"I don’t think there will be any hitch."
"If there is, no greater misfortune could happen to us."
"I have no doubt about it. It’s sure to come off."
"I haven’t any doubt either. Indulekha is not so stupid."
"Well, we shall know all about it soon. I am quite sure that Indulekha will consent without the least hesitation. Go and talk to her, quick, and find out what she thinks. Then we shall know something about it," said Panchu Menon, and his wife accordingly promised to go at once to Indulekha.
Chapter 10
As soon as Panchu Menon had finished his meals, Kunji Kutti Amma went to Indulekha’s room, where she was found seated in the recess of a window working at a cap. On seeing her grandmother, Indulekha rose to meet her and the old lady, embracing her tenderly, kissed her on the head.
"My child," she said, "may all happiness be yours! Did you see the grand procession"
"What does it all mean?" asked Indulekha. "Is there any feast at the temple today? If there is, why did you not call me, grandma? How many elephants were there? How was it I didn’t hear any music?"
"There is nothing going on at the temple, my dear,", replied Kunji Kutti Amma. "It is the Nambudiripad who has arrived."
The brightness of Indulekha’s face was dimmed as she extricated herself from her grandmother’s embrace and said "I did not see him."
"What!" said Kunji Kutti Amma, "didn’t .you hear all the noise they made?"
"What noise?" asked Indulekha. "I did not hear anything. "
"No, my dear," said her grandmother. "How could you when you sit up here with the door shut, doing tailor’s work?"
"But you ought to see the Nambudiripad, He is such a handsome man. His clothes and dress are just a mass of gold. I am sixty years old, my dear, and I have never seen anyone like him yet. He has gone to breakfast, and will come as soon as he has finished, and thinks of coming up here to see you. Cherusheri Nambudiri, who was here the other day, has come too and even he hesitates to sit down in the Nambudiripad’s presence. I can’t describe the state in which the Nambudiripad lives. Why even the elephant’s chains at his place are made of gold! Everything up here must be very spick and span when he comes."
"I never keep my room untidy, grandma’," said Indulekha. "Why should he take the trouble to come up here? And why should so great a man wish to see me?"
"For what other reason should he have condescended to visit our house, my child?" replied Kunji Kutti Amma. "He has come just because he had heard of you. Mind, you must be very polite in speaking to him. I have been anxious for ever so long to see my grand daughter make a splendid match, and now I have the chance of getting my wish. You will never have such a stroke of luck again, my dear. When a woman is beautiful and clever, she must do some good to her family. She ought to make a good match. Money, my dear, money is the great thing. There is nothing better than money. I was very good-looking when I was a girl, and a lot of handsome young fellows wanted to marry me, but my father and mother would not consent. At last they gave me to your grandfather, and it was through me that my family got some money. We get quite enough to live upon comfortably, my dear. Now Lakshmi Kutti was unfortunate. If your father had only lived a little longer, we should have been one of the richest families of the day. But luck was against us, so what could we do? The girls of our family have always been attractive, but none of them has ever yet been so attractive as you, my child. No one in our family has ever made so good a match as this one of yours. This is why I said that you are in luck."
"What?" exclaimed Indulekha. "You speak as if I were already mated with the Nambudiripad. Pardon me if I was not aware of it."
"The match is as good as made," replied Kunji Kutti Amma. "Do you think that when a great man like this comes here expressly for you, he will go away without getting you? What bee have you got in your bonnet now, my dear? If the Nambudiripad isn’t good enough for you I wonder who is?"
"Quite true, grandmother," said Indulekha, "all you say is very true, but let me lie down and sleep a little."
"Don’t sleep in the day my dear," said Kunji Kutti Amma. "Let me get you the emerald necklace and the big round ear-rings set with jewels. When the Nambudiripad comes up here, you must wear them all for him to see. I’ll make haste and bring them."
"No thank you, grandmother," said Indulekha. "I am not going to put on my ornaments; indeed, I’m not. I must sleep a little."
"Well, my dear," replied her, grandmother, "It doesn’t really matter whether you wear them or not. You don’t require any adornment, but when the Nambudiripad comes you must look pleased and welcome him, and make great friends with him."
