"Would you like to hear the verses I sent you yesterday? I’ll repeat them."
"No, thank you; pray don’t trouble yourself."
"No trouble at all. It’s a pleasant amusement to repeat verses."
"I not quite sure of that."
"That comes from learning English."
"Perhaps it does."
"It’s pretty clear that English destroys romance and stops all love-making."
"Quite so, that is very clear."
"Don’t you feel at all inclined that way, Indulekha?"
"I don’t quite think I do."
"Have you read the poem about Nala?"
"I have not."
"Isn’t it the poem about Nala that women must learn? I’ll repeat a verse,"
"No, thank you, please don’t trouble yourself for nothing."
"What nonsense this is! Why do you tell me not to trouble myself, whenever I think of repeating poetry."
"Lest it should be a trouble."
"I think jewelled ear-discs would suit you fine Indulekha. ?"
"Do you?"
"Have you any?"
"Not in my possession."
"I’ll have a pair made for you then. I have some lovely precious stones."
"There’s no reason and no occasion for you to have them made on my account."
"I came here because I got a letter."
"Did you?"
"Yes. Karuthedam wrote because Panchu told him to. That’s why I came."
"Really!"
"They wrote for me to come and make a match."
"With whom? With Kesavan Nambudiri?"
"Don’t be silly. You hurt my feelings."
"Very well."
"What’s that? Is it well if my feelings are hurt?"
"I did not say that."
"What is that big box there? I Is it a music box ?"
"Yes. "
"Let me hear what it’s like, will you?"
"Certainly," replied Indulekha, beginning to play the piano.
My readers will perceive that there was a marked difference in Indulekha’s manner on this day from her manner on the preceding day, when she had not gauged the Nambudiripad’s character and disposition so accurately as she had now. Yesterday her contempt and hatred of the man who had come in his arrogance to try and carry her off at one swoop knew no bounds, but today her feelings had changed. She knew that her grandfather had formed no good opinion of the Nambudiripad, and would not bring him to try his fortune with her again. Then she thought she would obtain from the Nambudiripad himself an admission that he had little or no hopes of winning her. Hence on the whole it now appeared to her that the episode would prove only a subject for mirth. But at the same time she felt some compassion for the Nambudiripad’s palpable weakness and instability of character, and at the end of their conversation, when his true qualities had been manifested, her thoughts were tinged with pity for a man so destitute of intellect and intelligence.
At the first sound of the piano, a crowd began to collect in the courtyard below the rooms, on the roads and round the banks of the tank, and some Brahmins and others essayed to go up to the room as usual to listen to the music. But Kesavan Nambudiri posted himself as a sentinel at the foot of the stairs, and sent them back with the intimation that no one was allowed up. Thus repulsed, they retreated to the steps of the bathing tank and railed at Kesavan Nambudiri.
"What harm would there be in going in broad daylight into the room where the happy pair are and listening to the music?" asked a Brahmin.
"The Nambudiripad wouldn’t like a third person," remarked a Nayar, "and we don’t want to offend him."
"How would it hurt the Nambudiripad if we went and heard lndulekha play ?"said another Brahmin.
"It’s the honeymoon, you see; probably that’s it, " observed a Nambudiri, and Sankara Sastri, who happened to be proceeding leisurely along the road to the temple from Govinda Panikkar’s house, heard the babel of remarks, and, also the notes of the piano from lndulekha’s room. He said nothing but passed on, and on his way asked for Govindan Kutty Menon. Being told that Govindan Kutty Menon had gone with Govinda Panikkar to the Polpai farm, he entered the temple, almost beside himself with grief, and resolved that he would return to his own part of the country that very day.
After lndulekha had played for some ten minutes, the Nambudiripad said:
"That’s enough. You’ll be tired. What a time your dear little hands can keep at it!"
Indulekha merely threw a contemptous glance at him, and the Nambudiripad called for his silver betel-case, and gold rosewater spray, and when they were brought said, "Just look at these, Indulekha, aren’t they pretty?"
Indulekha took them in her hand, and said they were very pretty.
"You may take them if you like," said the Nambudiripad.
