Indulekha

by O. Chandu Menon

  "Hallo, Kilimangalam," said the Nambudiripad, "when did you get here? And where are you off to at this unearthly time ?"

  "I am bound to attend court for a law suit," replied the Kilimangalam Nambudiri. "I came here this evening, and must catch the train and be in court tomorrow. Otherwise I should never have thought of leaving without paying my respects. I heard when I came all that has happened, and am delighted. I must now say good-bye for the present."

  "Have you ever seen lndulekha?" asked the Nambudiripad.

  "Never."

  "Then you shall see her when you come to my family mansion. I’m going there at daybreak."

  "I suppose you will take her with you," said the Kilimangalam Nambudiri.

  "Yes, ofcourse Indulekha will be with me. How can you possibly doubt that."

  "Oh no; of course, that’s just as it should be," said the Kilimangalam Nambudiri. "No one was ever so fortunate as yourself. I hope you will soon allow me the pleasure of paying you a visit."

  Here the conversation ended, and the Sastri, setting forth with the two Nambudiris, walked half the distance to the railway station by midnight, and, reaching the hospice belonging to Puvalli, lay down there to sleep.

  The Nambudiripad, without further delay, performed his ablutions, and then summoning the Brahmins to their lodge, distributed the customary alms to two hundred of their community, whereupon they all dispersed. It was at this moment that Cherusheri Nambudiri, who had been talking to lndulekha in her rooms at Puvarangu, arrived on the scene. Sankara Menon, after directing Govindan to inform the Nambudiripad, had straightway gone to Puvalli and acquainted Kaliyani Kutty’s mother, Kummini Amma, with the turn of affairs, and bidden her make all the necessary preparations. Kummini Amma, overjoyed with the news, conveyed it to Parvathi Amma, and Parvathi Amma, rejoicing doubly, resolved forthwith to inform lndulekha. She hastened accordingly to lndulekha’s boudoir and found her conversing with Cherusheri Nambudiri. When she entered the room, lndulekha rose to meet her and, learning that she had a secret to tell retired with her to the inner chamber.

  Once there, Parvathi Amma asked lndulekha if she had heard anything particular, and, on receiving a reply in the negative, said, "The Nambudiripad has decided to make a match with our Kaliyani tonight."

  lndulekha laughed till she was fairly out of breath, and then, recovering herself, asked who had brought the news.

  "What’s the matter with you?" replied Parvathi Amma. "Brother Sankaran came to Puvalli and told us. They are very busy getting the bride chamber ready and making other preparations. Uncle himself is sitting out there, and has told them to light up the room."

  "Have they told Kaliyani?"

  "I don’t know; I haven’t seen her. I don’t know if her mother has told her, but she seems immensely pleased."

  "Oh dear! oh dear!" exclaimed Indulekha. "Surely Kaliyani ought to have been told. But we can’t help that. If you will go on, I will send away the Nambudiri who is sitting out there and come to Puvalli at once."

  As soon as Parvathi Amma had gone, Indulekha came out and, looking at Cherusheri laughed. "Have you heard this piece of news?" she said. "The Nambudiripad is going to make a match tonight with Kaliyani, my grandfather’s niece."

  "The finger of Fate!" said Cherusheri, smiling. "If he hadn’t succeeded in getting Kaliyani, he would certainly have carried off your maid, Ammu, at least! There is nothing a man who has lost all constancy and self- respect will not stoop to! If this news is true, I fancy we shall start at daybreak tomorrow. I’ll come here after Madhavan comes. Write and tell me if you go to Madras the day after he arrives, and I’ll find my way there too. All happiness, all joy both to you and Madhavan!"

  With these words Cherusheri departed and, as already stated, reached the Brahmin’s lodge just after the Nambudiripad had finished distributing doles. After supper the Nambudiripad betook himself to the terrace of the lodge, and sat there chewing betel.

  As for Kesavan Nambudiri he was perfectly bewildered with amazement. He had seen the Brahmins receiving gifts, he had noted what the Nambudiripad said to Kilimangalam Nambudiripad, and he remarked that the Nambudiripad had been regaled with music and conversation during the day.

  Hence he thought that the match with Indulekha was imminent, but he was nevertheless puzzled for the reason that his feeble mind was never able to arrive at a definite conclusion. Ever since two o’clock, when the Nambudiripad left Indulekha’s apartment, he had not stirred out of the room in which he was under orders to remain, and he had heard absolutely no news of any kind.

