The Pearl Palanquin (5)
Yashoda was sitting on the pial by the doorstep. She did not recognize Murali in the darkness. He was wearing white pants and had tucked in his shirt. She was staring at the road leading to their house looking for Dasaratharamaiah and the news he would bring. “ Yashodamma! I’ve passed he examination! ” Cried Murali as he neared her. She turned aside startled. “ Oh! Is it you Murali!… Have you come! ” She said aloud happily staring at him in the light of the street lantern. “ Yes! I’ve come to tell you I’ve passed the exam! ” “ I am so glad, Murali Babu! But I didn’t expect that you would be here so soon. Come near me ” she said. She kissed him on his forehead and took him inside the house. It was Murali’s turn to look surprised at what she did. He remembered that Yashoda kissed him on his forehead once or twice when he was a boy. She did not do so after he grew up though he came to her many times. He now felt a little annoyed at Yashoda’s action but soon calmed down at the motherly affection he saw in her eyes. Yashoda came out with her fist full of salt, turned her fist thrice, first clock wise and then anticlock wise, went and threw the salt in the well. As she returned to him he asked her: “ What is all this? ” “ Shall I tell you? ” “ Yes! ” “ You are handsome. In addition you are youthful. You are dressed neatly like a bridegroom. As you walked home, I do not know how many people including girls saw you and envied your personality. That is why I did it to drive away the effect of evil eyes. ” She paused for a while. “ I thought that you and your grandfather would stay on there among your people happily. I didn’t imagine that you would come here to day to tell me the news of your passing the exam. ” “ If that is so why were you sitting on the pial awaiting us? ” Yashoda smiled at. The smile Murali’s question expressed that she would always be awaiting his arrival. “ Oh my goodness! I wonder when you ate your food! Well! Well! Il forgot to give you a glass of water also! ” She said and went in to fetch him a glass of water. As he sipped the water from the glass Murali observed Yashoda closely. He visited her last year. During this period Yashoda had changed a lot. She had thinned considerably. Her hair had turned grey. Her quick gait slowed down. The skin had darkened beneath her eyes. Of course the single white stone of her nose – stud shone brilliantly as ever. Can no one escape old age? The beautiful body will take on folds… the dark thick hair will turn grey and thin out. These changes were seen in grandpa also. Thirty years ago Yashodamma should have been a beautiful woman. Similarly grandfather too should have been handsome like him. So about thirty years hence he too would become old like his grandfather… No! He can’t help it. But…. Growing old is a natural law. Then… Why worry?… why think of it? Murali wiped his face with the palm of his hand. It was an unconscious movement. Dasaratharamaiah had already stretched himself on the cot without washing his feet. He was slipping into sleep. “ Sleeping so soon! Won’t you cook something for the boy? ” “ Yashoda! I can’t get up. I am tired. I am not hungry. Daughter-in-law fed me well. Give something to Murali ” drawled Dasaratharamaiah. Yashoda sat down grumbling with her hands on her head. Murali observed the two with amusement. “ Yashodamma! Grandfather is not in a mood to get up. To day I shall eat whatever you’ve prepared, ” said Murali smiling. “ No! No! If your grandfather knows of it he will grow wild. ” “ Don’t be afraid. I will answer him. You needn’t cook again for me now. Whatever you have already cooked for yourself, we shall share. ” Yashoda felt very happy at Murali’s words. She held his hanbd and took him into the kitchen. She Murali sit on the wooden stool and lighted the oven. “ So you haven’t cooked food for yourself! ” said Murali looking round. “ If your grandfather is not in the house I forget all about food ” so saying Yashoda moved this way and that not able to decide what to do. ‘ Now I know why grandfather was so eager to return to the village though he was tired ’ thought Murali. Yashoda placed before Murali the plantain leaf. “ Oh! I didn’t think of your pants! Wait a minute. I shall give you your grandfather’s dhoti, ” said Yashoda looking at his pants. “ No need. It doesn’t matter. I am very hungry. Let me eat first ” said Murali. Yashoda cooked pounded rice and snake gourd curry. There was rasam and buttermilk. Murali wondered at the patience of Yahsoda in cooking food in the night for him. She began pouring ghee again and again into his palm inspite of his protests that he would grow obese. She sat very near Murali and keenly observed him as he ate. Murali also looked at her every now and then. He found in her eyes happiness and satisfaction. “ Yashodamma! Why do you like me so much? ” he asked wondering what sacred bond pulled him towards Yashodamma. Yashoda looked straight into his eyes and asked “ Why do you like me so much? ” Murali did not answer her but quickly finished eating. Yashoda handed him a cake of soap as he washed his hands. He went straight to the cot, stretched himself on it and closed his eyes. Yashoda finished eating and put all the vessels in place, lowered the flame in the lamp and went near Murali to see whether he had slept. She covered him with a bed cloth and turned back. “ I am not able to sleep, ” said Murali pulling down the blanket to his waist. “ Then you were