The Pearl Palanquin (7)
“ Sunanda, though you didn’t tell me what you wanted to say, I have to warn you that Indira should be kept in check. It pains me to say this but I have to tell you. ” He paused for a while “ you are both related to me. I want Indira to lead a happy life. You people do not have an idea how Indira has been behaving outside the house. ” “ Murali ” “ Please understand me. I have regard for Indira. That is why I am giving you this caution. Sorry Sunanda! ” “ Murali! Tell me! What happened? ” “ I cannot tell you that something terrible happened. There might not be any thing yet. But late in the evening yesterday I went far on the highway. When I was returning I saw Indira on the pillion of a scooterist. It was raining then. ” “ Who is he? ” “ I do not know. I could recognize Indira as the pillion rider. But I couldn’t see the man’s face. If a small mistake is committed at an age when the mind doesn’t distinguish between good and bad it may lead to serious consequences. ” He paused. “ I shall accompany you. The rain is intensifying, ” he said. “ No need. I can go. Indira is innocent. She doesn’t heed or understand me. Shall I tell you…” “ No, not now. There is a rickshaw. Take it. I shall come to your house tomorrow. ” Murali stood there for a while drenching in the rain. In the meanwhile a group of girls came there, Indira being one of them. One of Indira’s friends saw Sunanda getting into the rickshaw. “ Indira! Since when have these two birds been meeting in this park? Is he not your would-be husband? This is very strange! ” “ I shall go home direct and settle what it is ” said Indira with indignation and took a rickshaw leaving her friends there. On the way she decided to wait before exposing her sister. 15 Indira invited her friends to her birthday. She wanted Murali and Anuradha to attend without fail. Dasaratharamaiah’s letter to Narayana Rao had been received. He wanted Narayana Rao to give sometime to Murali to think over the matter of his marriage. He said he was going over there soon and that all aspects could be discussed. Giridhar came on leave to attend his sister’s birthday. Giri’s love for Sunanda was also equally deep. Everyone loved Indira, as she was the youngest in the family. Giri brought a deep blue nilex saree with a zari-embroidered border for his sister. Indira wore a blouse of the same colour. She sported a pearl necklace, pearl studded bangles and pearl eardrops. She looked beautiful. She went up to her parents and touched their feet seeking their blessings. ‘ In studies, games, and other activities and in beauty Indira has no second. Why does not Murali like her? ’ Thought Giri. At five in the evening Murali and Anuradha arrived. Other friends of Indira also arrived. Indira introduced all her friends to her parents. Murali was closely observing them all. Murali tried to identify the young man with whom Indira was seen on the scooter. As the party progressed Indira pressed Anuradha to sing a song. Murali signaled ‘no’ with his eyes. Anu who was about to sing adjusted her throat and kept quiet. Giri observed this. “ Anu! Please sing! You must sing, ” he said authoritatively. Anuradha felt a little uneasy and kept quiet. Giridhar left the place suppressing his anger and requested one of Indira’s friends to sing. He sang a Hindi song. Anu did not sing. She quietly gave Indira the presentation she had brought. The party ended. Murali and Anu went to Rajeswari to take leave of her. “ You can’t go. Both of you should eat dinner and go, ” said Rajeswari. “ I have some work. I have to go ” said Murali. “ If you have work you can go. Anu will stay here. I shall bring home Anu tomorrow,” said Giridhar. Rajeswari wanted Murali to stay on. Murali agreed to stay back. At dinner Giri sat by Anu and started talking intimately with her. Indira sat by Murali. Though Murali did not like Girirdhar paying special attention to Anu, he controlled his emotion. He should not have attended the party at all. Bringing Anu along was the second mistake, he thought. Why was he behaving peevishly? He cooled down quickly. The next moment he felt ashamed of himself. “ My dear son-in-law ” said Prasad Rao addressing Murali. “ I am getting terribly sleepy. I shall go up. ” Of late Prasada Rao started calling Murali that way which Murali did not like at all. Rajeswari started narrating about old days in an interesting manner and everybody was listening to her with great attention. It was Rajeswari’s habit to do so every now and then when there was enough audience around her. The talk finally centered round Dasaratharamaiah. They were three brothers. The eldest was my father. The second was Narayana Rao’s father. The third was Dasaratharamaiah. “ In our childhood the Dasarath was considered a ‘hero’. He was imposing in his figure, handsome, healthy and always jolly. He would always laugh and made others laugh. Those times were entirely different. Their system of life was different. People gave a lot of importance to morality and justice. ” She paused. “ Aunty! Why did not grandfather marry Yashodamma? ” Asked Murali. “ Of course these matters should not be discussed with you. But in a way it is good to know the facts… Uncle’s destiny changed the moment Yashoda stepped into his life. ” “ How did they come to know each other? Yashodamma does not belong to our caste or sect, ” said Murali. “ Uncle finished his high school studies and got admitted into a college. My father used to say that Dasarath was intelligent and so should be sent to England to do Barrister-at-law. A number of Dasarath uncle’s classmates took high degrees and have occupied prominent positions in life. It was only uncle who couldn’t go up in life. He was a very fashionable youth and