Fiction by Damodar Mauzo: Love helps Vipin find an separate identity from his cold, unloving family

Ma’s health took a turn for the better over the next few months since I imposed a strict dietary regimen and made sure she took her medication on time. Dr Costabir said, “It’s a miracle that you’re well again. But you have Babu to thank for this.”

But Ma was a bad patient who resented my strictures. From the moment she woke up she would begin complaining. “Someone’s having nice sweet tea and serving me this bitter brew.”

Since I had taken over the housework, she did not help at all. This meant even less movement and so I had to insist on her getting up and walking about. Even this she saw as an imposition. If she had earlier blamed Daddy for not making her happy, now she blamed me for making her unhappy.

Looking after Ma and doing the housework meant I had to miss college. But I didn’t want to stop studying. It was not possible to study Konkani literature on the Net so I tried not to miss those classes. It was not because I cared about whether I passed or I got good marks; I just wanted to learn about Konkani.

Then came Fun Week. The college set up a committee.

Amrut took the lead....

Read more