A Dreadful Determination! Part-13

The story so far:

[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.  All their friends, but Vinod flew away from the brood for life’s needs. Vinod was in the look out of a job. Urmila’s father, Venugopal with conventional beliefs didn’t agree for their marriage. Finally father held a proposal close to his heart for Urmi. He finalized it despite all the resistance from Urmila. He thought time would bless her with glee. The wedding took place. Urmila got separated from the groom on a lie the next day itself. She had told him that she was a habitual consumer of Phenobarbital medicine.].

Now pl.read.

Urmila uttered not even a word. Guilty feeling though had shadowed her conscience; she had no scruples about executing it. Yes, she was fully determined to follow her sordid decision. He sat there in mute stage for a while. His mind was in puzzlement as he didn’t know what to do. His reason and passion started a tussle whether to inform the matter to Ama or not. His reason found the win and decided to cover it from her.  And after much additions and subtractions he decided eventually to subtract her from his life. 

“My Amma lives for me only. If she comes to know this, she may break her heart. She dislikes cheats. So I won’t tell her anything. Next morning itself I’ll drop you in your house. You are not coming back. You will stay there only. I’ll find some reason to tell my mother about dropping you.”

And he did what he said. He made his Amma believe that Urmila had to undergo training for a job nearer her village. She would be staying there for a period.

“Here is your daughter, let her stay here only,” callous were his words.

“Why, why, what happened?” Urmila’s parents together.

“Please don’t act, you know everything,” he left her in her residence and left home fast.

Achchan and Amma didn’t pronounce any word. “Urmila might have told him about the affair,” suspected they. A deadly mist of sadness spread all over there. 

Days crawled; Aravaind journeyed back to his resident city, Bangalore to join his company after cancelling the leave. Interrogations were responded in one or two words.  He dissolved his mind completely in officials. Soon he put a full stop to his job in that company and joined a new job.

“I think I can’t adjust with that girl, so better to be separate,” the response to the interrogations from others.

Amma also found something fishy after long.But she and Urmila’s family couldn’t elicit the real reason for their separation. The way paved for this end Urmila kept furtive in her thoracic chamber away from the reach of even Vinod and Sharmila. Sharmila tried her best by hook or by crook to get the covert matter unearthed.

 “Aravind and I cannot adjust with each other. We got separated,” though equivocal was the reply tendered by her to people, they were forced to believe that. Since the mobility of mobiles didn’t have company with humans at that time, they couldn’t express their mutual communication skill. And therefore   Aravind and Urmila could not measure the circumferences of their innate personality traits before the wedding.

Urmila felt a heavy bag off her hand and she became a free bird. Still her mind didn't leave her like that. It took her on the course of an introspection, “Am I right to do so? My parents would be frauds in Aravind’s eyes forever. Perhaps he may not see them again. His worry will end soon. Another marriage will settle things for him. If he doesn't disclose the matter of medicine-intake, no one will come to know about my trick. Perhaps he looks like a man of ethics. He won't tell anybody, I think.”

 Two weeks or more she waited for Vinod’s call. As she grew unrest, she picked the receiver ensuring none’s presence around. The other end didn't respond in Vinod’s voice, but in his mother’s sound, “He is not here, gone out. Who is there?”

“A friend,” quickly she cradled the phone.

“Did she recognize me? Hmm! No, she was in a hurry and she hasn't heard me clearly,” solaced, she herself.

                                                                                                                                     [To be contd.]

A Dreadful Determination! Part-12

[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.  All their friends, but Vinod flew away from the brood for life’s needs. Vinod was in the look out of a job. Urmila’s father,Venugopal with conventional beliefs didn’t agree for their marriage. Finally father held a proposal close to his heart for Urmi. He finalized it despite all the resistance from Urmila. He thought time would bless her with glee. The wedding day reached].

Now pl.read.

          

        

Image Google

 As her four-wheeler reached the wedding auditorium, Urmila descended from it. Sharmila, their kin and the beautician assisted and accompanied her to the greenroom. And the beautician carried out the remaining part of the make-up. Vestured in purple conjugal array Urmila looked like a princess as narrated in the Holy Scriptures. Her colour and the saree’s  colour were vying each other for the win. All the pairs of visual organs present in the hall followed Urmila. Her visage had a special prettiness in make-up, for which she was not devoting time much. And now all the eyes fervently awaited the groom’s arrival. 

                                                                           

The groom, Aravind stepped down from the automobile along with his mother and some others like dear and near. Aravind had lost his male parent at his tender age. From then Malati , his mother never thought of a life other than guiding her kid to the correct destiny. And hence she possessed a soul sure with satiation.

The groom though not equally weighty as Urmila in looks, seemed nix behind her in poise. The party enjoyed a grant reception when a boy, Urmila’s cousin had offered a garland and a bouquet to the groom after washing and wiping his feet in a pious manner. Generally younger brother of the bride should do it.  Urmila had no brother.

