The Helpless Lady - A story

The drizzle had stopped. Darkness of the night had engulfed all and sundry that was barely visible in moonlight. It was a warm summer night. The warmth was natural at that time of the year, and the uneasiness that it was causing was nothing to complain about. A gentle breeze was bringing some relief, and rendering some freshness to the whole surrounding.

I was getting ready to walk my way back home, which was about three furlongs away from the place where I was standing. It was customary for me to take a walk every night after dinner. Tonight was no exception. I looked at my watch. It was past 9:00 pm. My attention fell on an advancing silhouette, quite definitely belonging to that of a woman, if I am not wrong. A car, with its headlights on, passed me lazily towards the city end. Now I could see the woman distinctly. She was heading towards me.

"Can I talk to you? ", She was now very near to me.
Now I could see she was quite an young lady, whose inherent beauty has been somewhat robbed away, possibly by the drudgery of some indecent life, which her shabby dress was proclaiming.
"Yes, what is it? ", I replied with an inquisitive tone.
"Can you help me? I have a kid, a boy, with no shelter to put up ourselves." She continued.
I couldn't find anything to say. I was still observing her. She looked respectable enough.
"My husband is a rogue. I need a shelter to keep my son safe; else he would sell my son off to a wealthy couple. I have fled. Can't you see? ..... I am in great trouble. ", she continued without any pause. . . . . with a great eagerness to pour out the words into my ears in one breath.

I was not prepared for this. Moreover, I was getting late. There was no one else around. I wondered where her son was right at that moment, for whom she was so much worried. Somehow I was no really believing what she was saying.

"See madam, I live alone, and it won't look fair to let you stay in my house even for a night. I hope you understand." I squeezed the words out of my mouth with great difficulty.

My words instantly made her withdraw herself from the advancing state, which till now she was willfully forwarding. She sort of went inside a shell.
"Have I been rude? ", I just thought.
"Where is your son? ", I asked.
There was no reply.
In the next instant I found her getting ready to move forward, looking vaguely at something that was not there. I couldn't utter any more words further.

She moved away from me and started walking. I kept on looking at her for some time. Then I also started walking back home.

I had forgotten the incident, and for the next one month or so it never surfaced in my mind, until one night I saw her again. She was sitting under a tree, with a little boy in her lap. Yes, it was the same lady, looking very worn out.

I advanced towards her, but could not find any word to map upon my tongue. Instantly my conscience slapped me across my face. I understood the mistake I had committed one month back. How narrow-minded I had been that night. I did not believe her words. I stood dumbfounded. She looked up towards me expectantly.

Many a years have passed by since then. That little boy is now a young lad of twenty-two. I find great solace when I look at him every morning, getting ready to go for work. Till he comes back in the evening, my hours remain dull.

His mother is no more. Only her memory remains. I could not save her. She died of some unknown disease, which her dreaded life with her husband had possibly bestowed upon her. But she left back someone for me to fall back upon. Still I find consolation when I think that his mother, my dear sister I suppose, could die in peace, under the roof of my house. That is the most I could do for her.

This story is totally imaginary. Any resemblance to any real happening may please be treated as coincidental.

Chandra, March 10, 2011

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