Gently Falls the Bakula

by Sudha Murty

  Sheenappa came with lots of gifts for his sister and Rama. He knew that if Rama was happy, she would push her mother. No one could beat Sheenappa in sweet talk. He started buttering up his sister.

  ‘Look Gangakka, if a stranger comes as a daughter-in-law to your house, then will she take care of you in your old age? You have already suffered so much in your life. Shouldn’t you be happy and get some rest at least now? Our daughter is very fond of you and she resembles Rama in most respects. She might not be as fair as Shrikant but their horoscopes have matched very well. Please do not look down upon us. We will perform the marriage in the best way. You tell me what you want . . . gold, cash . . . a house?’

  It became difficult for Gangakka to resist Sheenappa’s offer. She liked Ratna as a niece but did not want her to be a daughter-in-law. Ratna was arrogant, uneducated and ordinary looking.

  How would Shrikant agree to marry her? It was a fact that Sheenappa had helped Gangakka in difficult times. Still, she did not want to convey her gratitude by getting into a marriage relationship.

  Teaching Gangakka to talk sweetly is as unnecessary as teaching a fish to swim!

  ‘Sheenappa, without your help I would not have survived. We all are indebted to you, and will remain, throughout our lives. Ratna was always on my mind. But Shrikant has categorically told me that he doesn’t want to marry within the family. He feels Ratna is like his own sister. I cannot go against him. I am helpless.’

  Sheenappa realized that it was not Shrikant but Gangakka who did not want the alliance. Shrikant had hardly spoken to Ratna to have developed brotherly feelings. Sheenappa knew Gangakka was trying for bigger fish and Shrikant was just an excuse.

  It was clear to Sheenappa that there was no use talking any further. As he was leaving, he sarcastically said, ‘Okay. Marriages are made in heaven. Let us see what kind of a girl Shrikant will marry!’

  At one of the Purana readings, Vandana’s mother had come to know that Gangakka was searching for a daughter-in-law. Vandana’s sister, Kavitha, was in her second year of BA. So their mother decided to propose a match between Kavitha and Shrikant. She knew that except for the sharp tongue and quarrelsome nature of his mother and sister, Shrikant would be the right catch.

  She told Vandana, ‘Shrikant was your classmate. What do you think of suggesting Kavitha for him?’

  Vandana was taken aback. ‘No Avva, please don’t do that,’ she blurted out, but did not say anything more as that would have got Shrimati into trouble.

  ‘Why? The boy is very good and anyway they are going to stay separately in Bombay. You will also be there.’

  ‘No Avva, whatever it is, please don’t proceed. Shrikant will say no.’

  ‘How do you say that? We will give them dowry. And Kavitha is also good-looking. Let us give them the horoscope and see. It does not mean that the marriage will take place immediately.’

  Vandana’s mother could not understand why Vandana was resisting so much.

  All parents who had daughters suddenly started paying attention to Gangakka. They had not bothered to say even a hello to her all these years. Now they would go out of their way and talk to her and invite her to their homes. One of them was Anna Chari, the priest who gave the daily discourse at the temple. One evening after the discourse, he insisted that Rama and Gangakka come to his house for tea, though in the last twenty years, he had hardly even noticed them. Gangakka was thrilled. When she and Rama went to his house, they received royal treatment. Anna Chari’s wife Champakka broached the topic in a leisurely manner as she served the varieties of food she had prepared.

  ‘Gangakka, you never know when and how fortune smiles on a person. You are aware that the Desai family of Navalgund is very famous. They are very well-off people with plenty of land and trunks of gold in their house. They have only two daughters. The elder daughter is married to a very rich person from Bijapur. Their second daughter Indira is of marriageable age and she is very good-looking. She went up to BA but somehow didn’t complete it.’

  Anna Chari continued, ‘What does education matter to such people? They don’t need to take up a job . . . They are thinking about Shrikant, of course with my recommendation . . .’

  Gangakka was overjoyed. How on earth did wealthy people like Desai think of an alliance with her family? If it came through, Shrikant would be very fortunate.

