Benign Flame: Saga of Love, BS Murthy [rainbow fish read aloud txt] 📗

suitable match for you. The girl is Ramaiahgaru’s youngest daughter. He works at the Head Post Office here, and is my friend’s colleague. We are all impressed with their family and our astrologer says both your horoscopes match to the tee. Moreover, the girl is very beautiful. If you like her, I would be done with my duty. After all, it’s time you got married. Take leave for a week and come as early as you can. Your mother wants you to spend some time with us.’

“Moreover, the girl is very beautiful,” he read aloud; and repeated again, as an encore to his ears.

He was always particular that his wife should be a beauty; and made that clear to his parents.

Instinctively he remembered Vani, his erstwhile colleague, and his thoughts turned to her. He always wondered whether beauty and grace were at competition in her persona. How he used to daydream about marrying her! However, his desire to cut a figure only made him diffident in her presence. Moreover, his anxiety to impress her with his wit made him only dumb in her audience. While nursing his calf love, he used to wonder about her reciprocity. As though appreciating his fear of rejection, his eyes felt shy to convey his desire while his lips failed to address his love.

‘An arranged marriage brings the woman into man’s life on his terms, which gives a head start to the marital romance, giving a short shrift to the uncertain courtship,’ he thought presently.

He wondered whether this girl - he was disappointed that his father failed to mention her name - could be as beautiful as Vani. However, he couldn’t help wishing that she might be better looking.

‘After all, it’s the woman’s desirability that makes man covetous, moreover, the allurement of woman’s beauty gives meaning to man’s life, and provides substance as well. A man’s job is half done if he has a cute wife for she doubles up, as a beautiful mother to ensure the children wouldn’t be ugly,’ he thought.

 Propelled by that welcome prospect, Sathyam boarded the train in beatitude the very next day.

-------

Pathrudu’s message that they would be coming for the pellichupulu that Sunday set the ball rolling at Ramaiah’s house. As the day of reckoning dawned with hope in both the households, Roopa became the center of attention in her home, and the subject of discussion at Pathrudu’s place. Janaki insisted that Roopa oil-skinned before her bath, and left her only after having shampooed her hair with some soapnut water. Sandhya however, descended on the scene when Roopa was still in the bathroom. After her bath, as Roopa wanted to come out, she found herself bolted from without. Readily realizing that Sandhya was playing pranks on her, Roopa began to fret and fume from within. At length, Sandhya removed the latch and rushed into Roopa’s room only to leave her mate stranded in her petticoat. However, it was only after Roopa’s desperate entreaties that Sandhya let her in, and as though for recompense took her into a palliative embrace.

“Soon your PC would’ve a feast for his eyes,” said Sandhya admiring Roopa’s assets.

“That is if you keep me without my sari,” said Roopa trying to loosen herself from Sandhya’s grip.

Debate ensued, with Janaki too joining in, regarding the ‘sari for the occasion’ for Roopa, and finally the consensus emerged in favor of the chocolate silk with a snuff border. After the lunch, as the countdown started, Janaki was at preparing a garland of jasmines to adorn Roopa’s plait as Sandhya toiled to tame her friend’s luxuriant hair. Such was its profusion that Sandhya’s delicate fingers seemed overwhelmed.

“A hair like this is sure to ensnare any soul,” whispered Sandhya to Roopa.

“If my hair has substance, your bob has style,” said Roopa looking back at Sandhya endearingly.

“She would be really lucky if they agree,” Janaki interrupted their mirth.

“Doesn’t she sound like a stuck up gramophone?” said Roopa in jest.

“Getting a girl married is no joke these days; he’s their only son and they’re propertied too. His parents are hale and healthy, not needing their daughter-in-law’s nursing. Moreover, the boy is in the government service, so  he won’t be hard up for cash with people lining up to line his pocket; one can be sure about that,” Janaki addressed Sandhya.

“Bribe money is bad mummy, know that from me,” said Roopa mockingly.

“How can it be so when it’s the norm, anyway, as it’s a man’s affair, why should woman poke her nose into it?” Janaki sounded dismissive.

“If man gets the boot, it pinches his wife’s leg, mummy,” Roopa protested mimicking.

“Moreover, his father has five years of service left,” Janaki resumed the resume, “and the boy is just twenty-eight. From what we’ve heard, he has no vices, to name any. He’s neither the club going sort, nor the card playing type. He knows how to count his notes and keep them clean. Well, a disciplined bringing up one may say. Any girl should find him a safe bet to say the least. We’re lucky to come across such a match these days when everyone is going head over heels to go astray.”

Seeing Roopa unmoved, Sandhya thought that the bride was not half as excited as her mother, and felt,

‘She has always been like that, would think of crossing the bridge only when she comes to it.’

When Chandrika joined them, after toying with some special preparations in the kitchen, Janaki said,

“Hasn’t she brought all this about, though by default? Maybe, everything is for our good only, as the saying goes. I’ve been praying that she could make the best out of a bad bargain.”

“Don’t worry about me,” said Chandrika dryly, used as she was to her mother’s deprecation of her condition.

Everything was in position by the time the guests were expected that evening. Nevertheless, Chandrika and Sandhya were barred from Sathyam’s sight lest they should distract his attention from Roopa. However, they might satisfy their curiosity by peeping through the window as and when the party arrived. And Pathrudu did troop in with his party at the appointed time.

