The Pearl Palanquin (6) Once or twice when relations and friends said that Anu was Rajeswari’s would be daughter-in-law, Rajeswari smiled and kept quiet without giving out her mind. Tht smile was positive, thought Anu. What will be the news her grandfather would bring? Anu waited anxiously the arrival of her grandfather. He did not return for a long time. As she was pacing about she heard some one coming. She ran out thinking it was her grandfather. It was a client who came for her father. Anu sat limp in the chair. Murali, Narayana rao and Dasaratharamaiah came almost together one behind the other after half-an-hour. Annapurna invited them all to eat their lunch. They started eating silently. Anu held her breath to hear what her grandpa would say. Murali had folded his full hands shirt to his elbows and was eating quickly. Narayana Rao bent his head while eating without looking up. Dasaratharamaiah drank water from the steel vessel pouring it into his open mouth from a height making a gurgling noise, as was his habit. He wiped his forehead with his upper cloth and said: “ Rajeswari is a woman given to litigation, Narayana! ‘ Let it happen according to your desire ’ she said to me and gave a twist at the end of her statement. Anu heard the first part of what her grandfather said and was transported into a world of joy. She quickly swallowed up the last dish of buttermilk and rice, washed her hand in the plate itself and ran off. She didn’t want people to observe the joy she experienced at the news. She felt like singing at the pitch of her voice and dance in ecstasy. She took out the photograph of Giri, looked at it for a while, and whirled round pressing the photograph to her bosom. Dasaratharamaiah said to his son Narayana in a thoughtful manner “ She wants the marriages of Giri with Anu and Indira with Murali to be fixed as early as possible. She also reminded me that I was the important person for both the families. ” Murali who was listening to his grandfather felt Rajeswari’s twist was a bolt from the blue. What! Should he marry Indira! If he does not, will the alliance of Anu and Giri not come off? Oh God! In no circumstances would he marry Indira. She might be beautiful, intelligent, slim and smart. But he hated her way of life and her style of living, the way she dressed her pants and T shirts, her pyjamas and nighties, her fashions and make up. What a contrast his sister presented! She looked beautiful in her skirt and voni. If he bought a saree for her she wore it with great pleasure and looked stunning by beautiful in it. Her classmates appreciate the sarees she wears now and then. Anu proudly tells them that her brother selects her sarees. Sometimes Murali wondered how Giri keeps quiet when his sister went out with her boy friends and attended parties in hotels. If Indira had been his sister he would slap her cheeks and keep her in her limits. A girl should invoke respect in others by her decent behaviour. Murali had great respect for Sunanda. He despised Indira with all his heart. Come what may, he would not marry Indira. He wanted to reveal his mind to his father. Narayana Rao kept silent at the news brought by his father. But Annapurna spoke out: “ Giving our daughter in marriage to their boy is proper tradition. But accepting their daughter for our boy is against all norms. We don’t have this tradition in our family. ” “ Yes, I told her the same thing. She laughed it away saying that it was not such an unpardonable violation ” said Dasaratharamaiah. “ What are we to do now? ” questioned Narayana Rao. “ That’s what I am working out. We know the nature of Rajeswari. She doesn’t sleep till she achieves her goal. As I got up she said in a loud voice ‘ Uncle! If this takes place that will take place. ’ ” “ Grandpa! I will not marry in the near future… Not at all Indira. Find out whether they accept Anu as their daughter-in-law. If they refuse, it is not difficult for us to find another match for Anu ” said Murali and walked away into his room. Narayana Rao stood silent. Though forty plus he never contradicted his father. He had great respect for his father. Murali generally did not say ‘no’ to his father but when something was not to his liking he never hesitated to speak his mind. His relations said that he inherited this quality from his grandfather. “ How can we celebrate Anu’s marriage if things take this turn? I thought that Anu would be Rajeswari’s daughter-in-law all these days ” said Annapurna, anxiety written large on her face. No one imagined that Rajeswari would introduce this twist at the beginning of the alliance talks. To add to this Murali announced without proper thought of the future that he would not marry Indira. Anuradha heard both the statements “ She is willing to take Anu as her daughter-in-law ”… of her grandfather and “ I will not marry Indira ” of her brother. She began to tremble and listened carefully what everyone was saying. That night Murali tried his best to concentrate on his