The Pearl Palanquin (14)
“ No… I can’t face mother and sister. I don’t know whether father has returned from his camp. No. Please don’t try to take me into my house. I can’t live in my house any longer. Please understand me. Send me away to any other town. I will be with you. I will be indebted to you all my life. ” “ Indira! Parents can forgive their children when they default without proper knowledge. Don’t be afraid unnecessarily. I will be with you. ” “ No! I can’t step in. I shall certainly die if I step in. ” “ Okay… As you wish. I felt that your sister would protect you. Then where do you want to go? ” “ I will go to any small town and find a job. ” “ It is not all so easy as you think. Come on. I will first take you to my house. ” “ To your house! Now! No! No! ” “ It will be all right. Anu will take care of you. I can’t leave you like this. Come; let’s go ” said Murali very affectionately. “ If you take me to your house and if your parents know what happened they will be angry with you and drive me out. That’s why don’t take me to your house. ” “ That won’t happen. If they want to drive you out. I shall also come out with you. Indira! You are like my Anu. I can’t leave you alone in this situation. Some one is coming this way. It is not proper for us to be standing here in darkness. You stay with us till you settle down mentally. We shall think of other things later ” so saying Murali took Indira to his house. Annapurna and Narayana Rao were awake. They were surprised at Murali bringing Indira with her suitcase. He had gone out in the early hours of the morning, which was not his habit. Without giving them an opportunity to question him, Murali said, “ Is coffee ready mother? Indira, brush your teeth. Anu, give Indira tooth paste ” so saying he took Anu aside and told her briefly what happened. He asked Anu to take care of Indira and observe her carefully. “ The responsibility is yours. Do not ask her any questions. Pretend as though you do not know anything. Be natural and gentle with her. ” Annapurna did not understand Murali’s behaviour. But she kept quiet. Murali took his mother aside and told her all the details and requested her not to ask Indira questions. Narayana Rao heard him silently. His mother was stunned at what Murali told her about Indira. She could not collect herself for about ten minutes. Narayana Rao maintained a dignified look outwardly though he doubted the wisdom of Murali’s action. Murali had his coffee and left for Rajeswari’s house asking Anu to take care of Indira. Rajeswari was all tears at the disappearance of Indira. Sunanda brought to her mother the letter left by Indira. Prasada Rao came home just then from his camp. There was chaos in the house. Rajeswari was crying aloud and scolding Sunanda. The moment she saw her husband, she wanted him to go out in search of their daughter. Murali went in and sat on a chair. No one bothered to talk to him. After a while he narrated to Rajeswari what all happened. “ When you knew of this yesterday itself why didn’t you inform me? ” Asked Rajeswari angrily. “ Aunty! I wasn’t sure whether you’d believe me. Indira herself may dismiss the whole thing as a lie. Then I will be blamed of black mailing Indira. ” Rajeswari was very angry with her daughter. She would have torn her to pieces if Indira had been before her. She was also worried that the fair name of her family was tarnished. She was thankful to Murali for the risk he had taken in saving Indira. Prasada Rao did not show any emotion but Murali could guess how much he was pained at his daughter’s action. “ We have to learn lessons from our experience. Allowing too much freedom to a girl was the first mistake we committed. Not observing how she was using the freedom was our second mistake. Pampering her was the third mistake. We have to bear the shame for all these mistakes said Prasada Rao. ” Turning to Murali he said, “ we are grateful to you and will remain indebted to you all our life for saving our daughter from ignominy. ” “ Murali! What do you want us to do? Will she come to us even if we want to bring her here? ” Asked Rajeswari. “ Don’t do anything for sometime. Let her stay in our house for a while. Let us think of the future action later. ” So saying Murali left them. He wanted to spend some time with Sunanda but did not get the opportunity to be with her. 28 It was four O’clock in the evening. Narayana Rao had not returned form the court. Annapurna was awaiting her husband. Generally he wouldn’t be so late. Did he go to Rajeswari’s house? Annapurna was angry with her son. There wouldn’t have been these problems if he had consented to marry Indira. Anu would have been happy. Indira would not have gone astray. Murali had refused to marry her. Now he brought her to their house. He should have taken her direct to her parents. If they didn’t take their daughter back, that would be another problem. Murali was to leave in a couple of days for his training. If Chalapathi Rao himself came to know of what happened, he may get annoyed. He wanted to perform his daughter’s marriage with Murali before Murali left for his training. At Murali’s suggestion the marriage was postponed. Giridhar should take Anu to his house first. They should be happy. Murali’s marriage was tied up with all these problems. * * * As Murali was about to go out Indira called him softly. “ Yes? ” “ When are you leaving for your training? ” “ Day after tomorrow. ” “ I can’t stay here alone if you go. ” “ Anu will keep you company. I shall ask Sunanda to meet you here every day. As