  But then she remembered that they belonged to a different sect.

  ‘Aren’t they Vaishnavas?’

  Normally Anna Chari would make a fuss about such things but that day, he was very liberal. ‘How does it matter Gangakka? God has two faces. One is of Lord Shiva and the other of Lord Vishnu. Both are just different names for the same god. In today’s world, you should not make such differences.’

  But he did not reveal that he wouldn’t even drink a drop of water in a Vaishnava’s house.

  ‘What about the horoscope?’ Rama raised a point.

  ‘Oh, Gangakka! I myself have matched Shrikant’s and Indira’s horoscopes. They have matched excellently. Indira will bring him good luck. You should consider yourself very lucky that you have got such a proposal for Shrikant.’

  Mother and daughter were thrilled! Rama started imagining Shrikant’s marriage with Indira. She had heard from many people about the pomp and grandeur of their first daughter’s wedding. She was sure that her status would also go up if this marriage took place.

  Anna Chari was a shrewd man. He noticed the two women softening to the idea. He was just waiting for the chance. ‘I will tell Desai to bring his daughter to your house this Sunday and I will also accompany them. Let us see how soon the best can happen.’

  The meeting ended in good spirits.

  Rama and her mother started doing up the house to impress the guests on Sunday.

  Sunday finally arrived. The Desais came in a big car. Each one of them looked like royalty. Mrs Desai and Indira had worn as many ornaments as possible, to show off their status.

  Rama and Gangakka took great pains to offer the best hospitality. The formalities of tea and snacks were over.

  There was a disappointed look on Mrs Desai’s face after seeing Gangakka’s house. It was very ordinary and there was no sign of affluence. She felt that Gangakka and her daughter were too eager for this alliance, that too, just for the money.

  Though Gangakka observed that the girl was a bit slow and very ordinary looking, she was tempted by her father’s wealth.

  Anna Chari was the only one who was talking nonstop. ‘Oh, Shrikant is a very bright and simple boy and there are no two ways about it. If he applies for the IAS, he is sure to become the collector of Dharwad. He is as obedient to his mother as Shri Ramachandra. Definitely he will keep your daughter very happy.’ Anna Chari did not even know that for the IAS one had to appear for an examination and not just apply.

  Mrs Desai put the brakes on Anna Chari’s chatter. ‘Money is not at all an important factor for us. We have brought up our children in luxury and our daughter is not used to hard work. We have sufficient facilities at home. We will definitely help the boy to the best of our ability but he should keep our daughter happy.’

  Gangakka diplomatically said, ‘Everything depends on Shrikant’s decision. Let him come and we will let you know.’

  ELEVEN

  My Shri,

  I received your letter and I am sorry I broke my schedule for the first time. The reasons are numerous. I wish you had stayed a little longer and we could have talked about everything in detail.

  Shri, I told my mother and hesitantly, she has agreed. She has some queries, though. My mother’s acceptance of our marriage is very important to me. When you come here next time, you can officially talk to my father and grandmother. Let me not create a scene now.

  Are you aware of what is happening at your home? It is really scaring me. Your mother has started searching for a bride for you with great vigour, after reading about your job and all that. Every day she has an appointment at one or the other girl’s house. She ha
s no clue about us. This is the result of your not telling her. Rama is also here to help your mother. Shri, I am in no condition to bring a lot of gold and silver, to match your mother’s expectations.

  Regarding yourself, you know Shri, the figure of your salary is immaterial to me. The foundation of my happiness is not the digits that you earn, but the digits of your love, affection and companionship.

  I am aware that life in Bombay is tough, still one percent of India’s population lives there! We will be a part of that.

  When you are with me,

  How does it matter where we live?

  Let it be a desert or a forest,

  Let it be pouring rain or scorching sun,

  That is heaven to me!

  Shri, I have a small wish. Our marriage should be performed in the Someshwara temple in Dharwad. I hope you will understand my feelings and agree.

