The Pearl Palanquin (15) Murali did not know how he reached the village crossing the canal in the darkness. There was silence in the village. A few dogs barked as he walked along. As he steppedinhe saw the lantern hanging to the beam of the half bent verandah. He looked searchingly for Yashoda. He saw her sitting on the floor with her head restingonthecotandcrooning a song to herself. She did not notice his arrivalMuralquietlysatonthecot.“Whereis grandfather? ” he asked Yashoda softly. “ I am glad you came. I thought you wouldn’t be coming soon, ” she said still closing her eyes with her head on the cot. Murali listened to her silently. “ Murali is going away to a far off place. He will be away for a long time. How could you return so soon leaving him? Whenever you go out you are worried about my welfare ” said Yashoda and opened her eyes. Murali smiled at her. “ Murali! Should I believe my eyes! ” She cried in great joy. “ Where is grandfather? ” “ He went to spend sometime with you. ” “ Grandpa wanted to see me. I wanted to see you and came here. Is it not strange? ” As Yashoda made to cook food Murali told a lie that he had already eaten. Yashoda brought him a glass of milk. He drank the milk and stretched himself on his grandfather’s cot. “ Yes. Now talk to me, ” he said. “ What have I to talk to you? You must tell me things. When do you return from the training.? ” “ Oh! Let us talk about it later. Do you know why I came running to you to night? ” “ Yes? ” Murali narrated to her what happened at his place. “ I don’t have peace of mind. Yashodamma! I have no sleep for marry nights. I have to leave tomorrow evening for my training. Do you know I came all this distance searching for a place to sleep peacefully? ” “ Yes? ” “ I wanted to sleep in your lap. I came all the way to hear you sing my favourite lullaby and sleep soundly. ” “ You silly! You have many relations who give you hospitality. You needn’t come so far for me. You have your mother there. Who can be more loving than her? ” “ She is very loving tome. But she is angry that I didn’t consent to marry Indira. I am very much pained that she didn’t understand me properly. I want you to sing my lullaby to me. ” “ Murali Babu! For how long can I guard your pearl palanquin! I have no energy left. You must marry soon, ” she said and started her song “ Little Krishna, go to sleep ” with full throated ease. Murali got off the cot and stretched himself on the floor with his head on Yashoda’s lap. His heart was filled with peace and gladness and he went into deep sleep. Neeraja and himself were sitting in the pearl palanquin as the marriage procession progressed. The nadaswaram music was tiltingly melodious. His grandfather was walking at the head of the procession with the neatly folded gold laced upper cloth on his shoulder. The dream continued like that. Yashoda started another song milking the cow “ It is morning, my lord, you are still asleep, ” which awakened him. Murali got up and after drinking coffee he went to the palanquin. He removed the cloth covering it and had an affectionate look at it. Though it was old the colours had not faded. He ran his fingers on the palanquin lovingly and covered it up again. As he started out Yashoda followed him to the end of the street. 31 The next day he packed his things, spoke encouraging words to Indira. His grandfather and sister, his father and mother went to the station to see him off. Sunanda was also at the station. Anuradha looked very sad. Sunanda looked cheerful. “ I shall receive you on the day you return from the training ” she said smiling. “ Be it so. As you desire. Will you come alone or with your hubby? ” Joked Murali. The train was about to start. Murali looked anxiously on all sides for Neeraja as the guard whistled. The train began to pick up speed. He saw her walking up the platform holding her grandfather’s hand. Murali bent forward holding the compartment handle rails and waved to her. She didn’t observe him. The train took a turn at the bend and the platform went out sight. He was happy she came though he could not talk to her. He was stepping into a new world. His life took a new turn that day. He wouldn’t have rest hereafter. His life would be one of heavy responsibilities. The wheels of the fast moving train thudded and jingled as if agreeing with him. 32 Murali wrote letters to everyone in the family, to Sunanda, Indira, Anuradha and his parents. In his letter to his sister he said that she could give his address to Neeraja if Neeraja asked for it. Everyone sent him replies. He received his grandfather’s letter first. He wrote that Yashoda was counting days, weeks and months awaiting his arrival. Two months passed by. He received a letter from Anu. The letter was from Jemshedpur. It