Crossing the Mirage: Passing through youth, BS Murthy [free reads .TXT] 📗

he said and laughed in half jest.

“Jokes apart…,” she began eagerly.

“I’m not joking.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Why not marry me?”

“But why should you” she said a little taken aback, “after all that?”

“I’ve my own reasons,” he said seeing hope, “love being the foremost.”

“I think it’s absurd.”

“Is it because you don’t fancy my looks?” he said and looked disappointed.

“Oh, no!” she said taking his hand, “what my looks have brought me but misery!”

“If you can turn blind to my looks,” he said nevertheless, “you would find me charming in every way.”

“You’re only compounding my confusion.”

“Don't think that I’m taking advantage of your situation,” he said in an outpour. “I love you with all my heart and soul. I don’t want to stress upon that because it may not mean much to you now, and for all that you could’ve lost faith in love itself.”

“That’s my tragedy.”

“Don’t worry,” he said confidently, “I’ll make you believe in love all again.”

“You infuse hope,” she said vacantly, “and puzzle me too. Is it not pity at work?”

“On the contrary,” he said spiritedly, “I love your spiritedness. I’ve loved you at first sight and now I’m beginning to admire you. I shall feel lucky if you agree.”

“Looks like I’ve lost my capacity to think,” she said thoughtfully. “Now help me put the thorn away and then give me time to think it over.”

“Why not,” he said mysteriously, “I've the rose with the thorn as well?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean,” he said with apparent conviction. “I would take you with the child.”

“Oh, but why?”

“Life is a combination of circumstances as Tolstoy put it,” he said as she stared at him in wonderment. “Why not we face the facts, if not for the unwanted child in your womb, you wouldn't have had a second look at me, and but for your handicap, I couldn't have dared of proposing to you.” 

“Maybe, but unfortunately, looks do matter in choosing mates.” she said apologetically. “But then, as the saying goes, handsome is as handsome does. I suppose you're well-read.”

“I did savor a few drops of the ocean of ideas, that is, the novel,” he said. “And if only you hear my tale, you would know why I want your child in tow.”

“Of course, I'm curious.”

The story of his life, that he narrated to the last detail, filled every recess of her heart inducing empathy for him.

“What a soul I've met!” she said empathically, taking his hand. “Oh, you've chosen to forego your right to father out of consideration for the unborn! Won't that show your innate capacity for loving?”

“Well,” he said his eyes welling with tears, “I haven't seen it that way.”

 “That's the beauty of your soul,” she said touchingly. “I take it as my fortune to become your wife and mother your child. I promise you to give you many lovely children, as many as you want. Go in for the corrective as I get aborted?”

“Oh, how I allowed myself to be mired in the mirage of ugliness,” he said excitedly, pressing her hand. “Know you've led me to the oasis of beauty.”

“In a way, it is the case with me too,” she said holding his hand as though not to lose it ever. “But for you, I would’ve chased the mirage of disaffection all my life. In helping me cross it, you've enabled me to trace the treasure of my life in you.”

“Aren’t we blessed really?” he said and kissed her hand while she felt she had a newborn purpose in her life.

“Oh, what a fortune!” she said in ecstasy.

“It’s my word that you would forever feel loved by me.”

“It’s my promise,” she said in all gratitude. “I shall love you soon enough and value you all my life.”

“I cherish you, Nithya,” he caressed her hand as one would a find.

“I’m proud of you,” she said, kissing his hand.

“Now perhaps,” he said, “it’s my turn to ask you whether sentiment has overwhelmed your judgment.”

“You may check up at the morrow,” she said joyously. “I too have read a little of Shakespeare.”

“A blue stocking of a wife then!” he said with a smile. “And I haven’t bargained for one.”

“When you’re destined to get one,” she said, turning mirthful, “what can be done?”

“Let’s wait till the morrow.”

“No way,” she said naughtily, “if you want to get rid of me.”

By the time they had to part for the day, they turned so close that he insisted he would drop her at her place.

“Goodbye till tomorrow,” she dismissed him as they reached that street corner.

“At three then,” he waved her goodbye.

“Won't I make it on the dot,” she waved back at him.

As he stood rooted with a heavy heart, she reached home in relief. Overwhelmed with joy, that night, they both waited for the fresh dawn with hope.

 

Chapter 12

Setting the Pace

 

When it was past noon the next day, Chandra and Nithya, not wanting to make the other wait, reached well before the appointed hour. As they reached the rendezvous, while her face radiated charm, his gait exhibited confidence.

“On my word,” she said heartily, “didn’t I tell you, you can’t get rid of me?”

“You’re more beautiful than ever,” he said, mesmerized.

“You look all so different.”

“Thanks to your acceptance,” he took her hand, “seems I’ve gained in looks.”

“I’m happy for you.” she said.

“Let’s go to my mother who would feel happy for us both.”

“I’m not sure how my parents would react,” she said in apprehension. “You may have to pull me out from there.”

“I’ve planned it all to the last detail,” he said, leading her enthusiastically towards his Vespa. “Just wait and watch.”

Keeping pace with him till they reached his scooter, she stood rooted when it came to getting onto the pillion.

“Shall we hire an auto?” he suggested, sensing her hesitation.

“Oh, no,” she said, as she positioned herself to ride pillion, “it feels a little odd, that’s all.”

“I know it takes time,” he said, as he steered the vehicle.

“Better be prepared for an aggressive spouse.”

“Why not take me for a support?” he said, as she sat erect like a pole.

“What else am I doing?” she put her arm around him.

When they rode to the Pearl House, Anasuya was at the gate buying some garden pots from a hawker. Seeing her son with Nithya, she smiled sweetly at them.

