Free Dollar Bahu by Sudha Murty Page A

unhappy in the nirvana that was America.
    ‘Vinuta, you have no idea of the life there. Just buying things, counting dollars, living in a big house, does not make everyone happy. They also have their own set of problems.’
    ‘Jamuna does not say that. She always praises America!’
    ‘Vinuta, we are in two different worlds, two different cultures. We are lonely.’
    ‘Then why don’t you come back?’
    ‘I have grown used to that life. I know, if I come back I have to forgo many things, something that I am not ready to do just yet . . . Forget about me for the moment, tell me about you.’
    ‘To be honest with you, I am not at all that happy either. All the time, there is comparison between Jamuna and me. I don’t want and can’t compete with anybody. But it is evident that the family does not need me any more. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth,’ Vinuta confided in Chandru, finding him more a friend than a brother-in-law, in Dharwad.
    Chandru had to leave soon after. He went away with a heavy heart.



SIXTEEN
    V inuta returned to Bangalore with her six-month-old son and he became Shamanna’s darling. When Vinuta was at school, Shamanna would gladly babysit, showering the child with care and affection.
    Surabhi was very happy in Hyderabad. Vinuta noticed that, of late, Jamuna’s parents never visited them at all.
    One day, Gouramma was grinding batter for dosas when she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She ignored the pain but the next day, while having her bath, she felt a lump in her breast. She thought if she just washed it with warm water, it would break, and she shrugged it off. When the lump did not go away after a week, she began to worry.
    She called Vinuta who was getting ready to go to school and showed her the lump. Vinuta promptly applied for leave and took Gouramma to the doctor. She did not talk of this either with Shamanna or with Girish. She was scared, but kept calm. She behaved as if everything was normal.
    After examining the patient, the doctor called Vinuta aside and asked what her relationship was with the patient. ‘She is my mother-in-law. Is there any problem?’
    ‘There is a lump-like growth in her breast. We will have to do a biopsy and only after that can we reach any diagnosis.’
    ‘What does that mean? Is it dangerous in any way?’
    ‘I really cannot say anything at this point. Let us carry out the biopsy first.’
    Vinuta came out and Gouramma asked her, ‘What cream has he given? How soon will it clear?’
    ‘You will soon be all right it seems.’
    Back home, Vinuta sat in quiet thought.
    Chandru was far away and there was no point in worrying him. If Surabhi was informed, she would surely blow it all out of proportion. Shamanna was already old and should not be burdened with fresh worries. She decided to tell Girish everything that night.
    With tears in his eyes, Girish asked the question which had been uppermost in Vinuta’s mind all day. ‘Do you think Amma has cancer?’
    ‘Why should we assume the worst? Let’s wait for the biopsy report.’
    The next day Vinuta took another day’s leave from school and took Gouramma to the hospital for the exploratory operation. Gouramma was scared at the very word ‘operation’ and kept saying, ‘Don’t inform Surabhi or Jamuna. They will be worried. They may drop all their work and rush here.’ Vinuta never responded.
    After the operation, Gouramma had to stay in hospital for a day. As she was in the women’s ward, Vinuta stayed with her.
    The patient in the neighbouring bed asked Gouramma, ‘Is she your daughter?’ Gouramma answered, in all her arrogance, ‘My daughter stays in Hyderabad and my elder daughter-in-law is in America. This is my younger daughter-in-law.’
    The reports showed that the growth in Gouramma’s breast was benign. Girish was relieved. He sent an e-mail to his brother.
    That week, Girish’s bank colleagues had planned a family holiday to Karwar and Gokarna. Vinuta said, ‘Amma is alone