Jaipur had its distinct identity. It was known as “Pink City,” for everything in the landscape beginning with the palaces was pink. Jaipur was also famous for its high quality Rajput art, especially, its paintings, rugs and tapestry. Rana also had a special reason to include Jaipur in their itinerary. Jaipur was one of the breeding grounds of the beautiful bird peacock. He thought, good luck prevailing, he would show Keka not only flocks of peacocks, but also demonstrate the significance of her name that he elaborated to her soon after they began their romantic forays. On their way to Jaipur the sky was becoming increasingly gray. Khushwant said it might rain.
As they approached Jaipur, a few peacocks were visible on the roofs of the houses and trees. Gradually, more and more of them appeared on both sides of the road. Rana had seen peacocks on the trees and roofs in few areas of Delhi before, but Keka and her mother saw peacocks only in the zoo. So they were delighted to see so many of them just a few feet away from the car, showing no signs of concern even at the sight and sound of the cars and the people. However, the evening descended early due to overcast sky. Rain in Jaipur was few and far between in the winter months. Nevertheless, weather forecast for the next day was cloudy sky with occasional drizzles. Rana remained hopeful. Next morning, on the approach way to the City Palace they saw hordes of peacocks but mostly standing quietly as if in meditation.
Shortly, as they began the tour of the palaces, they saw in the court yard of the Mubarak Mahal, exactly as expected, a flock of peacock dancing with blown-up plumage, accompanied by the musical intonation resonating “Keka.” Nothing was more thrilling to Keka at that time. She stopped there for a long time watching her now favorite bird. In the early afternoon the cloud disappeared and the sky became brilliant blue again. They took the opportunity to visit the Rambagh Palace that had been built on a 27–acre land. It had a very elegant and eye-pleasing architecture and lot of greeneries. From outside it looked plain and simple, but inside its original pomp and splendor showed up strikingly. Guide Khushwant informed them that the palace would soon be converted into a hotel. Hearing this Keka cooed to him, “Next time we come to visit Jaipur, we will stay here.”
Rana said, “If that is what you wish, it is already granted.”
Next stop was Amber Fort, which was the original citadel of power of the Sisodia rulers before Maharana Jai Singh. The capital was moved due to increasing traffic and shortage of water. Like most of the Rajput edifices Amber fort also looked rugged and frugal from outside. However, inside it was full of ostentation and splendor as in Mughal palaces. It was not just a fort, but a palace fort. Last but not the least in the itinerary was the Garden of the Sisodia Queen. This was another well-guarded Rajput secret. It had an astonishing collection of plants and flowers grown in an arid area. The garden brought relief to their eyes from an unbroken monotony of the desert gray.
Finally, as planned on the way back from Udaipur, on Saturday evening Khushwant took them to the Red Fort in Delhi to see the Son-et-Lumiere show. It was a beautifully choreographed show in sound and light on the Indian history. A student of history, it was a good education for Keka. Her mother said no one visiting Delhi should miss this show.
Salad days do not last long. The much awaited sojourn of Keka accompanied by her beau came to a conclusion. It was a quality time well spent. The trip was packed with everything it was designed for and more—lots of romance, plenty of sight-seeing and an extensive trudge through the boulevards of history. But most of all, the trip was tradition-shattering. A bubbling young woman was not supposed to go on a trip like that, staying under the same roof with her beau before marriage, even though chaperoned by her mother. Nonetheless, Rana and Keka were destined to lead the parting with the anachronistic traditions.
Now it was time for Keka and Mita to return home and Rana to resume his training. With the departure time approaching fast, Keka became emotional again. She began sobbing intermittently. Rana consoled her that he would also follow her in four weeks. He said that nine weeks of his thirteen week training were already behind them, balance four weeks also would pass without batting an eyelid. Keka made him promise that on the ultimate day of training he would take the evening flight back to Calcutta and not tarry a second longer. Rana doubly assured her that his love for her was unflinching and he was not going to stray away.
Keka and her mother were scheduled to return by a fast vestibule train. As the train began drawing out of the station slowly, Rana walked a few steps with it, locking his eyes with those of Keka’s, tears overflowing her eyes drop by drop. They kept on staring at each other as long as his steps could keep up with the increasingly speeding train. In a few moments, they could not see each other any more. Rana stood at the extreme edge of the platform, straining his eyes to have a last glimpse, his mental eyes still locked into Keka’s dripping eyes. The train turned the bend and gradually disappeared out of his sight.
Rana resumed his training with renewed vigor and energy, workiing extra hours, learning much more than the training required. He submerged into training and more training. When the activity is at its peak, days seem to fly by. So before he was aware four weeks just whisked away. The Training Director was very happy with his work. In addition to his usual official report he also wrote a personal note to his OM. At the farewell dinner on the penultimate evening, the Certificate of Completion and a few mementoes were handed out to the participants. On the last morning, which was a Friday, the course was wrapped up with some concluding remarks by the CEO of the bank in the Asia-Pacific Region. After lunch there was no more work, only exchange of pleasantries with the Faculty and their staff who made the training successful.
