An Encounter

Part-3

The story so far:     Kishore, a tenth standard boy didn't heed attention to a man who wanted to make friends with him, since the latter was an unfamiliar person for the former. Both of them met in  a temple nearby. The temple incident reminded his mother of her past. She came in acquaintance with a man in the temple, in the neighborhood of her house. That resulted in fast friendship, but they had to be off  from each other as the man’s leave expired.          Now pl. read..

The time mounted up days and months and moulded  a couple or more years from the months.. Vasanta was eventful in the process and procedure of her continuing education till the completion of  the P.G. Although the recollections of her recent companionship inflicted pin-pricking pain on her mind, she deliberately shed them. She didn’t want any impediments hinder her studies. She was practical to save her life from an indefinite undisclosed courtship. But when the sign of certain marriage-proposals blew in the air, she was very particular to render some excuses, “Let me complete my course, let me be in a profession, let  me breathe free air till twenty four and so on.” In fact she herself didn’t know why she did so. Some urge in the conscience directed  her to keep  the acceptance for marriage proposal in abeyance at that time.

On one Sunday she eyed a fine pleasurable morning when she was on rouse. The weather  seemed to be much more at ease than the other days. It was bright with the Sun’s peeping with a lovely smile. The wind sent its cool as a breeze to her surroundings. She felt very delighted at the pleasing weather. For reasons unknown her mind took a singing mood and she hummed some joyful notes of a pop song. In general she was very glad. Subsequent to her routine processes of personal cleanliness, she was sipping her morning tea. She noticed her achan(father) occupied in a phone call, which mentioned something about a nuptial proposal for somebody.

Meanwhile her name skipped out from father’s mouth. On reading the subject from father’s gestures, Vasanta was confused to make out whether she should weep or laugh.  Vasanta’s mind roamed about for some reasons to eschew her wedding. All the conditions of her earlier justifications had been addressed by then. “Here is a proposal,

which I feel, is good enough for you. Now we won’t let you make it null and void.” Achan’s voice had attained weight. He continued, “The chap was working abroad and he has been absorbed in a multi-national company in India itself. Both his position and remuneration have been enhanced.” She looked up and invoked God for help at that juncture. A sort of anguish displaced her pleasure.

When father mentioned the name and the native place of his, she was overwhelmed with astonishment. She found word nil to express her gratitude to God. It was that special  friend of hers, who, she very much yearned for meeting at least once more. She pinched her hand to ensure that she was not dreaming. “ If all the whereabouts of that person is agreeable for you, please proceed,” acted, she successfully. All the routes and rules of the bridal formalities were covered touching the upkeep of ritual ethics. With no unwillingness Vasanta ousted herself from her job to be with her fiancé after wedding.

The hands of clock discharged the duties well and the earth rotated on its axis ten times after the nuptial. The groom’s days named leaves on the stalk of time had fallen down and the stock of ‘Leave’ reached its finishing ebb. The couple bade goodbye to the near and dear. They reached the destination of their stay in the city of her  husband’s profession.

The husband had hired a comfortable flat close to his company. Though Vasanta was not much well-versed in cooking, with the assistance of her husband she managed to prepare sumptuous food for two. Their stay in the flat was quite quiet and smooth. The husband’s departure from home to company and return home from company  used to bring her to the gate. Her hand used to rise in swinging for goodbye and hold husband’s hand for receiving. “I am rich in luck, as I adorn the better-half  position of a gentleman,” thought she.

 “ Amma, what will you prepare for supper? Let’s have ‘poori’ tonight. I am hungry now itself.” Kishore said.

Vasanta: “Okay, dear, I’ll make it fast.”

Her memories took leave of her for the time being and the stove in the kitchen received her with warmth.

 

Sarala                                                                    [to be contd.]