"No, thank you. I don’t want them."
"Oh, you can take them, I don’t mind in the least."
"But I don’t want them, thank you."
"I shall never love any woman but you, Indulekha."
"So !"
"What? Do you admit that?"
"There is nothing for me to deny," answered Indulekha, and the Nambudiripad, smiling his broadest, jumped off his seat and executed a leap in the air.
"What is the meaning of this buffoonery?" asked Indulekha.
"Buffoonery! exclaimed the Nambudiripad, "why, I’m in luck’s way altogether. I feel inclined to dance. They said I wouldn’t succeed, did they? They said I wouldn’t get you, did they?"
"Enough of this nonsense," said Indulekha. "I will never be your wife as long as I live. If you choose to care for me, that is no fault of mine; but if you ever dare to speak to me again like this, I will never let you see me. Now I have other things to attend to," and with this she retired to her own apartment. The Nambudiripad completely baffled, hastened downstairs.
Until he had accomplished his descent, he felt inclined to think that he had been shockingly badly treated. But any idea of grievance was speedily banished by thoughts of Lakshmi Kutty Amma, which, however, immediately gave place to the recollection of the girl he had seen that morning. As soon as he reached the ground floor, he asked for Govindan, with whom he entered into intimate conversation.
"Well, Govindan," he asked, "have you settled everything ?"
"I haven’t spoken to anyone yet, my lord, I haven’t had a chance. I would suggest that your lordship should send for Panchu Menon, and do him the favour of talking to him a little about this business. Then I don’t think there will be any difficulty."
‘Well, go and call Panchu, then, and I’ll talk to him. The affair with Indulekha is all over, and there doesn’t seem to be any chance of my ever getting her."
"Good heavens, my lord! What insolence this is! I never heard of a woman being so impudent. I only pray that she may live to see Kaliyani going away in state with you tomorrow morning,"
"That’s capital. You’re a clever fellow, Govindan. Now go and call Panchu."
"I think it would be a good thing, my lord, if you went upstairs and waited there," said Govindan. "I will bring Panchu Menon there, and when he comes, neither Cherusheri nor Kesavan Nambudiri should be present. The matter must be kept secret."
Govindan then went in search of Panchu Menon, and the Nambudiripad, calling Kesavan Nambudiri, told him to take a seat in the adjoining room on the south, as he had some matters to talk over with him, and charged him not to leave until he was called. This also was a piece of stratagem on Govindan’s part, and Kesavan Nambudiri, greatly disquieted in spirit and praying fervently to heaven, took his seat in the southern room, where, after a while, sleep overcame him.
It was about three o’clock when, Govindan started off in quest of Panchu Menon, who was taking a siesta after meals. When Govindan went to the door of the bedroom, he saw Kunji Kutti Amma and asked her to tell her husband that the Nambudiripad wanted him. Kunji Kutti Amma accordingly went in and roused Panchu Menon, who, waking in wrath, asked what she meant by
bothering him.
"The Nambudiripad wants you," replied his wife.
"Nambudiripad!" repeated Panchu Menon. "Fool of a Nambudiripad that he is! He is a plague to everyone. I wish to heaven he would take himself off, good for nothing snob! I never saw such an ass as that Kesavan Nambudiri."
"No, no, not at all," said Kunji Kutti Amma. "Indulekha and the Nambudiripad hit it off very well today. There was plenty of music, and they were laughing to their heart’s content upstairs for ever so long. Indulekha must have been immensely pleased."
"Oh there was music, was there? When was that?" asked Panchu Menon, rising slowly as he spoke.
"When you went away to the gardens", answered his wife.
"Well, I didn’t hear anything of it. I’ll go and find out," said Panchu Menon, and with these words, the old man sallied forth and accompanied Govindan upstairs.
Chapter 14
"I say, Panchu," said the Nambudiripad, "I’ve got something private to tell you."
"I have no idea what it is," replied Panchu Menon. "Kindly enlighten me on the subject."
"But, Panchu, you must manage the thing for me."
"If it is in my power, I am your slave in the matter."
"It is in your power."
