Gently Falls the Bakula

SudhaMurty

GENTLY FALLS THE BAKULA

Contents

AbouttheAuthor

BytheSameAuthor

Dedication

Preface

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-EIGHT

TWENTY-NINE

THIRTY

THIRTY-ONE

FollowPenguin

Copyright

AbouttheAuthor

SudhaMurtywasbornin1950inShiggaoninnorthKarnataka.ShedidherM.Tech.inComputerScience,andisnowthechairpersonoftheInfosysFoundation.AprolificwriterinEnglishandKannada,shehaswrittenninenovels,fourtechnicalbooks,threetravelogues,onecollectionofshortstories,threecollectionsofnon-fictionpiecesandtwobooksforchildren.

HerbookshavebeentranslatedintoallthemajorIndianlanguagesandhavesoldover300,000copiesaroundthecountry.ShewastherecipientoftheR.K.Narayan’sAwardforLiteratureandthePadmaShriin2006.

BytheSameAuthor

OtherbooksbySudhaMurty

FictionTheMagicDrumandOtherStories(Puffin)MahashwetaDollarBahu

Non-fictionWiseandOtherwiseTheOldManandHisGodHowITaughtMyGrandmothertoReadandOtherStories(Puffin)

Toallthosewomenwhoallowedfamilycommitmentsandresponsibilitiestooverpowertheirownaspirations

Preface

ThiswasmyfirstnovelinKannada,writtenaboutthreedecadesback.Itwasextremelywellreceivedthen.Ihadnotseenthecorporateworldfromcloseandonlyimaginedhowit

functioned.Butnow,inreallife,Ihaveseenitall.Iamawarethatindustrialization,technologicalprogressandscientificadvancementarenecessaryandbringprosperitytoourcountry,buttheyhavetheirownshortcomings.Theycreateawholesetofproblems,sociologicalandpsychological.ThisnovelissetinnorthKarnatakainthe1980s,soitmayappearoutdatedin

someparts.Butthestoryissuchthatitcanhappeninanypartofthecountry,eventoday.Theremustbeinnumerablecoupleswhohavebeenthrough,andarestillgoingthrough,suchdilemmas,beitinasmalltownoramegacity.IhavechosenHubliandBombayasthesettingforthenovel.Thesetwo

placesareverydeartomyheart,sinceIgrewupinoneplaceandintheother,Ihaveenjoyedworking.IwouldliketothankKeertiRamachandraforeditingthemanuscriptand

Penguinforpublishingthenovel.

SudhaMurtyBangalore

ItwasadayofgreatexcitementforthestudentsofModelHighSchool,Hubli.Theresultsofthedistrict-levelinterschoolessaycompetitionweretobeannouncedthatmorning.Thecompetition,opentostudentsofthetenthstandard,wasaprestigiousonenotbecauseoftheprizemoney,butbecausetheawardhadbeeninstitutedbyahighlyrespectedessayist.Theprize-winningessaywouldbesenttothestate-levelcompetition.Thehallwasabuzzwithanticipation.Theboyswereinanimateddiscussion,

thegirlsinwhisperedspeculation.Competitionssuchastheseinvariablythrewupunexpectedwinners.Uglyducklingsoftenturnintobeautifulswanswhentheyaretested.Sowhowasitgoingtobethistime?Thesuspensewaspalpable.WhenthehistoryteacherMrKulkarniwalkedin,asuddenhushfelluponthe

room.Sensingthetensionintheair,MrKulkarnidecidedtoprolongthesuspensealittlelonger.Hebeganbysaying,‘Iknowallofyouarewaitingimpatientlyfortheresults

oftheessaycompetitionandtoknowwhothewinneris.ButIamgoingtoaskyoutowaitalittlelonger.Iwillreadouttheessayfirstandallowyoutoguesswhotheauthorofitcouldbe.AfterhearingtheessayIamsureyouwillagreethatitisamostmatureandheartwarmingeffort,definitelydeservingoftheprize.’Afewooohsandmildprotestsof‘tellusfirst,Sir,’werequicklysilenced,as

MrKulkarnibegantoread:‘Allaremychildren...Iamliketheirfather.Likeanyfatherwishesforhischild,

Happinessandcomfort,Iwishthatforallhumanbeings;Eternaljoy.WhereverIam,WhetherIamhavingmydinnerorataparty,Whetherattendingtomattersofsecrecy,orinspectingthecattlepens,Whetheronajourneyorrestinginmygarden,Informersmustbringmethenewsofmysubjects.WhereverIamIwillworkrelentlesslytobenefitmypeople.Sacredofalldutiesisthepathofdharma.Amanwhoisnotconsciouscannotfollowdharma.Dharmashouldflourish;notperishLetpeoplestriveforitsgrowth,Andnotwishitsdestruction!’

ThesearewordsinscribedonthestoneedictsofDevanampiyaPiyadassiAshoka.Ashoka,thesonofBimbisaraandgrandsonofChandraguptaMauryahasearnedforhimselfaspecialplaceinthehistoryoftheworld.Therehavebeenmanygreatkingswhofoughtwarsandwonmajorbattles—likeAlexander.Thereweregreatsaints,fullofcompassionandwhoshowedkindnesstoalllivingcreatures,likeChristandBuddha.Butthecombinationofakingandasainttherewasnone,otherthanAshoka.EmperorAshokawasagreathumanbeing.AfterthebattleofKalinga,hesaw

theterriblesufferinginflictedonthepeopleasaresultofthewarandhewashorrified.HisheartmeltedandhedecidedtobemoretolerantandcompassionateanddedicatedtherestofhislifetothepracticeandpreachingofDharma.Hebegantolookuponhissubjectsashischildrenanddideverythingfortheirwelfare.Whenwestudyhisrockedicts,weunderstandthenatureofthisnobleking

andcometoknowhisvaluablethoughtsaboutDharma.Perhaps,Ashokadidnothaveachangeofheartandturntonon-violence

merelybecauseoftheKalingawar!Thateventmayhavemerelyactedasaspurforanalreadygentleandsensitiveemperor.‘Ashokahadhisedictsetchedthroughoutthekingdom,onpillars,onstones

andincaves.ItissaidhiskingdomstretchedfromKarnatakainthesouthtoPakistanandthebordersofAfghanistaninthenorth;fromtheArabianSeainthewesttowhatisnowOrissa(thenKalinga)intheeast.HehadtheminscribedinPali,Prakrit,BrahmiandAremicsothathismessagewouldreachthecommonman.HehasdescribedtheKalingawartooinsomeinstances.Itissaidthatin

thosedayswhenthepopulationwassmall,onehundredthousandpeoplewerekilledinthewarandtheriverDaya,onthebanksofwhichthewarwasfought,hadflowedredwithblood.Ahundredandfiftythousandpeopleweretakenawayasprisoners.Onecanimaginethehorrorsofthatwar!‘SomeoftheedictsoftheemperorcanbefoundinMaski,GaviMatain

RaichurdistrictandSiddapurainChitradurgadistrict.ThatitwasAshokawhowasknownasDevanampiyaandPiyadassi,theMaskistoneedictwasthefirsttoreveal.‘Theedictsinformusthathewasagreatwarrior,kindtohissubjects,a

worthyemperorandadeeplyreligiousruler.TodaythekingdomofAshokadoesnotexist.Buttheprinciplesofthefiveidealsknownas“Panchasheela”,formulatedbyhim,arethegreatesttreasureshehaslefttothismodernworldofconflicts.Thesystemsofadministrationhesetuparecommendable!ThatiswhythenameofAshoka,whodidnotremainmerely“dearofgods”butalso“dearofpeople”,istodayshiningbrightnotonlyinthehistoryofIndiabutalsointhehistoryoftheworld.Isalutesuchanemperor.‘India,whichboastedofsuchakindmonarch,isblessed.Itisalandasholy

ashewhoruledit.TheancientKannadapoetPampawrote:Thislandissopiousandsacred,thatIfIamnotrebornasahumanbeinginthisland,God,thenpleasemakemeasingingcuckooorahummingbeeatleast!

‘ItoopraytogodthatImaybebornagainandagaininsuchacountry.’Bythistime,thoughthenamehadnotyetbeenannounced,eachoneinthe

classknewthatitcouldonlybeMsShrimatiDeshpandewhocouldhavewrittensuchanessay.MsShrimatiDeshpandewasaslim,tallgirl,withawheatishcomplexionand

good,clearfeatures.Shehadunusuallylonghairthatreachedbelowherknees.Shealwaysworeastringofbakulaflowersinherhair.Shrimatiwasoneofthebrighteststudentsinherclass.Sowhentheteacherfinallyannouncedhernameasthewinnerofthe

competition,herclassmateswerenotsurprised.Theybrokeintoloudapplause.TheshyShrimatiwashappybutembarrassed.Luckily,thebellrangjustthensotheteacherquicklyhandedhertheessaybeforeallthestudentsrushedout.

AsShrimatiwasgatheringherbooksandgettingreadytogohome,sheoverheardtheconversationofsomeboysfromherclass.Theywereengrossedinadiscussionaboutthebestessay.TheywereexpressingtheirsurprisethatShrikantDeshpandehadnotgotthefirstprize.ShrikantwasShrimati’srivalintheclass.Atall,fairandhandsomeyoungman,hewasknownforhisstrongdeterminationtobethebest.Nowthathewasbeateninthisessaycompetition,hisfriendsMalleshShettyandRaviPatilweremostupset,evenmorethanShrikanthimself.Itwasamatterofprestigeforthem,andthethoughtthatShrimatihaddefeatedhimwashardtoaccept.TheywereventingtheirangeronShrikant.Thiskindofrivalrywasverycommoninthecoedschoolsofthosedays.‘Shrikant,youshouldn’thavegivenherachancethistime,’fumedRaviPatil.Shrikantsmilinglyreplied,‘Takeiteasy,Ravi.Historyisnotagreatsubject.

Canjustonegoodessaymakeyouatopper?Writinganessayisnothingbutfillinguppages.Realintelligenceisscoringinscience.’‘Don’tyaptoomuch,Shrikant!AllofusareawarethatShrimatiisnota

dumbgirl.Acceptyourdefeatwithgrace.Sheisintelligentandhardworkingandwilldefinitelyscorebetterthanyouineverysubjectifyoudon’tlookout,’retortedRavi.Malleshwasnoddinghisheadinagreement.‘Comeon,Mallya,’saidShrikant

tohisdearfriend,‘youalsodon’toverestimateher.Iagreesheisgoodbutonlyinartssubjectslikehistoryandlanguages.Normallywomenareveryfondofhistorybecauseitisanaccumulationofgossip—likesomeemperorhadthreewives,thelastwifehadsixsons,etc.Thisdoesn’trequireanylogicorreasoning,onlymemorizingfacts,whichgirlsaregoodat.’‘Howdoyouknow?’RaviquestionedShrikant.‘YouknowthatIamherneighbour,Ravi.Icanseeherstudyingfrommy

room.Everydayshegetsupatdawn,probablytopreparesuchkindofessays.IfIhadalsopreparedlikeher,Iwouldhavewrittenabetterone.’NoneofhisfriendswerepreparedtoaccepttheexcusesShrikantwasmakingforhisfailure.‘Don’tfoolus,Shrikant.Whywouldyouwakeupsoearly?Isittojustwatch

herstudying?Weknowthatyouarealsoashardworkingasherbutsheisanydaybrighterthanyou.Mymotherwasscoldingmesayingnoneofusdo

anything,exceptroamaround,butShrimatidoesallthehouseworkandalsostudies.Ithinkmymotherisright.’MalleshwasupsetwithShrikantbecauseheknewthathecouldn’tbeat

ShrimatiandnowordsofShrikantcouldconsolehim.Astheboysstartedwalkingout,RaviPatilsaidtoMallesh,‘Mallya,youare

sothick-skinned!WhyareyougettingsoupsetwhenShrikantisnot?Heisconcedingdefeatsoeasily.Why?Becausewhenapersonisinlove,heisreadytoacceptdefeat.HaveyounotnoticedwhyShrikantalwaysgivesawayhisfirstpositiontoher?Becausesheisgoingtobehisbetterhalf!Seeeventheirnamesmatch—Shrimati-ShrikantDeshpande.Onedayyouwillunderstandthefinerfeelingsoflove,Mallya,don’tworry.’SosayingRaviburstoutlaughing.Shrimatiturnedaround,redwithembarrassment,andsawShrikantstaringat

her.Hetoolookedbaffledandfeltequallyidiotic.Afteramomentortwo,heexploded,‘Shutupyoufools!Don’tjustspeak

whatevercomestoyourmouth.Thereisnothinglikethat!It’sallyourimagination.Iwasnotresponsibleforhername.Ifyouhavethegutsgoandaskher.’HewassurethattheywouldnotaskShrimati!InNorthKarnatakaamarriedwoman’snameconsistedofherfirstname,

followedbyherhusband’snameandthenthesurname.Inthecaseofanunmarriedgirl,herfather’snamewashermiddlename.PoorShrimati!Hername,whichwasthenameofLakshmi,thegoddessof

wealth,wasalsoasignifierforamarriedwoman.Andherfather’snamewasShrikant!BothsheandShrikanthadthesamesurname—Deshpande.Thisunusualcombinationofnameshadledtoallthejokesandteasingthat

shehadjustheard.ButneitherShrikantnorShrimaticoulddoanythingtostopit.

ShrimatiquicklywalkedoutoftheschoolwithherclassmatesVandanaPatilandSharadaEmmikeri.Shewasinnomoodtotalk.Anextremelysensitivepersonbynature,shehadoverheardallthecommentsthattheboyshadmadeandshewasembarrassed.SheandShrikanthadbeenclassmatesfromthefirststandardandtheyhadbeenneighboursforgenerations.Buttherewasabitterrivalrybetweenthetwofamilies,fromthetimesoftheirforefathers.Theyhadonceownedlandsadjoiningeachother’sandtheirenmityintrudedintotheirhomeseventoday.Shrimatididnotlikethekindofloosetalktheboyshadindulgedinandshe

wantedtotalkaboutherdiscomfituretosomeone.Sinceshehadnosistersorbrothers,shecouldonlytalktoherfriends.Butthatday,evenherfriendsweretooexcitedaboutherwinningtheprize,andwereinnomoodtolistentoanything.‘Shrimati,IamsogladthatShrikantwasputdowntoday.Andwithhimhis

friends.ThatMalleshShetty,hetalkssuchrubbish,makingfunofusgirlsallthetime.AsforRaviPatil,hethinksnoendofhimself!Allsaidanddone,thefactisourschoolmateshavenomanners.Theydon’tknowhowtobehave.Youservedthemright.’‘Shrimati,Ireadawoman’sbrainweighslessthanaman’s.Isittrue?’

Sharadawasalittleworried.‘Shari,’Shrimatisaidaffectionately,‘youshouldknowthatintelligenceis

independentofweight!’

‘Iwasconfused,Shrimati.Iamnotasbrightasyouare,see!’Afterapauseshecontinued,‘ButyouknowthatShrikant’smotherGangakkaandhismaternaluncleSheenappa,theythinkthatheisthebrighteststarinthesky.Sheenappakeepscomingtoourshopandtalksnonstopabouthisnephew.IhadtakenavowwithgodHanumanofBhandiwadvillagethatifyoubeatShrikantinthefinalexam,Iwilldistributespecialpedastoeveryoneinschool.TheseDeshpandesaretoomuch.Eventhoughtheydonothaveanylandsleft,theirarrogancehasnotdiminished.’VandanaPatilpinchedSharada’shandtostopherbutSharadawasnotso

brightastounderstandthatthiskindofcommentwouldhurtShrimati.AfterallshetoowasthedaughterofalandlessDeshpande!BhandiwadisasmallvillagenearHubliandthelocaldeity,Hanuman,isvery

famousforbestowinggreatboonsuponhisdevotees.ThereisastrongbeliefthatifsomeonerequestedafavourandfastedonSaturdays,theirrequestswouldbefulfilled.Inreturn,theyjusthadtooffersomesweetstohimtothankhimfortheboon.SincethepedasofDharwadwereveryfamous,somuchsothatpeopleofNorthKarnatakasaidthatifyouhadn’teatenthepedayourlifewaswasted,Sharadahadpromisedtoofferthem,nothingless.Theotherwell-knowntempleinthatregionwastheRailwayEshwartemple

inHubli,abusier,morepopulous,commercialtownthanDharwad.ThesmallEshwartemplewasadjacenttotherailwaystation,sothepresidingdeitycametobeknownas‘RailwayEshwar’.Peoplebelievedthatifoneprayedtohimofferingthebilwapathrawithall

devotion,theirwisheswouldcertainlybegranted.However,Eshwar,thatisShiva,expectednothinginreturnbecauseheisonegodwholoveshisdevoteesunconditionally.Vandana,nottobeleftbehind,toldShrimatienthusiastically,‘HeyShrimati,I

willalsopraytoRailwayEshwar.Ifyoucomefirst,Ishallperformaspecialpujaforhim.Hewilllisten,heisaverypowerfulgod.’Shrimatismiledatherfriends’affectionateexpressionsandsaid,‘Shari,

Vandana,whyareyouprayingtodifferentgods?ShouldIgetthefirstrankonlytobeatShrikant?Oneshouldstudywelltoacquiremoreknowledge.Anexaminationisnottheultimatemeasureofone’sintelligence...HaveanyofyoueveraskedmehowIwrotethisessaythathasmoreinformationthanthe

textbook?IhadactuallyreferredtodifferentbooksonAshoka,Buddhism,etc.Forme,AshokaisreallyagreatpersonandIrespectandadmirehim.IwouldratherspendmoretimelearningabouthimthanstudyingjusttogetmoremarksthanShrikant!’Herwordsupsetbothherfriends.Theyhadbeenprayingsohard,andit

seemedallawaste!‘Forgetit,Shari,letusnotprayforShrimati.Wethoughtthatsheisonourside.ButitlookslikesheisonShrikant’sside.SheisShrimatiShrikantDeshpandeafterall.Ultimatelytheyaretwosidesofthesamecoin.Wearetheoutsiders,’Vandanamuttered,peeved.Shrimatiwasabouttosaysomethingbutshedidn’t.HernamewasShrimati

ShrikantDeshpande,andthat’swhatcausedheralltheproblems.MrsShrikantDeshpande.Whosays‘What’sinaname?’Here,everythingwasinthename!

