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| Sunday, 22 September 2002 |
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Short story Married at last
The confinements had taken place at home. He could well remember that first time. He had come home for lunch as usual, but his mother had seemed to be preoccupied. She had been walking about the house seemingly thinking of something. "Mummy, we have the sports meet on Friday" he had announced. That was all. He had not thought much of her seeming quietness, because he was already late. The lunch interval would be over at 1 p.m. That day he had got delayed, by going to the library, so he had had his lunch very hurriedly, and departed. After all, the buggy cart had to take him back to school. Returned When he had returned from school he knew that there was something amiss. His mother was not in sight, and the bedroom door was closed. But he could hear people talking inside "Mummy, Mummy" he had called and pushed the door. His mother was inside he could hear her voice. But someone had come out, and pushed him out, and he could hear his mother asking for the door to be locked. How worried, he had been. Why was his mother kept inside? The doctor had come as well as a nurse and after what seemed an interminable age, the bedroom door was opened. Yet, he was not taken in, till long afterwards. When he went in, with his elder brother, his mother was in bed, and there was a tiny infant, beside her. He did not look very much at the baby, because he, instinctively resented its presence. His mother directed him to look at the baby. He did so, and he was filled with wonderment at the tiny pink hands and feet. But he was also fiercely jealous of the newcomer. His mother was laid up in bed, because of it. So time and again, he had run through the bedroom but he had not looked at the baby, or at his mother. He wanted to show that he cared for neither of them. The years had passed, and then another new-comer had come. They were poorer now. Difficult His father was finding it difficult to educate, and feed so many children. Then one day, he heard his uncle talking to his father "Part of your troubles is due to your large family. Four children would have been quite enough for you. And how easy things would have been for you." Those words set him thinking. He was not a person who forgot easily. Years later when he was a medical student, he was repeating those words to a friend. He had realised what an uphill struggle it was for his father, with what difficulty shoes and books were provided, for his brothers and sisters! He had been lucky. He had won scholarships and prizes while at school, and because of his brilliance, even uncles and aunts had helped him "If I get married I will never have so many children," he told Nimal his friend. "But you must have children, if you get married" remarked Nimal. "But whatever for? he replied. "People only want children to pet them, and then boss over them. All this talk about heirs is tommy-rot. When do children ever come up to the expectation of parents. Besides parents have reached a decrepit old age, by the time, the children are just making a mark in the world. In some cases, they have long reached the grave. "So you are not going to have any children? asked Nimal wide-eyed. Nimal was a girl of about 24. She was Asoka's friend. There's was a purely platonic friendship. "You couldn't be anything, but just a friend with a man like Asoka," Nimal had one day confided to her cousin. "Why I don't believe he will ever touch a girl. He has very little feeling, I think." Honours From Medical College, Asoka graduated with honours. He had a First Class Pass with a prize for surgery. Almost as soon as he passed out he was appointed House Officer to his Professor. He was now twenty eight, young and good looking. With his first years savings plus a loan from the Bank he bought a car. It was not a very swanky one but still it was smart enough - a five year old black Morris Minor. It had a new shiny appearance. He prided himself on its upkeep and maintenance. He drove back and forth from his work. He purchased new suits and wore them as he wished. Of course he helped his parents too, but still, he had enough, for all his whims and luxuries. Having been used to frugality, the present existence was like living in clover. Every weekend he went to the cinema, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. He felt that there was nothing more, to wish for. But his uncles and aunts were not satisfied "Now Asoka you must get married" they told him. Asoka just smiled, and said nothing. He never had the courage to ask them why they were worried, over the matter. But inwardly, he hated the thought of marriage. He knew what a hard life his parents led. It was a case of sweating from morning till night-sweating for a large family with a poor living standard-sweating to make ends meet. Fighting for the bare essentials. Was that the life for him too? No, he did not want it, he told himself. But he had others, to please. He could not live, as he wanted. Everytime he visited his cousins his aunt would remark, on his bachelorhood. Not that she had any scheming eyes on him. Her one daughter, was long married. It was simply an interest, in other people's affairs. Persuading Then after sometime, his own mother and father, began the persuasion. They had probably been influenced by another, thought Asoka. His parents, were anxious for another reason. They were afraid that he would get caught to some undesirable girl, either some nurse or some girl of a lower status. Asoka was now being cornered. "But why mother?" he ventured to ask one day. "I am quite happy as I am. Why must I get married?" Don't be silly son," rejoined his mother. "You must make a good marriage, and live comfortably. You are the best in the family, and I can't think of you, not being married. You can easily get married, to a fairly rich girl. You wait I shall get Aponsu, Mudalali, to arrange a nice girl for you." "What rot, mother don't you worry. Aponsu Mudalali" protested, Asoka. But it was of no avail. His words fell on deaf ears. He saw his horoscope being handed over to the family astrologer. His mother wanted to know if it was a good time, for him to get married. The family had faith in Kerala Vedamahatmaya. He was a good astrologer. It was he, who had originally predicted, that Asoka would be a brilliant student. That had been proved correct. One day, when Asoka returned from hospital, he found Kerala Vedamahatmaya, seated on the verandah with his horoscope, in hand. His mother, was there too. Asoka walked straight inside the house, as though he did not know what it was all about. He did not want to make a fuss, in front of Kerala Vedamahatmaya. Besides he hated to thwart his mother in anything. Marriage From his bedroom he could hear Kerala Vedamahatmaya's voice. "This is quite a good period for this young man. He ought to be doing quite well. Yes it is good for marriage too. He has chances of making a good marriage, though of course, a lot will depend on the partner he gets too." continued next week |
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Asoka came from a large family. He had six brothers and two sisters.
There were four brothers younger to him. He could distinctly remember when
the younger two were born. He was seven years when the one before the
last, came and ten years, when the last came.
