The human refrigerator

The human refrigerator

Life after retirement! What will it be like? Will I be able to adjust to a new life, to a new city, to a social life which was practically nonexistent during my service period? Such thoughts kept me awake for a number of days before superannuation. I tried to brush away those feelings whenever it intruded my mind but it continued to haunt me.

After 30 years in Odisha, I was back in my home town Kolkata. The city I grew up in, the city I never wanted to part with but circumstances forced me to leave the city so dear to me. I should have been overjoyed on returning but I felt Kolkata is a stranger to me. Odisha and specially Nalco Township had become a part of me. The very thought of spending the rest of my life in Kolkata was giving me jitters and with a lot of trepidation I put my foot in the house.

The first few days went off in a trance – trying to settle my belongings in different rooms, getting used to the new environment, learning to spend the day lazily, no time schedule to adhere to, meeting my relatives, and the most important and tedious part – changing addresses , bank accounts , etc, etc , etc.

While working in school I had got used to getting up early in the morning. In Kolkata too, the habit persisted. I was also in the habit of getting up at least once during the night. One such night, I had a disturbed sleep and I awoke. The night was still, there was absolute silence all around. Even the tiniest sound was clearly audible. I was trying to get my bearing, trying to understand what time of the night it was. I had an uncanny feeling that someone was there in the house. I could distinctly hear the sound of someone breathing. My husband was sound asleep in the next room and no one else was there in the house. But the breathing persisted. Fear – that’s what my first reaction was. I lay still on my bed trying to locate the source of that sound. I was too afraid to get up and check. My body refused to move. My throat was dry and I couldn’t even cry out. Time ticked. But the even inhalation and exhalation of the person continued. In fact it was now so clear that I felt the necessity to investigate.

With a lot of courage and strength I got up and forced myself to the big drawing cum dining room. I moved slowly from one side to the other, went near the balcony and peeped, took a slow turn once again, but failed to pinpoint the sound. After assuring myself, that no stranger was there in the house, I went back to bed. Next day, I narrated the incident to my husband, but he could not throw any light on it. This happened consecutively for the next few days. Then one morning while I was taking out some vegetables from the refrigerator, I heard the same sound. The measured inhalation and exhalation. For a minute I couldn’t believe myself. I moved closer to the refrigerator; put my ears next to the door. Yes, it’s true. That breathing sound is none other than the sound of the refrigerator. I pointed it to my husband, but he could not hear anything special. I was relieved. My doubts were put to rest. I need not worry that some stranger or even maybe a ghost is flitting in the house.

Rather its sound became so familiar that I never felt lonely any more.

To me, the refrigerator is now like a human being. It’s so called breathing sound gives me assurance and confidence and makes me feel at home. Now I feel , my retired life in Kolkata may not be so bad and there is always someone waiting for me at home to give me company.

 

Thanks everybody. I never thought such a mundane piece can bring about such lovely comments