A Dreadful Determination! part-10

Part-10

[Urmila and Sharmila are sisters. The elder one Sharmila was in love with Vinod, her neighbour, even when they passed through the school-age. Father had brought proposals which she resisted tooth and nail, though she knew not the result. Two-three ones she escaped on the pretext of studies. She recalled her baby-hood memories in which Vinod always sided with her in all the activities.  A squad of six used to engage themselves in kiddies’ amusements a lot. Whenever Urmila tried to retrieve her mind from the memories, it did not obey her. Again it went on a tour to the backyard of mind. Urmila bloomed into the synonym of beauty and Vinod grew into a  handsome personality. Finally father held a good proposal close to his heart.He finalized it despite all the resistance from Urmila. He thought time would bless her with glee.]

Now pl.read.

When Venugopal retorted in negation he had not at all considered Vinod’s family’s present status or their mutual stanch friendship. Urmila tried all the ways and means for a cancellation of the proposal. Sharmila’s indirect and Amma’s silent seconding couldn’t do any good in cancellation or even postponement of the schedule. 

All her exercises fell in vain rather turned Achchan unfaltering.

Urmila was under a kind of house arrest. Her mind became sad-sodden. Heart grew heavy. Mobility remained more or less confined within the domicile’s walls. She found none in her aid, as all their pals had developed their wings and migrated elsewhere on the look out of their prospects in life.

 Urmila’s land phone hadn’t had a caller id. So Achchan’s absence she spent with the telephone. She talked to Vinod about the hurdle that hindered their courtship .Amma, whenever witnessed it, rebuked her but not much intensely.

“You obey your Achchan, mole. No parents will think ill of their children. Achchan does everything for your good only,” Amma used to tell her.

“What good? That guy is not my choice.”

 “What choice, once you start your life, you will forget everything.”

Amma, Sharada sided with Urmila in Achchan’s absence, where as she also was in the camp of Achchan when Urmila was not in their proximity. She wanted a settlement for the stressed situation.

Days gave way to nights and nights retorted equally to days. Wedding without delay was on the cards and literally on w.cards also. Vinod and Urmila found no way to put their cards on the table. They were in a tight corner. They wanted an escape. The telephone medium they maximum utilized to trade their words. But nothing turned fruitful.

“If I had a job, I’d come to meet your father. I’d tolerate even insult,” Vinod voice contained contempt as he was helpless.

“Let’s elope and do register marriage, shall we? I can’t imagine a life without you, Vinu, ” Urmila was painfully sobbing.

“O! No, Urmi. That is foolishness. Even if you are a divorcee, you’ll be dear to me. Eloping I can’t stand with. If you can pull on a little more, things will come in our favour,” Vinod conveyed a ray of optimism.

As the calling bell rang ’Ding, ding’ they put a semi colon to their conversations. It was the gas agency man with the gas cylinder. Urmila led him to the kitchen corner to replace the cylinder for the empty one.

Slowly-slowly the sun migrated to the western countries. The night arrived putting on her bright hat on the head, lit some lamps and kept them hither-thither in the sky. All the lamps appeared flickering with a twinkling blaze.

After the supper Urmila and Sharmila withdrew their appendages to their shell. Both engaged themselves in extracting some means from the coagulated situation. Nothing struck their minds.

“ Amma is getting tensed, Chechchi. She wants to see you happy. But she doesn’t want go against Achchan. ”

“I  know that. When I see Amma I pity her.”

“Achchan has started inviting people. He is very happy. Now no other go. You have to accept him, Chechchi,” Urmi in a pessimistic tone.

Urmila did’t say anything and Sharmila slowly lay into the lap of sleep. Urmila got off from the bed and stood near the window. She was a bit delighted to see the moon smiling and the stars winking at her. Her mind once travelled through the path of the conversation with Vinod. One of his statements glimmered as an invigourating spark in her mind. She allowed her mind to gradually take a determination. Yes, it was a determination, a dreadful determination.