With these words Kunji Kutti Amma went downstairs, and immediately after she had gone, Lakshmi Kutti Amma entered Indulekha’s room. Indulekha looked lovingly into her mother’s face and smiled, while Lakshmi Kutti Amma said:
"The Nambudiripad arrived in great pomp. It seems to me that he is a great fool. I fancy he will come up here."
"Let him come," replied lndulekha.
"He will propose an alliance," said Lakshmi Kutti Amma.
"With whom?" asked lndulekha.
"With you."
"What? as soon as he comes up?"
"Lakshmi Kutti Amma laughed and said, "As soon as he comes up? I dare say he will."
"Then if he does," answered Indulekha, "my maid Ammu will give him his answer."
"It would be great fun," said her mother, "if Madhavan were here now."
On hearing Madhavan’s name pronounced, lndulekha’s face visibly changed and clouded over. "Oho, my daughter," said Lakshmi Kutti Amma, "it is very clear that your heart is in Madras, and you don’t at all like staying behind; never mind, my dear, God will make it all come right very soon."
"There is nothing much to make me sad, mother," replied Indulekha, "but there is no news from Madras, is there? "
"Govindan Kutty didn’t tell me anything particular," answered Lakshmi Kutti Amma.
"Has Cherusheri Nambudiri come?" asked Indulekha.
"Yes, he has gone to breakfast with the rest; well, I must go. You had better get ready for your bout with the Nambudiripad," said Lakshmi Kutti Amma, as she descended the stairs.
Indulekha was greatly pleased to hear that Cherusheri Nambudiripad had come, because although her acquaintance with him was brief, both she and Madhavan fully appreciated his kindness and shrewd good sense. But Madhavan had been with her when she saw Cherusherri Nambudiri, and she knew that the Nambudiri was not only well aware of the relation in which she was about to stand to Madhavan, but also rejoiced at the prospect. At the same time, however, it was impossible for the Nambudiri to be ignorant of the object which the Nambudiripad had in view, and she had, therefore, felt uneasy in the thought that he must inevitably regard her with a certain degree of contempt. But now she comforted herself with the assurance that when he saw the failure of the Nambudiripad’s purpose, he would cease to despise her, and entering her private apartment she composed herself to sleep, but only a few minutes had elapsed when she saw her maid Ammu entering with a letter.
"What’s the matter, Ammu ! what is it?" she asked.
"Here is a letter, Miss," replied the servant. "It is from Madras. Master Govindan Kutti Menon brought it here, and asked me to give it to you," With these words she handed the letter to Indulekha, who took it with some agitation and rose to read it. There were in fact two letters, one of which was open, and, being translated, ran as follows:
"At eight o’clock on the evening you started, my dear Govindan Kutti, I got a letter from Mr. Gilham telling me that I had been appointed to the post in the Secretariat, and I entered on my duties today. I hope you and all are well. I will get a week’s leave and start by train the third or fourth day after this and come to you. Please give the enclosed letters to my father and Madhavi."
It would be difficult to describe the joy which thrilled Indulekha’s frame when she read this news. Her eyes overflowed with tears of joy, and th
en tearing open the letter addressed to herself she devoured its contents. These I have no intention of making public, and I had determined at first not to record the outburst of feeling in which Indulekha indulged when she had made an end of reading. But on further consideration, it seemed to me that I should not suppress any facts in my story on account of the affection I feel for my heroine. Hence I must chronicle the fact that she kissed Madhavan’s letter passionately three or four times after she had read it. Then taking out her keys, she locked up both letters in her desk, and coming out of her room sent Govindan Kutti Menon an invitation to tea. Ammu went in search of Govindan Kutti Menon to his room, and returned with the answer that he would come.
Lakshmi Kutti Amma had heard with great joy from Govindan Kutti Menon the news of Madhavan’s appointment, and went upstairs to see lndulekha. There her joy was intensified by the sight of Indulekha’s happiness, and she exclaimed: "We have won the day, you see, we have won."
"Thank Heaven for granting this appointment so soon," said lndulekha.
"But what about the oath?" suggested Lakshmi Kutti Amma.