Beforethereorganizationofthestatesin1956,thedistrictsofDharwad,Karwar,BelgaumandBijapurwerepartoftheBombayPresidency.Asaresult,thesedistrictsbearagreatersimilaritytothecultureofMaharashtrathantothetraditionsoftheerstwhileMysoreStateinthesouth.WhentheywereallunifiedtoformthestateofKarnataka,thesefourdistrictswerereferredtoasNorthKarnataka.EventhoughKannadaisthecommonlanguageofthestate,thelanguageofDharwadandtheotherthreedistrictshasitsownaccent,intonationandevenvocabulary.Bijapur,homeofthefamousGolGumbaz,oneofthelargestdomesinthe

world,isknownforitssalubriousclimate,fertilelandandtastyproduce.ThereisaKannadaproverbthatsays,‘OncetheDonihallaisfullofwater,thestreetsofBijapurarefullofjowar.’Thenforthenextfourtofiveyears,peopledidn’thavetoworryaboutthecrops.Karwarisonthewestcoastandrichinnaturalresources.TheSahyadri

mountainstowerovertheregion.Belgaum,situatedontheborderofMaharashtraandKarnataka,hasalotof

Maharashtrianinfluenceandisextremelycultured.ButDharwadstandsapart.Itisacityofhills,educationandmusic.Great

exponentsoftheKiranagharanabelongtothistown,itishometosomeoftheoldesteducationalinstitutions,andisknownforitspeace-loving,literatepeople.TherewasatimewhenpeopleinKarnatakasaid,‘IfyouthrowastoneinDharwad,itwillhiteitheramusicianorawriter.’ThoughHubliisonlytwenty-twokilometresaway,itdoesnotpossessthe

serenityofDharwad.Itismoreofabustlingcommercialcentreforcottonand

serenityofDharwad.Itismoreofabustlingcommercialcentreforcottonandredchillitrade,amongotherthings.Intheoldendays,somefamiliesfromthisregionhadhelpedthePeshwasof

Maharashtra.Asatokenofappreciationtheyweregivensomelandsinthearea.Havinghereditaryownership,theselandswerepassedfromonegenerationtothenext.Asaresult,thelandlordshaddifferenttitlesandoveraperiodoftime,thetitlesbecamethesurnamesofthosefamilies,like,Deshpande,Jahagirdar,Inamdar,Desai.Untilafewdecadesback,theselandlords,includingtheDeshpandes,usedto

ownvastlandswhichweretilledbythelandlesslabourtheyemployed.Mostofthetimethelandlordsdidnotevenvisittheirfields.Andyet,thepeoplewhohadworkedforthemforyearscouldneverhopetoownevenatinypieceoftheland.Sincetheyconsideredthemselvesaristocrats,thelandownersdidnotbelieveinworking.Theyspenttheirtimeindulgingthemselvesinallsortsofbadhabits.Itwasapurelypatriarchalsocietywheretheheadofthefamilydecidedeverything—beitarrangingamarriage,makingadonationtoatempleoranordinaryhouseholdmatter.Thewomenwerealwaysinthebackground,suppressed,andsubservient,irrespectiveoftheirage.AfterIndiagotindependenceandlandreformswereintroduced,mostofthese

landownerslostmuchoftheirproperty.Suddenlytheyfoundtheirincomesdrasticallyreduced,andtheirexistence,thatofthelowermiddleclass.Theyhadnotcultivated;neitherdidtheyknowanyskillsnorweretheyusedtohardwork.Buttheirfamilypride,arroganceandegoremainedasbefore.TheywerelikeatornBanarassaree.ThoughShrimatiandShrikanthadsuchacommonculturalbackground,their

temperamentswereverydifferent.Onceuponatimetheirfamilieshadeverything,buttodaytheyhadnothingmorethanahugeancestralhouseandafewpiecesofland.Theyfoundithardtomaintaintheoldhouse,buttheycouldn’tabandonitandliveelsewhere.Itwasanissueoffamilyprestige.Thoughtheywereneighbours,theirforefathersalwaysfoughtlikecatsand

dogs,attheslightestprovocation.Actuallyitwastheirmountain-likeegosthatwasresponsibleforthecontinuedenmity.Anotherboneofcontentionwasthatthetwofamiliesbelongedtodifferent

sects—onefamilyworshippedShivaandwascalledSmartha,theotherwasaVishnudevoteeandhence,Vaishnava.Whilethiswasnotanissueforthemen,itwasamajorfactorforthewomentofight.Theendresultwasthattherewas

itwasamajorfactorforthewomentofight.Theendresultwasthattherewasnocommunicationatallbetweenthetwofamilies.Shrimati’sgrandmotherRindakkashouldhavebeenborninakshatriya,or

warriorfamily,forshewasextremelyaggressive.Shewasreadytofightwithanybody,anytime,anywhere!Shedidnotevenrequireareason,becauseshedisagreedwitheverything.PeopleusedtosaythatherpoorhusbandBindappacouldnotputupwithhiswifeandsohaddiedatanearlyage.ButthetruthwasthatBindappahaddiedbecausehewasoldandhadbeena

slaveofmanyvices.Althoughhewasrich,hewasarrogant,uneducatedandchauvinistic.Rindakkawashisthirdwife.Theyhadonlyoneson,Shrikant.Rindakkahadbecomeawidowataveryyoungageandprobablythathadmadeherfrustratedandirritable.Thoughshewasuneducated,shewasanintelligentlady.Shrikantgrewuplikehisfatherbutwithaneducation.Hewasnotverybright,

andextremelylazy.Ittookhimseveralyearstocompletehisdegreecourse,andwhenhedid,noonewouldgivehimajob.Hewasnottookeentofindoneeither.So,hestayedinHublithoughhewasjobless!Hisdailyroutinewastowakeupanytimeafter10a.m.,playcards,gethomeandrelax.Neverinhislifehadheearnedasinglepaisa.Rindakkahadhopedthatmarriagewouldmakehimresponsible.AsiscustomaryinNorthKarnataka,amarriagealliancewouldnotgobeyond

thefourdistricts.ItisveryunlikelythatonemarriesacrosstheTungabhadra.Hence,fromtheneighbouringcityofDharwadtheeducatedKamalawaschosen.BythetimeKamalacametoherhusband’shouse,allthelandshad

disappearedduetotheTenancyAct.Thoughtheeconomicsituationbecameverydelicatetheprideandarroganceofthefamilyremainedintact.SensitiveKamalagaugedthesituationquicklyandtookupateachingjobatalocalschool.Shewasthesolebreadwinnerforthefamilynow.Butstill,Rindakkawouldshowherauthorityasamother-in-lawandutterpungentwordsthatwouldhurther.Kamala,anintrovert,neversaidanything.Sheneitherlookeddownuponherhusbandnordefiedhermother-in-law.AftermanyyearsofShrikantandKamala’smarriage,Shrimatiwasbornand

indeed,shebroughtachangeintheirlives.ThoughShrikantraoDeshpandepaidnoattentiontohiswife,hewouldalwaysbeconcernedabouthisdaughter.

noattentiontohiswife,hewouldalwaysbeconcernedabouthisdaughter.Shrimatigrewupwithajoblessfather,adomineeringgrandmotheranda

timid,lovingmother.KamalatookutmostcaretobringShrimatiupwithstrongvaluesandagoodeducation.ShrimatiinheritedherloveforliteraturefromhermotherandevenasachildspokepureKannada.Butshewouldarguewithhergrandmotherandalsoquestionherfather.Shegrewupabright,extremelyaccommodatingbutintrovertedyounggirl.HerneighbourShrikantDeshpandehadadifferentstory.Shrikant’sfamilywereSmarthas.HisfatherRaghannaDeshpandewasa

shadebetterthanhisneighbourShrikantDeshpande.Buthediedwhenhissonwasstillinmiddleschool.Hehadbeenaclerkatthepostoffice.Gangakka,hiswife,wasacunning,manipulative,fierceandanextremelypracticallady.Raghannahadleftbehindtwochildren.Theelderchild,Rama,wasanaverage-lookinggirlandnotatallagoodstudent,whereastheyoungerone,Shrikant,wasgood-lookingandveryintelligent.Hewastheappleofhismother’seye!Shehadpinnedallherdreamsonhim.Normally,quarrelswouldarisebetweenRindakkaandGangakka,the

differenceinagebeingnobarrier.GangakkawasactuallyKamala’sagebutbecauseofherreticentnature,Kamaladidn’tfightwithanybody.Gangakkahadanolderbrother,Sheenappa.Hewasasweet-talkerbutavery

shrewdman.HewastheonlyonewhohadstoodbyGangakkawhenherhusbandpassedaway.Noonebuthimselfhadknownthereasonthen.HehadfouruglydaughtersandhehadaneyeonShrikant,hopingthatatsomepointintime,hewouldbeabletogetShrikanttomarryoneofhisdaughters.Otherwise,hewasnotamantohelpasinglepersonwithoutavestedinterest.Ramatooklongerthanusualtocompleteherdegree.Asshewasnotgood-

looking,itwasalittledifficulttofindagroomforher.Withgreatdifficulty,Sheenappafinallyfoundoneandsoon,Ramawashappilymarried.Whenshegavebirthtoason,itwastreatedlikequiteanachievement.Gangakkafeltthatherdaughterwasveryfortunate.ShrikantwasunlikehissisterRamawhohadinheritedallthebadqualitiesof

theirmother.ButShrikantwasfocusedonhisstudiesanddidn’tcareabouttherivalrybetweenthetwofamilies,orSheenappa’sroleintheirlives.Inthespacebetweenthetwohouses,therewasabakulatree.Thebakulais

aboutthesizeofaneemtreeandhasalovelycanopyofdarkgreenleaves.The

treelivesforatleastahundredyears,andthemoreitrains,themoreflowersitbears.Thebakulaflowerisveryunusual—itistiny,palegreenish-brownincolour,andisshapedlikeacrown.Asflowersgo,itisunattractive,butithasadivinefragrance.Evenwhentheflowersdryandbecomebrownthemildfragranceremains.Whenthetreeisinbloom,theflowersformacarpetonthegroundbeneathit.Thebakulaflowerisafavouriteofthegodstoo!ItwasMayendandthehotsummerofHubliwascomingtoanend.Theripe

fruitsonthemangotreehintedtheendofthemangoseason.FarmerseagerlyawaitedShravan,therainyseason—aseasonthatbringshappinesstonatureaswellashumanbeings.TherearesomanypoemswrittenandsungaboutShravaninDharwad.Itisindeedaninspirationforpoets,butahurdleforyoungmothersandtheaged!Thebakulatreestoodgracefully,asusual,spreadingitsfragrance.Itwas

evening,andtheflowerslayontheground,formingacarpetofblossoms.GangakkaDeshpandehadasmallhouseinabigcompound.Sheandher

husbandhadwantedtoextenditoncetheybecameprosperous,butunfortunatelythatneverhappened.ThoughGangakkahadabittertongue,shewashardworking.Shedidnotwastehertimeaftershefinishedhercooking.Shehadmadeabeautifulgarden,withmanyfloweringbushesandvegetableplants.Itwasapartofherritualtowakeupearlyinthemorning,pickflowersandmakeagarland,toofferatthetempleofRailwayEshwar.Thiswasirrespectiveoftheseason.Shebelievedthatthiskindofdeedwouldbringprosperityandhappinesstoherchildren.ButGangakkawasveryunhappyaboutonething,andthatwasthebakula

tree.Itstoodexactlyinthemiddleofthecommoncompoundofthetwohouses,indicatingthatitbelongedtobothofthem.Notonlydiditgiveflowers,italsogavethebestshade.Andthat’swhatmadeGangakkaangry.Nothingwouldgrowinthatshade.Shethoughtthetreewasanuisance,thatittookupalotofspace.InGangakka’sdictionary,everythingwasmeasuredintermsofusefulness.Beitahumanbeingorsomematerial.So,thetreebecameaboneofcontentionbetweenthetwofamilies.Shewouldkeeptellingherneighbourtocutoffthetreesothatshecouldgrowmoreplantsandgetsomesunshinetoo.Shrikant’sroomfacedthebakulatree.Throughouttheyear,themildscentof

thebakulawaftedinthroughhiswindow.Hehaddevelopedaspecialattachment

totheseflowersandsoheopposedhismother’sideaofcuttingthetree.Ontheotherside,nobodyexceptShrimatihadthetimetotendthegarden.

Herfather,ShrikantraoDeshpande,hadnotimeforanywork,letalonelookingafterthebakulatree.KamalawouldalwaysbebusywithherschoolworkandRindakkawasanoldwoman.Rindakkadidnotwanttocutthetree,notbecauseshelovedbakulas,but

becauseGangakkawantedto.Inspiteofthebattlebetweenthesetwofiercewomen,thebakulacontinuedtobloomeveryday.

Itwasthedaythetenthstandardboardexamresultsweretobeannounced.AfterthelastexamShrimatihadtoldhermotherthatshehaddonefairlywell.Shewasnotthekindwhowouldexaggerate,beitsuccessordisappointment.Shrikanthadtoldhismotherthathehaddoneextremelywellandwasalso

expectingarank.MorethanShrimati,herfriendswhohadbetonmanythings,wereworried.

EventheteacherswerewonderingwhatrankShrimatiandShrikantwouldget.Theywereundoubtedlythemosttalentedstudentsintheschool.Eitherway,theschoolwouldgetthecreditforgettingarank.Athome,GangakkaandRindakkawerewaitingtoknowtheresultstoo.Shrimatiwastheonlyonewhowasnotatallperturbed.Shewasneitherbent

upondoingbetterthanShrikantnordidshelookuponhersuccessasamatteroffamilyhonourandpride.ItwastruethatshewasbrighterthanShrikant,butexamresultsdidnotalwaysreflectordependuponintelligence.ThoughShrimatiwassoyoung,shehadtheequanimityofanascetic.Overthe

years,shehadsometimesscoredmoremarksthanShrikant,atothershehadbeatenherscores.Shehadtakenitinherstride.So,thatday’soutcomedidnotholdanyanxietyforher.ButShrikantwasrestlessandimpatientfortheresults.Holdingabakulainhispalm,hewaswonderingwhyhewasfascinatedbythistinyflower.Theflowerwasneitherasbeautifulasarosenorhadthefragranceofajasmineorchampaka.Andyet,itwasalwaysveryspecialtohim.Itheldaninexplicableattractionforhim.

Shrikantrememberedmanyancientstoriesthatconnectedthebakulawithromance.Itseemsintheoldendays,whenyoungmentravelledfardistancesformanydays,theywouldcarrysmallobjectsinmemoryoftheirlovedones.Thebakulaflowerwasonesuchmementothattheseyoungmencarried,because,eventhoughitwoulddryup,itwouldstillgiveoutthesamefragrance,likethebeloved’slove.Withoutrealizingit,Shrikanthadcometoassociatethebakulaflowerwith

Shrimati.Itistruethattheyhardlyeverspoketoeachother,butitwasequallytruethattherewasastrangeattractionbetweenthem.Perhapsitwastheirage—adolescence—ortheteasingoftheirfriendsorjustthewaytheirnamesconjugated!Ofcourse,itwasShrikantwhowasmoreattractedtowardsShrimatithanshewastohim.ThoughShrikantwasthemoreextrovertedofthetwo,andheoftenwonderedwhatwasinShrimati’smind,hewasn’toutspokenenoughtoaskher.OnlyShrikantandGangakkawereathome.Gangakkawasawarethatthe

resultswereduetocomeandsoshethoughtshewouldlightgheelampstopleasethegods.TherewasalotofgheeathomeandsinceShrikantwouldnoteatit,Gangakkauseditforthelamps.TherewasaknockonthedoorandwhenGangakkasawitwasthepostman

bearingatelegram,shebecameverynervous.Itremindedherofherhusband’sdeath.Forher,atelegramwouldalwaysbringbadnews.Holdingthetelegraminherhand,sheprayedtogodtoforgiveherforusingtherancidgheeandpromisedthatshewouldusethefreshone,ifthistelegramdidnotturnouttobearbadnews!Inatremblingvoice,shecalledShrikantandhandedthetelegramtohim.

‘Shrikant,hereisatelegram.SeewhetheritisfromByadagi?’ByadagiwasthesmallvillagewhereherdaughterRamastayedwithher

husband,Krishna.Gangakkacouldthinkonlyofherdaughter.Herhorizonwasextremelylimited.Shrikantwasequallycurioustoknowwhatitwas.Heopeneditquickly,

glancedthroughitandsaidtohismotherinadelightedvoice,‘Avva,thistelegramisfromtheBangaloreSSLCBoard.IhavestoodsecondintheentireBoard.’Gangakkadidnotunderstandwhatthatmeant.Allshewasinterestedinwas

whetherhewasfirstintheschool.

whetherhewasfirstintheschool.‘Shrikant,areyoufirstintheschoolornot?Haveyouscoredmorethan

Shrimati?Whohastakenthefirstplace?’Shrikantsmiledathismother’signorance.‘Avva,IhavestoodsecondintheentirestateandoughttobefirstintheHubli

Centreandofcourseourschool.Idon’tknowaboutShrimati,butshewouldn’thavescoredmorethanme!Youknow,nowIcangetafullscholarshipandyouneednotstruggleformyeducation.’Shrikantwasveryhappyindeed.Gangakkarememberedherlatehusbandandhereyesbecamemoist.‘Shrikant,LordMylaralingahasblessedus.Hehasalwaysbeenkindtoyou..

