“Son-in-law coming again, Damn it!”

Disclaimer: All the characters framed and snippet written is fictitious.

It was a pleasant afternoon. Sun had finally shown up bright in the sky, soaring the temperature which was quite low since few days, giving people of Amritsar a sense of shiver. Many had climbed to their house’s roof tops to enjoy the sun, to absorb infra red rays and vitamin D. Of course, ultra violet rays did come along to tan the skins. But its darkening effect was ignored as a little of it won’t harm.

Like many, Mrs Gita Arora also took the advantage of the shimmering sun, hopped on to the roof of her 2 storied house, nestled on the side of a cramped lane of Namak Mandi( Loon Mandi in Punjabi). The gully was so narrow that people literally had to jostle their way out. But they were accustomed to it, which almost averted vulnerable quarrels and fights. While basking the warmth of the sun rays, Gita suddenly realized that it was the time for her grandchild to come back home from school. Like a typical Punjabi mother-in-law, she insolently called her daughter-in-law

“Indu!! Nimish must be on his way back to home. Are you preparing the lunch?”

Indu replied loudly, so that her voice could reach the roof from kitchen “Hanji Mummy ji, I am preparing it”

A relationship of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is like a sweetened pickle. Along with respect and love, there are moments of disagreement leading to quarrels. Same was the relation of Gita and Indu. Being dominated by her mother-in-law, when she was alive, Gita was intrigued and tried to exact her experience on Indu, with few manipulations that were inevitable due the generation gap, made her a strict mother-in-law. To give Gita an apt match, Indu was an intelligent and mischievous lady. She knew how to pacify her mother-in-law. But, sometimes, both would get adamant and denied to agree with each other, leading to development of a temporary no-talking-vex among them. But, those fights were always volatile, never led to holding a grudge. The existential angst bubbling in both of the warring parties would eventually force them to talk again. It looked uncanny, but the relation had its own perfection.

An incessant ringing of door bell started along with perpetual banging of the main door.

“Mummy! Mummy! Mummy! Open the door… fast”

Indu switched off the lit burner of the gas stove, scurried to open the door. She unlocked the door and Nimish scampered hurriedly to the toilet. Apparently, Nimish was holding an unbearable urge to pee, that made him to bang the door until it got opened. Indu shouted while standing outside the toilet

“Why do you always hold it? Your school does have the facility of a sanitized toilet.”

“Mom, you already know. I don’t like to use school’s toilets as they clean them once in a day, not every hour.”, replied Nimish from the toilet.

Frowned over her son’s reply, she said “Ok. Change your clothes after coming out and come to the kitchen. I will arrange a plate for you and your dadi.”

Indu went back to the kitchen, poured hot lentils in bowls, placed them in two plates. Then she carefully put two dollops of mix vegetable beside lentil bowls, delicately formed its heap in the plate and started making Chapatis. By the time Nimish came to kitchen, Indu was done preparing the meal for him and his grandmother, asked him to take the two plates with caution and join his grandmother on the roof top. Nimish did as his mother ask, climbed the staircase, and reached his grandmother who was relishing the sun while sitting on a folding bed. Seeing Nimish coming with both hands occupied, Gita took the plates from his hands and placed it on the surface of the bed.

“O star of my eyes. You are back from school. I missed you. Come sit here. Let me feed you with my own hands today” said Gita while pampering Nimish.

Then she fed her grandson with all love and affection, simultaneously had her own food too. After finishing the lunch, she asked Nimish to take away the emptied utensils and tersely emphasized not to throw them in kitchen sink, but carefully put them in the sink without a thud. Thankfully, Nimish followed her grandmother’s order .

Gita was feeling all drowsy after a belly full of sumptuous meal. She decided to appease her sleepiness with a short afternoon siesta. But her mobile phone rang, making her a little irked. She could not make out who was calling as her reading glasses were not with her. Somehow, she pressed the green button to answer the call.

“Hello! Who is this?”

“Mummy, it’s me, Sapna”

“O my child. You have called after so many days”

“Yes mother. I was busy with work. Sorry”

“My child, daughters never say sorry to her parents. I understand.”

“I love you mummy. Anyway, I called you to intimate that Monty and I are coming to Amritsar tomorrow. Please convey this to brother Shashi. He should come at railway station to receive us. I will message all necessary details on his mobile phone after this call.”

