barely five yet child came home from school at 2, stayed in the neighbor’s house with another kid his age till about 5, when Geetha would pick him up from there as she came back home from office. That was the routine everyday, except on Wednesdays. That was Ram’s day. He knew that the child loved these days when, to give him and himself a break from routine, father and son would go to the beach, eat ice cream, talk about the day and after several attempts at restraining the little boy, the father would let him play in the sand and hold his hand while he shouted in glee as the waves came gushing forth in all their glory.

That was probably the only time that Ram smiled. His relationship with Geetha was going nowhere. The love they had shared before marriage and the few years after marriage seemed like a dream. Geetha was busy with her work, barely had time for him, in fact, barely had time for herself. It had been years since they spent time together, just them. Where did all the love go? Marriage was supposed to be a fulfillment of love, not its strangulation. Did he love her? Did she love him?

Stop! This wasn’t the time to shed tears about a stumbling marriage. Sid was missing and Ram was panicking. He picked up his cell phone and called Geetha.

“Geetha, can you come home immediately?”
“Ram, I am just about to wrap the meeting, can’t this wait?”
“Listen….it’s about Sid. He is missing.”

Silence.

“I’ll be right there.”
***


Geetha fought many things at the same time. Anger, frustration, panic, helplessness and tears. How could Ram be so careless? Where could Sid have gone? Was he kidnapped? Was he safe? He loved watching the vehicles go zip past on the roads…was he..NO!!NO!
She had to stop these pessimistic thoughts. She quickly parked her bike and came running up the two floors, too impatient to wait for the elevator.

Sid, Sid. Her only child. Her only hope. Her only reason to still be in this marriage. What will she do?? God! Please let him be safe. Please.

***
Sid stood behind Geetha as she and the neighbor tried to cajole information out of Sid’s little friend. All that they could make out was that they had begun playing hide-and-seek and while he was still counting, Sid went and hid somewhere and now it was time for homework, so if they saw him, could they please tell him that the game is over and that Sid has to be the catcher tomorrow?

Ram could literally feel the panic waves from Geetha hit him, as he was sure; the vibes from him were hitting her. He was so thankful when she had walked into the room. He literally heaved a sigh of relief, like they had almost found Sid. Geetha was here, things were bound to take a positive turn now. He was grateful to her for not blaming him or jabbing him with acerbic accusations. He wanted to cry, it was his mistake. He should have been here by 5; the damn Union and their bloody damn stories about bad management. He had stuck around to talk to some colleagues and by the time he reached the neighbor’s house to pick Sid up, it was almost 6.30. It was his fault Sid was missing now and it was terribly decent of Geetha not to mention it.

After searching the vicinity and talking to few more people. Geetha and Ram went to the school, informed the staff in charge that Sid was missing, went to the local police station, lodged a complaint, gave Sid’s recent picture and description and came back home.

The silence was overwhelming. The grief, palpable. They both sat on the sofa, each lost in their own thoughts. Ram’s were as much about Geetha as they were about Sid. She was so beautiful.Inside out. It seemed like motherhood had only made her more charming. She was staring at the tea table. Her shoulders slumped, head hung, eyes glazed. She was so sad, so hurt. And it was all his mistake. He was the reason Sid was missing. He was the reason the marriage was slumping.

He had begun spending more and more time at office. For the Union. He was a smart, successful individual and everyone came to him for advice. Slowly, he had a following and soon he was giving speeches and fighting elections. He was now the Deputy General Secretary of the Union and it was almost a given that he would be the next General Secretary. Coming home late, going out of station for days in a row, sometimes weeks, until one day Geetha told him that enough was enough, and in case he forgot, they had a child and Wednesdays had to become Ram’s days. He started the crack and his indifference to the widening was only making it wider.

He got up from the sofa, walked up to Geetha and sat beside her. She didn’t even stir. He felt so awkward. But it was his doing and the undoing had to be his too. The days before their marriage, he couldn’t keep his hands and eyes off her. Her soft supple skin, her beautiful eyes, his melodious voice, her glorious hair, her sweet lips…oh, how he missed her, how he loved her. It was as if all the lights had been switched on, as if all the dams were broken and the waters gushed out. He put his arms around her and hugged her. God, it had been so long since they had hugged. He gave her the bear hug that she loved. Held her close to him as she sobbed, wept her heart out and hugged him back. He held her as his tears fell on her neck. As he said a thousand sorrys’ to make up for the lost years. Sid was their unification. He was the result of their love. How could they, who loved Sid so much, have drifted apart? It was downright silly for two people to love their child so much and not love each other. He loved her and told her so. She sobbed as she told him that she loved him too.

The bell rang. Wiping their tears, the reunited lovers rushed to the door. It could be the police, could be anyone. God, let it be Sid. Please.

And there she was, their neighbor. WITH SID!!! The earth would never have witnessed a scene so full of joy and love as Geetha wept and picked up Sid in her arms, held him close to her bosom and kissed him a million times. Ram, let the child be with the mother and hugged them both and kissed them. There were tears in his eyes. The neighbor apologetically narrated the tale of hide and seek which the two children had decided to play; and Sid, of all the places had decided to hide in the almirah, and fell asleep!! At about 8pm, when the family had sat for dinner, there was a loud cry from the bedroom and a totally freaked out neighbor and her husband ran to discover the origin of that scream! And lo and behold! It was the lost child!

After many grateful handshakes and thank you s, the small family stood inside and said a prayer of thanks to the Almighty.

Geetha and Ram had gotten their child back! The child had gotten his parents back. Really. It was a divine reunion!