.’ButShrikantwasstillgettingusedtotheideaofhavingdonesowell.Hehad

neverexpectedtogetthesecondrank.Atthemost,hewasexpectingtobeoneamongthefirsttwenty.Nowhewasmostcuriousastowhohadgotthefirstrank.ItmustbesomeonefromMysoreorBangalore,hethought.ThenhisthoughtsturnedtoShrimati.Whatrankhadshegot?Ataponhis

shouldershookhimoutofhisreverie.HeturnedaroundtoseehisteacherMrKulkarni.Hewasbeamingwithpride.Hisusualpaan-stainedmouthwasunusuallycleanthatday.Inhishappinessheseemedtohaveforgottentoeathispaan.ThumpingShrikantonhisback,hesaid,‘Shrikant,youbothhavemadea

record!Intheentirehistoryoftheschool,suchathinghasnothappened.TheBoardhasinformedusthatShrimatihasstoodfirst,andyousecond!Youhavegivenusawonderfulrewardforhavingtaughtyou!Generally,thefirstandsecondranksdonotgotothesameschool.Butwehavebeenfortunatetobethefirstschooltogetthetoptwoplacesinthesameyear...’Shrikant’smindwentnumb.MrKulkarni’schattercontinued,butShrikantdid

nothearaword.Hadathunderboltstruckhimorhadhetouchedalivewire?Hecouldn’tbelievewhatMrKulkarnihadtoldhim.Hisbubbleofhappiness

vanishedandhewasclosetotears.Buthecontrolledhimself.Menwerenotsupposedtoshedtearsinfrontofothers!HefeltlikeArjunaintheMahabharatawhowassofocusedonhisarchery

skillsthatifheevermissedhisaim,hesufferedunbearableagony.JustthenGangakkacameinandtoldKulkarniSirthathemustatleasthave

somesweetssincehehadbroughtthegoodnews.Buthesaidthathewantedto

somesweetssincehehadbroughtthegoodnews.ButhesaidthathewantedtogoandseeShrimatiandthathewouldcomebacklater.Absent-mindedlyShrikantsaidnamaskartohisteacherandwentbacktohis

ownthoughts.Hismindwasprickinghim:ShrikantDeshpande,youhavemissedyourtarget.YouhaddismissedShrimatiasameregirl,butsilentlyandsoberlythatgirlhasgivenyouapowerfulanswer!Shehasshownyouwhatsheiscapableof.Shrikanttriedtoanalysethereasonforhisunhappinessanddisappointment.Whathadgonewrong?Actually,nothinghadgonewrong.Thecauseforhisdisappointmentwasher

success.Thoughhehadscoredmoremarksthanhehadexpectedorhopedfor,Shrimatihadscoredmorethanhim.WasheevergoingtobefreeofthisShrimati?Wouldshealwaysbeachallengetohim,andinhercalm,smilingway,defeathim?WhatwouldhesaytoRaviandMalleshnow,afterboastingtothemthathewassmarterthanher?Shrikant’sgazeturnedinvoluntarilytoShrimati’shouse.Hecouldsee

Shrimati,dressedasusualinacottonsaree,astringofbakulaflowerstuckedinherlongplaitheronlyadornment.ShewasengrossedinaconversationwithherfriendsSharadaandVandana.Whatweretheytalkingabout?Weretheylaughingathisdefeat?Wasshe

gloatingoverhersuccess?Shrikantwasgettingmoreandmoreagitated.JustthenhesawhisgroupoffriendsledbyMalleshandRaviapproachinghis

house.Malleshhadagarlandinhishand.ShrikantwentouttomeetthemandMalleshgarlandedhim.Theninalowtonehesaid,‘Congratulations,Shrikant!Shemaybefirstbutyouarefirstamongtheboys.’ShakinghandswithShrikant,Ravisaid,‘Comeon,Mallya,didweknowthat

Shrikantwouldgetthesecondrank?Thisisindeedabonusforus.SowhatifShrikanthasnotgotthefirstrankthistime?Hewilldefinitelygetitnexttime.Haven’tyouheardthefamouspoem,“Tryandtryagainboys,youwillsucceedatlast.”’Mallyalaughed,‘Yes,yes,thatpoemisespeciallywrittenforboys.’PattingRaviontheback,hesaid,‘Now,let’snotbejealous.Isn’tsheour

classmatetoo?Hasshenotbroughtglorytoourschool?AsfarasIcansee,wehavemadealotoffunofherbutshehasn’tretaliatedevenonce.Weshouldgo

andcongratulateher.Shrikantyoumustalsocome.Iamsuretherewillnotbeanyproblem.’Shrimatihadbeensurprisedtoseethetelegraminformingheraboutherfirst

rank.Shehadnevereverexpectedthat!Whenhermotherhadaskedheraboutherperformanceintheexam,shehadcasuallysaidthatshehaddonefairlywell.Thisfirstrankmadeherreallyhappy,butshekepthercool.Actually,itwasherfriendswhowereabsolutelythrilled,particularlySharada,

becauseShrimati’ssuccesswasaone-upinthegirls’campandone-downintheboys’camp.Rindakka,whohadlookeddownuponShrimatialltheseyearsbeauseshewas

notasfairandgood-lookingasherself,wasverypleasedthathergranddaughterhaddonebetterthanherneighbour’sson!Suddenlyhertonechanged.‘Afterallsheismygranddaughter,’shesaidwithprideinhervoice,‘shehasinheritedmyintelligence.’Shrimati’sfatherShrikantDeshpande,too,wasbeamingwithhappinessand

wasveryproudofhisdaughter’sperformance.Hebehavedasthoughhewasresponsibleforit.Kamalahadalookofpeaceandsatisfactiononherface.ButinShrimati,therewasabsolutelynochange.WhenShrimatisawthegroupofherclassmatescomingtowardsherhouse,

shewonderedwhattheywanted,whatwouldhappen.Shewasn’tcurioustoknowShrikant’smarks.Thoughnotfirstrank,shewassurehewouldhavealsogotverygoodmarks.Shequicklywarnedherfriendsandthepeopleathomenottosayanythingto

Shrikant.‘Afterall,anexaminationisnottheindexinlife.Itisjustamatterofluckatthatmoment.Idonotwanttohurtanybodywhentheycometoourhouse,’shesaid.Sharadawasmostdispleasedwiththisremark.

Therainyseasonhadsetin.Therewasacontinuousdrizzle.Motherearthwassothirstythatshehadbeenlongingfortheshowers.Thedriedyellowgrasswasturninggreen.Flowersbloomedandwerelookingfreshasifafterabath.Thebeautifulchampakaflowersshiveredinthecoldbreeze.Thebakulatreewassohappythatitwasladenwithblossoms.Thoughitwasnotpouring,thecontinuousdrizzlewasmakinglifedifficultforeveryone.EvenGangakkawastiredofpickingupthebakulaflowersandmakinginnumerablegarlandsforallthegods.Almostaweekpassedbyincelebrationsandfelicitationsafterthe

announcementoftheresults.TherewasgreatjubilationinShrimati’sschoolbecauseofthetworanksthattheschoolhadbagged.Withthisresult,theschool’sreputationgotahugeboostandtherewasalongqueueofparentswhennewadmissionswereannounced.ShrimatiandShrikantwerethefocusofalltheattention.Theyweregiven

numerousprizes,muchpraisewasheapeduponthembytheirteachersandstudentslookeduponthemasrolemodels.Inallthesefelicitations,neitherShrimatinorShrikantcongratulatedoreven

spoketoeachother.ThoughShrimatitriedonceortwice,Shrikantdidnotrespond.Hewasstilltoohurt.SoShrimatiwithdrew.Itwasnotproperforagirltopushtoomuch.InaplacelikeHubli,suchthingsmatteredalot.Girlswerenotsupposedtoeventalktoboysinpublic.Aftertheexcitementhaddieddown,Shrimatidecidedtogoandvisither

maternalgrandmotherwholivedinDharwad.Shewastoooldtotravel,sothe

granddaughterthoughtshewouldgoandgetherblessings.ShrimatitooktheHubli-Dharwadlocaltrain.Aftertheofficerushhour,the

trainwasusuallyempty.Shrimatigotintoadesertedcompartmentandsatbyawindow.Sinceitwasquiteaboringjourney,shehadbroughtabookalongandassoonasshesettleddown,openeditandstartedreading.Justasthetrainwasabouttostart,Shrimatirealizedthatonemorepersonhadenteredthecompartmentandoccupiedtheseatoppositehers.Shelookedupandtohersurprise,founditwasherclassmateShrikantDeshpande.Foraminute,shewastakenaback,butshesaidnothing.ShrikantwasequallysurprisedtoseeShrimati.HewastravellingtoDharwad

tomeethissister’sin-laws.WhenhelookedatShrimati,hedidnotknowwhattodo.Thiswasthefirsttimebothofthemwerefacingeachotherwithouttheirrespectivefriends.Shrikantwasquicktoobservethatshewassimplydressedasusual,withnojewelleryexcepttheglassbanglesonherhandsandthestringofhisfavouritebakulaflowerstuckedinherhair.Themildfragranceofbakulapervadedthecompartment.Helookedather

faceandsawshehadanaturalsmile,whichwasneitheringratiatingnorcondescending.Shrikantmusteredupenoughcouragetotalktoher.‘AreyougoingtoDharwad?’heasked,knowingverywellthatthetrain’s

destinationwasonlyDharwad!‘Yes,tomeetmygrandmother.ShelivesinMalmaddi.Whataboutyou?’‘IamgoingtomeetsomerelativesinSaptapur.’Theconversationstopped

there.AlthoughShrikantwasgregariousbynature,thatdayhedidnotknowwhatto

say,eventhoughhereallywantedtotalktoher.HefeltdrawntoShrimati,butcouldnotsaywhy.Perhapsbecausetheywereoppositesinnature,orbecauseshewashisrivalorbecauseforbiddenfruitisalwaysmoredesirable!Suddenlyherememberedhehadnotcongratulatedher,soheextendedhis

handandsaid,‘Congratulations.’Shrimatiwasconfusedforamoment.Agesture,likeshakinghandswitha

man,wasnotcommoninthesocietyofthattime.However,shereluctantlytookhishandandshylysaid,‘Thanksand

congratulationstoyoualso.’‘Whyareyoucongratulatingme?Forhavingstoodsecond,isit?’

‘No,Shrikant.Believeme,Ithinkyoursuccessismoredeservedthanmine.Thereisnogreatdifferencebetweenthefirstandsecondrank.Itisonlyamatteroftheexaminer’smoodandafewbetteranswers.ManyatimeIwantedtotalktoyou,andtellyouhowmuchIappreciatethequalitiesyouhavewhichIdon’t.Youaresofocusedandhardworking.Overaperiodoftime,thesequalitieswillfetchyouwhateveryourwant.Unlikeyou,Iamhappywithsmallthings...’Shrikantwassurprisedbyherwordsandhappytoo.Agirlwhowasbrighter

thanhimhadappreciatedhisqualities.Hefeltelated!Suddenlyheknewhowtheconversationcouldcontinue.‘Shrimati,whichcollegeareyougoingtojoin?’‘Ihavedecidedtotakeuparts.’ThatmeantShrimatiwouldnotbeaclassmateanymore.Morethanthatshe

wouldnolongerbehisrival!Thethoughtcheeredhimup.‘Whydoyouwanttotakeupartswhenyouaresogoodatscience?’‘Iammoreinclinedtowardshistoryandliterature.Moreover,Ihavea

principleofmyown.Weshoulddowhatwereallylike.Fortwothingsinlifeitisveryimportantforustomakeourowndecisions.Oneiseducation.Ibelievewemuststudyonlythatsubjectwhichwelike.’‘Whatabouttheotherone?’‘Theotheroneismarriage,becausepartnersremainwitheachotherforeverin

life.Otherthingslikechoosingasareeorbuyingahousecanbereversed.Butnotthesetwothings.’Shrikantagreedimmediately,aslongasshewastakingadifferentstream!Buthewasreallypuzzled.ItwasveryunusualofshyShrimatitotalkso

frankly.ShrimatitoobegantofeeluncomfortablebecauseherhandwasstillinShrikant’shand!Hehadnotleftit.Gatheringuphercourageshesaidsoftly,‘Willyouletgoofmyhand,please?’Shrikantquicklydroppeditandlookedveryembarrassed.Hehadn’trealized

howlonghehadbeenholdingontoherhand.ThetrainhadnowreachedAmargolstationandtherewasnosignaltogo

ahead.Sothetrainhadtohaltthere.ItwasgoingtobelatereachingDharwad.ShrikantfeltthatthiswasagoodopportunitytogettoknowShrimati.Already

hehadrealizedthatshewassodifferentfromwhathehadimagined.Whatevershesaid,itwassimple,straight,clearanddirectlyfromtheheart.Therewasno

artifice,noattempttoshowoff,nothingputon.Muchashedidn’tliketoadmitit,heknewthatshewasdefinitelymoreintelligentthanhim.Andallthiswhile,hehadbeenhearingonlynegativeremarksaboutherfrom

hissisterandmother.Perhaps,theywerenotevenawareofhertruenature.Howwouldanyoneknowherwithoutbecomingfriendswithher?‘Shrimati,nowourpathswillbedifferentandourfriendswillbedifferenttoo.

Inourschoolwecouldhardlyspeakbecauseofournames.Nowonwards,letusbegoodfriendsandtalktoeachother.’ShrimatilookedintoShrikant’seyes.Shelikedthisstraightforward,good-

naturedboy,shedecided.Whatwastheharminbeingfriends?‘Wherecanwemeetandtalk?Youknowthebackgroundofourfamilies.My

grandmotherandyourmotherarealwaysaround.Icannotmeetyououtside,’Shrimati’sfacewastroubled.‘Don’tworry,Shrimati.Everyproblemhasasolution.Andthisisnotagreat

problematall.YouknowthateverymorningmymothergoestotheRailwayEshwartempleandittakesheratleastanhourtogothereandcomeback.YourgrandmotheralsogoestotheRayaraMatthaatthesametime.Thatisthebesttimeforustomeetandtalk.’ShrimatiwassurprisedatShrikant’sobservation.Evenshewasnotawareof

suchdetails.‘Butwherecanwemeet?’‘Godiskindtous.Wehaveabakulatreeincommon.Earlyinthemorning,

theflowersarefreshlyfallen.YoucancometocollectthemandsowillI.Isitnotarightplace?’ShrimatilikedShrikant’sstrategyandnoddedherheadwithasmile.

Shrimati,VandanaandSharadajoinedtheartscollegewhileShrikant,RaviandMalleshjoinedthesciencecollege.Twomonthslater,Mallesh,findingthesciencecoursetough,joinedthe

commercecollege.Sincetheclassmateshadallgonedifferentways,nooneteasedShrikantorShrimatianymore.Shrimatilovedthecollegemorethanherschool.Ithadanexcellentlibrary

andshecouldborrowthebestbooksfromthere.Asherclasseswereinthemorning,shewasfreeduringtheafternoons.Soshewasabletohelphermotherathomeandhaveenoughtimetostudyandread.Kamalawouldhavelikedherdaughtertostudymedicine,butshedidnotsayanythingknowingherdaughter’sinclinationtowardshistory.Shrikantraowantedhisdaughtertobecomealawyerbuthedarednotsayanythingtoher,knowingherscantrespectforhim.ShrikantandShrimatiwouldmeeteverydaynearthebakulatree,andtalk

aboutvariousthings.Shrimatiwoulddiligentlygatherthebakulaflowers,whileShrikantwouldtalkabouthiscollegeandhisdreams.Duringonesuchconversation,Shrikanttoldher,‘Shrimati,Idon’tlikeyou

callingmeShrikantlikeeverybodyelse.IwantyoutocallmeShri.’ForamomentShrimatididnotunderstandwhathemeant.Butwhenshe

realizedit,sheblushedandnoddedherhead.Nooneineitherhousewasawareoftheir‘flower-gatheringmeetings’.ThetwoyearsofPreUniversitypassedwithoutanydifficulties.Andsodid

theirfriendship.

