Indulekha

by O. Chandu Menon

  "It would be a very good thing if your reverence would tell master so," said Govindan. Cherusheri hastened to the Nambudiripad’s apartments and found him standing there, making great preparations.

  A dozen or more of costly robes, edged with gold and silver lace, some score of silk-bordered cloths, a number of rings of various kinds, a rare vase of pure solid silver inlaid with gold, a small gold tube for carrying betel leaf, a silver pitcher and a lamp of the same material, a silver box for holding arecanut, a gold watch and chain to be worn round the neck like a garland, velvet robes with gold and silk embroidery, caps, a silver vessel containing the sandal for the sacred caste mark, a mirror mounted in gold, a golden rose-water spray, vials of attar of roses and other things lay piled up in confusion on a table. The Nambudiripad himself was hurrying excitedly here and there, room to room, like a cat in a cage, and screaming at the top of his voice for his attendants.

  "Here, Raghavan, Sankaran, Koman, Raman; confound it, the louts have gone to sleep; knaves that they are, not one of them even came to the play," he bawled, and he was in the midst of these vociferations and antics when Cherusheri Nambudiri came up to him.

  "Deuce take you, Cherusheri," he cried, "a nice sort of steward you would make! We must start now, I say. What are you talking about? Nonsense, you will have plenty of time to sleep after we get there."

  "What on earth are you about, Nambudiri?" asked Cherusheri. "It will be a terrible job getting over eighteen or twenty miles of bad road in the middle of the night. I thought you had decided to start after daybreak."

  "Just like you, Cherusheri!" retorted Nambudiripad. "It does not matter how well I arrange matters, but you always make a mess of them. I tell you we must start now, this moment. You can go to sleep in your litter, can’t you? As to the distance, that’s the bearers’ look out, and we’ll have four men with big torches. We must start now, that I am determined on."

  Cherusheri Nambudiri was very reluctant to make a start then. Besides several hills, two rivers had to be crossed on the way, but it seemed to him that there would be no use in representing this to the mountebank he had to deal with.

  He cast about in his mind, therefore, for some stratagem by which this night expedition could be stopped and suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him. Mentally resolving that he would not allow the puppet of a Nambudiripad to set forth that night, he professed himself ready to start at once as desired.

  The Nambudiripad was delighted, and the uproar and confusion waxed greater than ever. There was the noise of the drums from the court yard where the play was going on, and servants and managers, shouting and calling to each other with little chance of hearing an answer, rushed hither and thither, to and fro, making preparations for the journey, and altogether a spectator might well have supposed that the house was on fire.

  In the midst of this turmoil, Cherusheri Nambudiri approached the table in order to look at the choice articles placed on it. The Nambudiripad was greatly pleased at this, because he always liked to hear his dresses and jewels and nicknacks admired and praised. "Ah, Cherusheri!" he said, "just look at this silver betel-box. I don’t think you have seen it before."

  Cherusheri had seen it hundreds of times, but nevertheless he said, "I don’t remember seeing it well. It is beautiful work; was it made here?"

  As a matter of fact the box had been made by a silver smith in the neighbourhood, and Cherusheri knew it, but he put the question thinking it would gratify the Nambudiripad, who replied; "No, it wasn’t made here. There is no one here who can do work like this. It was a Motala of Mysore who gave it to me when I rented out the forest to him."

  "A Motala of Mysore?" repeated Cherusheri dubiously.

  "Yes, a Motala,’ answered the Nambudiripad" that is what they call him."

  "Possibly they mean Mudaliar," said Cherusheri.

  "Or it may be Mussaliar," said the Nambudiripad. "But take a look at that robe on the top there. It is a very fine one, and was made at the place they call Benkras. It cost a lot of money. A gentleman named Mark Loud had it made to order, and sent it to me as a present when he got the lease of the cardamom hills."

  Cherusheri took up the cloth and looked at it with the greatest admiration.

  "Where did you say they make this kind of cloth?" he asked.

  "In a country called Benkras," said the Nambudiripad.

  "I wonder where that is," said Cherusheri.

  "It is another ten thousand miles beyond England to the southwest, they say," replied the Nambudiripad, "and Mark Loud told me that they have daylight there for six months and night for six months."