ran: “ Dear brother! Namaskaram. Indira is safe. Your Giridhar also. I came here four days ago. I did not come here by myself. Giridhar came to us, took the permission of his father and mother as also our parents and brought me here. The reason for the change in Bawa’s attitude is Indira. Indira is now a different girl. I can’t write all the details. By the time you return from your training I will be back home. Indira does not want to marry yet and she wants to take up a job. Another piece of good news. Recently uncle, aunt and Sunanda went to attend a marriage. One of the invitees at the marriage, a lecturer, met Sunanda and expressed his desire to marry her. He has status in life and also wealth. Sunanda will be his second wife. His first wife died in childbirth. I know you have a special regard for Sunanda. Even if you can’t attend her marriage send a good wedding gift. I shall give it to her personally on your behalf. My family life is a happy one. Father and mother could not easily reconcile to my leaving them. Mother did not eat food at all for a couple of days. Father looked dignified though he felt pained. Grandpa shed tears and kissed me. He called Bawa and said, “Look here! We are placing a gem of a girl in your hands. Take good care of her. ” Giri has no anger against you or grandfather. On the day I left for Jemshedpur I felt your absence very much. We are all waiting for the completion of your training. Reply soon. With love Anuradha. ” Murali felt very glad. So Anu’s life will be a happy one. Sometimes circumstances change suddenly and strangely for the better, he thought. He opened the other letters mechanically. He was not receiving one from the most desired person. She was educated. But what was the use? She didn’t seem to possess any thought or sense. Can’t she imagine how anxiously he would be awaiting a letter from her! He wondered whether she misunderstood him. He received a couple of letters from Chalapathi Rao. They dealt with the chess games he was playing with his grandfather; their going to movies now and at the end a sentence that Neeraja was okay. He wanted to write to Neeraja himself. But his pride came in the way. Neeraja and Murali stuck to their guns. 33 Narayana Rao’s house was a hub of activity after a long time. Anuradha and Giridhar had come home. Murali’s wedding was only two days hence. Annapurna had almost finished the required preparations for the wedding. Chalapathi Rao had taken up his preparations on a grand scale. Murali was expected any minute. He had given a telegram that he was arriving by car and not by train. Many relations had already arrived. Tuft-headed grandpa Raghavaiah was examining the saplings he had planted and showing them with satisfaction to all the relatives calling them by name. Narayana Rao wanted to erect a shamiana on the road outside the gate. Dasaratharamaiah ordered his son to get a palm leaf pendal erected and not a shamiana. “ Fresh mango leaf buntings go well with a palm leaf pendal, ” he said with authority. In the meanwhile a car arrived. Some one shouted, “ Murali has arrived. ” Giridhar went out at once. Sunanda, Indira, Anuradha, Raghavaiah and others rushed to the gate pushing aside the important persons, Narayana Rao and Annapurna. Rajeswari brought a vessel with water to wash the feet of Murali. The black ambassador car stopped at the gate. A handsome young man in his mid twenties was sitting at the steering. He felt a little shy at the crowd of people that surrounded the car. Murali got off the car opening the back door. He extended his arm to a woman to help her step out. All eyes turned to the woman and there was silence. She wore a kanchi silk jari saree and covered the pallu of the saree around her shoulders. She had tied her silver Grey hair into a Burma knot at the back. A big mandara flower was stuck in the center of the knot. A red bindi dot as big as a rupee coin adorned her forehead. She was dark in complexion but attractive. Her gentle looks fixed the gaze of the onlookers at her. She held the hand of Murali and got out of the car. More than anyone else Dasaratharamaiah was surprised at her arrival. He quietly walked to her and said “ Yashoda! ” softly. Dasaratharamaiah addressing her ‘Yashoda’ in a soft, affectionate tone was clearly heard by everyone in the prevailing silence. “ So this lady is Yashoda ” everyone thought or whispered. “ Yes grandpa! This is Yashodamma! I went to our village and brought her. Pardon me grandpa for bringing her without your knowledge! ” Said Murali. Dasaratharamaiah embraced Murali all of a sudden in great joy. Murali forgot the world around him for a moment in that affectionate hug. “ Grandpa! You were dreaming for this day ” said Murali with a chocked voice. “ In a way I too ” he