Shrikanthadgrownmoreconfidentandmature.Hedidverywellintheexamsandgotagoodrank.Withhismarks,hecouldgetadmissioninanyoftheengineeringcollegesinKarnataka.ButhehaddecidedtositfortheentrancetestforIIT.OfthefivepremiertechnologyinstitutesinIndia,theIndianInstituteofTechnology,Bombaywashisfirstchoicesinceitwasclosesttohome.Buthewastakingabigchance.Theentrancetestwastoughandthecompetitionwasstiff.RaviPatilalsodecidedtojoinShrikantinpreparingfortheentrancetest.Shrikantmetoneoftheirseniors,VasudevShenoy,whohadgonetoIITthree

yearsago,andgotalltheinformationandtipsonhowtoprepare.HewasdeterminedtogetintoIIT.BothRaviandShrikanthadfinancialproblemsbutthatdidnotdeterShrikantfromhisambition.Hetoldhismothertosellapartofthelandifneeded.TheirfriendMalleshalsodidfairlywellinhiscommercecollege.Shrimati,whosefavouritesubjectswerehistory,sanskritandenglish,had

joinedtheartscollegeforaBAdegree,muchtoeveryone’ssurprise.Shewasknownasanextremelybrightstudent,sootherstudentspointedtohersaying,‘See,that’sShrimatiDeshpande.ThoughshestoodfirstintheBoardshehasjoinedtheartscollege!’Shrimatiwouldsmiletoherself.HerfriendSharada’sfamilywantedhertogetaBAdegree.Thesubjectdid

notmatter.Adegreewasararethingintheirfamily.Vandana’sfatherwantedhertodoanMA,likehehaddone.Evenaftertheyjoinedcollege,therewasnochangeinShrimati’sdaily

routine.She,VandanaandSharadawenttocollegetogetherastheyhadgonetoschool.Thoughshewasveryfrankandfriendlywiththesetwogirls,shehadnottold

themofherdailymeetingswithShrikant.Infact,shehadnotwantedtoshareitwithanybody.Shecouldnotexplainwhy.SoontheIITresultswereannounced.ShrikantandRavibothgotthrough,and

securedadmissiontoIIT,Bombay.Shrikantevengotthesubjectofhischoice,computerscience,unlikeRaviwhohadwantedmechanicalbutgotmetallurgy.ShrikantwasgoingtostayawayfromHubliforthefirsttimeinhislife,and

hewasfeelingalittleuneasy.HewouldhavetostayinBombayforthenextfiveyears.Hewassurethathewouldmisstheearlymorningmeetingsunderthe

bakulatree.Inthelasttwoyearshehaddevelopedastrongattachmentfor‘hisShrimati’.Itwasmorethananadolescentcrush,heknew.Shewasveryspecialtohim.Shrimatiwassadtoo.LikeShrikant,shehadalsogotusedtomeetinghimin

themornings.Now,forthenextfiveyears,thatwouldnotbepossible.Thoughhewouldcomehometwiceeveryyear,thelongabsencecouldchangehismind,shethought.WhatifhemetsomesmartbrightgirlsinBombay?Wouldhisaffectionforherremainthesame?Whenravishinggladioliandfragrantrajanigandhaswerearound,wouldherememberthetiny,self-effacingbakula?Thedayoftheirlastmeetingdawned.Shrimatididnotsayanything,butshe

waspale.Shrikantknewshewasupset—hecouldreadhermind.‘Shrimati,’hesaidtoherinanassuringvoice,‘youknowthatIamhighly

focused.Iamgoingthereonlyforstudies.Iwilllookneithertotheleftnortotheright.Nothingmatterstome.IamandwillalwaysbeyourShri.’‘Willyouwritetome,Shri?’‘OfcourseIwillwrite.Inthesecondandfourthweekofeverymonth.And

youmustwritetomeeveryfirstandthirdweek.’Shrimaticouldsaynothingmore.Sheloweredherheadandbentdowntopick

upthedelicatebakulaflowers.Shrikantsaidtoher,‘Shrimati,I’llmissyourcompanyandourflower.’‘ThenIwillencloseaflowerineveryletter,’Shrimatipromised.Bothofthemweresoengrossedintheirconversation,theyhadforgottenthat

theyhadcrossedthetimelimit.Rindakkawasbackfromthetemple.NotseeingShrimatiinthekitchen,shehadstartedyelling.‘Shrimati,whereareyou?Themilkisboiling.’Shrimatiwasstartled.‘Shri,Ihavetorunnow.Whenwillwemeetagain?’SmilinglyShrikantsaid,‘InDecember.Buttellme,Shrimati,towhich

addresscanIsendtheletters?’‘Thereisalwaysasolutiontoeveryproblem,haven’tyoutoldme?Writeto

myaddressbutdon’twriteyouraddressattheback.Nobodywillcometoknow.’Shrimatidislikedsuchdeceitfulmethodsbutinhercircumstances,shehadno

choice.

NeitherhadShrikanttravelledmuchnorhadhehadmuchexposuretotheoutsideworld.SinceallhisrelativeslivedinandaroundDharwad,hehadnotgottheopportunitytogoanywhereelse.OnlyafterjoiningIITdidShrikantgettomeetandknowaboutpeoplefromdifferentpartsofthecountry.IIT,Bombayhadasprawlingcampus.ItwaslocatedinPowai,asuburbof

Bombay.Theatmosphereinsidetheinstitutewasastarkcontrasttothecrowded,bustlingcityoutside.Thecampushadalotofgreenery,andthemanybuildings—offices,classrooms,labs,auditorium,canteen,hostels—werespreadoutoveralargearea.Therewasnodistraction;itwasanidealplaceforstudies.Therewereveryfewgirlsintheengineeringcourse.WheneverShrikantcameacrossagirlinthecampus,hewouldthinkofShrimati.Withherintelligenceandcapacityforhardwork,shewouldhavedefinitelygotaplaceinIIT.HeoftenimaginedwhatlifewouldhavebeenlikeifShrimatiwasalsothere.AtfirstShrikantwasveryhomesick.Hemissedhisfamily.Hefeltamisfitin

thecosmopolitancrowd.Butasthedayspassedhebegantoenjoythecourse,hemadefriendsandgotusedtothefood.Allhisclassmates,nomatterwheretheycamefrom,whatlanguagetheyspoke,weretherebecausetheywerereallybright,andveryfocused.Beforelong,hefoundhewashappyinIIT.Ashehadpromised,hewrotetoShrimatieverysecondandfourthweekofthe

month,andsharedallhisfeelingswithher.Hedescribedinhislettersthecoursehewasdoing,thefoodinthehostelmess,thenewfriendshehadmade.Throughhiswords,heintroducedhertotheirworld,andtothecharmsofBombay.Shrimati,ontheotherhand,didnothavemuchtosay.Therewasnogreat

changeinherlife.Yetsherepliedregularlytohisletterseveryfirstandthirdweekofthemonth.Sheneverforgottoencloseabakulaflower.WheneverShrikantreceivedherletters,hefeltasifShrimatiwasstandingnexttohim,thegentle,mildlyfragrant,homelybutextremelyaffectionateShrimati!Oneday,ashewasholdingthebakulainhishand,hesuddenlyrealizedwhy

theflowermeantsomuchtohim.Thebakulawasnow,forhim,asymbolofShrimati,apersonificationofher!Shrikantcollectedallthebakulaflowersinasmallbagandplaceditbeneath

hispillow.Heknewthatthescentfromtheflowerswouldnotfadewithtime.Timemarchedon.ShrimaticompletedherBAdegreesuccessfully,getting

twogoldmedalsinhersubject.SharadaEmmikerimanagedtogetthrough,whileVandanapassedwithasecondclass.ThenextstepwastoapplyforanMAcourseatKarnatakaUniversity,Dharwad.VandanaoptedforpoliticalscienceandShrimatiforhistory.Thetwofriendscommutedtotheuniversityeveryday,coveringthetwenty-

fivekilometredistancebytheuniversitybusratherthanbythelocaltrain.Bothofthemenjoyedtherideandusedthetimetocomparenotesontheirrespectivecoursesandclassmates.ShrimatiwaseagerlylookingforwardtoDrRao,thepresentVice-Chancellor,returningtohisparenthistorydepartmentthefollowingyear.Shehadheardsomuchabouthisbrillianceasascholarandhiswonderfulteachingskillsthatshewasconfidenthewouldinspirehertogiveherbesttothesubject.However,theydidmisstheirfriendSharada.Aspromised,ShrikantvisitedHublieveryDecemberbutinthesummer

holidayshewouldtakeuptrainingwithdifferentcompaniestogetpracticalexperienceandgreaterexposure.Onlythelasttendaysofhisvacation,whichinvariablycoincidedwiththebeginningofthemonthofShravan,wouldhespendinHubli.ThosedayswereforShrimati.GangakkalookedforwardtoShrikant’svisitstoo.Shewouldcookavarietyof

dishestomakeupforthetimehersonmissedhomefood.Shebelievedthathecamehometobewithher.GangakkaneverdreamtthatitwasShrimatiwhodrewhimtoHubliandthatitwasherheyearnedtosee.Now,althoughtheycouldmeetattheUniversitycampus,theycontinuedthe

ritualoftheirearlymorningchatunderthebakulatree.Thetree,solewitnesstotheirconversations,smiledindulgentlyonthem.

theirconversations,smiledindulgentlyonthem.VandanasooncametoknowaboutShrikantandShrimati’sfriendship.But

shedidnotmentionittoanybody.SheknewthatifGangakkafoundout,theconsequenceswouldbeserious.WheneverShrikantcametotheUniversitytomeetShrimati,Vandanawould

returntoHublialone.IfRindakkaaskedwhyShrimatihadn’treturned,Vandanawouldcoverupforherfriendandsay,‘Sheisstudyinginthelibrary.’ShrimatifoundUniversitymuchmoreexcitingthancollege.Shelearnedthat

historyisnotmerelyconcernedwithmenoranation.Everythinghadahistory.Music,dance,artandevenhistoryhadahistory.Graduallyshedevelopedafinecriticalsensibilityandtrainedherselftothinklogicallyandreduceemotionalidealism.Bytheendofthefirsttermitselfsheunderstoodtheimportanceoffieldvisits.Theymadeeverythingshereadintextbookscomealive.ThedepartmentorganizedmanysuchtripsasaresultofwhichShrimatisawanumberofhistoricplaces.Shewasamazedtofindhowacountry’spresentculturedependedonitspasthistory.Thewell-manneredShrimatiendearedherselftoherteachersandclassmates

alike.Theprofessorsweredelightedtohaveanintelligentstudentlikeherinthehistorydepartment.Inthemeantime,Vandana’slifewastakinganewturn.Asshewasneithera

verybrightstudent,norkeenonacareer,herparentswereplanningtogethermarried.Theyfoundaneligibleyoungman,Pramod,anengineerworkingwithLarsen&Toubro,awell-knowncompany,inBombay.PramodwasoriginallyfromBelgaum.HewastheonlysonofhisparentsandtheyownedasmallhouseinBombay.Sincehedidnothaveanyfamilycommitments,waswellqualifiedandheldagoodjob,hewasmosteligibleinthemarriagemarket.Aspertradition,thetwohoroscopeswerematchedandPramodcametosee

Vandanawithhisfamily.Helikedherandthemarriagewasfinalized.BythenVandanawasinthefinalyearofherMA,sobothsetsofparents

decidedthatthemarriagewouldtakeplaceafterherexams.ButafterPramodcametoHubliafewtimestomeether,Vandanalostinterestinherstudies!ShrimatiwascurioustoknowwhatVandanaandPramodtalkedabout.Theirs

wasanarrangedmarriage,theydidnotknoweachother,sowhatdidtheysaytoeachother?‘Vandana,whatdoyoutalkaboutwithPramod?Youdon’tevenknowhim.’‘WhatdoyouspeakwithShrikantforhourstogether?’Vandanacountered.

‘WhatdoyouspeakwithShrikantforhourstogether?’Vandanacountered.‘Well,hewasourclassmate.Moreover,wehavebeengoodfriendsforalong

time.’‘Oh,don’tgivemethatexplanation!Itisnotmerefriendship.Askyourself.

Nobodyspendssuchlonghours,withouttellingpeopleathome,withjustafriend!’Shrimatifellsilent.Suddenlyshebegantofeelastrangeloneliness.Itwasnot

thatshehadnotthoughtofmarriage.ButnowshecouldnotthinkofanyoneotherthanShrikantforahusband.Havingseenherincompatibleparentsandthekindoffamilylifetheyledshe

wassureshewouldonlymarryapersonwhowouldunderstandherfeelingsandhaveconsiderationforher,unlikeherfatherwhoonlythoughtofhimselfallthetime.AlthoughShrikantandshewereclosefriends,theissueofmarriagehadnot

yetcomeup.Shefelttherewassomethingbetweenthemthatwentbeyondfriendship.Evenifshehadnotshownanyemotionoutwardly,inherheartshewasquiteattachedtoShrikant.Whatwasonhismind,shewondered.Whileitwasnaturalforhertothinkofmarriage—shewasofmarriageable

ageafterall—ShrikantcouldnotthinkofanythingotherthancompletinghisB.Tech.andgettingagoodjob.Marriagewasfar,faraway.InoneofherusuallettersshecasuallymentionedVandana’sengagement.OnedayaftertheDecembervacations,whenexamswereroundthecorner

andShrimatiwasbusywithherseminars,ShrikantsurprisedShrimatiwithanuntimelyvisittoHubli.Shrimatiwasoverjoyed.TheydecidedShrikantwouldwaitforShrimatinearthetownclocktowertill

shefinishedherseminar.‘Shri,’shesaidtohim,‘Idonothaveclasstoday.ShallwegotoAtthikolla?Itisnothotoutside.’AtthikollawasapicnicspotinDharwad,knownforitsmangogroves.Atthis

timeoftheyear,earlyFebruary,allthetreeswerecoveredwithtender,newleaves,reddishgreenincolour.Itwasaverypleasantseason—winterwasoverandtheheatofsummerwasyettobegin.UsuallyShrikantwouldneverdisagreewithShrimatiinsuchmatters.Butthat

dayhesaid,‘No,let’sgotoThackerayPark.’‘CallitChennammaPark,’exclaimedShrimati,hersenseofhistory

promptingheroutburst.

promptingheroutburst.Centuriesago,theBritishcollectorofDharwad,amancalledThackeray,had

foughtabattlewithChennamma,thequeenofKittur.Theofficerhadlosthislife.TheBritisherectedamemorialinhisnameandbuiltapark.Beforeindependence,itwasknownasThackerayPark.Butafterindependence,thepatrioticpeopleofDharwadcalleditChennammaParkbecauseitwasQueenChennammawhohadkilledThackerayinthebattlefield.‘It’sallthesame.Willtheplacechangewiththename?Let’sgo.’Shrikant

wasnotbotheredaboutsuchthings.Vandana,havingseenthemfromadistance,wentbacktoHublialone.

ShrikantandShrimatiwenttoThackerayorKitturChennammaPark.ItwasoppositetheMentalHospitalontheHubli-BelgaumRoad.Therewereveryfewpeopleinthegardenandmostofthemweresleeping,usingtheirhandasapillow.Theychoseabigbanyantreeandsatbeneathitssprawlingbranches.Shrimatiwasingreatspirits.Notonlyhadherseminargoneoffverywell,

she’dalsohadthissurprisevisitfromShrikant.Shewaschatteringcontinuously,whilethenormallytalkativeShrikantwasindeepthought.Shrimatididnotnoticeanythingamiss.‘Shri,todayIhadaseminarandeveryoneappreciatedmywork.Ispokeon

Ashoka.Doyouremember?Ihadwrittenanessaywhenwewereintenthstandard.Today,Icanwritebetter.Thattime,IhadlessaccesstobooksandIwasmoreemotionalaboutAshoka.Evennow,wheneverIreadaboutAshoka,myrespectforhimgrowsandhefascinatesme.Shri,isthenameAshokanotbeautiful?HistorianscallhimDharmashoka—thevirtuousone...’ShrikantinterruptedShrimatiandwithamischievoussmileasked,‘Itseems

youlikethatnamealot.So,ifyouhaveason,willyounamehimAshoka?’Shrimatilookedathimwithsurprise,wonderingwhythesubjectofnamingan

unbornsonhadcomeup!Smilinglyshereplied,‘Yes!What’swrongwiththat?Iwouldnotthinktwice

beforedoingit.Butsinceyouaskedaboutnames,Shri,letmetellyouthatIalsolikethenameAdityavikrama.Vikramadityawasatitleintheolddays.Wheneverakingachievedsomethingextraordinarythroughbraveryandadventure,hewasgiventhetitleVikramaditya.DuringtheGuptadynasty,

ChandraguptaIIwascalledVikramaditya.IfIhaveanotherson,IwillnamehimAdityavikrama...’Shrimatispokeinallinnocence,likeahistoryteachertoherstudents.‘Shri,SiddharthaGautamaisanotherpersonIreallyadmire.Heunderstood

thenatureofsorrowandknewthetruevaluesoflife.Hegaveuphiskingdomandhisfamilyforthesakeofhumanity.Hismessageisfullofloveandcompassion.Heneitherwonanywarnordidheestablishagreatempire.However,hewontheempireofhearts.MaybeifIhaveonemoreson,IwillnamehimSiddharthaGautama...’ShrikantmovedclosertoShrimati,heldherhands,andwhisperedsoftlybut

clearlyinherear,‘Shrimati,whenIbecomeanengineer,don’tyouthinkthatitwouldbetoomuchtoaskforSiddharthaGautamaalso,onmymeagresalary?’‘What?’Shrimatiexclaimedflustered,butinaflurryofjoy.

