A new relation.A coveted,prized and fragile relationship.It was as formal as law would have it,yet as informal and casual as the heart would allow.We were at the end of our tether.Rabin and I were to spend a week's time with this'new relation'and his spouse.There were oodles of exhilaration,and then spasms of reserve.There were waves of soaring expectation , immediately followed up with bouts of despondency and hesitation.Finally,one fine day,we landed at the I.G.Airport in Delhi.My heart was in my mouth. Rabin,too,seemed a little unnerved. Not that he confided anything to me.But the manner he strode with an extra bravado told me all. As we trooped out of the airport onto the path at the exit end,the blazing sun beat down our backs.Suddenly a waiting car speeded up to us, and we were joyously bundled in by our young hosts amidst much warmth and laughter.The couple was jubilant at our visit.I glanced at Rabin. He suddenly seemed relaxed and comfortable .I ought to have felt the same.But the'streak of caution' in a women tugged at me and held me back for the first time.'Easy,easy!Not so fast!'was the constant refrain .Rabin was absolutely bowled over by the minute.Cigarette dangling in a rakish manner, he was actually jabbering with this'new relative'! I felt a pang of envy. Even I deserved to be frightfully happy.But I simply could not thaw.The October morning in Delhi was bright and glorious.As we wheezed past Subroto park,Vasant Vihar,I.I.T.,G.K.II upto Kalkaji,the scenic charm of S.Delhi,despite its busy pace and traffic snarls,left me cold this once.I wish I could throw all caution to the winds,and be my usual self listing my favourite itinery in Delhi.But something countinued to pull me back.I just couldn't let my hair down.Soon,we reached the house.This new relation was all agog to make us comfortable.Tall glasses of cool lemonade with ice clinking at the top awaited us.As we walked about the modest,but pleasant and airy flat,I observed numerous thoughtful gestures and arrangements made for a meal.Steaming basmati rice,a lovely dal,nicely spiced palak paneer,a most delicious'masor tenga' summed up the fare.Our hostess gushed up to us saying that it was all courtesy the young man__'our new relative'.Rabin's reaction caught me unawares.With a big guffaw he almost fell over the poor man as he gave him the biggest hug possible! I did muster a decent smile.Certainly, the gesture was welcome. But should we allow ourselves to go headlong into this relationship,so early,so, enthusiastically__taking everything in our stride?What if it back-lashed? What if he sniggered at our zeal?What if he frowned at all the things we go crazy about?What if this life is all about codes and conduct,which we Chaudhurys loved to break every minute of our lives?Asilent fear made my stomach turn.At fifty plus,I could still behave with the whim of teen-ager!At sixty,Rabin still wished to do things our son has just stopped trying!Will our intuitive living be too much of a strain for this decent young man,so desirous to be a part of the fold?I just could not tell.The foursome in our family have always indulged each others oddities.The world has often passed us by.But that had never deterred us from being what each of us wished to be,each always having his/her own space.And we found that we actually lived life to the lees! We have succoured joy in countless odd ways. And now this very important new relation! Can he fit into our crazy lives? Will we be able to find a meaning in his? A strange heaviness filled my very soul.Soon,the lovely meal was over.The bubbly young girl went over to the kitchen,I went in to give her a hand.A huge ,red and luscious pomegranate on the fridge caught my eye.Considering the heat,I thought I'll remind herto stock it in the fridge ."Oh no .Not that!'she countered rolling her big, green eyes.'That's for the Rat!''The Rat?' said I ,puzzled.'Oh! yes!' she explained giggling.'There is a Rat in the house .The other day ,I left the pomegranate on the fridge top.Next morning ,I found that the rat had nibbled at it.I wanted to throw it away .But Bhashkar stooped me.He wants me to keep it there so that the rat can come and go on eating that sumptuous pomegranate.He says he doesn't have the heart to deprive him.'A Rat?' I exclaimed again.'Why don't you kill it?!' 'Oh! Bhashkar wouldn't! He couldn't.But he has caught it today on my insistence.We' ll have to do something about it . Can't kill it!Its impossible! So Mama,(yes__indeed,the girl was my daughter) if you don't mind,we'll have to go to Connought Place..Oh! Not for shopping__alright? Bhashkar is planning to leave the Rat in C.P.' A line of intense worry was on the young forehead.'I hope he can fend for himself. Bhashkar has been so upset!''Oh ho! so our first evening out in Delhi with our 'new relative'(none other than our coveted'son-in-law')was to give a free ride to a rodent to C.P from Kalkaji!There could not have been a crazier beginnin!My heart felt light.All fears began to dissolve immediately.No apprenhensions of judgemental, condescending tones promised to loom over my future, to admonish me and bombard my life. My crazy family was intact.What a relief !So flags off to the trip to C.P There was not a minute to lose ! Ms.Shiela Dixit may soon have to seriously confer with the Pied piper of Hamlin... But thats another matter . As for the present ,I went up to Bhashkar and gave him a big ,sloppy kiss on his round cheek. Bhashkarvikram, our new relative,our dear son-in-law,had just carved a wide niche in our hearts . He is truly one of the fold ,a lovely extension of our mad ,mad ,family .