She grew curious for the crack of dawn from dark. As she awaited the onset of the sunup she didn’t know when the sleep had anaesthetized her. Rouse landed very late to lift her from the bed. And nobody disturbed her also.

Achchan-father, Amma-mother, Chechi-elder sister  

[To be contd.]

A Dreadful Determination! Part-9

                                          

                                       

[Urmila and Sharmila are sisters. The elder one Sharmila was in love with Vinod, her neighbour, even when they passed through the school-age. Father had brought proposals which she resisted tooth and nail, though she knew not the result. Two-three ones she escaped on the pretext of studies. She recalled her baby-hood memories in which Vinod always sided with her in all the activities.  A squad of six used to engage themselves in kiddies’ amusements a lot. Whenever Urmila tried to retrieve her mind from the memories, it did not obey her. Again it went on a tour to the backyard of mind. Urmila bloomed into the synonym of beauty and Vinod grew into a  handsome personality. Finally father held a good proposal close to his heart.]

Now pl.read.

The time skipped over days one, two, three etc. and more. In those days something was jabbing at Urmila’s heart which itself had fallen into a melancholic mood. It was nothing but the matrimonial steps of her parents that pricked her hurtfully.

“Urmi, you are lucky, the horoscopes are fully agreeable,” words effusively flowed from Achchan’s  mouth, as soon as he made his entry into his domicile.

He turned to his wife Sharada, “Now we have to look into further formalities. I shall call the groom’s party soon. Why to delay.”

“Achcha, how can we know about his character and other knowhow’s?”

“O! That you don’t worry, I will get all his details. His job, education and family are all very good. Character also may be good. We’ll inquire.”  

  

He didn’t view Urmila’s expression that reflected the image of her thoughts. Her body attained a mechanical move and reached the study room that was her sole solace when in worry. Tears waited for no pause and so they freely flowed down and her cheeks turned sodden. Sniffing and sobbing turned the room’s air soggy. Sharmila watching all this smelt something shady in Urmila’s actions and hence her legs led her to Urmila’s room.

“ Chechchi, why are you crying when parents speak about  marriage? I think you have someone in your mind. Do you have any affair? Tell me.”

Urmila put apart the shutters of her heart in front of her sister a bit reluctantly though and the latter got stunned at the news. She was never dubious of her sister’s ways. She thought Vinod was as good a friend as others were. She remained bewildered rather unfeeling for a while.

“O! Chechchi, very clever you are. I never noticed any sign in your behaviour. What to do, now? Let’s tell Amma about it. She may understand you. Chechchi, but Achchan’s stand we can’t predict.”

 Though they had vacation they wanted a holiday for Achchan. The next day was a Sunday. So somehow both the sisters got a comfortable time for disclosing the matter to Amma so that it would be forwarded to Achchan.. Sharmila sparked the beginning and Urmila, taking the aid of fumbling and stammering, divulged to Amma about the affinity between Vinod and herself.

“God!  what am I hearing? Didn’t you get anybody else? Vinod’s grandfather was a caretaker and an aid to your grandfather. Don’t you know that?” Amma’s tone contained scorn and surprise.

“I don’t know if your Achchan will agree or not,” Amma resumed the original tone.

“Amma, please Amma, understand her. Stand by her. Make him agree.”

Amma looking into his mood and mode of behavior slowly presented the subject to him after some time. The upshot was a bomb-blast as she expected.

“No, never. I cannot agree,  I’ll not also. You shouldn’t support her,” thunderous was the voice that emerged from an orthodox mentality.

At this the steps and measures taken by  Achchan  gained momentum and he speeded up the proceedures. Further chores of nuptials travelled on a fast track.  Achchan, the resolute person readily decided the dates for engagement and wedding. He believed that progressive days would set the things right.

Achchan- father, Amma- mother, Chechchi- elder sister.          [to be contd.]