ItwasthebeginningofMarchandtheUniversitycampuswasnormallydeserted.Studentswereathome,preparingfortheirexaminations,andprofessorswerebusysettingquestionpapers.OnlythosescholarswhoweredoingtheirPh.DorsomeacademicresearchcametothelibraryintheUniversityduringthistime.ForapersonlikeShrimati,anexaminationwasacakewalk.So,eveninMarch,shecametotheUniversitytohelpherprofessorswithsomeprojectortheother.Sheenjoyeditanddidnotmindcomingallthewaytothecampusforthis.Vandanawasextremelybusypreparingfortheexaminationandday-dreamingabouthermarriage.OnedayShrimatiwasinthelibrarymakingnotesforherprofessorwhowas

goingtoJapantoattendaninternationalseminaron‘BuddhisminIndiaandJapan’.ShrimatihadreadsomuchaboutBuddhism,howthoughithadoriginatedin

India,ithadspreadtomanycountriesinSouth-eastAsia.China,JapanandSriLankawereallBuddhistcountries.AndIndonesia,onceaBuddhistcentre,boastedofoneofthegreatBuddhistmonuments,Borobudur.Shewouldhavelovedtotraveltoalltheseplaces,butfinancialconstraintshadmadethatimpossible.However,nowthatherprofessorwasgoingtoJapanandafterthattoIndonesia,hewoulddescribeitalltoherwhenhereturned.Eventhatwasenoughforher!Whileshewasthinkingthesethoughts,thedepartmentpeonSiddappacameandstoodinfrontofher.‘Madam,Professoriscallingyou,wantsyoutocomeimmediately.’‘WhySiddappa,whatisit?HeknowsIamdoingsomeimportantwork!’‘SomewhitemanwhomIhaveneverseenbefore,mustbeafriendofthe

‘SomewhitemanwhomIhaveneverseenbefore,mustbeafriendoftheprofessor,hascomeandtheyweretalkingaboutyou...maybethat’swhytheyhavecalledyou.’Shrimatiwaswonderingwhoitcouldbewhensheenteredherprofessor’s

room.Therewasanotherpersonthere,anelderlygentlemanwithgreyhair,wellbuilt,aroundsixfeettall.Helookedatherandgaveherafriendlysmile.‘ComeinShrimati.MeetmyfriendProfessorMikeCollins,’ProfessorRao

introducedhisguest.Shrimaticouldnotbelieveherears.Anystudentofhistorywouldknowhis

name.IftherewereaNobelPrizeforhistory,itwouldcertainlyhavegonetoProfessorCollinsalongtimeback.ManyatimesShrimatiandtheotherstudentshadheardProfessorRaotalk

aboutProfessorCollins.HewasanAmericanandcamefromaveryaffluentfamily.Hisfatherwasawealthybusinessman.ButthesonhadbeenpassionateabouthistoryandhadgonetoOxfordtostudy.HegothisPh.Dfromthere.HiswifeJane,whomhehadmetatcollegeandlatermarried,wasalsoahistorian.Theyhaddonesomefascinatingresearchworktogether.Theyhadadaughter,Dorothy,andshetoo,likeherparents,hadchosen

historyashersubjectandwasworkingtowardsadoctorate.Unfortunately,JanehaddiedofcancerrecentlyandProfessorCollinswas

alone.HehadbeenonatourofSriLanka,andonthewaybackhadcometomeethisoldfriend.ProfessorRaohadbeenhisstudentatYaleUniversityandaspecialaffection

haddevelopedbetweenthetwoofthem.ShrimaticouldseethehappinessonProfessorRao’sfaceonseeinghis

teacher.‘Mike,Shrimatiisanexcellentstudentandoneofmyfavourites.Herinterest

inhistoryissimilartoDorothy’s.ShehaspreparedextensivenotesonBuddhism.Youcanseehowshewrites.’Shrimatiwentred,hearingherteacherpraiseherinfrontofsuchawell-

knownperson.‘Hello,Shrimati!Itisnicetomeetyou.Iwouldlovetoseeyournotes

sometime.IamnotanexpertonBuddhismlikeyourteacher,’hespoketoherinAmericanaccent,whichwasalittledifficultforShrimatitounderstand.Shrimatiwasembarrassedgivinghernotestosuchafamousperson.

However,sheplacedthemonthetablenexttohim.

However,sheplacedthemonthetablenexttohim.ProfessorRaotoldher,‘Shrimati,MikehadcometovisittheCalcutta

museumandhehasfinishedmuchofhiswork.Itwasveryniceofhimtocometothissmalltowntomeetme.ThoughKarnatakahasfamoushistoricalmonuments,hedoesn’thaveenoughtimetoseeallofthem.ButhecannotgobacktotheUSwithoutseeingatleastacoupleofthem.SoIhavesuggestedthatheshouldvisitBadami,AiholeandPattadakal.Itcanbedoneinoneday.’‘Yes,Sir,theyarereallywonderfulplaces.Everyhistorianwillenjoythem.’‘ThatiswhyIsentforyou.Youmustaccompanyhimonthistour.’Shrimatiwassurprised,‘Whyme,Sir?Hewouldliketospendmoretimewith

you,Ithink.’‘IwishIcouldgowithhimbutsomeoneiscomingtomorrowwithamarriage

proposalformydaughter.Andyouknowthatitwouldn’tlookgoodifthegirl’sfatherisnotthere!SoIwantyoutotakehimaround.Besides,youareanexcellentguide.’‘Whoelsewillcomealong,Sir?’‘MysonShashiwillaccompanyyou.Mikedoesn’tstandonformalities.After

all,itisaone-daytrip.Mydriverwillalsobewithyoupeople.’WhiletheconversationwasstillgoingonbetweenShrimatiandProfessor

Rao,ProfessorCollinswasgoingthroughShrimati’snotes.ShehaddescribedbeautifullythedifferencesbetweenViharaandChaitya,the

originoftheJatakatalesandthedeclineofBuddhism.AfterShrimatihadbeengiveninstructionsforthetrip,sheleft.ProfessorCollinsturnedtoProfessorRaoandsaid,‘Herideasareveryclear

andlogical.SheisprobablybetterthanDorothy.Nowonderyousaidshewasanexcellentstudent.’ProfessorRaobeamedwithpride.Thenextday,Shashi,ShrimatiandProfessorCollinsleftatthebreakofdawn.

AsProfessorCollinswasscaredofdrinkingwaterinIndiaandhefounditdifficulttoeatthespicyfoodatthevariouseatingjoints,theycarriedbottledwater,fruitandsomebreadandjamforhim.ButregularlunchwaspackedforShashiandShrimati.ThestaplefoodofNorthKarnatakaisjowarroti.Anotherfavouriteis

avalakki,adishmadewithbeatenrice.ThereisasayingthatifyougotoNorth

Karnatakaanddon’teatavalakkithenyou’vemissedsomethinginlife.Peoplethereareveryfondofsweetstoo.ItwasthebeginningofMarchandthesunwasnotharshyet.Theroadwas

fairlyfreeoftraffic,sothemorningjourneywaspleasant.‘Shrimati,myfriendsaidyouareanexcellentguide.Butyoudon’tseemto

speakatall!Whydon’tyoutellmethehistoryofthisplace?’saidProfessorCollins,withasmile.‘Sir,howcanIguidesomeonelikeyou?’‘Comeon,Shrimati!Don’tcallmeSir.CallmeMike.InAmericaweaddress

everyonebytheirfirstname.’‘ButSir,youareoldertomeinageandmoresoinknowledge.Inourculture,

addressingelderlypeoplebytheirfirstnameislookeduponasrudeness.Icanneverdothat.’‘Allright,then,callmewhateveryouplease.Moreover,what’sinaname?

Now,tellmeabouttheplaceswearevisitingtoday.’‘Sir,everypersongrowsupwiththehistoryoftheplacetowhichheorshe

belongs.WheneverIusedtocomehereasalittlegirl,mymotherwouldexplaintomeitsimportance.Sheusedtotellmethatmanywarswerefoughthereandmanykingshadruledtheplace.Thestonemonumentsaresilentwitnessestomanymomentousevents.Atthattime,Iusedtofeelhappythatmyancestorswereapartofthebattlesandapartofthekingdomtoo.IstillfeelthatIbelongtothisarea.Theeventsmighthavetakenplacetwelvecenturiesback,butwhenIclosedmyeyes,Icouldvisualizemanythings.Itmademeveryemotional.Later,whenIgrewup,Ibecamepassionateabouthistoryandstarteddetachingitfromtheemotionalpointofviewandbecamemoreawareofthefacts.’‘That’sright,Shrimati.It’strulyahistorian’sview.Howeverunpleasantit

maybe,oneshouldnevergiveupthecriticalattitude.Wheretheheartrules,therethemindgrowsdull.’‘Sir,sorry.Ididn’tansweryourbasicquestion.Thisareawasruledbythe

mightyChalukyadynastyandtheplacenowcalledBadamiwasknownasVatapi.TheChalukyasruledintheeighthcenturyandatthattime,thisareawasveryprosperous.Therearemanystoriesregardingtheoriginofthisdynasty.Thefounder’snamewasPulakeshiandtheysayhewasnurturedontiger’smilkontopofthehill.FromthatIconcludethathewasaverybraveman.Thegreatest

ruleroftheChalukyadynastywasPulakeshiII.HedefeatedHarshavardhana,apowerfulkingofthenorth,onthebanksoftheriverNarmada...’Shashi,asciencestudent,hadbeenreluctanttocomeonthishistoricaltour.

HewouldhavepreferredtospendthedayinDharwad,watchingthelatestmovie.Hewasboredandkeptlookingathiswatch.TheyreachedBadami,asleepylittlehamlet.ItwasnolongerlikeVatapi,the

capitalofthegloriousChalukyaempireofthepast.Theyparkedthecaratthebottomofthehillsandwentuptoseethecaves.Therearethreehugegranitehillsinthemiddleofthetown.Thecavetemples

arecarvedoutofthesehills.Probably,thisisoneoftheplaceswheretheconceptofcavetemplesoriginated.ThereareJainandHinducavetemples.Thestepscarvedinthehillleadtoallthetemples.Whenseenfromtop,Badamilookslikeavillagethatwillnevereverwakeup,

shrivelledinitspoverty,havingforgotten,forever,itsgloriouspast.Shrimatiexplained.‘Sir,whenyoulookatthecaves,youcanseethepillarsandoneassumesthat

thepillarstaketheweightofthetemple.Butinreality,thatisnottrue.Thepillarsareallfalsepillars.Thisconceptwaslatercopiedinmanycavetemples.YoucanseeLordGanapati,thefamousdeitywithahumanbodyandelephanthead.HeisknownasVatapiGanapati.’ProfessorCollinswasobservingeverythingkeenly.Shrimaticontinued,‘Intheoldendays,theceilingsofthesecaveswere

coveredwithbeautifulpaintings.Butnowtheyhavedisappearedduetothelackofprotectionandignorance.’‘Shrimati,tellmemoreaboutthepaintings.’Shashirealizedthatiftheconversationwentonthisway,theywouldn’treach

Dharwadbeforemidnight.Hecouldnotunderstandwhytheyweretalkingsomuchaboutsomeinvisiblepaintings.Hedecidedtogositinacanteenandreadamagazine.Sayinghewouldbebackinaminute,heslippedaway.ShrimatiandProfessorCollinsdidnotnoticehisabsence.‘Sir,thetechniqueofthistypeofpaintingwasunique.Itmusthavebeen

difficulttopaintinthesecaveswithoutproperventilationandlight.Theartistreallyhadtostruggletoreachtheceilingandpaintonit.Theyusednaturalvegetablecolours,powderedcolouredstones,molasses,limeandothermaterial

fromnature.Theywouldfirstpreparethesurfaceofthewallusingamixtureofearth,powderedstone,somehusklikematerial,molassesandcowdung.Theywouldthenapplyacoatoflimeonit.Afteritdriedtheywouldusethecoloursandfinallypolishitsmooth.ThepaintingsoftheAjantacavesusedthesametechnique.Amongthem,theCourtofParameshwaraPulakeshi,theDarkPrincessandmanyotherpaintingsremainasbeautifulafterallthesecenturies.’Shrimatipointedoutthesculpturesoftheeighteen-handeddancingShiva,the

CavesofMangalesha,andnumerousyaksha-yakshinis,theSleepingVishnu,andmanymoreartisticdepictions.Beforetheyknewit,lunchtimehadlonggoneby.Thesunwasalittlehotter

buttheenthusiasmofthesetwopeoplewasnotdampenedbythetemperatureorthetime.InspiteofhisageandthehecticmorningProfessorCollins’sspiritswereas

highasateenager’s.TheyhadalatelunchandheadedforAiholeandPattadakal.Badami,AiholeandPattadakalareknownasthegoldentriangleofNorth

Karnataka.Theyarealsoworldheritagesites.ThewordPattadakallumeansaplacewherekingswerecrowned.Theseareasareknownasthecradleoftemplesbecausedifferenttypesoftemplearchitectureweretriedhere.Evennow,youcanseetheNagara,DravidaandChalukyastyleoftemplesinoneplace.Papanatha,DurgaandLatsabtemplesareexamplesofit.Theycontinuedwiththeirsightseeinguntilitbecamedark.Bythetimetheyreturned,Shrimatihadovercomehershynessandwasableto

speaktoProfessorCollinswithoutanyhesitation.‘Sir,youmustseethetempleofKailasanathaatEllora.Itisasbeautifulasthe

TajMahal.Historiansbelievethattobuildsuchatemple,theRashtrakutaswouldhaveprobablyspentalot,moremoneythantofightawar.Thefactthatthislovelymonumentwascarvedoutofasinglerock,fromthetopdownwards,makesitevenmoreamazing.Sir,anotherthingonemustnotmissisthestatueoftheenigmaticallysmilingBahubaliatShravanabelagola.Thattooiscarvedoutofasingleboulder.AndthentherearethetemplesofBelurandHalebeedu,withwhichtheartofsculpturereacheditspinnacle.‘Youneedatleastsixmonthstoseemycountryproperly.Youshouldvisitus

again,tocomprehendtheexcellencemycountryhasachievedinthecreationofbeautyinartandarchitecture.’

beautyinartandarchitecture.’WhentheyfinallyreachedHubliitwastenatnight.WhileShrimatiand

Collinsweretired,butextremelyhappy,theyhadupsetallofShashi’splans.ThenextdayProfessorCollinswastoleaveandShrimaticametoseehimoff

atProfessorRao’shouse.‘Sir,I’vebroughtasmallgiftforyou.Ihopeyouenjoyedyesterday’strip.To

appreciatehistory,oneneednotbeahistorian.TherewasafamousmathematicianinPunewhowroteabouthistory.Ihavealwaysadmiredhiswork.HisnameisDamodarDharmapalKosambi.Ihopeyouwilllikethebook.’ShrimatipresentedacopyofAnIntroductiontotheStudyofHistory.‘Shrimati,studentslikeyouwhoarepassionateabouthistorymustdo

research.Ifyouwish,Icangetyouascholarshipatouruniversity.YoucouldeitherstudyarchaeologyorAsianhistory.Youhavenoideaoftheamericansystemofeducation.Itisheavenforstudents.Youwillfindmanyfacilitiesandexcellentlibraries.Studentslikeyoucandoverywellinthatkindofatmosphere.’Shrimatiwaspleasantlysurprisedbythisofferandshylybowedherhead.‘Sir,thankyouverymuchforyourgenerousoffer.Itisverykindofyouto

makesuchanoffer.ButSir,thoughIwouldliketocome,Icannotacceptitnow.Iamgettingmarriedthisyear.’‘Congratulations.MayIaskyouapersonalquestion?Whoistheluckyman?’‘Heisaschoolmateofmine,ShrikantDeshpande.’‘Idon’twanttointrudeinyourpersonallife.Butdon’tyoufeelthatifyou

don’tpursueyourloveofhistory,youwillgetfrustratedandbored?’‘Sir,IdolovehistorybutIloveShrikantaswell.Icanalwayscontinuemy

studieslater.Ibelievethatitisnotnecessarytohaveadoctoratetogainknowledge.Forme,degreesdonotmatter.’‘Verywell,then,Shrimati.Allthebestforyourfuture.Iwillsendyou

photographsofourtrip.Goodbyeandgoodluck.’ProfessorMikeCollinsleftHubli,thinkingabouther...Researchwasnot

merelystudying.Itdemandedmanysacrificesandhardwork.Wouldthatbepossibleamidstthehundredresponsibilitiesofafamilylife?ThattooinIndia?HesuddenlythoughtofhiswifeJane.Howhadshebeenabletocontinuewithherresearchthoughshewasmarriedtohim?Perhapsbecausetheyneverhadanyfinancialconstraints.Moreover,theywereco-travellersonthesameroad,

passionateaboutthesamesubject.Dorothywastheironlychild.Shetoofollowedinherparents’footsteps,butdisagreedwiththeirviewsonmarriageandfamily.ShewaslivingwithherboyfriendTony,whowashercolleague.Althoughhermotherhadwantedthemtogetmarried,Dorothyhadsaidafirmno.Herargumentwas,‘Dad,whydoweneedtogetmarried?Whosaysthatthe

ultimateaimofawomanshouldbemarriage?Ifmarriageisonlyfortogetherness,thenaren’twetogethernow?Assoonasyougetmarried,expectationsriseanditmayormaynotbepossibletomeetallthedemands.Itcouldresultinadivorce...Iamhappierthisway.’Ofcourse,itdidnotmeanthatshehadnorespectorloveforherparents.Only

hervaluesweredifferent.ProfessorCollinsfeltthatShrimatihadthepotentialtobeanexcellent

researchscholar,butshewassodifferentfromDorothy.Shewasreadytosacrificeeverythingformarriage.Cometothinkofit,ShrimatiwasabetterstudentthanDorothy,Professor

Collinsrealizedsuddenly.Fromaveryyoungage,Dorothyhadhadtheadvantageofabetterenvironmentandexcellenttraining.Shehadtouredtheworldwithherparentsandinteractedwiththebestscholarsinthesubject,whereasShrimati,whocertainlypossessedasharperintellect,hadneverhadsuchadvantages.Atthistime,shewasnotawareofwhatshewasgettinginto,butastheyearspassandtheattractionbetweenhusbandandwifewaneandthedemandsofmarriageincrease,shewouldrealizewhatshehadgivenupwasimmense.ProfessorCollinswasconvincedthatShrimatishouldnotgiveupherstudiesbutthen,hethought,itwasherdecisionandherlife.PerhapswhatshewasdoingwasnormalinIndia.