  Cherusheri laid down the cloth, and taking up the goldmounted mirror tenderly, seemed lost in wonder over it.

  "Ah! that," said the Nambudiripad, " that was a gift to me from the Raja of Cochin during the Pooram festival at Trichur last year."

  Now Cherusheri was quite aware of the fact that the Nambudiripad had not been to the festival last year, but all he said, as he laid the mirror down, was, "This is a truly wonderful glass." Then stroking his chin with his hand, he smiled.

  "What are you smiling at, Cherusheri"? asked the Nambudiripad.

  "Nothing particular," replied Cherusheri.

  "Come, out with it, tell me, tell me," pressed the Nambudiripad.

  "There is really nothing worth telling," said Cherusheri. "It only occurred to me that I ought to have got shaved yesterday and didn’t. But it is not a matter to think about now with this journey before us. It is for Indulekha’s consort to set forth clean shaved and smart; but what does it signify about his escort? That was all I was thinking of when I laughed."

  As compared with Cherusheri, it was much longer since the Nambudiripad had been shaved, and his chin was covered with stubble, which showed white patches here and there. Cherusheri had purposely drawn attention to the fact, and the Nambudiripad, seizing the glass, looked at himself in it.

  "Good gracious!" he exclaimed, "what a fool I am! It is well you reminded me, Cherusheri, or I should have made a terrible mistake, and confound it all, the hairs are white, too. Ah! Cherusheri, I am an old man."

  "No, no; that is the one point I cannot admit," said Cherusheri.

  "But at any rate I must get shaved," said the Nambudiripad.

  "That’s as you think fit," said Cherusheri.

  "Supposing I have it done by lamplight at once." suggested Nambudiripad.

  "That seems to me to be quite out of the question. It is quite against all sacred rules to be shaved at night, and especially when you are starting on such an auspicious business as this. It would be better to go unshaved."

  "Impossible," cried the Nambudiripad, "but I think I might be shaved at dawn. Then, can I start without bathing after being shaved ?"

  "Certainly not’’’ said Cherusheri.

  "Then we will start after my bath."

  "In that case you may as well wait for breakfast."

  "Well, it must be so."

  "In that case let me make all the arrangements," said Cherusheri Nambudiri, as, overjoyed at his success, he descended the stairs, while the Nambudiripad went away somewhat crest-fallen to his room to sleep.

  In accordance with the latest arrangement, the Nambudripad and Cherusheri, having breakfasted, set forth with their retinue at about half-past eight o’clock the next morning.

  As Panchu Menon and Kesavan Nambudiri had been given to understand that the Nambudiripad would arrive in time for his bath, they again made elaborate preparations for his’ breakfast and waited for him, without bathing themselves, until nearly 12 o’clock.

  At last Panchu Menon lost all patience and said, "What does your reverence think of this business? I’m off to bathe. It seems to me that the Nambudiripad is a capricious type" "Hush, hush!" said Kesavan Nambudiri, "I’ve never met such a reliable man. If you only knew the real state of his affairs, you wouldn’t speak so of him. Why, bless my soul! just think what a lot he has to do ! You can’t have any idea until you go and see his place. He has to
look after the forest produce, the elephants, the collection of rent, the renewal of leases, and a host of other things. Great heaven! there isn’t a single other man who could do all this! Recently he has even had an elephant’s chain made out of gold. It’s really a very fine thing."

  "What?" exclaimed Panchu Menon, "of solid gold?" "Of solid gold," repeated Kesavan Nambudiri.

  "He must be enormously rich," observed Panchu Menon.

  "Indeed he is," said Kesavan Nambudiri.

  "I am not at all sure that the girl won’t make fools of us all," said Panchu Menon.

  "Don’t worry yourself about that," replied Kesavan Nambudiri. "Just let Indulekha talk to him for half an hour and she will herself urge us to finish the business."

  "Very good, very good, then there is no danger," said Panchu Menon. "Very good, but it is only when I hear your reverence speak like this that I feel happy. Very good, I say again. I will now go and bathe, but it would be better if your reverence waited here a little longer."