Sleep sublimed from Gita’s eyes and head. For minute she stayed still without muttering any further word, visualizing the approaching dread. Then she re-confirmed from her daughter with hope of a miracle

“ So, You and Damaad ji will be here tomorrow?”

“Yes mummy!” said Sapna all enthused

“Can’t Wait” replied Gita, successfully suppressed her wistful tone.

Thereafter, even the sun rays did not lure Gita anymore and she went downstairs to the kitchen to give Indu the latest news.

Hearing it, Indu too exhaled a sulked sigh. Eccentric it may sound, but the news of Sapna and Monty visiting them always fortified Gita and Indu’s relationship. During their stay, there was never any difference of opinion between them.

Nimish eavesdropping was the only person enthused, merrily screaming

“Yippe! Monty uncle is coming. Now I will not have to go to school until he stays”

Apparently, whenever Monty came, he had provoked Nimish to bunk the school, giving Indu pangs of displeasure as she had to, thereafter, chase Nimish’s class mates and plead before them to help him complete his class work which was undone due to sudden leaves.

Monty and Sapna were married two years back. It was an arrange marriage, so obviously it was not possible to know all shades of someone’s personality in few meetings. Monty belonged to a well off family. All his family members along with Monty were affable that made Aroras to marry their daughter with Monty Khanna. Post marriage, the clandestine urn of Monty’s behaviour got opened. He was very much in love with Sapna and always took care of her; never let her to do any domestic drudgery, always supported Sapna for her professional career. Usually post marriage, girl’s family has apprehensions that the groom might be strict and may pose restrictions on girl. But! Yes there is BUT- Monty was overtly over friendly.

1^st time, when he came to Arora’s house after marriage, he drove from Delhi to Amritsar, just because he wanted to take along Dodo (his dog) with him, to acquaint him to Aroras. The dog turned out to be extremely notorious, showed stars to Aroras in bright day light. He gnawed on their furniture, peed and pooped on bed. Indu was infuriated, as she had spread all new pricey bed sheets. Dog also chewed Nimish’s books, which brought rapture to him and added headache to Indu’s and Gita’s affliction. Whole night he kept on howling, eluded sleep of all family members. Somehow, they gulped the troubles without griping.

On their next visit for a Sapna’s cousin’s wedding, Arora’s booked a hotel room for the couple which was a little expensive for them, yet it excluded possibility of arrival of the dog. Monty had few more uncanny colours to show. In the wedding, he drank too much, asked his mother-in-law to dance with him. Gita acquiesced as she did not want to create an embarrassing scene. Monty was so drunk and happy, that he lifted Gita in his arms and started dancing. The inebriant, he had consumed, showed its effects. With 70 kg mother-in-law in his hands, he could not held long enough, stumbled and both fell on the ground, gave Gita a wretched lumbago which took weeks to heal.

In nutshell, Monty’s arrival, every time, had brought terror for Aroras. And they can’t even retaliate because they can sense, Monty was good at heart, a genial guy, most importantly Sapna’s husband who loved her. Just his exterior exude of over friendliness was petrifying.

So, when they got the news that Sapna and Monty are coming, all mulled over what this time was going to happen. But they knew Monty had always thrown horrendous surprise, failing their attempt of precognition.

Next day Shashi went to Amritsar railway station to receive Monty and Sapna. They were coming by shatabadi express, which is the fastest train between Delhi and Amritsar, takes approximately 6 hrs. Train arrived. Shashi was standing in front of their boarded coach. Monty and Sapna came out with smiles on their faces. Shashi reciprocated. Both hugged Shashi which brought a feeling of exaltation in him, seeing her sister happy and forgot about what Monty might have brought along in his urn of surprises.

After the hug, all three drove to home. Shashi’s senses returned to petrified state in the car itself and rest were in same state, waiting at home.

Gita opened the door when the door bell rang. Monty touched her feet with due respect.

“How are you Mummy ji?”