"Be graciously pleased to enlighten me so that I may see if it is."
"Well, Panchu," said the Nambudiripad, "I want to make a match with your grand niece, Kaliyani, tonight, and be off home with her early tomorrow morning about four or five o’clock. Indulekha doesn’t care at all for me, and told me flat yesterday that she wouldn’t have me. I saw Kaliyani early this morning, and am greatly smitten with her. Now don’t say no, Panchu, or I shall be awfully grieved, not to say disgraced. I want the match to be consummated this very night; don’t make any mistake about that."
Panchu Menon was completely taken by surprise, and remained silent for some time. At length he said: "It’s rather hard for me to make up my mind about this all of a sudden. With your permission I will consult about it and think over it."
"Not at all necessary, my dear Panchu, not at all" interposed the Nambudiripad. "Now don’t have me disgraced. You mustn’t send me away without doing me some honour. Don’t hesitate about it. I’ve been within an ace of being put to shame, and you must save me from it, Panchu."
"With your leave, I will speak definitely after I have considered the matter," said Panchu Menon.
"There’s nothing to consider about, Panchu, and if you give your consent it’s all right."
"Permit me to take my leave now, and I will return soon."
"Well, don’t spread the news. The people mustn’t know about it till after I am gone."
"I will keep the matter secret," replied Panchu Menon, quitting the room and slowly going downstairs, as he pondered over the strange turn which affairs had taken, and wondered what he ought to do. Retiring to his room, he sat down and reflected in the following strain:- "So he came here to get Indulekha, and ends by taking Kaliyani. I wonder if people will laugh about it? But what is there to laugh at? And if they do laugh, it will only be at the Nambudiripad. They can only say that Indulekha wouldn’t have this idiot of a Nambudiripad, and that he made a match with Kaliyani Kutty. There’s no shame either to Indulekha or to Kaliyani Kutty in this. No doubt the Nambudiripad is a fool, but he is a great man and very rich. If it hadn’t been for Indulekha, Kaliyani Kutty would never have made such a match; and besides, a match with the Nambudiripad is a great honour to the family; so, on the whole, I think I had better consent. But at any rate I’ll ask brother Sankaran about it." Thereupon he called out to his wife, who came and said, "Well, didn’t I tell you so?"
"Of course you were right," said Panchu Menon, smiling. "But just send some one to ask Sankaran to come here for a minute."
"Very well, but will the match come off today?"
"This very day," replied Panchu Menon. Surely you don’t doubt it?"
Kunji Kutty Amma hastened to send a messenger for Sankara Menon, and, as she failed to perceive the double meaning in her husband’s words, she felt certain that it was Indulekha who was meant, and that the alliance would be arranged that very night: so she promptly imparted her knowledge to all the menservants and maidservants about the place, and then to all whom she saw, so that the news spread like wild fire.
As Sankara Menon could not be found, Panchu Menon himself went to look for him at Puvalli, and just then Sankara Sastri came to Puvarangu to see Panchu Menon. He was the Sastri who had been engaged by Panchu Menon to read portions of the Ramayanam daily, but whether from distress at the news concerning Indulekha, or from some other cause, he had determined to go to his village for a time, and he now came in order to obtain leave of absence, but the person whom he met before he entered the house was Kunji Kutty Amma.
"Where is the master of the house?" he asked.
"Gone to Puvalli," was the reply. "It’s quite settled that Indulekha’s wedding comes off tonight. What’s wrong with you, Sastri? We haven’t even seen you here today."
"I don’t feel very well, and am on my way home now; I think I shall go to the mess house and lie down there till the moon rises."
"What, are you going away on the very day of Indulekha’s wedding?"
"Don’t ask me to stay; I can’t, I want to be off now. Please tell your husband for me. I will come back in a week or so; until I return you can get Annatara Vadhyar to read. I feel I must go."
"Well, if it must be so, it must. I’ll give your message," said Kunhi Kutty Amma.