you want to take up a job, I shall tell my friends to try for a job for you. Indira! You have to exercise great patience now. Do not take any decision in a hurry. ” Indira smiled feebly. She was not the Indira of the past. Her haughtiness and sprightliness had all deserted her. She was now altogether a different Indira. She had believed that she was intelligent and that no one could deceive her. Satish deceived her. She was carried away by his words and looks. He was only a clerk in a small office, married and had children. This she did not know. Nor did she suspect Satish. She wanted to inform her parents about Satish. He did not agree to the proposal. “ There is no thrill in a marriage arranged by elders. Educated persons like us should marry far away from parents keeping in tune with the spirit of modern times. We are not dolls. We have individuality. We should spring a surprise on our old cronies after our honeymoon ” he had said. Indira took time to think over his words. When Murali refused point blank to marry her she wanted to prove her superiority over him and her independent spirit by some retaliatory action. In one such emotionally charged mood she told Satish she would marry him. Satish was waiting for such an opportunity. He revealed his plan and impressed upon her to carry with her as much money as she could. He promised to bring a lot of money himself. Though she walked out of the house stealthily, Murali caught her red-handed. Her attitude towards Murali changed. She had nothing but respect for him now. Though she had insulted him, he saved her thinking only of her safety. She wanted to express her gratitude to him. She was impressed with Murali’s balanced behaviour. “ Do you know Satish and details about him? ” She asked. “ Not till yesterday evening. I was taken aback overhearing the conversation between you two in the part. I met my friends and got more details about him that night. I went to his house and told his father the plans of Satish. Okay. Forget all that as a bad dream. ” “ Though I moved with him all these days I…” “ I know you are not foolish. ” “ You have faith in me. But my parents… Will they believe me? What about brother? I am afraid of his reaction when he comes to know of what I did. I don’t have any one more understanding than you. That’s why I am relieving myself of my agony by speaking to you freely and plainly. ” “ Sunanda understood me. Now you try to understand me. I take all these things very light. As for your parents. If you are answerable to your conscience and have the required self-confidence, you needn’t be afraid of anyone. ” Anu brought eats in a tray and was about to leave them. Murali asked her to join them. Anu remembered that the servant of Chalapathi Rao had left a letter to Murali. She got up and fetched it from the hall. It was from Neeraja. “ Muralidhar, Please meet me at four O’clock in the park. I have to discuss very important things with you. I will be alone… the park beside the library. Neeraja. ” Murali felt uneasy. She could talk to him at her house. What could be the important issues? He looked at his wristwatch. He put the letter in his pants pocket, took out the scooter and was gone in a minute. Indira and Anu exchanged glances. Murali didn’t touch the eating things. “ Does Neeraja write letters to Murali often? ” asked Indira. “ As far as I know this is the first time ” replied Anuradaha. Indira was afraid that Narayana Rao might go to her house and get her parents. How could she show her face to Sunanda? The more she thought about her affair with Satish, the more she began to feel ashamed. A rickshaw stopped at the gate. Indira heard Narayana Rao’s voice. She heard footsteps coming towards her room. She heard footsteps coming towards her room. She hid her face in the pillow and sat motionless. She heard Anu whisper some thing. She felt the touch of a soft hand on her shoulder. There was affection and intimacy in the touch experienced never before. ‘Indu’ said Sunanda. Indira got up and embraced Sunanda and broke into uncontrollable sobbing. Anu closed the door to leave them alone. “ Sister! Don’t you feel disgusted with what I did? ” “ No. I feel I am also responsible for your leaving the house. The thought makes me feel terribly upset. If I had been a little closer to you, you would not have taken such a decision. Even if you wanted to go your way, perhaps you would have informed me about your intimacy with that man and I would have prevented the extreme step you wanted to take. You have been lucky. Murali saved you at the nick of the moment. Try to forget what happened. ” “ Sister! I know father and mother are angry. ” “ Their anger is only temporary. ” Sunanda took Indira into her arms and consoled her. 29 Murali dashed to the park. He was already late by half an hour. Would Neeraja wait or had she left? What could be the important matter that cropped up so suddenly? Murali looked round the park. He didn’t know where to find her. They had never met like this before. He felt tired, as he had no sleep the previous nights. His eyes were sunken and his looks weary. He had to leave the day after for his training. He went round the park twice but couldn’t find Neeraja. A few children, the early comers, were playing here and there in groups. Behind one of the groups he saw Neeraja. She stood up on noticing Murali. Murali approached Neeraja in quick strides. “ Good evening ” he said smiling. Neeraja did not respond. She stared at him for a while. “ I am very much tired, Neeraja, sit down here ” he said. He sat down