pretending to be asleep! You haven’t changed a bit from your boyhood days! ” Yashoda stood near his cot. “ Why are you not able to sleep? ” she asked. “ I want an answer to my question ” Murali said sitting up. “ I don’t know it myself. What can I tell you? In my foolish way I call it worship. ” “ Worship? ” Murali was surprised. “ Yes Murali! A woman worships the man she loves as much as she worships God. Where is it said that the person whom the woman worships should be her husband? It may be a friend or anyone dear to her heart or any body else! Are you surprised at what I said? ” “ Yashodamma! I don’t want to hear anything more. You have changed the whole matter into a farce ” said Murali wondering whether what she said was true in her case. “ No! No! It is not like that! Man can run away from any thing but not from some one whom he worships with all his heart. The same force has brought you to me. Beyond this I cannot explain it ” said Yashoda. “ Then what will you give me for coming here searching for you? ” “ What ever you want. ” “ I shall try to sleep. But you must sit near my cot and sing the old song asking little Krishna to sleep. ” Yashoda settled down on the floor beside the cot, put her fingers into the cropped hair of Murali and started to sing the song with full throated ease tapping on his back, beating tune. As the sang the song forgetting herself in the cool silent night Murali imagined of the Yashoda of yore who brought up Lord Krishna. He was the little Krishna and Yashodamma the Yashoda who brought him up. Murali was lulled to sleep as Yashoda sang sweetly. But Dasaratharamaiah sat up and looked at Murali and Yashoda by turns as she sang the song. He shed tears of joy and couldn’t sleep. Yashoda slept off sitting on the floor with her head on the cot crooning the song. Murali woke up early in the morning and saw Yashodamma sitting at his cot and still sleeping. What a woman this Yashoda!… His mother, Anuradha, Rajeswari, Sunanda… they all belong to one type. But Yashodamma! … her mind, her heart, her behaviour….. they are strange! She must have lost something very dear to her heart when young! What it could be he didn’t know… Murali took off the blanket and covered it on Yashoda and slept off again. By the time he woke up it was seven O’clock. “ Oh God! It is seven grandpa! I have to reach home before father goes to the court, ” said Murali sipping the coffee given to him by Yashoda. He quickly took leave of his grandfather and Yashodamma and kept looking back as he quickened his pace. 11 Narayana Rao tried to convince Murali that it would be good for him to start practice as a junior lawyer. Moreover Murali could use his books. He would also be guiding him constantly. Murali was determined to prepare for I.A.S. “ I don’t want to practice as a lawyer. First I want to take the I.A.S. examination. If selected, okay. If not, I shall take up some job ” he said emphatically to his father. Murali got immersed in his I.A.S. studies. Anuradha was in her II B.A. Rajeswari’s son Giridhar finished his course and came home. He ws not able to find a suitable job yet. Pradada Rao continued his efforts to find a groom for Sunanda. Indira became a popular figure in the locality and made a number of friends. She hit up a close acquaintance with a youth called Satish and was going out with him frequently. Rajeswari spent much of her time in philosophical and religious discourses and neglected watching the behaviour of her second daughter. Sunanda who by nature spoke little became almost silent getting lost in reading books. Murali would go to Sunanda whenever his brain got heated up by reading. They would both talk on literature, writers and the themes they choose, the influence of foreign writers on Indian writers etc., and a little bit of politics now and then. They both would lose count of time once they started their discussion. One day when Murali went to meet Sunanda, Rajeswari was at home. “ Don’t you have any discourses by your Swamiji to-day aunty? ” asked Murali as he came in. “ Our Swamiji has been arrested and taken to prison, ” said Rajeswari with a sad face. “ Why? ” asked Murali out of curiosity. “ The details of his birth were a great secret. Yet some one culled out the truth. He is involved in two or three murders. The police have hoisted many other cases on him. People are talking about the stories connected with the Swamiji ” said Sunanda smiling. Rajeswari frowned at what Sunanda said. “ Forget all about it. He used to explain the inner meaning of Gita in very simple and easy terms. Though we were close to him for a long time no one of us could guess that he had such a background. Many people gave him huge amounts for his welfare schemes. I lost only two hundred rupees. Your uncle says it is better to go on pilgrimages than believe these Swamijis. ” In the meanwhile Indira walked in followed by her friends. “ Mom! The ‘ Pushpaka Vimana ’ is near the gate. Has bawa come here? ” Asked Indra looking at Murali’s cycle. “ Hai Bawa! Good evening! These are my friends. Amala. She is the only daughter of the judge. Simi here is the police officer’s daughter. This is Sony. It is her pet name of course. She has three cars, four bungalows, six puppies and four squirrels for pets. Also a deer, isn’t so dear? ” She asked turning to her. “ Sony has a ready-made husband in America. He is coming down to India shortly. ” Turning to her friends she said “ This is my bawa. Muralidhar. B.A., LLB…” So