The Sastri retraced his steps from Puvarangu to the temple, and, arranging to travel by train the next day with two Nambudiris, who were bound to attend a law court, prepared to start at seven or eight o’clock that evening. The railway station was fully twenty miles from Chembazhiyot, but as there was bright moonlight, they resolved to accomplish half the distance in the night.
When Panchu Menon found his brother, it was nearly six o’clock, and he asked him where he had been.
"I went to the garden where the young coconut trees have just been planted," said Sankara Menon. "It was a bad business putting that Unni Kitta in charge of the garden. The pits have been dug anyhow and the trees are put far too close together."
"Never mind, we’ll talk of that afterwards," replied Panchu Menon. "I’ve a bit of news to tell you."
"What can it be? I can’t guess."
"What do you think of that Nambudiripad wanting to make a match with our Kaliyani Kutty and take her away?"
"Impossible !"
"Well, he sent for me just now and told me so."
"I wonder what answer you gave him, uncle."
"I did not say anything definite, because I thought of asking you first. Let’s send for Govinda panikkar. Send a man for him."
"He went to the Polpai farm yesterday with Govindan Kutty, and is sure to have got some shooting near there. He won’t be back till tomorrow-."
"He’s mad about sport, I think, but he needn’t have dragged that boy with him, too. It seems to me that Govindan Kutty will turn out just like Madhavan. This is all the result of teaching foolish lads English. Well, well! What do you think of this match?"
"Just as you like about it, uncle."
"You see the Nambudiripad is a great man, though he is a fool," said Panchu Menon. "and a match with him would certainly be a great honour to our family. The worst of it is that it is Kummini and her branch of the family that will benefit by the match."
"No, no, don’t say that, the girl is a very harmless creature."
"But all the boys are a perverse lot. Never mind, Sankaran, do you see any objection to this match.?"
"I see no objection to doing exactly what you please, uncle."
"Well, just go to the Nambudiripad and tell him, if you don’t mind."
"Is this the day fixed?"
"The Nambudiripad said so," replied Panchu Menon with a laugh, "and by all means let it be so. Let us get rid of him as soon as we can. If the affair is finished today he will be off earl
y tomorrow morning, so let it be today; don’t you think so?"
"Certainly, but I should just like to speak a word with Kesavan Nambudiri. Don’t you think it would be as well ?" .
"The Nambudiripad told me his wish as a great secret," said Panchu Menon, "so don’t say anything to Kesavan Nambudiri now. But you might send for the fellow they call Govindan, the Nambudiripad’s servant, and speak to him."
In accordance with Panchu Menon’s instructions, Sankara Menon went to the room below the upper hall and, calling Govindan, told him what had transpired. It was already past seven o’clock, and Govindan hastened into the room upstairs where his master was sitting, couched like a hungry tiger.
"Well, Govindan, well," he said. "Is all settled?"
"Yes, my lord, everything is settled, and your lordship has no time to lose; hurry for your bath. But, pray, don’ t let anyone know. I have told all the people that the match is to be with lndulekha."
"But will they believe us if we say so now?"
"It’ll be all right if, as soon as your lordship has bathed, you give the usual presents to the Brahmins when they are collected in their lodge. The crowd will go away immediately after that, and so far as they can tell from what they see, they’ll spread the report that it’s Indulekha."
"What a clever lad you are, Govindan. But don’t Karuthedam and Cherusheri know anything about this?"
"Not at present. I dare say they have their suspicions, but they don’t know anything for certain. Come, my lord, quick with your bath and the presents to the Brahmins."
"Where’s Cherusheri?"
"Gone to the temple, or somewhere. Your slave has not seen him."
"And Karuthedam? I told him to stay here."
"He’s just woke from sleep, and is sitting in the south room chewing betel."
"Just call him, then," said the Nambudiripad, "and let’s be off to bathe."
Accompained by Govindan, who carried a brass lamp, and Kesavan Nambudiri, the Nambudiripad descended the stairs and went into the courtyard. Sankara Sastri and the two Nambudiris who had just finished their supper were in the courtyard of the temple, making a start for the railway station. One of the Nambudiris was slightly acquainted with the Nambudiripad, and he, the other Nambudiri, and the Sastri respectfully make way for him.
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