“Take her in,” she said in welcome. “I’ll join you readily.”

As Chandra was showing Nithya their place, Anasuya joined them.

“How do you like our place?” Anasuya said going up to Nithya.

“Nithya says she is tempted to live here,” said Chandra, as Nithya blushed.

“You’re welcome,” said Anasuya, taking Nithya’s hand. “I couldn’t have wished for a better bahu.”

“Get us married then,” said Chandra.

“What about her parents?” asked Anasuya.

“You’re the first to know,” said Chandra.

“Would they agree?” Anasuya asked Nithya.

“I'm not sure,” said Nithya blushing, “but I would be glad if you take me.”

“It's my pleasure, leave the rest to me,” Anasuya told Nithya and reached Yadagiri over phone.

“I feel happy and grateful,” said Nithya. 

When Yadagiri came home post-haste, he found them all in a state of bonhomie. Sensing that something was in the offing, he took a close look at Nithya.

“She's Chandra's pearl, Nithya,” said Anasuya to Yadagiri.

“The brightest ever,” Yadagiri said in all happiness.

“Oh, no,” said Nithya to Anasuya blushing to her roots, “you’re ever more beautiful.”

 “I've given them our word,” Anasuya seemed to preempt her husband, “I knew you wouldn’t object.”

“I wouldn’t have done any differently,” Yadagiri said joyously.

“But there’s a little hitch,” said Anasuya tentatively. “She’s not of our caste.”

“That won’t bother me anymore,” said Yadagiri pensively. “What matters is their happiness.”

“She’s not sure about her parents either,” said Anasuya as though he should prevail over them.

“If they approve, well and good,” said Yadagiri nonchalantly. “If not, we would marry them, and in style.”

Nithya was so touched that she found herself touching Yadagiri’s feet.

“May God give you a blessed life,” he blessed her.

The wedding of Nithya and Chandra that soon followed became the talk of the town. While all were overawed by its grandeur, some felt it was reformist and hoped that it might be a harbinger of change. However, many wondered whether the marriage would’ve taken place in the first place if the bride were less charming for her base and the groom not so well-heeled for his caste.

 

Chapter 13

Oasis of Bliss

 

While Yadagiri envisaged honeymoon for the just married in Ooty, Chandra was averse to it. Instead he wanted to stay put at home.

“Why, what’s the idea?” Nithya asked Chandra when he made his intent clear.

“Don’t I know you need time for that?”

“I like your sensitivity,” she said thoughtfully. “But I feel we should give our honeymoon a fair chance.”

“You’re more than fair,” said Chandra in admiration

Since Yadagiri had made all arrangements beforehand, they were on course of their ‘fair chance’. As they poured out their hearts and bared their souls in the privacy of the first class railway coupe, their peculiar acquaintance acquired the form of a unique friendship. Gratified by their emotional closeness, they vowed to be open to each other forever.

When they reached their destination, they checked into an old-world motel. After breakfast, they went out to explore Ooty’s scenic beauty in the midst of that spring. The ambience of the hill-resort and the climate of the season came to enthrall their hearts to enthuse their minds. And that enabled them to shed the overburden of their inhibited relationship.

“Weren’t you expecting Rashid to turn up at our wedding?” she asked him, recalling how overjoyed she had been at the presence of her friends’ battalion.

“I thought he would,” he said, a little disappointed. “Maybe, it’s a short notice for him. Or he should’ve been preoccupied.”

“If you’re partners still,” she said, “wouldn’t he have come?”

“Probably he would’ve,” he tried to rationalize life, “but then, as life is circumstantial in its spread, relationships are situational in their scope. So we should learn to enjoy the fortunes of life and cherish the value of relationships in the context of their times. After all, Rashid made a vital difference to my psyche and that won’t change, whatever be the change in the relationship. And that’s what matters to my life, and that’s what stands.”

“What about your contribution to his life?” she asked. “Didn’t that make all the difference to him? If I’m not cynical, I wonder whether he wanted to let sleeping dogs lie. Why, he might have felt that in case he showed up, you might as well develop second thoughts about your share in the growing business. But all said and done, had he come, it would’ve made a great difference to your memory. Wouldn’t it have?”

“Maybe,” he said, “but in the end, it’s one's attitude that really matters to one's life.”

“How come you have acquired such depth?”

“Well, the sense of rejection too has its own silver lining,” he said thoughtfully. “When one gets rejected, either he gets defeatist or becomes enlightened.”

“And so does dejection,” she said nostalgically, “as happened in my case.”

“Glad you didn’t let yourself get bogged down,” he said endearingly. “Otherwise, to my misfortune you would’ve ended up being a misogamist.”

“Maybe true,” she said winking at him. “What about the dame who gave such a fillip to your psyche?”

“You mean that Kamathipura girl?”

“Yes.”

“If not for her,” he said reminiscently, “I wouldn’t have developed the confidence to propose to you. I shall cherish her forever.”

“What’s her name?”

“I didn’t enquire.”

“Why so?”

“Rashid told me all of them go by pseudonyms,” he said, “and I didn’t want to hear a lie from her.”

“What a beautiful way to think!” she said in all admiration. “I feel I’m falling in love with you sooner than I thought it would be possible.”

“What welcome news for me!” he said heartily.

“How strange life could be?” she said turning philosophical in turn. “Didn’t she lift your spirits for my joy?”

“Don’t go by hearsay,” he smiled.

“Your testing time will come anyway,” she was coy.

“Don’t make me nervous,” he said catching her hand in mock fear.

“I won’t make it any easy either.”

“It’s appetizing, isn’t