and offered her his hand saying in a lighter vein “ why do you look at me as if I were a stranger? I am your Muralidhar… don’t you remember me Neeraja? ” “……….” “ This is strange! You wanted me to come to this park urgently as you have to talk about something important. I didn’t even touch the eats my sister brought for me. You will have to take me a hotel to day… Okay. Neeraja! You don’t look happy. What is the matter? ” “……….” Neeraja’s silence disturbed Murali. What could be the reason for her silence? Was anything wrong? Was there any bad news? He was getting a little upset. He had to discuss many things with her before he left. Indeed he wanted to go to her house and spend sometime there. But Neeraja asked him to meet her at the park. They can’t sit here for a long time. “ Neeraja, Please! What’s the matter? Speak out quickly. ” “ Don’t you know it? ” “ Know what? ” “ Are you innocent? ” “ But tell me what the matter is. I can’t bear to see people staring at me. I get upset. ” “ I too ” said Neeraja in a severe tone. Murali looked confused. He was getting annoyed. “ Why should you get upset? ” asked Murali raising his voice. “ Isn’t this photograph yours? ” She asked him showing a card size photo taking it out from her handbag. Murali snatched it from her, looked at it and said, “ Yes! It’s mine. Why? ” “ How long ago were you married? ” she asked him looking directly into his face. “ Marriage! Oh! Did you get shocked looking at this bride? Said Murali laughing. “This… This…” he paused and asked her “ Where from did you this photograph? ” “ That is unnecessary. I want your answer ” she said tersely. Murali stopped laughing. “ Neeraja! Do you suspect me? ” He asked her in an equally terse tone. “ I want an answer. ” “ Oh! I see. The bride in the picture is not a real bride. She is a drama bride. He is my friend Shyam who plays female roles in dramas. I attended a program in which Shyam played the heroine and after the play I complimented him for his wonderful performance. We had a photograph together. If you want I shall give you his address now. You can go and check up if you so desire. Or I shall take you to his house. You can go in alone and make your inquiries. You will find the same photograph full length on the wall in his room. Okay? Is this explanation satisfactory? Neeraja did not look convinced. “ Have you any more questions? If so shoot them at me. Quick. I have many things to tell you… Anyway how did you get this photograph? ” “ One Ms. Kameswari is a very distant relation of ours. She visits us now and then. This afternoon she came and gave me this photograph revealing your secret. I do not know why you gave the photograph to her. ” “ You could have asked her yourself. ” “ I want your answer. ” “ Oh God! My father can’t stand before you in arguing law points! Okay! I shall tell you the story. Ms. Kameswari my grand aunty has a grand daughter by name Nagananchari. Grand aunty has been pestering me to marry Nanchari. To get rid of this headache I sent this photograph to her along with an anonymous letter. She believed that I had been married. She quarreled with my grandfather also on this. That was some time ago. I forgot all about it indeed. Neeraja! You have been looking at me with X-ray eyes to day. Have you more questions? ” “ You… You are deceiving me. What you said is all a lie. I have evidence. ” Murali was controlling himself with great effort. “ Quick! What is it about? ” He asked. “ You are feeling proud that your sister’s marriage has been celebrated… stealthily. Is it not true that Giridhar would consent to take her only if you married his sister? ” “ Yes. It is true. ” “ Then, why did you encourage marriage talks with me? ” “ My marriage with Indira is out of question. I told everyone this. There is no substance in your accusation that I have deceived you. ” “ Why not? Yesterday you said so. To day you brought her home. How should I believe you? ” “ Neeraja! ” “ Yes. Neeraja is asking. Give me your answer! ” “ Do you trust me? ” “……….” “ Then I needn’t tell you. I won’t also. You better find it out yourself. This is my answer. ” “ Perhaps you didn’t have time to answer an unexpected question. ” “ Neeraja! Your mind is full of doubts and suspicions. So the answers I give do not satisfy you. If you get all your doubts cleared by the time I return from my training, I shall be happy. I shall send you my address after going there. If you want, write to me. I am very tired now, “ so saying he got up to go. Neeraja stood staring at him. Murali returned to her after taking a few steps. “Neeraja! It is late now. Come, come. I shall drop you at your house. ” “ No need. I can go ” she said angrily. “ Yes. You can go…. But I don’t have peace of mind…. Come…” Neeraja did not move. Murali waited for a while. Realizing that she would not get up, he held her hand and pulled her up and almost dragged her to the scooter against her protests to leave her alone. “ I am doing this for my sake. Not for your sake, ” he said. He stopped the scooter a little distance from her house. “ Neeraja! Get home! Pardon me if I have offended you. I wanted to tell you much. Unfortunately things went wrong today. I shall get going. I shall be happy if you see me off at the station. Good night. ” Murali did not feel like going home. On his way he gave his scooter to a friend and asked him to leave it at home with the message that he would be back home soon. He went to the bus station and took the last bus to his grandfather’s village. 30
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