continued and paused. Murali began to look for his parents. He ran to his mother and touched her feet. Her eyes expressed satisfaction and pride. Anuradha rushed to her brother. “ Anu dear! How are you? Where is Giridhar? ” His eyes surveyed the scene. “ Congratulations Murali! ” Said Giridhar as he neared Murali from behind the crowd. There was gentleness and appreciation in his voice. “ Eh! You Giri! You should say that to me first ” said Dasaratharamaiah as he stood between the two young men with his arms on their shoulders. “ Narayana! You their Rajeswari! How do I look now? ” “ Uncle! I need more eyes to take in all he joys looking at you! In fact all this has been possible because of you ” said Rajeswari looking highly pleased at the trio. Murali now went to Narayana Rao to touch his feet. “ My blessings are always with you. No need for this now. Tomorrow you will be busy bending down to everyone. Preserve your energies ” he said smiling at his son. “ Brother! You have forgotten all about your friend in the car. Bring him in and introduce us to him, ” said Anuradha. Murali walked to the car. “ So sorry, Mohan! Please come in! ” Said Murali and introduced all his people to Mohan giving importance to Anu and Giridhar. “ Sunanda! ” shouted Murali. Sunanda stood before him coming from behind, “Mohan, this is Sunanda. I told you how much I regard her. ” Sunanda and Mohan greeted each other. Mohan and Giri became good friends on the spot. Murali called Indira and introduced her to Mohan. Sunanda was observing the introductions keenly. Murali wouldn’t bring Mohan for nothing, whoever Mohan was. She should find out from Murali who this Mohan was. She had observed Mohan looking with interest and curiosity at Indira when she was introduced to him. Sunanda called Murali aside. “ Is your friend Mohan married? ” she asked. “ No ” replied Murali. “ Did it occur to you that he might take interest in Indira? ” suggested Sunanda. “ It didn’t. ” “ I know. I observed Mohan looking up for Indira once or twice. Indira seems to have liked him. ” “ Would you ask Indira what she thinks of Mohan? ” “ No need. Their looks speak volumes. Find out who his parents are. Act quickly, ” said Sunanda. As she walked away she said, “ They should be married soon. ” It was the first time for Yashoda to meet all the relations of Dasaratharamaiah. Rajeswari took Yashoda into the house with warmth and affection. The house was full of hubbub and activity. Murali’s friends came in large numbers and were congratulating him. Annapurna was showing the new jewels got made for her daughter-in-law. Anuradha and Sunanda were busy looking at the sarees and making selections out of them. Escaping from his friends Murali walked in and saw how busy his mother, sister and Sunanda were. “ What is the need for all these gifts? ” asked Murali. “ Chalapathi Rao is doing ten times more than this ” said Anuradha. At lunch Sunanda sat by his side. ‘ How quickly women change!’ he thought. Sunanda looked like a pucca householder. He turned to her and asked, “ Has not your hubby arrived yet? ” “ He will be landing here at the time you make Neeraja your own. ” She said and after a pause added: “ Murali! Stop looking at me. I shall tell you something about Neeraja. She selected personally the suits and dresses her grandfather bought for you. Neeraja is a clever girl. Your selection is superb! ” “ Is that so? ” “ I have to tell much more, there is no time. Look at your sister. How active and happy she is. Anu is going to present you with a nephew or a niece in a few months. ” “ Is that true? How nice! ” After lunch Murali approached his grandfather when he was alone. “ Grandpa! Why did you fix this muhurtham so early without consulting me? ” “ I see! …. That … ? This Neeraja girl did not allow me and her grandfather to sleep peacefully! Nor did she sleep until the date was fixed. This is all her doing. ” “ What about aunty Kameswari! ” “ Where is Kameswari? Neeraja drove her out long ago! ” So saying he yawned and got ready to sleep. Murali felt he should meet Neeraja once. But it might not be proper for him to go to her house. His mother had already warned him and said he would become a laughing stock if he went there now. So he dropped the idea. Anuradha wanted him to relax. But he couldn’t. Next day Murali was ceremonially done up as the bridegroom. Anuradha applied the turmeric paste to his feet. Sunanda put the wedding dot on his cheek. Dasaratharamaiah and Yashoda felt happy that Murali looked every inch a bridegroom. Giridhar and Mohan were passing funny remarks on Murali. Dasaratharamaiah stuck to his idea. The marriage may be celebrated in the town but the ‘ gruhapravesham ’ must take place in the village. He told everyone that the wedding procession with the bride and bridegroom in the palanquin should take place in the village and that all preparations had already been made. Narayana Rao could say ‘no’ to his father. Though Annapurna did not like it she had to agree to the arrangement. Yashoda’s joy knew no bounds. ‘As soon as the marriage celebration ends here I shall immediately go and attend to the arrangements in the village’ she said to herself. 