Advice ***

Her husband had come back a few hours earlier, in a drunken stupor. He barged in, making a row and waking the kids. As the children cowered in fear he had proceeded to thrash Prema, slapping and kicking her frail body, cursing her all the time. Exhausted, he then lay down on the sofa. Soon, everyone fell into a fitful sleep. Then he sat up. Cursing under his breath he stumbled over to Suguna, their 12 year old daughter. As he shook her, trying to wake her, Prema leapt at him, screaming. There was an ugly struggle, and much screaming and cursing. Finally he relented. Then he pushed Prema down and forced himself on her. Sated, he rolled over and was soon snoring.

Prema opened her eyes. It was gloomy in the room. She looked around at the sleeping children – eight of them. One more was in the hospital. And her eldest boy, Murugan – in jail. She felt drained. Soon they will all awaken. Hungry. And there was no food in the house. Her husband would beat her up again. Prema searched under her pillow for the betel leaves she had stashed. As she chewed on it, the pungent juice burned her mouth. She closed her eyes as the juice took effect. For a few moments, she forgot her miseries.

***

Sarojini amma sat on the only chair in the house. Sridhar and Bala stood, leaning against the wall. They had brought food and provisions for Prema’s family.
“உங்க பிள்ளைங்கள school க்கு அனுப்புங்கம்மா . அவங்க எதிர்காலம் ஆவது நல்லா இருக்கட்டும் . (You must send your children to school. At least make sure their future is bright),” Sarojini amma advised lovingly.
Sridhar looked annoyed. “இன்னமும் வெத்தல போடறீங்களா ? வாய் எல்லாம் புண்ணா இருக்கு , அப்பிடியும் இன்னும் போடறீங்க ? (Are you still chewing betel leaves ? Your mouth is all sores, yet you are still doing it?)”
Prema looked down, silently.
“உன் புருஷன் வந்தானா ? மூஞ்சி எல்லாம் வீங்கி இருக்கு ? (Did your husband come? Your face is all swollen?),” Sarojini amma wanted to know.
“இல்லம்மா . எப்பயாச்சும் வருவாரு. (No amma. He only comes occassionally.)” Prema didn’t want to talk about it.
“பிள்ளைங்கள school க்கு அனுப்புங்கம்மா . (Send your children to school),” Bala sounded angry.
Prema nodded silently.
***
The children squabbled over the biscuits. Prema tried to get some for the little ones, but the older boys elbowed in and snatched everything. Prema mixed some of the fruit drinks for the younger children. As she looked up, her heart sank as she saw her husband standing at the door. As she watched, cowering in dismay, he walked in, grabbed the bag of rice and cooing oil and walked out. Prema sank to the floor and sat in the corner, staring blankly into the far distance.