After making them seated in the hall, Roopa was ushered in immediately to beat the impending durmuhurtham. As she squatted on the mat, Roopa stole a glimpse of Sathyam only to place her eyelids on guard for the rest of the rendezvous. On the other hand, Sathyam couldn’t take his eyes off Roopa for he found her out of the world. Besides, the very thought that she could be his wife whetted his appetite. He found her exceedingly charming even with her head dropped and eyelids drooped. Savoring her beauty, he noticed the plain gold stud on her shapely nose. He felt a diamond would make her resplendent and thought of presenting her one during their first night.

“Silence isn’t always golden, so you may talk to her,” said Ramaiah interrupting Sathyam’s daydreaming.

“Why embarrass her,” fumbled Sathyam.

Then Ramaiah engaged Sathyam in conversation about his work and times, apparently for Roopa’s ears. However, as Sathyam betrayed his uncouthness and paraded his mediocrity as though to supplement his ungainly look, Roopa was truly put off. Meanwhile Durgamma, Sathyam’s mother, moved closer to Roopa ostensibly to converse, however with the intent of feeling her legs for possible abnormality.

“What do you do in the spare time?” Ramaiah continued his interview, unmindful of Roopa’s apparent disinterest in that.

“I make my meal,” Sathyam said and instinctively looked at Roopa.

Noticing that she tried to suppress her smile, he felt embarrassed, and Ramaiah thought if fit to end his ordeal. As Pathrudu and party left after a while, promising to get back soon, Janaki started her monologue again, if anything, with greater conviction. However, the rest mobbed Roopa for her reaction.

“He’s not for me,” said Roopa shocking her mother.

“Have you gone mad or what! What’s wrong with him? He’s well-built and is not ill shaped either,” Janaki nearly shouted at Roopa.

“Why place the cart before the horse? Even if they like her, it all depends on the dowry they demand,” said Ramaiah to preempt frayed tempers.

Stung by her mother’s reaction, Roopa retreated into her room as Sandhya followed her to confabulate.

“If you were me, would you marry him?” Roopa asked Sandhya.

“I haven’t seen him that way,” said Sandhya, a little surprised.

“And that means, you aren’t impressed either,” said Roopa.

While Sandhya kept mum, Janaki cribbed all along. Roopa for her part prayed that Pathrudu would ask the moon for a dowry, and kept her fingers crossed.

------

“They Okayed Roopa, without dowry at that,” said Ramaiah, as he came home the next evening, as though soliciting a ‘yes’ from Roopa.

“Roopa, think again, one shouldn’t shun fortune when it beckons on its own,” pleaded Janaki.

“Why not look for another match?” said Roopa sounding pleading.

“But why reject this one,” Ramaiah seemed persuasive.

“I’ve nothing against him but I’m not enthused either,” said Roopa dryly.

“Don’t be hasty, think again. We all feel it’s a fine match, and you know that we wish you well,” pleaded Janaki.  

“No, he’s not my man,” said Roopa wishing that they spared her.

“Maybe, he’s a simpleton, but do realize that he’s young and has a long way to go,” said Ramaiah, who seemed to have read his daughter’s mind.

‘If something isn’t presentable at its ninety per cent, it wouldn’t be much different either at cent per cent,’ thought Roopa but to buy time she said,

“Give me some time to think.”

However, after dinner, Ramaiah went up to a brooding Roopa in the verandah.

“If you’re not interested in this match, so be it, but if I don’t show you life as I’ve seen it, I might be failing you,” he said in all earnestness. “Matrimony is a vague hope nursed by the young minds. If marriages are made in heaven, I’m sure the gods would take the realities of life into account. In marriage, it’s only after consummation that couples come to appreciate the true meaning of married life.

In spite of its infinite possibilities, life has its own limitations. As you would realize, mostly it is situational in its reach and breach. As one incident doesn’t encompass life, ardency is not the only opportunity that marriage affords women. As you could guess, maternity is gift-wrapped by heaven for married women. Marriage is so much more than a private affair of the spouses. Know it’s an extension of the family that ushers in a new family. Gratification in marriage is multifaceted as well as multi-sourced, like the success of a child can obliterate a lifetime of parental failures. Believe me; a couple could feel that their life was worth living just for the sake of that moment.

In the good old days, alliances were struck based on parental preferences. One might even say prejudices. Inclinations of the children didn’t count; when married, they were too young to have a mind of their own anyway. I know times have changed, and I’m not holding a brief for the bygone era any more. However, I guess neither the new waves have washed any wisdom ashore.

The doors of opportunities in today’s world have led to the advent of the salaried classes, with the attendant disparity in incomes. Social status seems to have shifted its focus onto the white collared. This insensibly upset the marriage order of yore, amongst the families of the communes. These days every maiden seems to feel that her wedlock is not secure unless engineered by an engineer! Parents too have come to equate their daughters’ security with the sons-in-law’s bank balances.

Every bachelor, forget about his own eligibility, has come to imagine that the bridal world is at his feet, to be kicked at his will. An Alanaskar Syndrome so to say! Well, in his unceasing search for someone better, even the pretty ones fail to get his nod till the law of diminishing returns catches him up by the scruff. Then with his eligibility on the wane and despondency on the raise, he lands up with a languid dame for all the sprightly in the race would have married by then. Of late,