KamalanoticedShrimatigrowingincreasinglywithdrawn.ShewonderedwhetheritwasbecauseVandanawasengaged.Itwasnaturalforanygirlofmarriageableagetothinkofherselfinthesamesituation.TherewasnodoubtthatShrikant’srecentvisithadmadehermorerestless.Kamalawasawareofherdaughter’sfriendshipwithShrikantandalsooftheir

meetingsandletter-writing.Butshehadneitherencouragednoropposedit.Sheknewverywellthatherdaughterwasasensibleandmaturegirl.Shewouldnotdoanythingfoolish.Likeallmothers,shealsothoughtaboutShrimati’smarriage.Andifby

chanceKamaladidnot,hermother-in-lawRindakkawastheretoremindheraboutiteverypassingday,withataunt.Kamalasighed,wonderingwhomshecoulddiscussthismatterwith.Herhusbandwasquiteirresponsible.Itwaspointlesstalkingtohimaboutit.Itwasafull-moonnight.Everythingwasquiet.Kamalawassittingaloneona

stonebench,deeplyimmersedinthoughtsofherdaughter.‘Avva,whatareyouthinking?Isitaboutme?’ShehadnotseenShrimati

comeup.‘Unh,yes,yes.Aboutyouandyourfuture.Youareabouttocompleteyour

MA.Whatnext?’‘Avva,thatiswhatIwantedtodiscusswithyou...’‘Isitaboutyourmarriage?’KamalainterruptedShrimati.Shrimatiwassurprised.‘Howdidyouguess?’‘IsitwithShrikant?Didhesayanythingduringhisrecentvisit?’‘Yes.’

‘Yes.’Kamalafellsilent.Shrimatiwasperplexedsinceshehadbeensurehermother

wouldagreeatonce,andwithpleasure.‘WhyAvva,don’tyoulikehim?Isitnotcorrect?Heisagoodboy.Wehave

knownhimforseveralyears.Areyouworriedthatheisstilltooyoungformarriageorthatheisnotyetworking?Hewillspeaktoyouwhenhecomesnext.’Shrimati’sanxietypouredoutinherwords.‘Shrimati,IamnotworriedaboutShrikant.Iknowthatheisagoodboyand

youwilllivehappilywithhim.Iamonlyconcernedabouttheirfamilyandourrelationshipwiththem.Shrimati,morethanamother,Ihavebeenlikeafriendtoyou.Iwouldliketogiveyousomeadvice.‘Inoursociety,youmarrynotonlyanindividual,butalsohisfamily.IfIhave

understoodthemwell,theywillneveracceptyouasapartoftheirfamily.Theywillneverloveyou.’‘Avva,that’snottrue.Itwasprobablysoinyourtimes.Thosewerethevalues

ofabygoneage!Thingshavechangednow.Moreover,afterthemarriageIamnotgoingtolivewiththem!IwillbewithShrikantandawayfromthem.’‘Shrimati,somethingsinlifehaveremainedunalteredfromtimeimmemorial.

Therelationsbetweenamother-in-lawandadaughter-in-lawarealwaysstrained.Youhavegrownupasafreeindividual.Youdonotpossessourpatience.Iwanttotellyouthateverydaughter-in-lawalwayswantstobeappreciatedandlovedbyherin-laws.Inyourcase,youwillnevergetthat.YouwillbelovedonlybyShrikant.’‘Whydoyousaythat?’‘Becausetheirexpectationsfromadaughter-in-lawareverydifferentfrom

Shrikant’sexpectationsfromawife.’Shrimatiwasdisappointed.Overthenextfewdaysshecouldonlythinkabout

hermother’sadvice.Whywouldhermotherhavesaidthat?Shewasusuallyverysilentandneversaidanythingbadaboutanyone.ShrimatimadeuphermindtowinoverRamaandGangakka.

MyShrimati,

Thisisthefirsttimeinfiveyearsthatyouhavemissedourletter-schedule.Whatisthematter?Iwasexpectingadetailedletterfromyouaftermyreturn.Butyouhavenot

writtenatall.Youmayhavebeensurprisedbymyproposalofmarriage.AfterknowingthatVandanaisgettingmarried,Iwasworriedthatyourpeoplewouldalsostartsearchingforsomeoneforyou.Ifthathappened,thenmyShrimatiwouldslipawayfrommyhandsandbecomesomeone

else’sShrimati.Inthisfear,Iproposedtoyou,thoughIamstillastudent.Youareveryprecioustome.WehavebeengoodfriendsandIwantthatthisfriendshipshouldendinmarriage.InnormalcircumstancesIwouldhavebroachedthistopicacoupleofyearsaftergettingajobandsettlingdown.Butbythen,accordingtoourHublistandards,youwouldhavecrossedtheageofmarriage.Thepressureathomewouldhavebecometoomuchforyoutobear.

Shrimati,Iamawarethatourmarriageisnotgoingtobeasimpletask.Theenmitybetweenourtwofamiliesiswellknown.Theoppositionwillcomefromboththefamilies.Iunderstandthatmymother’sandyourgrandmother’sspectrumdoesnotstretchbeyondDharwad.Butlifemustmoveforward.Today,thingsaredifferent.

So,Ihopewewillbeabletoconvincethemandsuccessfullycrossthishurdle.

Icouldn’ttalktoyoumuchaboutmyfutureplansastherewasverylittletime.IamsurebynowyouknowthatIamambitious.Idon’twanttobeanordinaryengineerwithagovernmentjobinHubli.Iwanttopursuemycareerinthefieldofcomputers.Itisnotnecessaryformetogoabroadforit.IcandoitinIndia,learningthelatesttechnologiesrighthere.

Wehadcampusinterviewsrecently.IhavebeenselectedbyABCTechnologyLtdasasoftwareengineer.Theyhaveofferedmeagoodsalary.Fortunately,myseniorVasudevShenoyownsahouseinBombay.Heisgoingabroadforthreeyearsandwantstogivehishouseonrent.Heiswillingtogiveittome.

IwanttobeinBombay.Iaminlovewiththecity.Foranoutsider,itisamechanicalcitywithnohumanrelationships.WehavetostruggletogetevenordinarythingsinBombay,includingbasicentertainment.ButstillIlikeBombay.Itisprofessional,itrespectshardwork.ThebeautifulandeasylifeofHubliwillnotbefoundhere.Willyoulivewithmewithallthesethings?

Ihavewrittentomymothergivingahintaboutmyjob,myhouseandmydesiretomarry.ButIhavenottoldheryourname.IamsupposedtojointhejobinAugust.WheneverIaminHublinext,Iwillspeaktomymotheraboutit.Ihaveasmallrequest.Ourmarriageshouldbeverysimple.

Alwaysyours,Shri

Gangakkatooreceivedaletterfromherson.Itwasaspecialletterinformingherthathehadgotagoodjobandhadalsofoundahousetolivein.ReadinghislettermadeGangakkaveryhappy.ShethankedtheirfamilydeityLordMylaralinga.Butattheendoftheletter,therewereafewlinesthatdisturbedher.Shrikant

hadwritten,‘Avva,Iamtiredofhostelandhotelfood.Now,IwouldliketogetmarriedandmakeahomeinBombay.’Gangakkadidn’tlikethat.Accordingtoher,therewasnohurryforhimtoget

married.Hewas,nodoubt,good-looking,hadjustfinishedhisB.Tech.,andalreadyfoundajob.Buthewasonlytwenty-threeyearsold.Twenty-threewasamarriageableageforagirl,butnotforaboy.Ifhewasfedupofhostelandhotelfood,hecouldalwaysmovebacktoHubli,Gangakkathought.ShedidnotunderstandwhyhehadtobeinBombay,anunknownplacefor

her.ShethoughtofherdistantcousinShyamwhowasaPWDengineer.HewasleadingacomfortablelifewithacarandservantsinDharwad.Shrikantcoulddefinitelytakeupthatkindofjob.Butitseemedthathe

wantedtobeinBombay.GangakkadidnothavetheslightestinklingaboutShrimati.Whenaboyshowsaninterestinmarriage,thenitisunfairforamotherto

keepquietaboutit!GangakkawasextremelyclosetoherdaughterRama.Theythoughtalikeand

spokealike.Theonlydifferencewasintheirage.SheimmediatelywrotetoherdaughteraboutShrikant’sdecisiontogetmarried.ForRama,itwasamost

importantoccasion.ShejumpedwithjoyatthenewsandsooncametoHubliwithhertwochildren.Anyway,itwasthesummerholidays.Motheranddaughterstartedplanningastrategytofindthekindofgirlthey

wouldwantforShrikant.Firstofall,shehadtobeveryobedient,extremelygood-lookingandfromanaffluentfamily.Buttheycouldnottellpeoplethat,theywouldhavetoputitdifferently.Gangakkausuallymetotherwomenofherageatthediscoursesonthe

Puranasatthetemple.Atthesediscourses,givenbyapanditorthetemplepriest,elderlypeoplemet,exchangedideasandexperiencesandgottoknowabouteachother’sfamilymatters.Suchgatheringswerealsoabroadcastingcentreofnewsinthecommunity.Atonesuchmeeting,Gangakkaannouncedthatshewaslookingforabrideforherson.‘Wearelookingforagoodgraduategirl,butnotformoney.Ifaneligible,

adjustinggirlcomeswithjustacoconut,wewillstillbehappy,’washerstatement.Butthosewhoknewher,knewverywellwhatsheactuallymeant.Rama’sin-lawsweregreedypeople.InordertopleasethemGangakkaoften

sentthemexpensivegiftssothatherdaughterwouldhavemoreprestigethantheotherdaughters-in-law.Ramahadasister-in-law,Rajani.Now,Rama’smother-in-lawwasafterRamatogetherhoroscopematchedwithShrikant’s.Ramadidnotliketheideaatall.Tellingaliewaseasyforthemotherand

daughter.Puttingonanact,Gangakkapretendedasifshewasverysad,andtoldthem,‘IwishRajanicouldhavebeenmydaughter-in-law!Iwasprayingtogodforthat.Butunfortunatelythehoroscopesdidnotmatch.Howcanwegoahead?’Ahoroscopemismatchwasoneofthebestexcusestowithdrawfroman

unwantedproposal.AndGangakkausedthisexcuseasandwhenrequired.Sheenappa,Gangakka’selderbrother,waswaitingforthischance.Hewanted

hisdaughterRatnatomarryShrikant.Itwascustomaryforaboytomarryhismaternaluncle’sdaughterinNorthKarnataka.SheenappacamewithlotsofgiftsforhissisterandRama.Heknewthatif

Ramawashappy,shewouldpushhermother.NoonecouldbeatSheenappainsweettalk.Hestartedbutteringuphissister.

‘LookGangakka,ifastrangercomesasadaughter-in-lawtoyourhouse,thenwillshetakecareofyouinyouroldage?Youhavealreadysufferedsomuchinyourlife.Shouldn’tyoubehappyandgetsomerestatleastnow?OurdaughterisveryfondofyouandsheresemblesRamainmostrespects.ShemightnotbeasfairasShrikantbuttheirhoroscopeshavematchedverywell.Pleasedonotlookdownuponus.Wewillperformthemarriageinthebestway.Youtellmewhatyouwant...gold,cash...ahouse?’ItbecamedifficultforGangakkatoresistSheenappa’soffer.ShelikedRatna

asaniecebutdidnotwanthertobeadaughter-in-law.Ratnawasarrogant,uneducatedandordinarylooking.HowwouldShrikantagreetomarryher?ItwasafactthatSheenappahad

helpedGangakkaindifficulttimes.Still,shedidnotwanttoconveyhergratitudebygettingintoamarriagerelationship.TeachingGangakkatotalksweetlyisasunnecessaryasteachingafishto

swim!‘Sheenappa,withoutyourhelpIwouldnothavesurvived.Weallareindebted

toyou,andwillremain,throughoutourlives.Ratnawasalwaysonmymind.ButShrikanthascategoricallytoldmethathedoesn’twanttomarrywithinthefamily.HefeelsRatnaislikehisownsister.Icannotgoagainsthim.Iamhelpless.’SheenapparealizedthatitwasnotShrikantbutGangakkawhodidnotwant

thealliance.ShrikanthadhardlyspokentoRatnatohavedevelopedbrotherlyfeelings.SheenappaknewGangakkawastryingforbiggerfishandShrikantwasjustanexcuse.ItwascleartoSheenappathattherewasnousetalkinganyfurther.Ashewas

leaving,hesarcasticallysaid,‘Okay.Marriagesaremadeinheaven.LetusseewhatkindofagirlShrikantwillmarry!’AtoneofthePuranareadings,Vandana’smotherhadcometoknowthat

Gangakkawassearchingforadaughter-in-law.Vandana’ssister,Kavitha,wasinhersecondyearofBA.SotheirmotherdecidedtoproposeamatchbetweenKavithaandShrikant.Sheknewthatexceptforthesharptongueandquarrelsomenatureofhismotherandsister,Shrikantwouldbetherightcatch.ShetoldVandana,‘Shrikantwasyourclassmate.Whatdoyouthinkof

suggestingKavithaforhim?’Vandanawastakenaback.‘NoAvva,pleasedon’tdothat,’sheblurtedout,

Vandanawastakenaback.‘NoAvva,pleasedon’tdothat,’sheblurtedout,butdidnotsayanythingmoreasthatwouldhavegotShrimatiintotrouble.‘Why?Theboyisverygoodandanywaytheyaregoingtostayseparatelyin

Bombay.Youwillalsobethere.’‘NoAvva,whateveritis,pleasedon’tproceed.Shrikantwillsayno.’‘Howdoyousaythat?Wewillgivethemdowry.AndKavithaisalsogood-

looking.Letusgivethemthehoroscopeandsee.Itdoesnotmeanthatthemarriagewilltakeplaceimmediately.’Vandana’smothercouldnotunderstandwhyVandanawasresistingsomuch.AllparentswhohaddaughterssuddenlystartedpayingattentiontoGangakka.

Theyhadnotbotheredtosayevenahellotoheralltheseyears.Nowtheywouldgooutoftheirwayandtalktoherandinvitehertotheirhomes.OneofthemwasAnnaChari,thepriestwhogavethedailydiscourseatthetemple.Oneeveningafterthediscourse,heinsistedthatRamaandGangakkacometohishousefortea,thoughinthelasttwentyyears,hehadhardlyevennoticedthem.Gangakkawasthrilled.WhensheandRamawenttohishouse,theyreceivedroyaltreatment.AnnaChari’swifeChampakkabroachedthetopicinaleisurelymannerassheservedthevarietiesoffoodshehadprepared.‘Gangakka,youneverknowwhenandhowfortunesmilesonaperson.You

areawarethattheDesaifamilyofNavalgundisveryfamous.Theyareverywell-offpeoplewithplentyoflandandtrunksofgoldintheirhouse.Theyhaveonlytwodaughters.TheelderdaughterismarriedtoaveryrichpersonfromBijapur.TheirseconddaughterIndiraisofmarriageableageandsheisverygood-looking.ShewentuptoBAbutsomehowdidn’tcompleteit.’AnnaCharicontinued,‘Whatdoeseducationmattertosuchpeople?They

don’tneedtotakeupajob...TheyarethinkingaboutShrikant,ofcoursewithmyrecommendation...’Gangakkawasoverjoyed.HowonearthdidwealthypeoplelikeDesaithink

ofanalliancewithherfamily?Ifitcamethrough,Shrikantwouldbeveryfortunate.Butthensherememberedthattheybelongedtoadifferentsect.‘Aren’ttheyVaishnavas?’NormallyAnnaChariwouldmakeafussaboutsuchthingsbutthatday,he

wasveryliberal.‘HowdoesitmatterGangakka?Godhastwofaces.Oneisof

LordShivaandtheotherofLordVishnu.Botharejustdifferentnamesforthesamegod.Intoday’sworld,youshouldnotmakesuchdifferences.’Buthedidnotrevealthathewouldn’tevendrinkadropofwaterina

Vaishnava’shouse.‘Whataboutthehoroscope?’Ramaraisedapoint.‘Oh,Gangakka!ImyselfhavematchedShrikant’sandIndira’shoroscopes.

Theyhavematchedexcellently.Indirawillbringhimgoodluck.YoushouldconsideryourselfveryluckythatyouhavegotsuchaproposalforShrikant.’Motheranddaughterwerethrilled!RamastartedimaginingShrikant’s

marriagewithIndira.Shehadheardfrommanypeopleaboutthepompandgrandeuroftheirfirstdaughter’swedding.Shewassurethatherstatuswouldalsogoupifthismarriagetookplace.AnnaChariwasashrewdman.Henoticedthetwowomensofteningtothe

idea.Hewasjustwaitingforthechance.‘IwilltellDesaitobringhisdaughtertoyourhousethisSundayandIwillalsoaccompanythem.Letusseehowsoonthebestcanhappen.’Themeetingendedingoodspirits.Ramaandhermotherstarteddoingupthehousetoimpresstheguestson

Sunday.Sundayfinallyarrived.TheDesaiscameinabigcar.Eachoneofthemlooked

likeroyalty.MrsDesaiandIndirahadwornasmanyornamentsaspossible,toshowofftheirstatus.RamaandGangakkatookgreatpainstoofferthebesthospitality.The

formalitiesofteaandsnackswereover.TherewasadisappointedlookonMrsDesai’sfaceafterseeingGangakka’s

house.Itwasveryordinaryandtherewasnosignofaffluence.ShefeltthatGangakkaandherdaughterweretooeagerforthisalliance,thattoo,justforthemoney.ThoughGangakkaobservedthatthegirlwasabitslowandveryordinary

looking,shewastemptedbyherfather’swealth.AnnaChariwastheonlyonewhowastalkingnonstop.‘Oh,Shrikantisavery

brightandsimpleboyandtherearenotwowaysaboutit.IfheappliesfortheIAS,heissuretobecomethecollectorofDharwad.HeisasobedienttohismotherasShriRamachandra.Definitelyhewillkeepyourdaughterveryhappy.’

