⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ The Teacher ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
“Sudha lunch is ready. Have it before you start your next class,” came in her mother-in-law Malati. Sudha was taking online classes for students preparing for Common Admission Test (CAT) in the morning. In the afternoon she had to take classes for 10th and 12th standard students of a prominent CBSE school in Lucknow.
Sudha replied that she would come for the lunch in another ten minutes. Malati departed and as Sudha started closing the class for MBA students her memories flew seven years back when she had come to that home as a new bride.
“Why Sudha need to work. That too for a coaching institute. You are running a successful driving school and we don’t need her money to run this home. Let her manage house,” ordered Malati.
“Mother Sudha has done post-graduation in English. She had mentioned to me her interest to continue working post marriage and I had agreed to it. Mother I also prefer a working wife. If any calamity happens tomorrow, I want my family to be safe in every way. For that its important Sudha too works,” replied her husband Madhav.
Malati grudgingly agreed to her son demand. But things became difficult for Sudha after their son Pritam was born two years later. Malati refused to take care of her grandchild and asked her to sit at home.
However, Madhav asked her to drop Pritam at her mother’s place and continue working. Madhav was the rock-solid support for Sudha to continue working in the hostile atmosphere. Whenever she came back from work the ladies of neighborhood will be telling her mother-in-law how good their daughters in law were in taking care of the house. Her mother-in-law retorted Sudha thought she was collector but she was only a teacher at a private coaching centre. She didn’t know what Sudha did at work as she was managing household tasks quiet badly.
Sudha had cried in Madhav’s arms most of the night. She had even thought of quitting unable to take the barbs. But Madhav mentioned she had always wanted her identity and she should never give up on the thought.
Her problems multiplied when she bought a laptop. Reason she had wanted to take online classes. She said some working professionals were unable to come to coaching classes hence the institute was asking teachers to record sessions and put on the coaching centre’s You tube channel so that such students can watch It after paying the subscription.
Though Sudha recorded her sessions after completing all household tasks Malati was irked that her son spend money on computer. Madhav told many times the laptop was bought with Sudha’s savings but Malati was not convinced.
The year 2020 changed everything for Sudha. The Covid imposed lockdown caused disruption to her husband’s occupation. He was unable to open driving school for a long time. Even when he opened students were less as there were many restrictions imposed. Though they managed the expenses for five six months paying the EMI for their housing loan was becoming a problem as Madhav’s savings were draining.
It was then Sudha chipped in. She mentioned she was still get regular salary as her online classes were happening. She was also getting bonus for taking additional sessions. They could easily tide over the crisis with her income.
Madhav announced to his parents from that day Sudha was going to pay EMI of their house as he was not having income to pay for it. It was a shock for Malati and as days went by, she realized the value of Sudha’s work. In many houses in neighborhood financial difficulties were there. She could see fights between couples, fights between mothers in law and daughters in law over property. She also saw people selling houses unable to pay the loan. However, things were fine in her house. Reason her son had allowed his wife to work and when the bad time came, she was there to support the family.
All the ladies who harped on Sudha for working were now shouting at their daughters in law that they were useless. They asked them to learn something from Sudha and contribute to the income of the household than harping on their husbands to pay for everything.
Seeing her videos, a prominent private school approached her to take classes for their students as many of their teachers were unable to take online classes. They didn’t want the students taking board exams to be affected by it. When Sudha tried to refuse it was Malati who encouraged her to take that up telling she should not worry about Pritam or household task. She will manage it.
Sudha smiled as she got up to have lunch. Covid was said to be a calamity. But for her just because it happened the people in her society learnt about the importance of educating and making a woman financially independent.
©Shruthi Ravi
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Shruthi Ravi
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