Rana did not have to wait for the evening flight back to Calcutta. Khushwant booked him on a mid-afternoon flight and remained with him till the departure of the flight. However, since Rana used to derive immense pleasure in giving surprises to Keka, he did not call her from Delhi to advise her that he would be arriving by an earlier flight than the one originally scheduled. By the time his flight arrived at the Calcutta Airport, it was about 4:00 PM. Before the luggage was hauled to the delivery ramp he called Keka. She thought he was calling from Delhi just to confirm that he would be leaving Delhi by the evening flight. She appeared to be very ebullient on the phone.
Hearing his voice on the telephone she said, “So you are coming tonight. I guess we will meet tomorrow morning.” Taking Rana’s answer for granted, she asked again, “How did the training go?”
Rana answered, “Well, that is the problem. Since I took one week’s vacation, the Training Director said my training was not complete. Consequently, he extended my training for another week.”
No sooner did he finish these words, than a storm started blowing on the telephone. Keka became hysterical. She began screaming on the telephone, “So you are calling to tell me you will come after a week. You knew it before, but you did not tell me. Your words have no value whatsoever. You have already begun to treat me like a doormat.” She ended up sobbing.
Rana allowed the storm to blow over. Then he quietly said, “Keka, you did not allow me to finish my words. At my request the Training Manager agreed that I could complete my last week’s training in Calcutta. And, by the way, I am calling you not from Delhi, but from the Calcutta Airport.”
Between her sobs she asked, “Are you joking with me?”
Rana answered, “I am dead serious. The problem is your mind. It is vitiated with suspicion. You do not trust me any more.”
By that time it was difficult to make out if Keka was crying or laughing. Between her sobs and laughs she asked, “Will you see me tomorrow morning?”
He replied, “No, I will see you this evening, if you don’t mind.”
Once again, in a state between sobbing and laughing, she said, “You promise?”
He said, “Before I promise anything you have to tell me if you are crying or laughing.”
She laughed and said, “You are a naughty boy, always fooling around me.”
/> Rana laughed and asked, “Keka, will you be happy if I fool around some other woman?”
Keka mimicked his words distortedly.
Rana said, “If you really want to see me this evening, you have to let me go now. I have to pick up my luggage.” So they ended the call in anticipation of meeting sooner.
The nature of love is this. In its obsessiveness to put a leash on the object of love, it always ends up placing the cart before the horse in the context of a dialogue only to suffer a self-inflicted wound.
In the evening, Rana went to see Keka as promised. She was waiting in high spirits. She was actually humming for the arrival of her beau. She decided not to give any clue to her mother Mita. She wanted to give her a pleasant surprise as Rana keeps giving surprises to her. So with the intention of greeting him first when he enters the house, Keka kept herself unusually busy in the kitchen and the drawing room for no reason whatsoever. However, no one, who wished to hoodwink one’s own mother, was born yet. The mother in Mita could clearly see through her intentions. She innocuously asked Keka, “Have you heard from Rana yet? Is he coming this weekend?”
Keka replied, “I have no idea.”
Mita said, “I think you are waiting for him. He may come any moment now.”
Keka asked, “Why? Did he call you?”
Mita smiled and said, “No, he did not call me. He might have called you and said he was coming. Otherwise, what are you doing in the kitchen and the drawing room?”
Keka knew she was caught red-handed. She said, “Ma, you are too clever to be duped. I thought I would pull a surprise on you.”
At that moment the mother and daughter saw Rana walking in and both burst into laughter. Rana asked, “Can I share in your celebration?”
Mita said, “You will live long. We were discussing about you. Keka did not tell me that you have already returned from Delhi. She wanted to give me a surprise.”
Rana immediately made out what transpired between the mother and daughter, but refrained from commenting anything about his earlier phone call to avoid causing further embarrassment to Keka.
Mita asked her daughter to take Rana upstairs. But before they began climbing up the stairs she asked him, “Rana why don’t you take dinner with us?”
Rana said, “You have to excuse me tonight. I have come back after a long time. My grandma would be waiting for me.”
Mita said, “I understand. Then make it tomorrow.”
Rana said, “Okay, that would be fine with me.”
Entering into Keka’s room Rana pelted her with a kiss and asked, “I hope you are relieved now.”
Keka did not stop smiling since Rana came in. She replied, “Yes, you are usually a naughty boy, but right now you are decent.”
Rana asked, “Why? Is this because I have come earlier?”
Keka laughed but did not respond to that. With a little pause she said, “In a sense, this imposed separation was good. It helped me to better understand our commitments to each other.”
Rana asked, “Is that positive or negative?”
Keka smiled and said, “I am not going to elaborate on it further lest your chest swells up in pride.”
Rana asked, “Why did you become so jittery before I left? Did you think I would stray away?”
Keka said, “I realize very well that you are one of the most eligible bachelors. You are good-looking. You have an Honor degree and a promising job with one of the largest companies in the world. When there is a long separation like this, it may naturally occur that the one out of sight might as well be out of mind, for there are so many beautiful girls waiting to be courted in a place like Delhi.”