  Hence, as soon as the Nambudiripad had seated himself on the terrace, he beckoned to Cherusheri and took him aside.

  "What does all this mean, Cherusheri?" he asked. "I .can’t make it out at all. Where have you been all this time?"

  "In Indulekha’s rooms", said Cherusheri.

  "What! why, they said the match would come off tonight and the Brahmins have had their presents. Indulekha must have given in."

  "There will be a match made to-night," said Cherusheri. "That is quite certain, but perhaps not with Indulekha."

  The words were scarcely uttered when Kesavan Nambudiri felt faint as if his reason was shattered and sank to the floor. He cried for water and drained the bowl to the dregs. Now he knew too well why he had been ordered to remain in that room upstairs, and why the Nambudiripad had talked so confidentially with Panchu Menon! Lakshmi Kutty his wife, was lost to him for ever.

  The torment he endured was agonizing and with weeping eyes he gazed at Cherusheri’s face. Cherusheri, however, thought it necessary to give Kesavan Nambudiri a lesson, and merely said, "Why do you look at me like that, Karuthedam ? You’ve only got yourself to thank for this fine piece of business."

  Kesavan Nambudiri could no longer feel any doubt, and replied, "I never dreamt of this, Cherusheri. I have been an awful fool, and all this has come on me through my own mistake. I can’t stay here another minute. I’ll never come here again, never. I’m going."

  "But you can’t go without taking leave of the Nambudiri," said Cherusheri.

  "I’ll never speak to the Nambudiri again as long as I live. I’ll never enter the Murkillatha house again as long as I live. I’m not one of this Nambudiri’s dependents! I have never had to ask his consent before I did any thing! I never knew before what a vicious monster he is!"

  "Do you happen to remember," said Cherusheri, "that when you asked me to help you in bringing about a match between Indulekha and the Nambudiri, I told you it was impossible ?"

  "Yes, I remember well. You’re a wise man, Cherusheri, and if I had the hundredth part of your sense, this calamity would never have come upon me."

  "Never mind about that," said Cherusheri. "Are you convinced now that if people meddle with things which don’t concern them, they are sure to be sorry for it?"

  "Yes, I am thoroughly convinced," replied Kesavan Nambudiri. "Oh, Cherusheri, I must go now. I can’t stay here to see this union. Let me call the servants."

  "Why should you object to this union, Karuthedam?"

  "Good heavens, Cherusheri. Oh! oh !! oh!!! I mayn’t be as clever as you, but how can you think I am such a brute? It would become me well, wouldn’t it, to stand by and see this match consummated ?"

  "My dear fellow, what nonsense you’re talking!" said Cherusheri. "How on earth can it make you a brute to stand by and see Kaliyani Kutty united to the Nambudiri ?"

  Kesavan Nambudiri’s mouth opened wide with astonishment when he heard this. "Kaliyani Kutty!" he gasped, ‘’’Kaliyani Kutty! Is it with her?"

  "Yes," replied Cherusheri, "Kaliyani Kutty."

  "Thank heaven, thank heaven," cried Kesavan Nambudiri. "I was utterly, blindly confused. Oh, Cherusheri, why did you torment me so cruelly?"

  "I? I didn’t torment you; you tormented yourself, and how can I help that? I merely said a certain match would be made, and you didn’t ask me any questions: all I told you was that it would not be with Indulekha, and if you chose to rush blindfold
into the idea that it would be with your wife, I couldn’t help it."

  Kesavan Nambudiri revived, and both he and Cherusheri went to the place where the Nambudiripad was seated, and the whole party then started for Puvarangu. After some conversation, Panchu Menon invited them to follow him, and the Nambudiripad, Cherusheri, Kesavan Nambudiri, and their retinue proceeded to Puvalli. According to the usual practice, the Nambudiripad washed his feet at the entrance to the house and within the room arranged for the ceremony reclined on a couch spread with a rich silk coverlet. The eastern door of the room was shut, and then all the women of the house thronged in at the western door pulling along with them the gentle Kaliyani Kutty, crowding round her as if she were a live pig or some other animal, and thrust her into the room. They then hastened out, bolted the western door and so the union was complete.