"Let it pass," replied lndulekha. "I will go to Madras at once, mother. You won’t object, mother?"
"I should never, object to your going anywhere with Madhavan, my daughter. Poor souls, you have been tormented quite long enough. All I am afraid of is that my father will be angry."
"Don’t distress yourself about that, mother dear," said lndulekha. "Grandfather is really very easily brought round and is very fond of me. If I fall at his feet and implore him with tears, he will not refuse me anything I ask in reason. I am quite sure of that."
While Indulekha and her mother were talking, Madhavan’s mother, Parvathi Amma, came into the room and said, "Is this true, my dear? Has Madhavan got an appointment ?"
"I have a letter from him saying he has," said lndulekha.
"We have to thank your good fortune for this. How quickly he got it, and what a good appointment it is! The only thing that distresses me is that Madhavan will have to live in Madras after this," said Parvathi Amma.
"He won’t have to stay there long," replied Indulekha. "It is very likely that he will get some big appointment directly, and come back to this part of the world."
"That will be very nice if he does," said Parvathi Amma. "May heaven have mercy! I have lived so long separated from my boy."
"But won’t you go to Madras and live there now?" asked Indulekha.
"What, I alone?" said Parvathi Amma.
"No, I will come too," answered Indulekha.
"Mercy on me! that would be delightful," said Parvathi Amma. "But then Madhavan has quarrelled with his great uncle-and all for nothing too! ".
"Never mind that," said Indulekha. "Will you come with me?"
"Bless me, child; may heaven only grant it. My son would want no greater happiness. But there is that quarrel in our way," said Parvathi Amma. As she was speaking Govindan Kutti Menon came upstairs, and Lakshimi Kutti Amma and Parvathi Amma went away. Govindan Kutti Menon was delighted when he saw the gladness in Indulekha’s face, and both remained silent for a time, till Govindan Kutti Menon said:
"Mind everything is ready to go to Madras, Indulekha. Madhavan writes that he will start tomorrow or the next day. Haven’t you seen his letter?"
lndulekha made no reply, but bent her face down, while her cheeks grew red and pale in turns, and she felt as though she were rocked on the waves of a sea of joy. But Govinda Kutti Menon, in the midst of all the happiness he felt, was somewhat oppressed by the thought of the oath his father had taken. He had not the slightest doubt that Madhavan would marry the girl and take her away with him, and hence experienced no anxiety as far as Indulekha was concerned, but reflected with some apprehension that troubles might arise, unless the old man his father were pacified and induced to give his consent.
At the same time, however, he did not permit any trace of gloom to appear either in his face or his words when he again spoke and asked Indulekha if she had not heard of the Nambudiripad’s arrival. Indulekha replied in the affirmative, and then Govinda Kutti Menon said, "My father spoke very reasonably indeed about this matter today, and I was much pleased."
"What did he say?" asked Indulekha.
"He said he would not push this alliance with the Nambudiripad against your wishes," answered Govinda Kutti Menon. "He told Kesavan Nambudiri and myself this decidedly. So, Indulekha, you need not torment yourself any more."
"If this is what grandfather means, what was the use of dragging the Nambudiripad here ?" said Indulekha.
"They wanted to find out if you would approve of him after you had seen him," replied Govindan Kutti Menon, who then went away to his own room. As he descended the stairs he said, "If you are going to write to Madras, close the letter and send it down. I will put it in mine."
It grieves me to the heart to make a laughing stock of Indulekha, but I am bound not to conceal anything in her history. Why, then, should a young lady, possessed of so much good sense, have displayed such signs of imbecility? I can only record that as soon as Govindan Kutti Menon had disappeared down the stairs, lndulekha opened her desk, pulled out her letter, read it, indulged in a series of fond, fantastic gestures, again locked up the letter in her desk and, unable in the excess of her joy, to lie, or sit, or stand, yielded herself to the current of a mighty river of ecstasy.
Govindan Kutti Menon having finished his letter for Madras, placed it on the table and started to visit Madhavan’s father. Govinda Panikkar was seated in the verandah of his house, and smiled when he saw Govindan Kutti Menon.