“I am fine Monty beta. Good to see you again”

It was already 7:30 pm when they reached home. So, Indu started preparing the remnants of dinner. One could see dining table laden with varieties of delicacies. There was Palak paneer, Daal Makhni, Raita, Rice, Salad and Chapatis, and of course ice-cream stored in refrigerator, to be served post meal. All sat to eat. Monty poured some curd raita in bowl and started eating. Gita interrupted

“Monty Beta, please have everything. Indu had prepared all your favourites”

“Mummy ji, due to train journey, I am feeling a bit icky. Please do not mind. I will have this in breakfast tomorrow morning”

“Oh! Shall we take you to a doctor?”

“No… No… I will be fine.”

Gita did not force him as she did not want him to get sick. Moreover, that would mean he may have to spend more days at her home which she wanted to avoid.

As expected, Monty convinced Nimish to take off from school next day, which was an easy task as Nimish was waiting for this since he came to know about Monty’s visit.

Monty, Sapna, Indu and Shashi started gossiping after dinner. They did not realize the time passed and sun showed up .It was already 6:30 am. Everyone was ready to doze off, except Monty. He suggested

“Let us go to Harmandir Sahib. It will be serene and tranquil early morning”

Sapna denied the offer. She was the wife. She had the liberty to do so. But Shashi and Indu were trapped. They had to act as sycophants for Sapna’s sake.

Harmandir Sahib aka Golden temple was not far from their home. So, they decided to go on by foot. They reached the destination in about 10 min of tread. The gilded cupola of the temple was shining due falling sun rays on it. The pond had emerging ripples because a school of fish of different hues was swimming in it. Indeed it was tranquil. After offering prayers, the three went to Langar Hall to have some Prasad. Monty hogged like a pig and ate 5 chapatis along with Daal and Halwa. This was understandable to Shashi and Indu as he had skipped dinner last night.

On way back to home, Monty stopped at a lassi stall and had a biggest glass of lassi, which approximately contained half liter of lassi along with cream and handful of dry fruits. Post that Monty stopped again at a sweet shop and ate 250 grams of Moong daal Halwa. Indu and Sashi had no option, but to let Monty pacify his whims. Thankfully, Monty did not stop anymore and they reached home.

Indu instantly got busy with her drudgeries and Shashi started getting ready for work.

After coming home, Monty rushed to toilet to ease off. He came out. Went again to toilet… Came out… And went again… Apparently, the hogging did not suit Monty and he was getting loose motion now. It was horrible for others as the smell from toilet was too intense. It almost swooned Gita and Indu.

Sashi had already left for work. So, Gita took Monty to nearby doctor. Doctor asked

“Somebody got overwhelmed and ate beyond the limits”

Monty replied meekly “I don’t know doctor. I ate in limits only”

Gita thought “Idiot, hogging like pigs is not in limits”

Doctor said “ I am going to give you a strong dose via injection”

Monty’s valour subdued when he heard the word Injection. He insisted

“ No… No… I will be fine. I don’t need an injection”

Doctor looked at Monty with an expressionless face and said sternly “ I know what I am doing”

He prepared the injection and sensed Monty’s phobia. So he asked his helper and Gita to hold him.

Monty was weeping like a baby and squeezed his eyelids shut in terror. Needle was a few centimeters away from Monty’s arm and he suddenly twitched it. Due to sudden jerk needle accidently pierced into Gita’s arm, left her and everybody in aghast, except. Monty. He started laughing incessantly and forgot about his phobia. Taking its advantage, Gita signaled doctor to inject another dose into Monty’s body. This time doctor was more careful and succeeded in his mission.

After coming back to home, Monty told everyone about what happened at clinic. All at home giggled. And Gita portrayed a painful smile on her face, while cursing his son-in-law in her thoughts.

After two days Sapna and Monty went back to Delhi, giving sigh of relief to all members except Nimish as he now had to go to school again.

Next morning, sun was shining bright again and Gita was peacefully sitting on roof top. Her phone rang.

“Hello! Who is this?”

“Mummy ji, It’s me Monty. I called to tell you that we have reached safely. Plus, want to inform you that I will be coming again to Amritsar for some work. Office was providing me hotel. But I denied. I will be staying with you for 2 days. I am sure you are happy”

“Oh yes beta! “ Gita replied while thwarting her tears.

She disconnected the call and shouted without hesitation of people hearing her

“Son-in-law is coming again. Damn it!”