AnnaCharididnotevenknowthatfortheIASonehadtoappearforanexaminationandnotjustapply.MrsDesaiputthebrakesonAnnaChari’schatter.‘Moneyisnotatallan

importantfactorforus.Wehavebroughtupourchildreninluxuryandourdaughterisnotusedtohardwork.Wehavesufficientfacilitiesathome.Wewilldefinitelyhelptheboytothebestofourabilitybutheshouldkeepourdaughterhappy.’Gangakkadiplomaticallysaid,‘EverythingdependsonShrikant’sdecision.

Lethimcomeandwewillletyouknow.’

ELEVEN

MyShri,IreceivedyourletterandIamsorryIbrokemyscheduleforthefirsttime.Thereasonsare

numerous.Iwishyouhadstayedalittlelongerandwecouldhavetalkedabouteverythingindetail.

Shri,Itoldmymotherandhesitantly,shehasagreed.Shehassomequeries,though.Mymother’sacceptanceofourmarriageisveryimportanttome.Whenyoucomeherenexttime,youcanofficiallytalktomyfatherandgrandmother.Letmenotcreateascenenow.

Areyouawareofwhatishappeningatyourhome?Itisreallyscaringme.Yourmotherhasstartedsearchingforabrideforyouwithgreatvigour,afterreadingaboutyourjobandallthat.Everydayshehasanappointmentatoneortheothergirl’shouse.Shehasnoclueaboutus.Thisistheresultofyournottellingher.Ramaisalsoheretohelpyourmother.Shri,Iaminnoconditiontobringalotofgoldandsilver,tomatchyourmother’sexpectations.

Regardingyourself,youknowShri,thefigureofyoursalaryisimmaterialtome.Thefoundationofmyhappinessisnotthedigitsthatyouearn,butthedigitsofyourlove,affectionandcompanionship.

IamawarethatlifeinBombayistough,stillonepercentofIndia’spopulationlivesthere!Wewillbeapartofthat.

Whenyouarewithme,

Howdoesitmatterwherewelive?

Letitbeadesertoraforest,

Letitbepouringrainorscorchingsun,

Thatisheaventome!

Shri,Ihaveasmallwish.OurmarriageshouldbeperformedintheSomeshwaratempleinDharwad.Ihopeyouwillunderstandmyfeelingsandagree.

Waitingtobeyourshrimati,Shrimati

ItwasthebeginningofJune.Thehumiditywashigh,makingpeoplesweatprofusely.BustlingBombaywaitedimpatientlyfortherainstostart.

ItwasthelastdayatIITforShrikantandhisbatchmates.Examinationswereover,joboffersandscholarshipstogoabroadhadbeenreceivedandeveryonewasdreamingofthefuture.Thiswasprobablythelasttimethattheentiregroupwouldbetogether.Theyhadallenteredthiscampusasteenagersandtoday,theywereleavingas

youngandconfidentengineers,hopingtoachievefameandfortuneintheoutsideworld!Manyofthemgotquiteemotionalwhentheyweresayinggoodbyetotheir

hostelmates.Butitwasallpartoflife.ShrikantandRaviwereleavingforHublibytheMahalakshmiExpressfromVTStation.Someofthehostellershadcometoseethemoff.Asthetrainstartedmoving,manyhandswavedgoodbye,untilthetraincould

beseennomore.WhenthetraingottotheoutskirtsofBombay,acoolbreezestartedsettling

in.ShrikantandRavioccupiedtheirseats.Inthelasttendaysbothofthemhadbeenbusypackingupandsortingout

last-minutepaperwork.Sotheyhadnotspokenmuchtoeachother.Now,theyhadthechancetocatchup.‘Shrikant,youarewellsettledwithajobandahouse!Sowhatisyournext

goal?’askedRavi.‘Ravi,Iamclearaboutmypath.IdonotwanttogototheUS,getagreen

cardandsettlethere!WhenIlookatyoungenergeticdirectorsofcompanies,Ifeelthatwecanstayinourowncountry,workhardandachieveexcellence.Thereisnoshortcuttosuccess.Hardworkandbeliefinoneselfcantakeonetoanyposition.Whataboutyou?’‘Well,youknowIgotascholarshiptogototheUniversityofPennsylvania

forthewinterterm.SoIamplanningtogototheUSbyendDecemberorearlyJanuary.IhavetogototheUSandearnmoremoney.Ihavetwosisterstobemarriedoff...Thatremindsme,Shrikant,whenareyougettingmarried?’‘Howdidyouguessthat?’‘Ididn’tguess,Iknew!Agirlwhowritestoyousoregularlyoughttobemore

thanafriend.Ialsoknowwhosheis.ButShrikant,howwillyoutellyourpeople?Abigbattlemightstart.’Raviwasawareofthefamilyfeud.

‘Ravi,Iknowyouarenotonlyanengineerbutalsoagoodpsychologystudent.Youhavefoundoutoursecret.IdonotknowwhenIchoseShrimatitobemywife,butunconsciously,IknewthatshewastheonlygirlIcouldmarry.Youtellmewhy.’‘Maybebecauseweusedtoteasebothofyouduringourschooldays!Whenis

theweddingandwhereisit?’‘Oh,it’sgoingtobeasimpleceremonyatatempleandyoumustattend.’‘CertainlyIwill.’Shrikantgotcompletelyimmersedinhisownworld.Hehadtoworkandlearn

likethelegendaryEkalavya,withsingle-mindeddevotionandperseverance.Ekalavyawasagreatstudent,heexcelledinarcherynotwiththehelpofateacher,butbyobservingandpractisingwiththedeterminationtosucceed.Shrikantfeltthathetoohadtoperfecthisart,notgivinguphisambitioninlifeorthedesiretoexcel.

TWELVE

Itisoneoftheironiesoflifethatthepersonwhoisdearesttoyouoftenhurtsyouthemost!FortwodaysGangakkahadnottalkedtoherson.Thesilencewasdreadful.

Thesilencethatcomesfrompeaceissodifferentcomparedtothesilencethatcomesoutofsorrow.Shewasdevastated.HeronlysonShrikant,onwhomshehadpinnedsomuchhope,hadsuddenlybecomeherenemy.Theshockhehadgivenherwaslikeabombshell.HowcouldhehavedecidedtomarrythatgirlShrimati?Shrimatiwashardlytenmonthsyoungertoherson,ordinarylooking,without

moneyand,morethananything,herenemy’sdaughter!Howwouldshefacepeople?Whatwouldtheysay?Theywouldmakefunofher.AndtheDesais,SheenappaandRama’sin-lawswouldmockher.WorsethanthatwasthefactthatherownsonhadgonetoRindakka’shouseandbeggedfortheirdaughter.Normally,agirl’sparentsapproachedtheboy’speople.Hereitwasthe

reverse!Gangakkaknewtherewasnowayshecouldstopthismarriage.Herprevious

excuses,thatthehoroscopesdidnotmatchorthattheybelongedtodifferentsects,wouldnotaffectShrikant’sdecision.Gangakkawassoupsetthatshewasnotabletoeat.Shesobbedcontinuously.Shehadexperiencedthiskindofsorrowforthefirsttimeafterherhusband’sdeath.Shrikanttriedveryhardtoconsoleher.‘Avva,youhaveawrongimpression

aboutShrimati.Sheisaverynice,kindandbrightgirl.Shewilllookafteryouverywell.Pleasedonotdependupondowry.Howevermuchmoneyyouwant,I

willgiveyouonceIstartearning.Ifyoucareformyhappiness,pleaseacceptShrimatiasyourdaughter-in-law.Iwillbeunhappymarryinganyoneelse.’‘Sheisourenemy’sdaughter!’‘Avva,Iamnotmarryinghergrandmother.HaveyoueverfoundShrimatior

hermotherfightingwithyou?Notevenonceprobably.Thenwhythisobjection?’‘TheybelongtotheVaishnavacommunity.’‘Avva,thinkoftheoutsideworld.YouhavenotthoughtbeyondHubli-

Dharwad.Peoplemarryfromdifferentcountries.Ourswouldonlybedifferentsectsofthesamecommunity,afterall.Ourlanguages,ourfoodhabitsareallthesame.’ButGangakkawasnotwillingtolistentoanything.Shrikantgotfrustratedandwentout.Gangakkawassleepingonamatonthefloor.Shelookedlikeshewason

strike.Ramacamein.Shewasequallyfuriouswithherbrother.Thoughshebelongedtotheyoungergeneration,shewasworsethanGangakkainherold-fashionedviews.Sheevenoutdidhermotherwhenitcametoplanningandscheming.AssoonasGangakkametherdaughter,bothofthembrokedownineach

other’sarms.Ramatriedtocomforthermother.‘Avva,don’tcryandwasteyourenergy.Yourtearswillnotchangehis

decision.Ifhehasdecidedtomarryher,thenletusthinkoftheotherthings.Firstofall,telleverybodythatthegirlisintelligentandsmart,andthatwehaveagreedtothismarriage.Don’tevertellthemtherealreason.Second,Iknowthatyouhavekeptmoneyandsomegoldforhismarriage.Youneednotgivethemtohiswife.Thirdhehastoldyouthathewilllookafteryou.Youneednotgoandstaywithhim.Justtellhimtosendmoneyeverymonth.’Atthesewords,Gangakkawasalittleconsoled.Ontheothersideofthecompound,inShrimati’shouse,herfatherand

grandmotherwerealsostronglyopposedtothealliance.TheyfelttherewasnothingspecialaboutShrikant.Hehadjustgotajob,wasnotyetproperlysettledandtheirShrimatiwasanydaymoreintelligentthanhim.Moreover,hewastheirenemy’sson.

Despitethesemisgivings,Shrimati’smarriagetoShrikanttookplaceonarainydayinShravanattheSomeshwaratempleinAtthikolla.Atthikollawasfullofwildflowersandtherewasmuchgreeneryaround.Amongtheveryfewpeoplewhoattendedthemarriage,mostofthemweretheirclassmates.Normally,weddinggarlandsaremadeofjasmine,rajanigandhaorsevanthige.

Butforthiswedding,thegarlandsweremadeofbakulaflowers.Shrimatilookedherusualself,only,shewaswearinganewcottonsaree,

greenglassbanglesandlotsofbakulastringsinherplait.ShehadthesameenchantingsmilethathadcaptivatedShrikant,andpreventedhimfromseeinganyothergirl.Afterthesimpleweddingceremonywasover,RaviPatilshookhandswith

Shrikantandsaid,‘Shrimati,todayyouareofficiallyShrimatiShrikantDeshpande.Ourprophecyhascometrue.’Shrimatismiled,withablush.

THIRTEEN

Asexpected,ShrimatiwasmadetofeelunwelcomeinGangakka’shouse.Still,shewantedtowinoverhermother-in-law.Soshetriedtohelpherinthekitchen.ButGangakkamadeitclearthatthekitchenwasherdomainandshedidn’twantShrimatitoenterit.Shewouldsay,‘Youhavejustmarried.Youdonotknowourcustoms.So

pleasedon’tbotheraboutcooking.’Withinaweek,Shrimatigotbored.Whenshewenttoherhouse,her

grandmotherwouldaskherinnumerablequestions,‘Shrimati,whatdidyourmother-in-lawgiveyouinmarriage?Isawherinasareeshoptheotherday.Didshegetyouasaree?’Shrimaticouldnotansweranyofherqueries.WhenShrikantwasthere,Gangakkawouldbecordialbutwhenhewentout

shewouldshowhertruecoloursbysayinghurtfulthingstoShrimati.‘Ireallydon’tunderstandyourcustoms.YoucallShrikantbyhisfirstname

andthattooinashortform.Webelievethatifyouaddressyourhusbandbyhisname,youshortenhislifespan.Yourmothershouldhavetaughtyouallthesemanners.Thereisasaying,Thequalityofthesareedependsonitsthreadandthenatureofadaughterdependsonhermother’s.’Inthepreviousgenerations,whenthehusbandwasusuallyolderthanthe

wife,hewouldnotbeaddressedbyname.ButShrikantwasonlytenmonthsolderthanShrimati.Besides,theyhadgrownuptogether.SoitwashardforShrimatitochange.Whenevershetried,Shrikantwouldnotallowit,saying,‘Shrimati,getoutofthatoldcustom!WhenIcancallyoubyyourfirstname,

youshouldalsobeabletodothesame.First,weweregoodfriendsandnow,Ihavebecomeyourhusband.That’sall.’Shrikantwouldalsoteasehersayingthatheknewshewouldsomeday

becomehiswifeandthatiswhyhewantedhertocallhimShri.ShrimatiwouldbecomeverydejectedwheneverGangakkahurtherlikethis.

Hermotherwassuchagentle,docileperson,shewouldneverhavetaughtherdaughterwrongthingsorgivenherbadadvice.ShrimatifeltveryhelplesswhenhermotherwascriticizedbyGangakka,butshesaidnothing.Tendaysafterthemarriage,ShrikantandhisShrimaticametoBombay.It

wasthemonthofAugust.ThemonsoonhadsetinanditwaspouringinBombay.BombayrainsaresodifferentfromtherainsinDharwad.Thecontinuousrainwoulddisruptlocallife,butthedisciplinedcitizensofBombaynevercomplained.Shrimatiwasshockedtoseehersmallsingle-bedroomapartmentatBandra.ItwasprobablysmallerthanaroomintheirHublihouse.Therewasno

questionofagardenorabakulatreeinaplacelikeBombay.‘Shri,whyshouldwepayathousandrupeesrentforsuchasmallhouse?’Shrikantlaughedatherinnocence.‘Shrimati,itisverydifficulttogetanapartmentinBandrawithoutpayingan

advance.Behappyaboutthishouse.ItisonlythankstoVasudevthatwegotit.’‘Shri,what’ssogreataboutBandra?’‘Shrimati,Bandraisaveryexpensivearea.Itisverywellconnected.

Gradually,youwillunderstandallthat.’Shrikantreportedforwork,asasoftwareengineer,ontheappointedday.He

wasonprobationforsixmonths.Amongthemanypeoplewhojoinedthecompanythatday,hewastheonlypersonwhowasmarried.Thoughitseemedalittleodd,Shrikantwasneverembarrassedaboutit.Shrimatiwasleftaloneathome.Shewouldkeeprememberinghermother,

herHublihouse,andthequietatmosphereoftheirhometown.Allthesememorieswouldmakeherhomesick.Hereyeswouldwellupwithtears.Kamalahadnotshedasingletearatherdaughter’smarriage.Shehadhelditinwithsheerwillpower.NowShrimatistartedseeinghermotherinanewlight.Atleastforher,life

wasfunwithalovinghusband,anewcity,newexperiences...Butforher

mother?HeronlyfriendwasShrimati!Howisshemanagingwithoutme,Shrimatiwondered.Thiswasthefirsttimeintwenty-twoyearsthatShrimatiwasawayfromhermother.ShealsorememberedGangakka’sfrequenttaunts.‘Shrimati,thecolourofthesareeyourmotherhasgivenmeisnotgood.’‘Avva,forthatprice,itwouldhavebeenthebestone,’Ramawouldadd.‘Howmuchmoneydidyourparentsspendforthemarriage?’Shrimatididnotknowwhattoanswer,butRamawouldsupporthermother

saying,‘ItwouldhavedefinitelybeenlessthanwhattheDesaiswouldspendononedayofDiwali.’Shrimatiwassosoft-spokenandwell-behavedthatitwasdifficultforherto

answerback.Besides,shehadjustgotmarried.Shedidnotwanttocreateanyproblemsforanyone.AfterhermarriageVandanatooshiftedtoBombay.Butshelivedfaraway,

neartheArlandChurchatMalad,anothersuburbofBombay.UnlikeHubli,inspiteofbeinginthesamecity,itwasnoteasytomeether

often.ShrimatifounditdifficulttoconfideinVandanaaboutherproblemsbecause

Vandana’sin-lawswereveryaffectionatepeople.WhenShrimatiwenttotheirhouse,shesawVandana’smother-in-lawgiving

herasareefortheGowrifestival.Thoughitwasnotanexpensiveone,itwasatokenofaffection!Wheneversomethingwastobegiventoherdaughter-in-law,Gangakkaonthe

otherhandwouldsay,‘Ohthatisnotourcustom’or‘Youaretoomodern,soIhavenotgivenyouanything.’Irrespectiveofallthis,lifewasveryhappyforShrimatibecauseofShrikant.

