Family secrets

I was speaking with my friend Renuka (pseudonym) yesterday. We starred off with a casual conversation which later turned serious.

"Do you know your family members well?" Renuka asked me with a solemn tone.

I knew something was wrong but I tried to lighten up the mood, "I guess so. I know my relatives well".

"Not like that. What I want to ask is do you know who is there in your family? Do you personally know each of them?" Renuka's questions were taking a different direction and I was sensing that she has something darker to discuss.

"There have been times I thought I knew my family really well. But you know how our Indian families are, there will always be new surprises," I was still trying to keep it light.

"I wanted to tell you something. Something that I got to know recently and now I am wondering if I know my family at all," Renuka sounded sad and hurt. I had to let her vent out.

"Go on, I am listening," I said with a soft and calm tone.

"I thought I knew everyone in my family. Until yesterday I learnt that there is a member in my family I had no clue about. An aunt," she said with still a hint of sadness.

"Congratulations, you have a new family member who is going to interfere in your life. Just what you needed," I knew it was little dark, but I thought saying something funny would cheer her up.

"Not exactly. Are you going to listen to me or just go on with your jokes?" I recognized the frustration in her voice and I decided to stop joking.

"Sorry, I was trying to lighten up the mood. I will not say anything. Please continue," I wore my "red hat".

"Last night while having dinner, we were talking about our relatives. Suddenly dad spoke about aunt Usha. I had never heard this name in my household. Apparently she was my dad's elder sister. She died at the age of 2 due to pneumonia. Dad said granny was really sad because of her demise and was never able to forgive herself. She thought that aunt Usha died due to her neglect. Whenever aunt Usha's topic would come up, granny would start crying. Hence it was decided that nobody would speak about her. Aunt Usha became a memory that should be never be recalled," Renuka's voice cracked, I knew she was crying. But I kept quiet.

"I can't believe my family kept such a huge secret. Mom and dad never felt that I and Ravi should know about our late aunt. I really don't know about my family anymore," now she was really distressed. I have no words to console her.

I could completely understand her feelings. I had tears in my eyes, remembering such experience. I experienced something similar in the past. I uncovered a similar family secret and felt betrayed.

But in the end I accept the reality. In Indian families there will always be secrets. Some we uncover and some leave this world with the people who know them. Indian families prefer to carry the burden of secrets rather than sharing them. But what they do not understand that the betrayal hurts the future generation.