  To this Kesavan Nambudiri agreed, and his words reassured Panchu Menon greatly. "Let her talk to the Nambudiripad for half an hour, and she will make him her consort, is it?" thought the latter to himself on his way to the bath. "Very good, indeed, very good. This is an excellent plan, and I am not responsible for anything. Both Kesavan Nambudiri and I agreed in thinking that this ought to be done. The girl is obstinate, but Kesavan Nambudiri is certain that all her obstinacy will vanish at the sight of the Nambudiripad, and this is why he wrote. Let the Nambudiripad overcome her obstinacy, and unite himself with her if he can. But if he fails, then I am not in any way answerable. I can only say that the Nambudiripad wasn’t a match for her stubbornness. What else can be said? The oath I took was not to give the girl to Madhavan, but I never swore I would give her to the Nambudiripad. If the Nambudiripad can win the day, then let him take her; but if not, then we must look out for another man. There is nothing else to be done."

  Having formed this satisfactory conclusion, he determined to explain the situation fully to Kesavan Nambudiri, and accordingly, after cleaning his teeth, retraced his steps to the verandah. There he found the Nambudiri champing his teeth with hunger.

  "How’s this?" asked the Nambudiri. "Why have you come back without bathing?"

  "Nothing, only I have something to say to you concerning the affair we were just talking of," replied Panchu Menon. "And I want particularly to say something to Govindan Kutty also."

  Here he called Govindan Kutty Menon to him and continued, "You will remember, my son, that I spoke to you yesterday about a certain alliance for Indulekha, and it is about this business that I wish to say something to Kesavan Nambudiri in your presence. I have sworn not to give Indulekha to Madhavan, but I have never said that I would give her to the Nambudiripad. As I have already told Kesavan Nambudiri, this alliance must take place only if Indulekha likes the Nambudiripad after she has seen him, and I am not the man to force the connection on her against her will. Therefore if nothing comes out of this affair, remember that I am not responsible to the Nambudiripad. This is what I have to say now, and I say it in the presence of my son."

  "I’ll be responsible for everything." said Kesavan Nambudiri, "only let the Nambudiripad come, and the thing is done, that’s how I feel about this."

  The old man was much relieved at hearing these words, and once more went away to bathe.

  Then Govindan Kutti Menon, addressing himself to the Nambudiri, said.

  "It is half-past one; why does your reverence stay here fasting like this?"

  "No matter no matter," said Kesavan Nambudiri. "He must be here soon. Hark! surely I heard bearers singing?"

  "Yes, that must be a palanquin," said Govindan Kutti Menon who thereupon entered the house.

  The scene of excitement which now ensued almost baffles description. The palanquin was carried by eight, and the litter by six, bearers, while the men who relieved them in turns ran beside them, and all had orders to chant in chorus. Fourteen of them had to echo and reecho the same note, while three or four who led the way chimed in with their Heigh Hu; Ho Ho; Heigh Hu. This peculiar chant was regarded as the especial prerogative to the Nambudiripad, and in this fashion the palanquin was borne with noisy pomp into the courtyard. Cherusheri Nambudiri sprang from his litter at the gate, but nevertheless the bearers insisted on carrying it into the courtyard, shouting their refrain. With the exception of lndulekha and Govindan Kutti Menon, all the inhabitants, young and old, of Panchu Menon’s family mansion and private residence came thronging out in full force as if for battle and, taking up their stations wherever they could and as best they could, gazed intently at the new arrivals. The windows and balconies swarmed with women, while their lords and masters neglecting the midday meal, hastily crowded into the verandah with Panchu Menon at their head to meet the distinguished guest, and Kesavan Nambudiri descended into the courtyard to receive him and assist him in alighting from the planquin. The courtyard itself was filled with the estate superintendents and servants; cooks and menials peeped through the kitchen windows and chinks in the wall, and maid servants, hiding themselves behind the plantain trees and garden hedge, strove to catch a sight of the pageant.

  All the itinerant Brahmins who had finished their repast and were taking a siesta in the rest-house started up at the commotion and the shouts which warned the vulgar herd to keep their distance.

  Running out and tying up their hair as they ran, they occupied in dense masses every available place even on the banks and steps of the tank. "Hallo! what is this? Who on earth is it? Are we in for an earthquake?" they cried, and in fact, all who lived round about Chembhazhiyot and Puvalli could not have been more madly excited if an earthquake had happened.