  Govindan, who had with great care collected all the bearers and made all other preparations, caused the palanquins and litters to be kept ready outside and remained on the watch all night. He had charged all his fellow-retainers, whom he most vigilantly kept awake, to say, if any question were asked on the road, that it was Indulekha whom the Nambudiripad was taking home. When it was still some hours before dawn, he went to the western door of the room and, coughing loudly, roused the Nambudiripad. Immediately everyone in the house awoke, and Panchu Menon and Kesavan Nambudiri came from Puvarangu. Kaliyani Kutty was bundled into one palanquin and the doors were closed, while the Nambudiripad entered another. Kesavan Nambudiri, who proposed to accompany the Nambudiripad, and Cherusheri climbed into their respective litters, the latter laughing as he did so, and at last, with many a shake and many a jolt, a start was made, the bearers striking up their singsong chorus as they went.

  Chapter 15

  By the time daylight appeared, the Nambudiripad’s triumphal procession had reached the hospice in which the Sastri and the two Nambudiris had taken up their sleeping quarters. This hospice was maintained by Panchu Menon and was situated at the junction of two roads, one leading to the Nambudiripad’s residence and the other to the railway station. There was also at the same place a rest-house belonging to Puvalli, and beside it stood a granary and a bath house, each provided with an upper story. Panchu Menon had told Kesavan Nambudiri to halt here for refreshment, but the Nambudiripad, acting on Govindan’s advice, had refused the invitation. Both he and Govindan had determined that, on the journey at any rate, the fiction that lndulekha was one of the party should be publicly maintained, and as soon as ever the entrance to the hospice was reached, Govindan incited the bearers to quicken their pace. Driving the troop of servants in front with noise and uproar at a run, he himself trotted in the rear, and by the time the Sastri and his companions came out to see what the hubbub meant, the procession had passed. The only person of whom the Sastri caught sight was Govindan to whom he beckoned and said, "How’s this, Govindan? This place belongs to your friends there. Wouldn’t it be well for you to stop here and have something to eat before you go on?"

  "That’s just what Kesavan Nambudiri and some others have been saying," replied Govindan: "My lord and Cherusheri Nambudiri were of the same mind too, but there was some one there who was very determined and said we must go straight on for breakfast to my lord’s house,"

  "Whom do you mean ? Indulekha ?"

  "Exactly." confirmed govindan. "She has no discernment or judgement" commented the Sastri. "I never saw a more depraved woman."

  "I’m quite sure she’s a bad lot," replied Govindan, "but what can we do? The Nambudiripad is devoted to her and so is she to him; so there’s no help for it, and we shall all be at her beck and call now; but we must make the best of it."

  "Indulekha’s devotion is simply devotion to money," said the Sastri. "That is the sum total of her devotion."

  "Just so, no one can doubt that," rejoined Govindan. "But I must be off, the palanquins are a long way ahead." and so saying he ran on, while the Sastri and the Nambudiris took the road to the station.

  As he had intimated by letter, Madhavan had left Madras on the day preceding the Nambudiripad’s union, and at eleven o’clock on the day of the homeward procession, alighted at the same station at which the Sastri and the Nambudiris were to take the train. As his leave would not last more than eight days, he had left the small boy Shinnan and a servant in Madras, and was accompanied only by one attendant. Near the station were two or three Brahmin hotels and he intended, after having his meals at one of them, to go on to the rest-house belonging to his family, and reach home in time for breakfast next day.

  But when he entered one of the lodges, he found there two or three wayfaring Nambudiris and some east coast Brahmins, who had feasted with the crowd at Chembazhiyot on the preceding day. As they had missed the morning train, they were waiting for a later one and, having finished their meal, were all enjoying a chat. As Madhavan entered, a Nambudiri was saying that, in his opinion, everything was due to Indulekha’s lucky star. Madhavan started on hearing the name, and wondered what was meant. Standing at the threshold he asked the Nambudiri which Indulekha he referred to.

  "Oh, a woman called Indulekha of Chembazhiyot," was the answer.

  "Pray let me hear what luck has befallen her," said Madhavan.

  "She was married yesterday," said the Nambudiri.

  Madhavan stood transfixed like a tree blasted with lightning. He tried in vain for some minutes to find his voice, and then, as if a corpse were speaking, asked "Who? Who? With whom was she united?"

  All the Nambudiris were astonished beyond measure at the sight of Madhavan’s emotion, and looked at each other in silence.