saying she lead them into her room. All the girls were dressed in different styles and looked mod in their hair do. Indira had also made herself up competing with them. Murali hated the kind of decoration the girls exhibited. “ Murali! I learn that grand aunty Kameswari has come again bringing her grand daughter this time ” Rajeswari said laughing. “ Yes… Yes. She is here. She says that doctors of this town alone can treat her heart condition. Her grand daughter Nagananchari is killing me with her cinema dialogues. They don’t seem to be leaving soon. It is dreadful to stay at home. Father and mother dare not ask them to go. They stand prestige and family honour. They don’t allow me to talk. Do you know what happened yesterday? “ Mother was not well. Yet she started to cook wearing a wet saree after bath. Kameswari aunty said she would do the cooking and sat under the tap for bath until the taps went dry. She asked Anu to wear her wet saree and go to the well at the end of the street and fetch water. Anu refused to do so. Mother some how convinced her and sent Anu to the well. Father saw her carrying water from the well in wet clothes and got angry. He shouted at everyone including Kameswari aunty. Anu developed cold and fever as her tonsils got affected. ” “ Bawa! Why don’t you take Nagananchari to a cinema show? ” Asked Sunanda laughing. “ Why cinema! She will ask me to take her to America also! Oh God! She does not allow me to bathe or eat or comb my hair. She follows me wherever I go. Her dialogues! I can’t bear to hear them. ” Said Murali with a wry face. Rajeswari was laughing all the while. She started narrating an account of Kameswari and her times. “ In those days marriages were celebrated for five days, though not by every family. Aunty Kameswari celebrated her daughter was sent marriage for five days. The moment her daughter was went to her in-laws, Kameswari auctioned her house! She still talks proudly of the marriage of her daughter and advises everyone to follow her example. She laughs at people who can’t do what she did. “ After Nagananchari was born Kameswari’s son-in-law passed away. Kameswari held the sway in the house. None could oppose her. She acted as a termagant. I wonder how your father and mother can control her and how you escape from her clutches. ” Some one called Rajeswari from outside and she went out. “ I am sorry for you, Bawa! ” said Sunanda. “ Don’t feel sorry. Within two days I will drive them out. I have a plan ready. ” “ What is it? ” “ It is a secret. Shouldn’t be revealed to any one. ” “ No use. ” “ You are a very nice person, Murali! If you need I shall also give suggestions. ” “ No. I can’t tell you, madam! ” “ You are hardhearted. ” “ Doesn’t matter, ” said. Murali smiling and left. 12 Annapurna started pestering Narayana Rao about Anuradha’s marriage. When Dasaratharamaiah came from the village she broached the topic with him. She reminded him of his words that it would be nice if Anu was given in marriage to Giridhar and that they make an ideal pair. Giridhar was now working as a Junior Engineer. He was coming home on leave for a few days. Narayana Rao felt that his father was the right person to go and talk to Rajeswari. “ That is all right. First find out whether Anu likes Giri ” said the old man. Anu came at that moment with coffee glasses. On hearing her grandfather’s words she put the glasses down with shy looks and ran inside. “ She will not say ‘no’ to us. Any way it is better if you ask her ” said Annapurna. “ No need. Which girl says ‘no’ to Giri? He is a handsome fellow. Moreover he is an engineer. What is the need for middlemen in this affair? I shall go and find out, ” so saying Dasaratharamaiah started out adjusting his upper cloth on his shoulder. Anuradha was in a great tension from the moment her grandfather went to Rajeswari. Giridhar had won her heart long ago. Anu liked Giri who came often to their house and engaged her in lively conversation. He used to invite her to go to a movie also sometimes. Giri was handsome and intelligent. He had a good job. Once Anu had gone to Rajeswari’s house with Indira. Indira showed Anu their photo album. There were many photograph of Giri. There was one, which she particularly liked. There was an attraction in his eyes. Anu hid the photograph and brought it home. She used to look at the photograph when she was alone and forget her surroundings. Once she was caught by Murali when she was staring at Giri’s photograph. Murali went behind her and saw it in Anu’s hand. But he just left the place without any reaction. She could not read the expression on his face as he turned his back to her. She expected him to confront her about the photograph. But nothing like that happened. Why was Murali keeping silent? It was his habit to get an answer to even minor incidents. She was trying to get ready with an answer in case Murali confronted her. The answer was eluding her. But she didn’t know Murali had already guessed that Giri had won his sister’s heart. Anu thought that her grandfather would ask for her opinion before going to Rjeswari’s house. But he didn’t approach her. He smiled at her and went out. Nothing was happening according to her wishes. What was all this? Did she announce that she wanted to marry Giri? Okay. It was all for her good. Or else she should have sat before young bridegrooms only to tell her people she would marry Giri and none else.
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