Old He…Young She

Everyone at home was frowning at Mr. Rao, early sixties guy.

Surrounded by wife, married son, his wife. All staring at Mr Rao, awestruck.

Granddaughter, just standing silent, fiddling with the hairs of the doll, she had in her hand, not knowing what exactly all this fuss is about.

Mrs. Rao, holding one of the ends of her saree to her mouth, sobbing and tears in her eyes and face like ‘nothing left in the life’.

The son only talking — “this is unacceptable, utterly ridiculous. Not at all expected from a respected person in the society and that too at this age”.

There was more concern about, ‘what the society will say’ than ‘how can a person like this stature can get into this’.

AT THIS AGE WITH THE YOUNG GIRL

All shouting revolving around the above issue.

Mr Rao hasn’t even uttered a single word so far. He maintained a calm, patient expressions on his face, like he was sure of what he did is not wrong.

Though he felt a little bit guilt looking at his wife, the guilt of cheating someone, being dishonest to her.

While everything was going on, behind the calm looking face, there was a chaos of thoughts in the mind of Mr Rao.

Mr Rao, a well-paid mechanical engineer in a big automobile company, took voluntary retirement to pursue his various hobbies.

Though he kept consulting various companies so that not to lose the touch with his work.

Known for his sometimes out of the world and sometimes considered as weird, eccentric behaviour, the above mentioned was not at all unusual, but still the thing with Sasikala — a young lady in her early thirties was way beyond the expectations.

Reading, one of the many hobbies Mr Rao has, is a common link between the odd age duo.

It started like a common movie story except the age difference.

Sasikala — only child of working parents, father in an MNC and mother in a Bank. They were open minded and always encouraged her to pursue what she wanted.

But when they came to know about this thing, they too were a bit worried. They never thought that their open mind and their daughter’s free mind will go so far.

Though I mentioned it looks like a movie story, you must be thinking it all started like Romeo Juliet stories etc. But not.

The technicalities of ICE [Internal combustion Engine] made them come together.

She just passed out of college with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering and about to pursue masters.

They both met each other at the librarian’s desk — she in search of a reference book, and Mr Rao returning his books.

While she was checking for it, Mr Rao instantly suggested one reference and gave a little more information about the topic.

She thanked her and requested him to elaborate more to help her in studies.

This is how it started with. Eventually they started meeting frequently discussing many other subjects along with the studies.

She started visiting Mr Rao’s home as well. Due to age difference no one suspected of any wrongdoings.

Mr Rao took extra efforts to give her a practical knowledge by visiting factories [his connections helped him get through].

They both, which prima-facie looks like a teacher-student relation, no one knew when turned into a different one, which no one ever thought off.

They both got into each other so strongly that both of them decided not to give a damn of whoever saying anything.

Even law was on their side being both are the adults and can take decision on their own.

Though they haven’t married so far, but started living together.

His friends too started looking down at him. He somehow knew that many of them must be jealous of him but can’t show it upfront.

So, the point here is, who is wrong, rather is anything at all wrong here?

Two consensual adults, liking each other, would like to come together.

The rules –

– That if one is married, then he or she shouldn’t look for other options,

– Should respect the age gap between such relations.

– This is good and that is not.

And so many…

Also, they didn’t come together voluntarily, it happened and even the lady here herself in consent.

All these thoughts making a chaos in Mr Rao’s mind.

After giving a big thought, he posed a question to the society, though that question is still in his mind — had it been this with anyone else, would they behaved differently from what he did now?

There is one more question, a bigger one.

Had his wife [Mrs Rao] would have done anything like this, what would be the scenario, both, of society and obviously of Mr. Rao.