Rana laughed and said, “Keka, my sweet love, it was so honest of you to articulate your true feelings. However, the only thing I can say is that love is no love if one cannot rise above those flimsy temptations. I may also add that Love is worth nothing unless it is wrapped around trust. I only hope this incident has taught you lesson enough to trust me now.”
Keka said, “Yes, good boy.”
Rana said, “I have not seen the sign of trust yet.”
Keka said, “I know how you will see the sign of trust.” Saying this she put her two arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
At that time they heard Mita’s voice, “Keka dear, your grandpa is here. He would like to say hello to Rana.”
Rana said to Keka, “You too come with me. On seeing your grandpa I have to leave. My grandma must be waiting for me. I will come back tomorrow at 4:00 PM. We will go out wherever you want to and come back in time for dinner. How does that sound?”
Keka said ebulliently, “Sounds sweet to me.”
After a pleasant weekend with Keka, Rana went back to his work. He was greeted with greater respect and admiration by his colleagues. As it happens in the corporate world under similar circumstances, grapevine was buzzing with rumors that Rana would soon move up the corporate ladder. The grapevine is not always without a grain of truth. The confirmation came in a week. An official announcement was made that with immediate effect Rana would take over the responsibility of the Treasury Manager.
The news brought a little stir and joy in both the families. For promotions of that nature in such a short period on the job was unheard off in the Indian and European Companies. No one was happier than Rajani. She started telling the friends and family, “Now you see, I told you Rana would be on top of everyone. You did not trust me.”
And it gave some ammunition to Mita. She exhorted her daughter, “Didn’t I tell you, if there is no pain, there is no gain? As a result of your undergoing the pain, you will enjoy the gain now, no one else. I hope you will keep that in mind for the future.”
A newly enlightened Keka told her mother endearingly, “Ma, don’t forget, only because I raised the furor, both you and I have been able to see the Tajmahal.”
The mother and daughter laughed loudly at that and hugged each other adoringly.
Nothing comes easy in the River of Life. Whatever is acquired without toil and tear slips through the loosened grips in no time, as little value is attached to it. By the same token, whatever is achieved with pain and perseverance stays with one forever as a prized possession. Nevertheless, the River of Life carries with it both the hard earned achievement and unearned privilege for its sights are set unwaveringly to its far away destiny, the ever retreating Eternity.
MARRIAGE
Repetition is a cardinal truth in the River of Life. As the Morning Star heralds the sun to rule the vast sky everyday, so too does the Evening Star stand guard to each twinkling night. Once a month, the full moon illuminates the mother earth with its celestial glow without exception. Anniversaries keep coming at regular intervals imperceptibly just to remind us of the passage of the seasonless time. The River of Life flows on in its relentless pursuit of its nimble destiny, the ever eluding Eternity.
Keka’s final exam for her Bachelor of Arts degree was merely six months away. She was now a mature woman of twenty-one. Age and education brought a sea of change in her personality. She became more confident of herself and less overwhelmed by the perceived obstacles. Rana became twenty-five. He was just promoted as the Divisional Manager of his bank. According to the corporate grapevine he would probably be transferred out of his home base Calcutta within a short period.
With treatment and diet Rajani’s blood pressure and diabetes were kept under control. But at seventy-eight, her vision was getting dimmer and she was subjected to increasing frailty. At sixty-eight, Attorney Ramnath Basu was undergoing treatment for his heart murmur. Consequently, he began the process of slowing down and passing on the helms of his law firm to his son Sudhir. Considering the pros and cons, the two families decided that the time was ripe for formalizing the marriage between Rana and Keka. To that end, the first and foremost step was to solemnize the engagement between the two and determine a date for wedding. Things were moving swiftly but smoothly, thanks to the profound respect and rapport between Rajani and Ramnath.
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The date of engagement was set. Traditionally, the engagement ceremony used to be hosted by the bride’s family. In an overwhelming majority of cases the engagement ceremony happened to be very tense, tight-lipped and tip-toed occasion. The reason was even intriguing. Apart from binding the engagement and setting the date of wedding, the families would also negotiate in details the dowry that the bride’s family was obliged to give to the groom along with their daughter. Many potential marriages, otherwise thought to be perfect match, ended up in battles of attrition over seemingly insignificant articles relating to the dowry. Until then and even thereafter the dowry system was the bane of the society. Brides coming from the families of lesser means had to suffer untold mental agony in silence for the rest of their lives if dowry was not up to the satisfaction of the groom and his family. However, in the engagement of Rana and Keka there was another indication of the wind of change in the anachronistic society. Rajani had already advised Ramnath that there won’t be any discussion on dowry because the Roy family was averse to that unjust system.
The setting of the date of engagement brought life to the two families especially, to the two central figures to that engagement. There was no escape from the aura of festivity at Keka’s home. She was the only daughter of the family. They wanted to equip Keka with the gifts that would help her launch her new life with ease and comfort. They geared their efforts to make her genuinely happy. Festivity, however, did not appear to be so high strung in the Roy family residence. For one, Amit and Monika never exchanged ideas and opinions about their son’s happiness. They kept their feelings to themselves. For other, Monika never thought she was part of the “inner circle” in the decision making process. Cold war was still raging between the two.
A Bend in the River of Life Page 12