  "Who is it? Who?" again demanded Madhavan. "For God’s sake, tell me, can’t you speak? Who is it? Tell me who the man is?"

  "My good sir," said a Nambudiri, "you seem to have lost your wits. What are you in such a passion for? We know nothing of the business."

  "If you know nothing, do you mean to say you were talking at random?" said Madhavan fiercely.

  "Supposing we were, what’s that to you ?" said a Brahmin. "Do you mean to give us a thrashing for that, sir?"

  "I’ll soon show you," said Madhavan, advancing a step, when one of the Nambudiris rose to pacify him.

  "Now don’t be angry," he said. "Just sit down a minute. You must have come from Madras by the train and are famished. Sit down, and I’ll tell you all there is to be told."

  "I want to know who the man is. Just tell me that." rejoined Madhavan.

  "It’s the Murkillatha Nambudiripad," replied a Brahmin.

  "When did the union take place?" pursued Madhavan.

  "It was to have been yesterday," said the Brahmin, "but we left early. The union was arranged to take place yesterday, and that’s all we know, but we know it for certain."

  "How do you know it for certain?" asked Madhavan.

  "Everyone said so at the temple," was the answer, "and Sheenu Patter, who is connected with the family, said so. He told us so himself."

  At these words Madhavan fell fainting on the verandah floor, and the old Brahmin woman who provided meals in that lodge, attracted by his comeliness and pitying his distress, ran out with a mat.

  "Here," she said, "rest on this. Let me bring you some buttermilk; it will do you good." But Madhavan heard not a word, and remained where he was on the ground. Rallying after a time, he asked, without addressing anyone in particular, for some water to drink, and a Nambudiri brought it for him.

  He then spread the mat and lay down on it, while all who were in the lodge grieved to see so handsome a youth in so desperate a plight. After resting for sometime, Madhavan arose and, opening his stationary case, took out a letter which his father, Govinda Panikkar, had sent to him at Madras concerning the proposed match with the Nambudiripad. He read as follows:

  ‘The patriarch and Kesavan Nambudiri are doing their very best to bring about a match between Indulekha and the Murkillatha Nambudiripad. It is true the Nambudiripad is very rich, but I don’t think they have slightest chance of success;
so, my boy, don’t distress yourself.’

  Replacing the letter in his desk, Madhavan again lay down and began to reflect thus:

  ‘That it should ever come to this! There never was any reason to think it would, but then Madhavi never wrote me a line about the Nambudiripad. I have had no letter from Madhavi ever since I left. She has never been so long without writing to me. After all, this may have been an accident. But if Sheenu Patter hadn’t known anything about it, he wouldn’t have told such a pack of lies. What nonsense I’m talking! This may just be the way with women. The Nambudiripad may be a better man, may be cleverer, more attractive than I am. lndulekha may have fallen in love with him, and her grandfather may have pressed the match on her."

  Then suddenly his mind took a different turn. "My Madhavi," he exclaimed to himself, "My Madhavi love another man! What a base fool I am to think so! Shame on me! These people here must have heard some lie or other;" but, after lingering for some time over this phase of the question, it suddenly occurred to him that unless Sheenu Patter had actually told them, there was no reason why they should say he had. While he lay drifting between doubt and despair, some new travellers, who were the Nambudiripad’s neighbours and had met his procession on the road, arrived and joined the company already assembled at the lodge.

  One of them, recognizing an acquaintance, remarked that they had just seen a bridal procession. Madhavan immediately understood what was meant, and not only his mind, but every joint in his body was thrilled with agony as if he had a jolt from a powerful electric current.

  "What bridal? What procession do you mean?" asked a Nambudiri.

  "Hush, hush," exclaimed the Nambudiri who had formerly pacified Madhavan. "Don’t ask, or our young friend lying there will want to fight us again."

  "What nonsense!" said another Nambudiri. "Can’t we talk if we like? Let him try and fight us, that’s all. Come, tell us what bridal?"

  "The bridal party of the Murkillathu Nambudiripad," said one of the new arrivals. "The Chembazhiyot girl he was united to yesterday was in one palanquin and he was in another. Govindan Nambudiri of Cherusheri was in a litter, and so was Kesavan Nambudiri of Karuthedam. They had a host of servants with them, with swords and shields, and made a terrific noise."