  Waiting to be your shrimati, Shrimati

  It was the beginning of June. The humidity was high, making people sweat profusely. Bustling Bombay waited impatiently for the rains to start.

  It was the last day at IIT for Shrikant and his batchmates. Examinations were over, job offers and scholarships to go abroad had been received and everyone was dreaming of the future. This was probably the last time that the entire group would be together.

  They had all entered this campus as teenagers and today, they were leaving as young and confident engineers, hoping to achieve fame and fortune in the outside world!

  Many of them got quite emotional when they were saying goodbye to their hostel mates. But it was all part of life. Shrikant and Ravi were leaving for Hubli by the Mahalakshmi Express from VT Station.

  Some of the hostellers had come to see them off.

  As the train started moving, many hands waved goodbye, until the train could be seen no more.

  When the train got to the outskirts of Bombay, a cool breeze started settling in. Shrikant and Ravi occupied their seats.

  In the last ten days both of them had been busy packing up and sorting out last-minute paperwork. So they had not spoken much to each other. Now, they had the chance to catch up.

  ‘Shrikant, you are well settled with a job and a house! So what is your next goal?’ asked Ravi.

  ‘Ravi, I am clear about my path. I do not want to go to the US, get a green card and settle there! When I look at young energetic directors of companies, I feel that we can stay in our own country, work hard and achieve excellence. There is no shortcut to success. Hard work and belief in oneself can take one to any position. What about you?’

  ‘Well, you know I got a scholarship to go to the University of Pennsylvania for the winter term. So I am planning to go to the US by end December or early January. I have to go to the US and earn more money. I have two sisters to be married off . . . That reminds me, Shrikant, when are you getting married?’

  ‘How did you guess that?’

  ‘I didn’t guess, I knew! A girl who writes to you so regularly ought to be more than a friend. I also know who she is. But Shrikant, how will you tell your people? A big battle might start.’

  Ravi was aware of the family feud.

  ‘Ravi, I know you are not only an engineer but also a good psychology student. You have found out our secret. I do not know when I chose Shrimati to be my wife, but unconsciously, I knew that she was the only girl I could marry. You tell me why.’

  ‘Maybe because we used to tease both of you during our schooldays! When is the wedding and where is it?’

  ‘Oh, it’s going to be a simple ceremony at a temple and you must attend.’

  ‘Certainly I will.’

  Shrikant got completely immersed in his own world. He had to work and learn like the legendary Ekalavya, with single-minded devotion and perseverance. Ekalavya was a great student, he excelled in archery not with the help of a teacher, but by observing and practising with the determination to succeed. Shrikant felt that he too had to perfect his art, not giving up his ambition in life or the desire to excel.

  TWELVE

  It is one of the ironies of life that the person who is dearest to you often hurts you the most!

  For two days Gangakka had not talked to her son. The silence was dreadful. The silence that comes from peace is so different compared to the silence that comes out of sorrow. She was devastated. Her only son Shrikant, on whom she had pinned so much hope, had suddenly become her enemy. The shock he had given her was like a bombshell. How could he have decided to marry that girl Shrimati?

  Shrimati was hardly ten months younger to her son, ordinary looking, without money and, more than anything, her enemy’s daughter! How would she face people? What would they say? They would make fun of her. And the Desais, Sheenappa and Rama’s in-laws would mock her. Worse than that was the fact that her own son had gone to Rindakka’s house and begged for their daughter.

  Normally, a girl’s parents approached the boy’s people. Here it was the reverse!

  Gangakka knew there was no way she could stop this marriage. Her previous excuses, that the horoscopes did not match or that they belonged to different sects, would not affect Shrikant’s decision. Gangakka was so upset that she was not able to eat. She sobbed continuously. She had experienced this kind of sorrow for the first time after her husband’s death.

  Shrikant tried very hard to console her. ‘Avva, you have a wrong impression about Shrimati. She is a very nice, kind and bright girl. She will look after you very well. Please do not depend upon dowry. However much money you want, I will give you once I start earning. If you care for my happiness, please accept Shrimati as your daughter-in-law. I will be unhappy marrying anyone else.’

