Achan

I wanted to write something special for fathers’ day. I had been thinking for days. But couldn't come up with something that would match the passion with which I wrote this on Mothers' Day. So finally I decided to write about the same thing in a different angle. After all Achan and Amma come as a package. Let a day not seperate them.

Achan was always sad that he couldn't study much due to his parents' financial circumstances. But he always wanted all of us, Amma, me and brother to study and reach the zenith of achievements.

"Do you know what, today Rahima told me that if I do some course as an additional qualification, my office will reimburse the tuition fee" Amma told this one day and it all began.

Achan was excited.” Did you find out what can you study?"
"There is this PGDCA that everyone in office is planning to do?"
"PGDCA is computers, right?"

Amma enrolled for the course. Every Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning she used to have classes. Achan would go to drop her and pick her up.

She had class mates of all ages, she being the eldest.
"All are so much younger than me."
"So what?" Achan never found anything abnormal in that.

Then her exams started. She took a couple of days off from office to prepare. Achan used to get up earlier than usual and prepare food. Amma would be studying.

When we come back home in the evening, he would hush hush us.
"Shhhhh. Let her study. You put the TV volume down"
"Acha, let us have food. I am so hungry"
"Ask your Amma, if she is hungry"We would be still glued to TV.

Finally he would get up, slowly open the door of their bedroom and peek inside to find a just-about-to-cry Amma breaking her head over C++ and Java. He would come to me with a sad face.
"Neenu, can't you help your Amma? You have studied all these, right?"
"Errr, yup." I knew what a himalayan task it was.

First was her practical. I was damn sure she wouldn't pass. So I gave her a small chit with all the possible programs. Amma was reluctant initially. But I managed to convince her and even taught her how to cheat in the exam without being caught.

Achan got the shock of his life.
"Nooooooo. If she gets caught what a shame it will be"
"Acha, she will manage. You don't worry"
"I would still suggest No"

When it was time for her to start to the exam, he came to me, lowered his voice and saked
"Is she takng the chit?"
"Sure, she is"
"I don't know ... But let me tell you, it will be such a shame if she gets caught"
"Acha, plsssssssss, do you want her to pass or not?"
"No no. I want her to pass. But ... are you sure she can manage"
"Acha, you are impossible"
He could breathe his relief only after she came back and didn't say anything about being caught and chucked out of the exam hall.

It was her theory exams after that.
"Today is her exam, eh?"
"Yes Acha"
Achan would drop Amma and come back. He would check the clock every 5 minutes to se if it is time to go pick her up. FInally he would lose patience and start to fetch her back.

"I couldn't write much. I finished in 30 mins ahead of time."
"So what? I saw your colleague, that lady in blue sari, what is her name, anyway she was out in one hour"
"But her brother is a software engineer, She must have done well"
"What a joke, it is she who writes the exam not he"Achan always had HOPE. (Great hopes at times)

Then he used to recheck with me.
"Neenu, what did your Amma say about the exam?"
"She says it went well"
"So she will pass?"
"Well, I guess so"
He would give his 1000 watts smile.

After that it took Amma quite some time to be a PGDCA. Every time she would come home particularly gloomy on the day her results are announced. Achan wouldn't want to hurt her. So he would act as if he didn't understand what happened.

"Neenu, did her result come?"
"Yes"
“How is it?”Achan would ask.
“Better than I thought. She cleared 2 papers”
“Really???!!! Out of how many”
“Oh .. just 12”
“So just 10 more” Achan would give his relieved smile.
The story would repeat after 3 months. She would start studying for her next exams. Achan would take up the charge of the entire house. And still act as if everything were normal.

When she finally cleared all her papers, I was at Hyderabad. She called me up to inform the good news. I was so proud about her. I asked her to give the phone to Achan.

"Acha, so she finally made it"
"Yes dear"
I could see Achan smiling at the other end. He had reasons to be a proud husband.