House of Cards: A Novel Read online

Sanjay’s nursing home had expanded to a hundred-bed institution. There was a canteen and a pharmacy in the nursing home. Mridula had opposed non-vegetarian cooking in the beginning but Sanjay had snubbed her and said, ‘This is not a temple. We have to give our patients whatever they need. After all, they’re paying us. Please don’t try to teach me moral science.’ Sometimes, Sanjay himself ate in the canteen.

  There was a rumour that Sanjay performed all the operations in the nursing home, but it was not true. He had a team of highly paid doctors who were as efficient and as good as him. But Sanjay checked in during every operation. He was good at talking to patients, making them feel safe and boosting their morale. He had an office in the nursing home too. He knew that in government hospitals, you learnt through experience and by treating poor patients, but in private hospitals, you had to keep yourself updated with the latest research and findings. After his consultations in the evenings, Sanjay checked the accounts. He did not trust anybody with money matters, even though Rosemary was very trustworthy.

  He came home and joined his family for dinner. This was the only time he spent with Sishir. He talked to him about everything and advised Sishir on his future. Mridula did not play an important role anywhere in Sanjay’s life. Rosemary assisted Sanjay in the hospital, Shankar managed the accounts, Sakamma did the cooking and Sishir entertained him. Sanjay hardly ever took a holiday and when he travelled abroad, it was only for business. Sanjay didn’t ask Mridula what she did during the day or about her family at Aladahalli. As far as he was concerned, this small talk was a waste of time.

  At home, Sishir had a modern bedroom on the first floor and a small gym as well. He had everything he needed in his room—an air conditioner, a television, video-game stations and a music system. He went downstairs only for meals.

  One day, Sanjay was talking to Sishir during dinner. He said, ‘Sishir, when you start practising medicine, you must have an infertility centre and a test-tube baby centre. There is a lot of money to be earned from these. Childless couples are ready to spend any amount of money to have their own baby. But please remember—a childless mother consults many doctors and you shouldn’t get upset. It is the desire to have a baby that makes them take multiple opinions. You should exploit their weakness and make money.’

  Mridula did not like conversations about money and such advice being given to her son. But she kept her thoughts to herself.

  Sishir was intelligent and secured a merit rank in the medical entrance examinations. But he lived in his own world. After a few days, he asked his parents for a car. Mridula was against the idea because Sishir was still a student and she wanted him to use public transport and live the life of an average boy. But Sanjay said, ‘Mridula, we went through such a tough time because we didn’t have money to make our lives a little easier. At this age, children have lots of desires. Our desires disappear when we grow older. So let him buy a car. Why do you want to stop him?’

  They argued this way about everything and Sanjay always ended the argument with, ‘Why not? We can afford it.’

  Mridula was worried that there was no discipline in Sishir’s life. She tried to talk to Sishir: ‘I was young once and my parents were wealthy and could afford everything I wanted. But I listened to my mother and learnt to keep things simple.’

  ‘Oh Amma, that’s your old thinking of Aladahalli. It doesn’t work here in Bangalore,’ Sishir said. Sanjay agreed with his son and that hurt Mridula tremendously.

  Mridula’s cook, Sakamma, made different and delicious things every day. Mridula was indifferent to the variety but Sishir was fussy about food and his father indulged him. Sanjay told Sakamma to make whatever Sishir asked her to. Mridula advised Sishir, ‘You should adjust and not complain about food. It isn’t good to be stubborn.’

  But Sishir did not listen to her. Often, Sakamma would cook something complicated on Sishir’s instructions, but after it was made, he refused to eat it and instead had only cereal and milk.

  Sakamma wondered, ‘There are only three people in this house but I have to cook so many things. Sishir’s a difficult child. But Madam is kind and looks after me well. Sometimes, Sishir brings many friends home for a meal—and sometimes he eats alone. When Sishir brings his friends for a late dinner, Madam sends me home and serves them herself.’

  One day, Mridula was waiting for Sishir. Sakamma had made several dishes, all of which were Sishir’s favourites. He was supposed to come home with his friends for dinner. Sanjay was also waiting for Sishir. At 10 p.m., Sakamma left and Mridula called Sishir. He said, ‘Sorry Amma, I forgot to tell you that today is my friend’s birthday and we’re celebrating at The Leela. I’ve had dinner and am leaving right now.’

  Mridula objected, ‘But we’ve been waiting for you. Your father’s also here and he hasn’t eaten anything either.’

  Her son interrupted her, ‘Amma, I’ve said sorry already. I can’t help it.’

  He disconnected the phone.

  Mridula was upset. She was worried about what she would do with all the food. There were only two people at home. She could store it in the refrigerator but Sanjay wanted fresh food every day and he would not eat the same food tomorrow. She thought, ‘Sishir is not a child. He’s a young man. I’m unhappy with his negligent attitude.’

  Sanjay looked at her and said, ‘Mridula, please don’t start anything. He’s only a kid and he wants to enjoy himself. He’s even apologized to you.’

  This made Mridula all the more upset. She said harshly, ‘You always support him. If he’s not disciplined now, he’ll never be disciplined.’

  ‘Mridula, times have changed. If you try to control him, he may leave the house and go live separately. He’s our only child. You should try to learn and adjust with him.’

  ‘I’ve been married to you for twenty-four years. Have I not adjusted to everything you wanted? Have you ever tried to adjust with me? You think that whatever you want is right and he’s learnt this from you.’

  ‘Yes, whatever I think is right. That’s the reason for my success. What do you know about real life? Your world is limited to your school. Look at my colleagues. They’re still rotting in government service. But look at me. I made the right decision at the right time. I’ve been successful without anybody’s help.’

  Mridula became angry. But before she could answer, Sishir’s car entered the driveway. So she kept quiet. They tried to minimize their arguments in front of Sishir. It was an unwritten rule.

  Sishir came in whistling a tune. He had bought some fifteen expensive shirts. He said, ‘Dad, how do you like the shirts?’

  ‘They look good. You have excellent taste.’

  Mridula, however, was still upset. Angrily, she said, ‘Sishir, why do you have to buy more shirts when you already have hundreds at home? I see many poor students in my school wearing the same shirt every other day. Don’t become a spendthrift.’

  ‘Amma, you can give them my old shirts. I don’t have a problem with that.’

  ‘Sishir, that’s not the point. Don’t get used to buying unnecessary things. Once the fashion changes, you’ll just put the clothes aside. Try to buy a few things at a time and enjoy them. You must learn to save. You don’t know when life may become tough for you.’

  Before Sishir could reply, Sanjay raised his voice saying, ‘Mridula, don’t keep arguing about small things. Sishir’s a child and wants to enjoy life. I work hard and earn money from morning till night. I earn the money for him too. Don’t spoil his mood. I just want to come home and spend some time with my family but you always start something.’

  Mridula felt like she had been slapped in the face in front of their son. She turned around so that the men in her life could not see her tears and walked to her bedroom. Sishir went to his room upstairs, still whistling a tune, and Sanjay started surfing the news channels on the television.

  The relationship between a son and a mother is very different from that between a daughter and a mother. When the daughter becomes a young woman, she beco