34 Chalapathi Rao celebrated his grand daughter’s marriage on a very grand scale. A large number of friends and relations attended the wedding. Sunanda’s husband also came for the marriage. After the marriage the marriage parties left for the village. At the outskirts of the village the pearl palanquin, the palanquin bearers, the uniformed bandsmen, the nadaswaram players and the tall gaslights were all ready. Dasaratharamaiah, with his neatly folded gold-laced upper cloth on his shoulder, held the hand of Murali and lead him to the pearl palanquin. Yashoda held Neeraja’s hand. Murali and Neeraja got into the pearl palanquin. The palanquin bearers lifted the palanquin. The Nadaswaram players started playing their tunes. The uniformed bandsmen played the latest Hindi his song. Menfolk walked before the palanquin while the women walked behind it. Dasaratharamaiah walked back and looked once into the palanquin at Murali and Neeraja and called for Yashoda. “ I am here ” she replied and stood by Dasaratharamaiah. “ Look at them Yashoda, look at them to your heart’s content. You dreamed for a long time to see this sight, ” said Dasaratharamaiah happily. Yashoda peeped once again at Murali and Neeraja. The small arch-lights inside the palanquin glowed brightly and moved gently as the palanquin swayed rhythmically at the steady gait of the palanquin bearers. Murali felt a little shy to be seated inside the palanquin. He quietly bit his lower lip unconsciously and looked into the eyes of his grandfather. Dasaratharamaiah proudly twirled his mustache throwing a smile at Murali and walked to the forefront of the procession and stopped. “ Look here! ” he announced “ this procession should proceed slowly through the main school street and then turn to the temple street. First the newly married couple will worship in the temple. After the worship, Gruhapravesham. Yes! Go ahead! Play your favourite tunes ” he announced and marched ahead of the procession, dignity personified. Narayana Rao, Prasada Rao, tuft headed Raghavaiah, Chalapathi Rao, Srinivas and his father the Panchyat President and other followed him. The entire village turned up to witness the procession. “ Dasaratharamaiah made his grandson a District Collector. He made the boy ride in the pearl palanquin. He kept his word ” people began to talk among themselves appreciatively. “ Not only the old man. Murali Babu also fulfilled his grandfather’s wish, worked hard and achieved his goal, making the dream of his grandfather come true. We have to compliment the youngster also ” said some. In the din and blare of band music and traditional Nadaswaram notes it was difficult to make out what was being said by people. But there was satisfaction and pride on the faces of everyone. Yashoda walked by the side of the palanquin. For a moment she experienced the feeling that Dasaratharamaiah and herself were sitting in the palanquin. She was overcome by a sudden feeling of extreme shyness at the thought. She quickly wiped her face with the saree end with a smile. Annapurna and Rajeswari headed the women’s group behind the palanquin. As the palanquin swayed to the rhythmic gait of the palanquin bearers, Neeraja lost balance every now and then and stole shy looks at Murali. Neeraja wore a blue silk saree with large zari flowers and a matching blouse. With the new ‘ mangala sutra ’ tied to the yellow cord around her neck, with the colourful bangles at her wrists and with the wedding dot on her cheek, Neeraja looked a typical bride, beautiful and attractive. Murali was devouring the beauty of his bride with his eyes. As he observed the on lookers following the palanquin watching him, he turned his face and tried to look away. The colourful, slender glass rods hanging from the edges of the roof borders on the outer side of the palanquin jingled softly to the gentle sway of the palanquin and flashed brightly with their rainbow colours in the glow of the gas lights. Dasaratharamaiah walked proudly at the head of the procession twirling his mustache. The wedding procession moved forward towards Dasaratharamaiah’s dilapidated house after the worship at the temple amidst the glare of the gaslights and the blare of band music and Nadaswaram notes for the ‘ Gruhapravesham ’ ceremony. THE END (Translated into English By D. Ranga rao)
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