books but could not. Though it was nearing twelve O’ clock Anuradha could not sleep. Dasaratharamaiah was often getting up and drinking water. Murali came out of his room and looked at his grandfather. He turned to the other side on seeing Murali. Murali looked at his father’s room. The light was burning. He peeped in and saw his father sitting at the table holding his head. Murali felt very much disturbed. He rushed back to his room, opened all the windows and stretched himself on the bed. Anu had turned away from him facing the wall. Thoughts began criss-crossing in Murali’s brain. Why did Rajeswari introduce this twist now? No one knew or guessed that she had such an idea. She was projecting Giri, her son, as a prop to make him her son-in-law. Poor innocent Anu was made to suffer. His would – be wife, he thought, should be a cultured girl, education apart. She should be mild and understanding. No clubs. No Mahila Samajams. A housewife should be like an empress of her household. She should be affectionate to everyone and win everyone’s praise. The husband who returned home tired and worried should be accosted by a smiling wife at the doorstep. How can there be peace if the lady of the house also worked like a machine outside? How do children grow up in such a household? A woman should take to working only when circumstances force her to take a job. He decided that he would not marry Indira what ever the pressures brought on him. He knew that his mother was pained as he went against his father’s wish. But mother does not try to understand him. Times are changing. He has independent thoughts and cannot but speaks them out. Speaking out his mind is not being disrespectable to father. Who knows how much he loved Anu? Perhaps he may have to quarrel with his grandfather also. Anu was his beloved grand daughter. How to wriggle out of this situation? As the clock struck two. Murali closed his eyes trying to sleep. 13 Time rolled on. Days, weeks, months rolled by fast. Dasaratharamaiah had left to his village informing Rajeswari that he would talk to her later. When Narayana Rao wrote to him, Dasaratharamaiah replied that he would come at his convenience. Murali took the I.A.S. examination. Though he did well he was worried. He wanted to run away to some far off place till the results were known. Murali was reading a newspaper in the verandah. Annapurna was in the kitchen. Narayana Rao had not returned from the court yet. The postman threw two letters through the door. One was for his father. The other was for Anuradha. Who could have written to Anuradha? Murali examined the letter. It was from Jemshedpur. It was from Giridhar. Murali twitched his brows. He went in and put his father’s letter on his table. As he came out Anuradha saw the cover letter in Murali’s hands and quickly went into her room. Giridhar was working at Jemshedpur. Murali did not feel like giving the letter to Anu. He stood there lost in thought. Anu came out again, saw her brother and went in. Murali gave the letter silently to Anu after a while. He dressed himself quickly, took the scooter and drove out. He drove on without any destination. Anuradha had won the scooter in a lottery. Once a group of women approached Annapurna asking her to buy a lottery ticket. When she refused they wrote Anu’s name and gave her the ticket. Annapurna felt sorry she had to spend one rupee on the ticket. Her husband asked her to take it light. “ If Anu’s lucky she would win a lakh of rupees, if not, she loses only hundred paisa “ he told her. After a couple of months one of Annapurna’s neighbours came running and announced that Anu won a scooter in the lucky dip. The lady demanded a hot cup of coffee and did not leave till she had her coffee. After the scooter arrived a tussle began between Anu and Murali. Anu claimed it was hers. Murali said father had given the money. Moreover if she started riding the scooter like Indira people would call her also ‘the scooter girl’. He would take her on the scooter to movies and for shopping. Dasaratharamaiah said that the scooter would be Anu’s till her marriage and her husband’s after her marriage. Whatever the arrangement, Murali started using it. Murali was speeding on the scooter. Since when has Giri been writing letters to Anu? Anu was thoughtless and foolish. How could she encourage such things even before the marriage was settled? He was not sure whether he should tell her to stop corresponding with Giri. Murali was feeling very uneasy as he drove on. He had covered a great distance on the highway. The sky became over-cast and it began to drizzle. It started raining heavily. He stopped the scoter under a tree and wiped his face with the handkerchief. A number of vehicles were passing on the road. Cars, lorries, scooters etc. There was no let up in the rain. As he started the scooter, another scooter passed by him. A girl was sitting on the back seat. He looked at the girl keenly. He was sure it was Indira. He tried to follow the scooter