All the things that had to follow the reception journeyed rather soared in their usual unique fashion. The wedding stage was adorned with fresh flowers, a traditional wooden measuring jar of grains filled with paddy grains and a coconut flower bunch kept on top ( nirapara) and a conventional sacred oil lamp(nilavilakku). The respective parents led the lad and the lass to the wedding platform.

 Their entry to the propitious platform was very conspicuous. Gals clad in cute garments carried flower plates with lighted coconut–lamps (thalam).  They were entrusted with the job of escorting the persons of the day. Both the groom and the bride were made seated and the rest of the  processes like tying marital symbol (thaali), exchanging garlands and finger rings, gifting special apparel to the bride by the groom, offering the girl’s hand to the boy by father and taking rounds around the platform by the couple took place in the ordained succession.

The laddie and lassie felt lassitude a lot but covered it within the blankets of grins to the guests. The muscles on their visages took a turn of aching even.The parents and kin as the dessert of the rituals served them dessert, milk and plantains. The guests all rushed to the dining and took their seats behind the feast-leaf.

When the couple reached the groom’s abode they were received by the mother who had reached earlier. She handed a lighted sacred lamp to the bride.

 The Sun as an uninvited guest watched things well and rendered selfless service by shining brightly everywhere. He let not the rains to trouble the couple and spoil their garb in envy. He bade adieu to all after accomplishing his duty well.The night moved to her bed and started sleeping under the blanket of dark. People all withdrew themselves to their caves for a comfy sleep  as their energy was exhausted in the day’s excitements.

 Urmila slowly moved to the flower-fragranced bed room. Her steps were firm because the predestined rigid determination had dominated over her mind. She being fully conversant of the revolutionary upshot, put forward her steps to execute all that. Rather her mind seduced her to do that, to deceive all. She had only one mission i.e. the union with Vinod. In fact she solaced herself that everything is fair in war and love.

She was holding a glass of milk in hand and handed over it to Aravind according to the instruction by the elders.He sipped one-third and the rest she had had.

“I had heard only about ‘Love at first sight’, but experienced when I met you. I wanted to talk to you over phone. However I couldn’t,” Aravind broke the silence.

“You are actually broadminded and large-hearted. The other alliance-seekers were turning away their faces when they knew about my disease.”

“Disease!What disease?” his sound was loud with high anxiety. 

“I habitually take Phenobarbital medicine for over anxiety, sometimes it becomes seizure. Now I am alright. If any break in taking medicine……,” he didn't allow her to complete the talk.

  “Cheating! Your parents are cheats, Ho! What a cheating? They never told us this. O! No, I cannot bear with this. They wanted only to load you to someone. They cannot unload you like that,I won't allow,” Aravind was mad with ire. Suddenly he lowered his loud voice to cover things from his mother. He didn't want to throw her into agony.

                                                                                                                              [To be contd.]

The Ancestral Orchard!

Here I have not taken ancestors or the science involved in the study. It is about incidents, some decades ago. I have just imagined that the children were free to move to places they liked and play games they preferred at that time.Only restricted restrictions were there.

Ancestral Orchard!

Flowers from gardens

Ancestors', blessings from God,

I pluck as I see.

   I walk, old-old time-

   in orchards; mangoes and

  Cashews swing in wind.  

Turn little men to 

Fairs, their vacant time; golden

 Balls of wild jack, wink!

Carts scent to little

Noses wind; stones hit fruit;

 Gold balls fall in base.

Little legs run, pick

Fruit; gluttons snatch, suck, fight,hit
And beat, they play well.

Blows on little thighs,

Tears in eyes; kiss dearly and

 Hug finally moms.

For Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

A Dreadful Determination! Part-11

 I am back after a long sabbatical or busy schedule to be with my companion blog spot. Sorry, I couldn't complete this story.I think now I can step up to its conclusion without any procrastination.

 Part-11

[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.  A squad of six used to engage themselves in kiddies’ amusements a lot. Urmila bloomed into the synonym of beauty and Vinod grew into an example of adoptable personality-traits. All the friends, but Vinod flew away from the brood for life’s needs. Vinod was in the look out of a job. Urmila’s father,Venugopal with conventional beliefs didn’t agree for their marriage. Finally father held a proposal close to his heart for Urmi. He finalized it despite all the resistance from Urmila. He thought time would bless her with glee.]

Now pl. read.

Urmila concluded the routine journey through the domestic chores. Then she placed herself among the rectos and versos of the novel which she was engrossed in as though to make her plight a bit light. Her mind was watching the arrangements which her parents were engaged in. They were talking about the list of kith and kin to be invited, ornaments to be procured, array to be selected etc.etc. Not even a single word made its exit from Urmila’s mouth. It was time for Venugopal to leave for bank. He didn’t ask Urmila anything about it nor did he ask Sharmila also. He was proceeding to the procedures on the belief or make-belief that things will move on the smooth path.