  As soon as the palanquin reached the courtyard, Kesavan Nambudiri opened its doors, and forthwith there leaped out of it a golden form. Its head was covered by a gold coloured cap, and its body was clad in a gold-coloured robe. Gold was the colour of its garments throughout, and on its feet were sabots studded with gold. Gold rings were on all the ten fingers, and, as though this were not enough, it was enveloped over the above the robe in a cloak all golden in colour, and carried in its hand a small golden mirror to be frequently consulted. There was gold, gold, nothing but gold to be seen, and as the Nambudiripad alighted from his palanquin in the glare of the midday sun, the rays of light which darted from him may be better imagined than described. Standing there, he seemed to be surrounded with a halo of golden gleams, and Panchu Menon thought to himself as soon as he saw the sight, "Ah, ha! Kesavan Nambudiri is right. lndulekha will run after him. There can’t be any doubt about it."

  As the Nambudiripad descended from the palanquin, the eyes of the bystanders were dazzled for a moment with the yellow glare of all this golden tinsel, and a silence fell on the crowd. Fully assured in his own mind that all were dumbfounded at the sight of his gorgeous attire, the Nambudiripad stood still for some seconds in the sunlight, though it cannot be said that he stood idle, because he cast two or three furtive glances upwards in his own peculiar manner, to see if Indulekha was anywhere in sight. Then Panchu Menon and Kesavan Nambudiri showed the way deferentially with their hands and conducted the golden puppet into verandah, where they installed him in a huge chair provided for the occasion.

  "I have heard of you, Panchu," began the Nambudiripad.

  "The honour you have done to your humble servant by coming here is due to his good luck," replied Panchu Menon.

  "Sit down, Karuthedam," said the Nambudiripad condescendingly. "Where is Cherusheri?"

  "Here I am," said Cherusheri.

  "Sit down, sit down. I don’t mind in the least," said the Nambudiripad. "Sit down, you may sit down."

  "I will," said Cherusheri.

  "Why don’t you sit down, Karuthedam? Be seated," said the Nambudiripad.

  "May I venture to ask what delayed the favour of your arrival," said Panchu Menon. "Perhaps your magnificence has not broken fast," "Oh yes, I have," said the Nambudiripad. "
Oh yes, early this morning. I was prevented by some business about my forests from starting as I intended, and I set out a little late after breakfast."

  Cherusheri laughed to himself as he wondered how the removal of the Nambudiripad’s beard could be a forest business, but Panchu Menon replied, "It occurred to your humble servant at the time that pressure of some business must have detained you."

  "Didn’t I say so?" exclaimed Kesavan Nambudiri.

  "I would suggest that your highness should bathe without further delay," said Panchu Menon. "It must have been very early when you did honour to your breakfast by eating it."

  "That is if there is nothing to detain you," interposed Kesavan Nambudiri.

  "O ho!" said the Nambudiripad, "I don’t think you’ve had your bath yet, Karuthedam.":

  "No," replied Kesavan Nambudiri.

  "Then let us go and bathe," said the Nambudiripad, and all sallied forth accordingly.

  While the Nambudiripad had been seated in the verandah, he had several times shot glances into the interior of the house, and had given one or two individuals in turn the credit of being Indulekha herself.

  When all had gone to bathe, Panchu Menon entered his house and, sitting down to breakfast, addressed his wife thus:

  "The Nambudiripad is a mighty man indeed."

  "J never saw anyone like him," replied Kunji Kutti Amma. "Her horoscope was perfectly cast. It has all fallen out exactly as that astrologer said. He said she would make a grand match immediately."

  "Did Indulekha see the Nambudiripad?. Was she downstairs ?"

  "No. She didn’t come down. She must have looked from her balcony upstairs."

  "Go and find out," said Panchu Menon. "did Lakshmi Kutty see him?"

  "Yes," replied his wife. "She was looking from inside with me for some time, and then went to her room."

  "It’s quite certain that the alliance will come off," said Panchu Menon.

  "If it doesn’t it will be our waning luck due to wrongs done in former generations," said Kunji Kutti Amma.