but could not catch up. Who was that person? Why did Indira come out in this rain so far away from home? Murali reached home drenched. As he locked the scooter he heard laughter from his room. Oh God! Have new relations come or what? As he walked into the room he saw Sunanda sitting near his table. Anu had gone in just then. “ Sunanda! Is it you! I was afraid that some relations had come. How is it you are here! Wait a minute. I shall change and come. ” “ What is the reason for Madam’s coming now? ” He asked brushing his head with a towel coming out of his room. “ I shall tell the reason later. But tell me first. Why did you go out in this heavy rain?” “ I felt bored at home. I went out to refresh myself and got drenched in the rain. Okay. When did you come? ” “ Half an hour ago. Aunty went to the temple. Hearing your scooter Anu went in saying she would get tea. By the way, why did you feel bored? ” “ What will people think if they see us here alone like this? ” asked Sunanda. “ A question for an answer? I think men don’t have forethought like women. ” “ In what aspects? ” “ In any aspect. ” “ In this an introduction to what you are going to say? ” “ What could I tell you? I feel I am going mad. I thought there would be relief when I complete my studies. But… ” “ Are there things that worry you also? It is strange! ” Said Sunanda laughing. “ When we don’t understand our responsibilities there will be no peace. ” “ Yes. I agree, ” said Sunanda in all seriousness. “ Anu! Tea not ready yet? ” Shouted Murali. “ Had I known that you were coming to us, I wouldn’t have gone out, ” he said. “ Murali! I want to talk to you alone about a very important matter. Tomorrow will you come to the park? ” “ With me! Alone! A very important matter? Can’t you tell me here? ” “ No. Not possible. ” Anu brought tea and biscuits. Sunanda left after tea. Murali was agitated. What could be the important matter she wanted to talk to him? He was restless. He could not sleep that night. 14 The next day Murali went to the park. Sunanda was waiting for him. “ So sorry, I am late. Anyway ladies are first in any thing ” said Murali and sat down on the grass spreading his hand kerchief. Many children were playing about the place. Sunanda observed Murali’s clothes. He had tucked in a light coloured shirt in his black Teri-cot pants. ‘ He looks smart in any dress ’ thought Sunanda. Murali expected Sunanda to open the conversation. As she kept silent he said: “ I thought I was late in coming here. But you are further delaying by not starting the conversation. ” “ No. ” “ I am saved. I cannot talk in an indirect manner. I feel a sort of disgust with such people. Sorry! I came to hear you talk but I am talking some thing. ” “ Bawa! What qualities should your would-be wife possess? ” Murali was startled at her question. He recovered quickly. “ Why? Will you undertake the job of finding a bride for me? ” “ Yes! ” “ Then listen to me. I don’t want to marry now. After Anu is married, after I settle down in my job I shall tell you what sort of a girl I want. Okay? ” “ Yes!… What is the meaning of the word worship? ” “ Oh God! Did you ask me to come so far to this place to ask me this question? More over I do not know much about things like that. ” “ Then I will tell you. Will you listen? ” “ Yes! I am ready. Shoot off. ” “ I think you read Bharatam. ” “ A little. ” “ Generally when we talk of Mahabharata we think of Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima. But there are two more characters who possess wonderful individuality and who are most selfless. I feel they have not been given the recognition they deserve. ” “ Yes? ” “ Bhishma and Karna. I derive great joy when I read about them. I feel that historically too injustice has been done to them. How courageous they are! How generous! How selfless! They did not think of their self….” “ But then what is all this to do with your ‘worship’? ” Cut in Murali. “ Yes. I worship these two characters. ” Murali heaved a sigh of relief at the words of Sunanda. She had become very emotional and her dark cheeks had taken a rosy tint. Sunanda was a little upset at the reaction of Murali. “ The whole of last night I did not sleep imagining that you would tell me something that would shake the world and create problems for me. ” Murali laughed. “ No. It is not like that. You imagined something else and is side tracking it. ” “ No. I told you the truth. ” “ No. ” It suddenly began to drizzle. They had not observed the sky in their discussion. Sunanda got up saying it would rain. “ You are leaving without speaking about the important matter…” “ Yes. That is true. But I didn’t know how to open the topic. I digressed from my original point. I couldn’t succeed to bring it out in my words. Murali, you must pardon me. I shall tell you sometime later but not now. What I want to tell you is very simple. Don’t rack your brains unnecessarily. Will you call a rickshaw?”
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