"Well, brother," said the latter, "did you see the great Nambudiripad arrive?"
It should be explained here in passing that Govindan Kutti Menon was in the habit of addressing Govinda Panikkar as brother.
In reply to his question, Govinda Panikkar said, "No, I only heard the palanquin bearers humming and shouting. I am off to the Polpai farm, as I don’t think it would be quite safe to stay here just now. Your father would probably send for me and consult me about this Nambudiripad match, and all the rest of it, and I couldn’t stand all the worry and bother. I shall stay at the farm today and tomorrow, and shan’t come back till the day after."
"I’ll come with you," said Govindan Kutti Menon, "I can’t bear the snobbishness of this Nambudiripad. I will come with you."
"Do," replied Govinda Panikkar, "but you must tell your father, or he will be in a rage with me about it afterwards."
Govindan Kutti Menon immediately sent a man home for his clothes and other things, and leaving a message to be given to his father in case the latter made enquiries about him, started with Govinda Panikkar for the Polpai farm.
Chapter 11
"What a grand show this is!" exclaimed Muthu in the eating-house. "Eh man! but I have never seen such a get up as the Nambudiripad’s. What a dress he had on! and what a cap! That shawl he had thrown over his gown must have been worth a thousand rupees! Lord of riches that he is! What a handsome fellow!"
"What made you think him handsome?" asked Sankara Sastri. "Wasit his face? why, I thought his face was just like that of a horse."
"You’re just a lump of envy," retorted Muthu. "The Nambudiripad’s face like that of a horse, indeed! Bless my stars, where can you have been standing when you saw him? I was quite close. I was almost touching his palanquin. The Nambudiripad is just the colour of gold, and there was a gold necklace round his neck. I never saw a necklace like it."
"Nonsense," broke in Subbukutti. "That wasn’t a necklace. It was a watch chain, and the watch hung somewhere down to his waist."
"I don’t care what his colour is, or how many necklaces he had on," said Sankara Sastri, "but his face is just like that of a horse."
"The Sastri must have gone crazy," remarked Manu. "We all think he is the handsomest man going. Don’t we, Sheenu? Subbukutti, what do you say? What do you all think?"
"What we all think is that he is a very handsome man," replied Subbukutti. "It do
es not matter a rap what you all think," said Sankara Sastri. "There can be no doubt he has got a face like a horse," "When is the wedding to come off? Do you know?" interposed a Brahmin pilgrim. "I heard it is tomorrow," replied Subbukutti.
"Who told you ‘!" asked Sankara Sastri.
"Oh! someone in the bathing ghat," said Subbukutti.
"He needn’t stop his pilgrimage for that," said Sankara Sastri aside.Then, aloud to the pilgrim, he said, "You can’t believe a word this fellow says. Just step over to the Brahmin refectory and find out." Another Brahmin then entered the eating-house and said, "The wedding comes off today. Four ann as will be given to the Brahmins all round, and the Nambudiries will get eight annas each."
"Who told you so?" asked Sankara Sastri.
"Some one at the bathing ghat," answered the Brahmin.
Sankara Sastri turned to the pilgrim and urged him to go and find out.
"But," said the pilgrim, "if it were coming off today, wouldn’t they be getting the feast ready for the Brahmins? It doesn’t look as if anything is being done."
"It won’t be today," said Sankara Sastri.
"Of course not," said Krishnan, the astrologer, "they have to compare horoscopes and all that sort of thing."
"What horoscope can beat money?" remarked Subbukutti. "Moneyis everything; money itself is the horoscope, so it must be all right."
"Well, we may get a little money," answered the astrologer. "I shouldn’t in the least mind declaring that everything is all right, and that the stars are wonderfully favourable. But what Nayar ever looks at a horoscope? The Nambudiripad has come just for a casual visit to a mistress. He has mistresses in a hundred different quarters."
"If that is his little game," said Sankara Sastri, "he had better lookout for some one else."
"Capital, capital," cried Subbukutti. "The Sastri, I hear, went to the little villa at Puvarangu the other day and read Sakuntalam and other books, and probably found out the young lady’s moral strength then. People who are learned in the Sastras are foolish sometimes like everyone else."
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