  ‘She is our enemy’s daughter!’

  ‘Avva, I am not marrying her grandmother. Have you ever found Shrimati or her mother fighting with you? Not even once probably. Then why this objection?’

  ‘They belong to the Vaishnava community.’

  ‘Avva, think of the outside world. You have not thought beyond Hubli-Dharwad. People marry from different countries. Ours would only be different sects of the same community, after all. Our languages, our food habits are all the same.’

  But Gangakka was not willing to listen to anything.

  Shrikant got frustrated and went out.

  Gangakka was sleeping on a mat on the floor. She looked like she was on strike. Rama came in. She was equally furious with her brother. Though she belonged to the younger generation, she was worse than Gangakka in her old-fashioned views. She even outdid her mother when it came to planning and scheming.

  As soon as Gangakka met her daughter, both of them broke down in each other’s arms. Rama tried to comfort her mother.

  ‘Avva, don’t cry and waste your energy. Your tears will not change his decision. If he has decided to marry her, then let us think of the other things. First of all, tell everybody that the girl is intelligent and smart, and that we have agreed to this marriage. Don’t ever tell them the real reason. Second, I know that you have kept money and some gold for his marriage. You need not give them to his wife. Third he has told you that he will look after you. You need not go and stay with him. Just tell him to send money every month.’ At these words, Gangakka was a little consoled.

  On the other side of the compound, in Shrimati’s house, her father and grandmother were also strongly opposed to the alliance. They felt there was nothing special about Shrikant. He had just got a job, was not yet properly settled and their Shrimati was any day more intelligent than him. Moreover, he was their enemy’s son.

  Despite these misgivings, Shrimati’s marriage to Shrikant took place on a rainy day in Shravan at the Someshwara temple in Atthikolla. Atthikolla was full of wild flowers and there was much greenery around. Among the very few people who attended the marriage, most of them were their classmates.

  Normally, wedding garlands are made of jasmine, rajanigandha or sevanthige. But for this wedding, the garlands were made of bakula flowers.

  Shrimati looked her usual self, only, she
was wearing a new cotton saree, green glass bangles and lots of bakula strings in her plait. She had the same enchanting smile that had captivated Shrikant, and prevented him from seeing any other girl.

  After the simple wedding ceremony was over, Ravi Patil shook hands with Shrikant and said, ‘Shrimati, today you are officially Shrimati Shrikant Deshpande. Our prophecy has come true.’

  Shrimati smiled, with a blush.

  THIRTEEN

  As expected, Shrimati was made to feel unwelcome in Gangakka’s house. Still, she wanted to win over her mother-in-law. So she tried to help her in the kitchen. But Gangakka made it clear that the kitchen was her domain and she didn’t want Shrimati to enter it.

  She would say, ‘You have just married. You do not know our customs. So please don’t bother about cooking.’

  Within a week, Shrimati got bored. When she went to her house, her grandmother would ask her innumerable questions, ‘Shrimati, what did your mother-in-law give you in marriage? I saw her in a saree shop the other day. Did she get you a saree?’

  Shrimati could not answer any of her queries.

  When Shrikant was there, Gangakka would be cordial but when he went out she would show her true colours by saying hurtful things to Shrimati.

  ‘I really don’t understand your customs. You call Shrikant by his first name and that too in a short form. We believe that if you address your husband by his name, you shorten his lifespan. Your mother should have taught you all these manners. There is a saying, The quality of the saree depends on its thread and the nature of a daughter depends on her mother’s.’

  In the previous generations, when the husband was usually older than the wife, he would not be addressed by name. But Shrikant was only ten months older than Shrimati. Besides, they had grown up together. So it was hard for Shrimati to change. Whenever she tried, Shrikant would not allow it, saying, ‘Shrimati, get out of that old custom! When I can call you by your first name, you should also be able to do the same. First, we were good friends and now, I have become your husband. That’s all.’