“I shall come home a bit early today. Where are Sharmi and Urmi? Tell the children to make their list of friends. We’ll sit together and process the invitation ‘formalities’.

Urmila watched Amma’s visage while nodding in response to Achchan. The facial muscles were curved and stretched in agony. Taking into account her mother’s anguish Urmila woke up from the self-created lethargy and entrusted Sharmila with the preparation of the list and the latter in turn awaited the night to carry out the assigned job.

After the cuisine routines Sharada made her entry into the bath area and Sharmila took the weekly magazine and embarked on her berth in the bedroom. Viewing none near the phone Urmila held the receiver in her hand and dialed the number, entrenched in mind. Luckily she had had Vinod on the receiving end. Both of them ensured that none was there in their proximity. Vinod faced no objection from his elders because they always stood by him.

“Vinu, I can’t get you, but I want you. I have taken a decision. It may not sound good to you. I can’t marry a stranger. No way can I accept a person not at all known to me. I can’t spend my entire life with a person like that.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Listen well. I have two options. One you have rejected, the elopement. I  had mentioned it ealier. The other you may get panicky. But listen well. This marriage will fall on me without fail.  I can’t escape from it. Amma is getting crushed between Achchan and me. I feel sorry for her. T..H.E.R..E ..F..O..R..E after marriage I’ll go with my plan, though it is a bit unethical.”

“But, Urmila, what is it? Don’t do silly things. This is life, not a game. Tell me what it is. I shall be with you.”

“I can die for you, but can’t live for another person. Wait and see what I’ll keep in store for you. So don’t ask me now.”

Urmila, perceiving her mother’s footsteps slowly cradled the receiver. Then her bed patiently received her. She sank in the rectos and versos of the novel again. Vinod kept quiet though was he skeptic about her plan. At the same time he didn’t want to hurt her with queries and questions.Nevertheless an unknown vexation verily shadowed his mind.

Eventually the day significant much to Venugopal and trivial to Urmila knocked at the door. Urmila just danced as a puppet in accordance with the strings that her parents and the other kin pulled. No one could read her mind, as she bore not any expression on the face.

The customary rituals that are observed conventionally had no dearth with her also. Usually wedding-eve sees procedures like venerating the elders, receiving the guests, accepting the gifts and serving luxuriant juices and snacks to them. It is believed that the veneration of elders-presenting them a betel leaf with an Aracanut   and a coin kept inside and touching their feet- earns blessings for the lass (Dakshina). The lad has no escape from this path, as he does it in his area. Urmila without any pause conformed whatever was required and instructed by others.

The wedding dawn winked at everyone that had opened their eyes before its rouse. After the personal hygienic chores in the morning Urmila sat on a chair for the beautician to perform all the prettifying art work on her.

“Will all your friends come, mole? None were there for the eve,” Amma while inserting a piece of idly to the lips of her dear daughter, as  Urmila’s full physique was under the beautician’s control.

“No, I haven’t invited anyone. They want to see Vinod marries me,” Urmila drew her mother nearer and mumbled in her ear. She didn't want the third person’s ears to absorb the matter.

[To be contd.]

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.]

The Year Ensuing!

Bye for a while(a month).

Might have vexed us Happenings many

With full of occurrences numberless

 Proving their murky and gloomy nature,

 When traversed we through

 The year that is by-gone.

Forget and neglect never we that

 Incidents of laughter in associations

With day today life’s abundant actions

Also might have fully hands stretched

For greeting us with jollity priceless.

Bereavements in count profound

Causing morbid misery in plenty

And confinements in countless number

Have bumped up populous spheres’ imbalance

  Inviting the plight of sources’ paucity.

Performs well the duty, mother Globe

Stylishly with no stopping set back

Balancing on her path preordained,

  Caressing and cuddling her kids on the way

Holding the fingers of Father Time.

 Let us, her children ponder over willfully

The means and measures to drive our lives

 With smooth,soft and ease enough

 Erasing all that trap and trouble us

 And meet with zip the year ensuing.   

                                                                                                  

  Reminiscence ill-fated if any we have,

 Drop let us in the ditch it deserves

 Wipe off fully the traces it leaves and

 Be ready to receive the year so fresh

 Bringing boons, to be born soon.

Remember let’s now solidly that

Await us new blessings in plenty

Showering hap and glories on paths

That lead us to destinies upcoming

In the year neonatal pouring peace in life.

 The bloggers and viewers, Kith and kin,

Dear and near, siblings and cousins and all others

 Within and behind the screen that 

The New Year raises in living world,

May 2015 bring you health, wealth and bliss.

Once more a very pleasant new year to all.

sarala.