was very smart. He used to come home for holidays. ” “ I remember clearly the occasion when we all went to a Mela. It was there that we saw Yashoda. She was the daughter of a cowherd. He was a poor riot of a nearby village. People used to move between our village and their village. ” Yashoda was sixteen then. “ Yashoda was attracted by handsome uncle Dasarath. Though she was dark, she was beautiful. Both were in their glow of youth and used to meet now and then later. Their acquaintance blossomed into love. ” “ Their love affair was kept a secret for a long time. Once it was known, my father tried to find brides for uncle. Dasarath started delaying marriage giving some excuse or other. Getting annoyed and vexed, my father finally fixed a match, called Yashoda’s father and gave him a severe warning to keep his daughter under control. ” “ Yashoda’s father felt ashamed and sorry at his daughter’s behaviour. Later he found a groom for his daughter. My father laid down a condition that Yashoda’s marriage should first be celebrated and that she should be sent away to her in-laws before the wedding date of Dasarath. ” “ But Yashoda did not marry the boy chosen by her father. She revolted against her father and ran away one day to uncle Dasarath’s house at dead midnight. ” “ Uncle gave her shelter. Till to day no one could send her out. My father felt ashamed as the match fixed by him did not materialize and uncle stuck to his point that he would not marry any one else. My father took to heart Dasarath’s disobedience as an insult, fell sick and within six months passed away. My mother had died earlier. Narayana’s parents had an attack of small pox and died when he was four years old. ” “ It was Dasarath uncle who brought Narayana up and made him what he is to-day. ” “ Uncle did not marry any one else as he gave Yashoda his word. He did not do her injustice. In a way Yashoda is a lucky woman. For a mistake committed at an age of innocence she did not suffer all her life. Uncle Dasarath was very tender hearted. Yashoda is his life. Though he kept her in another house, after my father’s death and Narayana’s father’s death, he brought her into his house. ” “ That means Yashoda was not in your house form the beginning, ” laughed Indira. “ I have to tell you another interesting fact. Uncle Dasarath does not eat even to-day if Yashoda cooks food. Even if he is not well, he cooks food for himself. ” “ That means grandfather is afraid that he would lose his caste, ” said Indira. Giridhar laughed ironically. “ May be ” said Rajeswari. “ Nonsense! If he treats her as his wife he does not lose his caste! Will he lose it if he eats food cooked by her! That is why I don’t like grandfather, ” Giridhar frowned. Anuradha started at Giridhar without listening to Rajeswari. Murali was getting angry with Giri. It was the habit of Giri to pass some remark on his grandfather whenever the talk centered on him. Murali could not bear this. “ What ever you say, the thoughts and decisions of our generation are far better than the attitudes and habits of the older generation. Your generation does not respect and believe the present generation. We cannot hide behind excuses like traditions, faiths, parents etc., we are plain speaking. You have to agree that these are our plus points ” said Giri. “ What you say is okay but yet…” “ No! No! We know the list you are going to give. No. Tell us the rest of the story ” said Indira changing the topic. “ Mother! Is it true that grandfather’s property was spent on Narayana Rao’s and uncle’s education and that grandfather and Yashoda are living on the lands of Yashoda’s father. Is this true? ” Asked Sunanda. “ Yes. It is true. ” “ You still respect grandfather who depends on Yashoda’s property and at the same time saves his so called caste! You call him an ideal person! This is what I don’t like ” said Giri expressing his dislike for Dasaratharamaiah. Giri was sure that if Dasaratharamaiah wanted Murali to marry Indira, the marriages would take place in a jiffy. Why does he not say so? That was Giridhar’s grouse. As Giri spoke lightly of his grandfather, Murali got annoyed. “ Murali! He is not the grandfather to you alone. He is my grandfather too. I have a right to talk about him ” said Giri haughtily. As Murali started to answer back Giri vehemently, Sunanda got worried. “ Oh God! Why do you quarrel like that between yourselves? Let us hear what mother has to say. Look! She is going to talk of another important aspect. ” “ Mother! Though all the property has been lost, grandfather is taking very great care of the pearl palanquin. Is it not? ” Asked Indira. “ Yes! There is a lot of history behind the palanquin. Giri! Murali! Are you listening to me? In one’s life marriage is an important and a happy bond. This event takes place only once in a person’s life. The value of this bond is known better to those who have not experienced it than by those who have experienced it. ” “ Coming to the palanquin, my father got it made specially for his youngest brother, that is, Dasarath. But though uncle got the opportunity to ride in it he lost the chance by his thoughtlessness. That is why he has protected the palanquin more than his life so that Narayana could use it. That too did not come about. Then Dasarath uncle lost all hopes of its being put to use. When you were born, Murali, the hopes of your riding in it at your marriage revived in him. Murali, it is for you to fulfill grandfather’s wish. ” The pearl palanquin began to linger before Murali’s eyes. Where ever and whenever Murali hears a marriage band or witnesses a procession, the pearl palanquin appears in his mind’s eye. Mentally he sits in it in all the splendour of a bridegroom while the bride sits with