Time to say goodbye!

"To come, to play and then to part is the saddest fate of all human heart"
-Shakespeare
Reminiscence of my childhood are haunting me day and night these days, because there is something which I thought just could not happen. No not with me. But someone who I have seen since I was a silly stupid girl. She is my next door neighbour. I was in seventh grade when she got married to my uncle. That day is still as fresh as today in my memory. It was the 4 th of December (don't remember the year) when she got married to my uncle and I remember it this clearly because I had my Computer and Sanskrit exam the next day. I remember that I cried the whole day and even the next day and I still don't know why. May be because it was the almighty who chose me to warn about the future. My uncle who has been my neighbour since the time my parents came here after marriage, became alcoholic. He used to beat Dolly Chachi, humiliate her and sold all his property. I remember the times when the scuffle between them became public and came infront of everyone. Selling all his property and even his shop, he became idle, drinking day and night. Now they even had a son who also became a silent spectator to the not so normal life of his parents. I still remember when Kashu was born, I had gone to the hospital to see my aunt and even cooked a meal for them. I held Kashu who just a day old then. I had never held such a small kid ever, not even my own sis'.
Day by day, Chachi's condition grew from bad to worse. Alcoholism had totally captivated uncle and now his health was at stake. He caught the habit of running way from home as well. Chachi used to run behind him because the doctor had adviced him not to drink even a drop of alchohol again. In all this, when Chachi who is still living with her in laws in a joint family, only got a superficial support from her in laws. Nobody came to her rescue, neither her MIL, nor FIL,BIL, SIL, DIL or for that matter any in law. And finally God took away that one ray of hope also from her. In 2006 uncle died. Now Chachi, with no money and support was left only with her son who was just in class 1. Poor boy did the cremation while Chachi payed for the thriteen day ceremony. Her only support came from her parents' family-her brother and her mother (her father had also passed way in 2001). Chachi had to handle the bills of hospital, cremation and yes even the teerahvin for which she had to pay 13K because she was asked for this amount by her in laws.
Chachi kept living in fool's paradise that her in laws would support her in this situation. Her in laws had asked her to live with them, while they kept exploiting her, robbing her, insulting her and ultimately taming her. And yes, I have to tell you this that they had asked her not to go to her parents place because they thought it could inflict on their honour. Finally, after tolerating for more than two years, Chachi is leaving this place forever and ever. Today she had been robbed by 3.5 lacs and even more by her elder brother in law and has been called names by the younger one. She is going from here penny less and hopeless. And this made me break down yesterday. I did not realise that I loved the two sufferers(chachi and Kashu) so dearly till yesterday when she broke the news that she is leaving for ever. It's so strange that we meet people, we don't even realise that they matter and then its time for them to bid adieu. And that too like this? Her in laws' children who she thought would give her at least the emotional support (although they are self sufficient to help her) have also turned strangers. And paradoxically, they put Kashu's snaps on orkut as 'my jaanu' as if they love him too much.
I have lots to learn from this incidence. Thought of sharing it with you all because I think even you can learn loads from it!

God Bless you Chachi, may he give you and Kahsu loads a happiness and success in life!