Short Story

The marriage proposal

by A.F. Dawood

Sugath went to office by bus. He was in the habit of walking a few yards from his house to a particular bus halt near a house, from where he took the bus to office. One day Sugath was seen at the bus halt by his friend Rohan.

“Ah! Sugath, why at this bus halt? Why buses won't stop at the bus halt near your house?”

“It's not that, to walk in the morning is an exercise.”

“Don't con you fellow; I know why you come to this bus halt. To see that girl, no?” Rohan asked jokingly.

A bus came and stopped at the halt where Sugath was and he got on to it. Sugath was attracted to a beautiful girl who stayed opposite the bus halt.

He always thought of her and so made it a practice to take evening walks, passing the girl's house and thereby he was able to smile and pass glances at her.

The girl too reciprocated his gesture with a smile. As days passed a silent love affair developed between the two, though they had not spoken to each other.

Gestures

While going to and from office, Sugath made it a point to wave at the girl and she unfailingly waited at her front door to respond to Sugath's gestures. Even after a few months he did not know her name and so he was not able to send her a letter through someone.

One day he decided to meet her. Having applied for half a day's leave he went to her house and stood at the gate. But he did not see anyone. He plucked courage to open the gate and walked in with the hope of meeting the girl. As he walked a few steps, he saw a man in the corner of the garden, tending a flower bed. He was a fat, middle-aged man with the hair tied in a ‘konde’ and clad in a sarong and vest.

Hearing the footsteps, he turned towards Sugath, then got up and beamed a smile. Sugath pretended as he was looking for someone. “Are you looking for someone?”

“Uncle, I'm looking for Simon's house”.

“Simon?” He wrinkled his eye brows. “What Simon?”
“Simon Navaratne.” He said a name that came to his mouth.

“His job?” The man queried.
“My... my job?” Sugath stammered.

“No, no, I mean Simon Navaratne's job”
“He is the manager in the electricity board.”
“No, it can't be” The man replied in a husky voice.

“One Mr. Wijepala is the electricity board manager and I know him.” Sugath knew that his lie did not work out; so he concocted another lie. “In fact I last saw Simon Navaratne about three years ago. I came to know that he is staying somewhere in this area I don't know whether he is working in the recently opened Janasaviya office.”

“I tell you Mister, I know every big person in this area. Simon Navaratne you spoke of is not in the Janasaviya office either.” “Then this must be wrong information.”

Money

Thanking the man, Sugath left the place. At home he thought that man was a big person as he knew everyone in the area. So the next thing he decided to do was to send a letter to the girl through Kiruludasa, the next door servant boy of 14 years. He used to bribe the servant boy with money and sweets, so that the boy would carry out Sugath's petty errands.

Having written the letter, he advised Kiruludasa to hand over the letter to the girl and also described how to locate the house. “What if the mudalali sees me?” “No, no, he won't be there. You give the letter to the girl”.

“If she is not there shall I give it to mudalali?” Kiruludasa asked.
“Don't talk too much. She will be there and give it to her. You understand?”
“Yes, I'll give the letter to her.”
“Kiruladasa, bring a reply from her.”

After half an hour Sugath saw the boy sweeping the garden and called him to give him money. He came running. “Sir, nothing to worry, I gave the letter.” “So where's the reply from her?” Sugath asked impatiently. “They didn't give me a letter” “Why? She didn't write a reply?” Sugath questioned.

“No, I gave your letter to the mudalali because I didn't see the girl.” Kiruladasa rattled on without any concern.

“You have put me in a big trouble.” Sugath told in a fit of anger.
“Sir, I gave your letter, there's nothing to worry.”

Two days later his mother talked to him about a marriage proposal a broker had brought. “I think your good times have come.”

“What do you mean, Amme?”

“Marriage broker Carolis has brought a good proposal for you.” Sugath remained silent; he did not express any joy.

“Why are you silent? You don't like to settle down? This proposal is a life-time chance for you; the girl is very beautiful, it seems. They're giving 50 acres of coconut and cash Rs. 50,000 as dowry quite enough to lead a very comfortable life. When Carolis comes this Sunday, you can find out all the details.”

“Don't agree for any proposal, Amme I've an intention of marrying a girl I know.” “If you have a girl of your choice, we can work it out for you. But tell us who this girl is so that we can find out the family background.”

“I'll tell you all the details about her in a week's time, Amme”. It was Sunday, both mother and son were engaged in a conversation and were expecting Carolis. By three in the evening, someone opened the gate and walked towards the house. He reached the verandah and stopped at the steps. Sugath's mother looked at him in surprise.

“Is this Sugath's house?” “Yes, you're Sugath's friend?” Aslin asked. “No. I'm Richard Mudiyanse but people call me Richard mudalali.” The stranger replied in a hoarse voice. Aslin welcomed him and the stranger walked to the verandah and sat in a chair facing the gate. He looked around and wiped his face. “I came regarding Sugath's letter. Is he at home?”

Letter

Aslin did not know head or tail about the letter. She went in to summon Sugath who had gone in, seeing the stranger entering the gate. Sugath came to meet the visitor but he was overcome with fear. He just looked down, thinking the visitor would blast him for that letter.

“How young man? I got your letter. You're the one who came to my house in search of Simon..., a few days ago?” Sugath was embarrassed and did not reply him. Aslin could not understand what the conversation meant. “All right, young man, don't feel shy; I came here straight to talk about your matter with the elders.” After hearing this Sugath's fear vanished.

“This mudalali's daughter is the one I was telling you, Amme.”

“Yes, I remember that.” Aslin said smiling. “Already a proposal has come to my son, we're waiting for the broker who promised to come today.” “You think I'm the broker.” Richard Mudiyanse said with a feeling of joy.

“What're you giving my son?” Aslin asked. “There's an offer of 50 acres of coconut and cash dowry Rs. 50,000 for my son.”

Joy

“I'm writing all my properties in my daughter's name; tea, rubber and coconut about 100 acres in all, cash dowry Rs. 100,000 and a Benz car.”

Aslin's joy knew no bounds and she directed her glance at Sugath. He also brimmed with joy.

“What's your daughter's name?” “Veena, well matching for your son.” “Then Sugath, tomorrow or day after tomorrow, let's go and see the girl.” Aslin said. “There's nothing to see; your son has seen the girl.” Aslin said. “There's nothing to see; your son has seen my daughter many times, and that's why he had sent this letter to my daughter.”

“Anyway Mr. Richard, we have not spoken a word with your daughter?”

“What's there to talk? If your son likes my daughter, what else do you want? The promised dowry will be given.”

“We like this proposal, that's why we're coming to see your daughter”, Aslin said. “In that case this marriage will not take place.” “Why is that?” “My daughter is dumb” It was a bombshell to Sugath.