her head bent as the procession moves on. Murali dreams of the palanquin which makes him feel joyous. He knows how much his grandfather now looks forward for the red-letter day. Thought this sounds grand, sometimes Murali feels that he is being bound by golden chair. His marriage should be celebrated the way he likes. If he desires, it should be a registered marriage. Why should he turn into a doll to satisfy the whims of the old generation of his grandfather? He recollected his grandfather’s life. He was taking care of Yashoda with all his heart for a mistake committed in his youth. There was honesty in it, morality too. Yashodamma on her part was giving away every pie on the produce of her lands to him with faith in him. She executed a will that her house and the four acres of land should belong to Murali, her grandson. Her peaceful and pious looks make Murali think of her with reverence. A man and woman do not become man and wife with the tying of a ‘mangala sutra’ alone. A man and woman become united when there is a marriage of their minds. Come what may, he should fulfil his grandfather’s wish. Murali wanted his grandfather’s eyes glow with pride when he was sitting in the palanquin. The pearl palanquin filled his heart and thoughts as he grew up. Rajeswari revealed another interesting account about the palanquin. “ Once I went to the village. I had to stay there for nearly a month. During my stay there a cyclonic storm broke out. Water began to flow into the house and rose knee high. We started shifting all the personal effects to higher places in the house. ” “ You can understand the value uncle Dasarath gave to the palanquin. ” “ I am feeling sleepy, ” said Indira and they all got up. Anuradha slept in Indira’s room. Murali was given a cot in the verandah. Giri went into his room. Murali could not sleep. The gently breeze wafted jasmine fragrance and the cool moonlight filled the verandah. He felt strange in that house. At home his mother would wait for Anu and himself for some time and would go to bed asking her husband to open the door for them. His father would keep awake for a long time and would sleep without switching off the light. Murali smiled to himself imagining this scene at his home. He wondered at the affection and love parents had for their children. He recollected the narration of his aunt Rajeswari about parents and children as he fell asleep. He dreamed that he was riding the pearl palanquin with his bride in the marriage procession. The nadaswaram music was liltingly sweet. His grandfather was walking in a dignified manner before the palanquin procession with his neatly folded gold laced upper cloth on his shoulder. He was trying his best to have a look at the features of his bride who was sitting before him with her head bent. She did not raise her chin or look up at him. He was getting angry and wanted to shout at her … and he woke up. He realized that it was all a dream and that he was sleeping in his aunt’s house. He heard a Hindi cinema song being sung in a low voice. Whose voice was that? Was he not familiar with the voice that sang so sweetly? Yes! But whose? He opened his eyes and looked round. Sunanda was sitting on a cement bench among the flower plants and singing the song in a low, soft voice. The moon was playing hide and seek with the clouds in the sky. How strange is God’s creation! He makes a beautiful person proud. For a person not so pretty he gives a beautiful heart and adds another special gift, a melodious voice. Murali wanted to go and sit by her and hear her song. But he held back. It won’t be proper to do so in dead midnight. Sunanda continued to sing for a while on the bench and slept off sitting on it. 16 “ Sundnda! Sunanda! Good news! ” Murali left the scooter at the door way and ran in. Sunanda heard Murali and came out running adjusting her saree. She was about to lose balance. “ Be careful… slow, Sunanda ” cried Murali and held her from falling. With a smiling face Sunanda said, “ Shall I tell you the good news? ” “ No! Let me tell you? ” “ No! No! I shall tell you. ” “ No! Not you! Hear me ” “ Bawa! First accept my congratulations. I told you already that you will get the interview call. ” “ I thought you were talking of something else! But, how did you know? ” “ By your tone… by your facial expression…” “ Yes? Anything more? ” “ That is enough for now. ” “ You are happy alright. But everything is not over yet. After the interview I must get the selection. ” “ Wait a little. That will also be coming your way. Sri Sri Muralidhar will get the selection. He will complete the training. He will be posted as the Assistant Collector to one of the Districts. Later… He will marry and to fulfil his grandfather’s wish he will go in a procession in the pearl palanquin….” Sunanda laughed. Murali looked into her face. “ You silly! I got the interview letter as you said. I may also get the selection. After the training I will join duty. As for the marriage procession, the pearl palanquin is ready. But where is the bride that will ride with me in it? ” Said Murali with a mischievous smile. “ Will you listen to me? ” “ Yes.” “ It will be difficult for you to select the bride if you become a Collector. You better select the bride before that Or else daughters of I.A.S. officers or even unmarried I.A.S. lady officers will whish you away. I don’t think you will be happy with those girls. They will try to buy you spending a large amount of money as dowry. You will become a prisoner in a golden cage. As I told you, select a simple girl. As soon as the training concludes you can take her into the pearl palanquin. Oh! I am so sorry! I must get you a cup of tea first. ”
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