Theywereyoung,theywerestartinganewhomeandGangakkawasnotpresentphysically!Soon,ShrimatistartedgettingusedtoBombay.Shetookupcookingforthe

firsttimeinherlife.Shrikantwasahardworkingpersonandadutifulhusband.Rightatthebeginningofthemonthhewouldhandoverhisentiresalarytoher.Hehadtoldher,‘Shrimati,mymotherhassufferedalot.Shehassacrificedsomuchformyeducation.So,everymonth,youmustsendherthousandrupees.Thenwiththerest,youmanagethehouse.Iwon’taskyouanything.’Shedidnothaveanyexpensivehabits,soShrikant’ssalarywasmorethan

Shedidnothaveanyexpensivehabits,soShrikant’ssalarywasmorethanenoughforher.Withoutfail,shewouldsendthousandrupeestohermother-in-law.Shrikanttoohadsimpletastes.Hisonlyluxurywastechnicalbookswhichhe

wouldbuybecausetheywereessentialforhiswork.Shrimatiknewaboutitandwouldkeepsomemoneyaside.Onhismodestsalarytheyhadenoughfortheirneeds,butnotforluxuries.Someweekends,ShrimatiandShrikantwouldvisitnearbytouristsitesliketheElephantaCaves,Bhaja,Karlaandotherplacesofinterest.ShrikantwasnotreallyinterestedinthesehistoricalplacesbutforShrimati’ssakehewouldgo.SixmonthsaftertheirweddingShrimatigotaletterfromProfessorCollinsin

replytotheweddinginvitationshehadsenthim.HewrotethathehadbeenavisitingprofessorinSouthAmericaforsix

months.AsaweddinggifthesentherasetofRomanandGreekhistorybooks.ThiswasthebestgiftShrimatihadreceived.Shrikantwasconfirmedasapermanentemployeewithinthreemonthsofhis

traininginsteadoftheusualsixmonths,sincehisperformancehadbeenverygood.Asaresulthebecamebusierbytheday.Hiscompany,whichwasofamoderatesize,wasgrowingrapidlyandShrikantstartedgrowingwiththecompany.Withinayear’stime,everyonehadheardabouthim.Hisgeneralmanager,MrVishwasKelkar,hadtakenagreatlikingtoShrikantbecauseofhishardworkingnature.HewouldworkevenonSundays.Heneverutteredthewords,‘Sorry,Icannotdoit.’Sometimes,Shrikantwouldworktheentirenight.Atsuchtimeshewouldask

Shrimatitocarrydinnertotheofficeforhim.Bombaybeingasafeplace,Shrimatiwouldtakealocaltrain,givehimhisdinnerandcomeback.Initially,shewouldwonderhowpeopletravelledinsuchcrowdedtrains.Butnow,shewasoneofthem.Itwasthecustomforanewly-wedcoupletogototheparents’placeforthe

firstDiwaliaftermarriage.ShrikantandShrimatiweresupposedtogotoHubli,butbecauseofsomeurgentassignment,ShrikantcouldnotgoandShrimatihadtogoalone.ShehadmadeitapointtotakegiftsforGangakkaandRama.Evenafterallthesemonths,thetreatmentshereceivedfromthemwasnodifferent.ThefirstyearofShrikantandShrimati’smarriageflewbyandShrimatihad

becomeaBombayite.ThecharmofdiscoveringBombayhadwornoffandshe

hadstartedfeelingalittlelonely.SheseriouslybegantothinkofcontinuingherstudiesandShrikantwelcomedtheideawhole-heartedly.Attimes,ShrikantwouldfeelbadthathisintelligentwifewaswhilingawayhertimeinBombay.So,heencouragedhertostudyfurther.ButaletterfromGangakkajeopardizedeverything.

FOURTEEN

Gangakkahadwritten,‘Foryourstudies,Ihadtakenaloanofonelakhrupees.OnepartofthatmoneyItookfromyouruncleSheenappaandtheotherfrommycousinShyam.NowSheenappa’sdaughterRatnaisgettingmarriedandShyamisbuildinganotherhouse.Bothofthemhaveaskedforthemoneyback,attheearliest.Maybeyoucansendteninstalmentsoftenthousandrupees.Theyarenicepeopleandhavenotaskedforanyinterest.MaybeSheenappaisaskingforthemoneybecauseheisupsetthatyoudidnotmarryhisdaughter,Idonotknow.However,Ifeelthatitisyourdutytoreturnthemoneynow...’TherealreasonforGangakka’sletterwassomethingentirelydifferent.

Gangakkawasextremelymiserablethatherdaughter-in-lawwashappy.ShecouldseethehappinesswhenShrimatihadcometoHubliforDiwali.ShewasenviousofShrimati.Allthesedays,Shrikantwassolelyherproperty.

ShecouldnotbearthefactthatnowhealsobelongedtoShrimati.Gangakka’shappinesswasinverselyproportionaltoShrimati’s.AsShrimatiwasphysicallyfarawayfromher,Gangakkahadtofindother

waystotroubleher.ThoughShrimatiinvitedGangakkatoBombaymanytimes,sherefusedtogo.Shesaidshewouldgetboredthere.Besides,itwasShrimati’shouse,afterall.BombaywastoofarforRamatovisitthemoften,butshedidspendalotof

timewithhermother.ItwasRama’sideatoaskShrikantforthemoney.‘LetusaskShrikantfora

hugesum.ThatwillmakeShrimatistruggle.’‘ButonwhatpretextcanIask?’‘Tellhimthatyouhadtakenaloanforhiseducation.’

‘Tellhimthatyouhadtakenaloanforhiseducation.’TheyknewthatShrikantwouldbehurtintheprocess,buttheyfeltthathe

deserveditbecausehehadmarriedShrimati.Shrimatiwasscaredwhenshereadthatletter.Howonearthwouldtheygeta

lakhofrupees?Neitherdidtheyhavesomuchmoneynorcouldherparentsaffordtolendit.Shrikantwasworriedtoo.Hecouldnotaskforaloanfromhiscompanyinthesecondyearitself.Afterhehadbeenmadepermanent,hissalaryhadincreased,buthealsohadtosetupanewhouse,andbuyeverythingfromscratch.Shrimatisuddenlyfoundasolution.‘Shri,canIgetajob?’‘Yes,youmaygetone,butnotinanyhistorydepartment,whereyouwillbe

paidverylittle.’‘Don’tworry,Shri,Iwilltakeupanyjobanywhereforayearandsave

money.’‘Butyouwantedtostudy,Shrimati!’‘Thedaywesendthelastinstalment,Iwillstopworkingandpursuemy

studies.Itdoesn’tmatterifIamlatebyayear.Canyoupleasefindajobforme?’‘Shrimati,youcangetanadministrativejob,butitisnotreallymeantfor

peoplelikeyou.Youareadifferentkindofperson,yourtalentsareinatotallydifferentarea.Morethanthat,whyshouldyourepaymyloan?’Shrimatismiledandanswered,‘Whenyouaremine,yourloanisalsomine.It

comesasapackage.IcannotsayIwantonlymyhusband.Hisjoysanddifficultiesarealsoacceptabletome.’Shrikantwastoomovedtospeak.Heactuallybelievedthathismotherhadtakenthathugeloan.Henever

suspectedanyfoulplayonherpart.Hetrustedhismotherandstronglybelievedthatshewouldneverdohimanywrong.HewasalsohurtthatShrimatihadtoworkformorethanayearforhissake

andpostponeherPh.D.Hewasawarethatitwasunfairtoher.WiththehelpofMrKelkar,Shrimatigotajobwithasmallimport-export

companyintheFortareaofdowntownBombay.Thesalarywasgoodbutthejobwasmechanical.Shrimatihadtoleavehomeatseveninthemorningandreturnedatseveninthenight.Withsomehesitation,Shrimatijoinedthe

company.HerParsiboss,MrFarooqModi,wasadecentman.HewasagoodfriendofMrKelkar.BothofthemweremembersofthesameclubonCharniRoad.TherewasapredominanceofwomenintheofficeasMrModifirmlybelievedthatwomenworkedharderthanmen.Shrimatisoonbecameverypopularintheofficebecauseofhernon-

interferingnatureandherhabitofworkinghard.Shedidnotenjoythejobmuchsinceitwasmonotonous,butshedidenjoythecompanyofallhercolleagues.TheycamefromdifferentpartsofBombay.Shrimatibecamefriendlywiththreeofthem—NaliniBapat,MarukhandShantaIyer.Sheoftenwentshoppingwiththembutshewouldn’tspendarupeeonanything.Hermaingoalwastosaveasmuchasshecould.AllthemoneyNaliniearned,shespentongoldornaments.Marukhwould

spendher’sonclothes.Shantahadabigresponsibility,asshelookedafterahugefamily.Everymonth,ShrimatiwouldsendGangakkaherentiresalaryalongwith

somesavingsfromShrikant’ssalary.WhenGangakkareceivedthefirstinstalment,herjoyknewnobounds.She

hadnotexpectedherobedientsonandsinceredaughter-in-lawtotakeherdemandsoseriously.Theysaidtheywouldsendherthemoneyinteninstalments.Sheregrettednottellingthemthattheamountwastwolakhsinsteadofone!Nowthatshehadexcessmoneyinherhands,Gangakkadecidedtousethis

bonusamounttobuyornamentsforRama.Ramawasthrilled.NeithershenorhermotherrealizedthatthismoneywasatthecostofthebrightyoungShrimati’sfuture.Afterfifteenmonths,Shrimatidecidedtoresign.Allherfriendsfeltthatshe

wasbeingimpractical.Nalini,inparticular,toldher,‘Shrimati,youmustalwaysearnyourownmoney,irrespectiveofyourhusband’sincome.Hismoneycanneverbeyours.AdaycouldcomewhenhemaysaythatthisismymoneyandIwillspenditthewayIwantandsupposeyouwanttospendsomething,youwillbeathismercy.’Shantaadvisedher,‘Shrimati,bepractical.Youdon’thaveworkathome.

Extraearningisalwaysagreatincentive.Youneverknowhowthedaysareahead.Thisisagoodcompany,trytocontinueaslongaspossible.’

Shrimatiknewthatitwastheiraffectionforherthatmadethemadviseher.InanimpersonalplacelikeBombay,nooneadvisedanyoneonpersonalmatters.Shrimatisaidtothem,‘Thankyouforyoursincereadvice.Forme,thereisnodifferencebetweenShrikant’smoneyandmymoney.Iamnotinthehabitofspendingmoneyonmyself.Besides,ifIdidwantto,hewouldneverobject.Actually,IwanttoregisterformyPh.Dinhistory.’MrModi,herboss,triedtopersuadeher,‘Shrimati,whydoyouwantto

resign?Ifyouwant,Iwillraiseyoursalary.Youareagoodworker.Idon’twanttoloseyou.’Shrimatipolitelydeclinedhisoffer.Whenshecamehomethatday,shewas

sorelievedandhappy.Withthelastinstalment,Shrikantwroteanotetohismother,thankingherforprovidinghimwithagoodeducation,inspiteofallthedifficulties.HedidnotforgettomentionthatitwasonlybecauseofShrimati’shardworkthathehadbeenabletosendthemoney.Gangakkawasfuriouswhenshereadhisletter.‘Whatissogreatabout

Shrimati?Shedidnotbringanydowry,soshehasrepaidhisloan,that’sall.’

F IFTEEN

Oneevening,ShrikanttoldShrimati,‘Don’tcookathometoday.Wewillgoouttoeat.’‘NoShri,itwillbeexpensive,’Shrimatireplied.‘It’sallright.Onedaywecanaffordtoeatoutside.’‘Areyougettingapayrise?’‘Ofcourse.Iamgoingtobeamanagernow.’‘Oh!Withintwoandahalfyears?’sheaskedwithsurpriseandhappiness.‘Don’tgobythenumberofyears.Ihaveprobablyworkedasmuchasa

normalpersonwouldinfiveyears.Mysalaryhasincreasedbutthecostoflivingalsohasgoneup.Soweshouldsendmoremoneytomymother.AtleastnowshecangetsomethingforRamawithoutaskingme.Letherbeeconomicallyindependent.’Shrimatibecamesilentforamoment,beforeagreeingtowhatShrikantsaid.ShedidnotwanttocurbShri’shappinessbyspeakingwhatwasonhermind.

ShrimatirememberedtheingratitudeofGangakkawhohadn’tsaidasinglewordtoherabouttheloan,knowingverywellabouthercontribution.Thiswasthefirsttimethetwoofthemwerehavingdinneroutsidehome.

BothofthemwalkeduptoDhanarajRestaurantinBandra.WhileShrimatiwaslookingatthemenucard,Shrikantwarnedherplayfully,

‘Atleasttodaydon’tlookattheprice,Shrimati!’Shrimatiputthemenucardasideandasked,‘Shri,whatareyour

responsibilitiesinthenewjob?’

‘Imayhavetotravelmore.Agroupwillreporttome.MybossMrKelkarhasgreatconfidenceinmeandheexpectsthatIshouldworkwithtotalconcentration.Thesalaryhikecomeswithmoreresponsibility,ofcourse.’‘Hey,Shri,whenyoutalkaboutconcentrationIamremindedofoneofthe

stories...’‘Hopeitisnottheusuallonghistoricalone!’Shrikantinterrupted.‘Yes,itis,butyoumustlisten.’‘Idon’thavemuchchoicewhenIammarriedtoahistorian,’Shrikantjoked

andgotreadytolistentoher.‘Longago,therewasayoungsagewhowantedtowriteacommentaryonthe

Dharmashastra.Hewassofocusedinhisworkthathehadforgottenabouttheoutsideworld.Hispoormotherusedtolookafterhimandwhensherealizedthatshewasgettingolder,shewenttothenextvillageandchoseabrideforhim.Asanobedientsonshould,hewentthereandgotmarried.Evenafterhismarriage,thissageremainedbusyinstudyingandwriting,notbotheringabouthisyoungwife.’‘Thatsoundsabitunusual,notbotheringaboutawife!’Shrikantmadefunof

thestory.‘No,Shri,itcanhappenwhenoneistotallyfocused.Whenthesage’smother

died,theyoungbridedidnotwaitforherhusbandbutcameonherowntohishouse.Sheunderstoodthesituation.Sheusedtoworkoutsideandgetmoney,cookforherhusbandandlookafterhimlikeamother.Thismancontinuedhiswork.Timepassedbyandonenight,afterhehadcompletedthelastlineofthebook,henoticedanoldwomansleepingonthefloor.Herecognizedherfacebutcouldnotrememberwhoshewas.Hewokeherupandasked,“Lady,whoareyou?Whendidyoucomehere?”Sherepliedpolitelythatshewashiswifeandexplainedthatshehadbeenwithhimforthelastfortyyears,eversincehismotherhaddied.‘Thesagewaswonderstruck.Hecouldnotbelievethatthiswomanhaddone

somuchforhim.Heaskedherwithgreatrespect,“Whatisyourname?”‘“MynameisBhamati.”‘Thenhewroteonthefirstpageofthetext,“Bhamati”.Tilldate,thebook

BhamatiisreferredtobymanySanskritscholars.Bhamatisignifiesallthose

womenwhosacrificetheiryouthforthebettermentoftheirhusbands.Nobodyremembersthatsage’snamebutBhamatistandsout.’Shrikantwaslisteningverycarefully.‘Shri,whosesacrificedoyoufindmorepraiseworthy?’Shrikantthoughtforaminuteandsaid,‘Ofcourse,bothofthem,butIfeelthe

single-mindedperseveranceofthesage,withoutgettingdistractedbytheworldlypleasures,ispraiseworthy.’‘Idon’tagreewithyou,Shri.IthinkthesacrificemadebyBhamatiis

unparalleled.Shespentherentireyouthwithoutaskinganythingorcomplaining.Hisworkwouldnothavebeencompletedbutforher.Morethanthat,Ilikesomethingelse.’‘Whatisthat?’‘Thefactthatthehusbandrecognizedhiswife’ssacrificeandnamedthebook

afterher.Thatiswhatappealstomemore.’‘OhShrimati,intoday’ssocietyitisverydifficulttofindwomenlike

Bhamati.Theyhavechangedsomuch.’Itwasthreeyearssincetheyweremarriedandnow,Shrimatiwaskeento

enrollforherPh.D.Butaroundthattime,ShrikantwaspostedtoDelhi.Shrimatiwassad.ShedidnotwanttopartwithShrikantorthePh.D.Shrikant

reasoned,‘EitherIrejectmyoffertogotoDelhioryoustayaloneinBombaytodoyourPh.D.IfIgotoDelhi,Icancomehereonlyonceamonth.’‘NoShri,neitheroptionisacceptable.Idon’twantyoutoforgoyour

promotionbyrejectingthisoffer,nordoIwanttostayalone.WewillstayinDelhiforoneyearandIwilltakeupmystudiesnextyear.AnywaynorthIndiahasalotofhistoricalplacesthatIcanvisit.’Shrimatihadstartedcompromising.‘Shrimati,thereisonemoreway.Wecanaskmymothertocomeandstay

withyou.’Thoughshedidnotsayit,ShrimatiknewverywellthatGangakkawouldn’t

agree.Inthemeantime,Gangakka’slifehadalsochanged.Therewasaphoneat

homenow.WhenShrikantcalledheruptoaskheraboutcomingtoBombaytostaywithShrimati,Gangakkasaid,‘IwishIcouldcomeandhelpyourwife.Sheisjustlikeadaughtertome.ButIamplanningtogoonapilgrimagefortwo

months.Sheenappa’swifeisunwell.HehashelpedmewhenIwasaloneandyouwerestillachild.SoIhavetohelpthemnow.Rama’schildrenmayalsocomeheretostudy.YoutellmewhatIshoulddo.Iwilllistentoyou.’So,Gangakka’scomingtoBombaywasruledout.ShrimatileftforDelhiwithShrikant.Forapersonlikeher,neithervery

ambitiousnorverycourageous,suchsituationsmeantthatherownprioritieswerealwayspushedtothelowestrung.SpendingayearinthehistoriccityofDelhididnotprovetobeverydifficult

forShrimati.Itwasanewplaceandshemadenewfriends,soshedidnotgetbored.‘Shrikant,afterwegobackfromDelhi,theleaseperiodofourpresenthouse

willbeover.Wherecanwetakeupanewhouse?Canweaffordtobuyone?’‘Shrimati,don’tworry.NowIcanaskforahousingloanfrommycompany.’‘Inthatcase,let’sbuyahouseinVersova,onethatfacesthesea.’‘Whythere,Shrimati?Itissofar.’‘Somehow,Iamfascinatedbythesea.Icansitinfrontofthewaterforany

numberofhours.Icanviewmydreamsintheriseandfallofthewaves.’‘OhShrimati,pleasedon’tgetsopoeticanddreamy.Icannotunderstandyou.

Butonethingiscertain,IcannotstayinVersova.’‘Shri,withoutdreamslifeisnothing.Don’tyoudreamofbecomingthe

directorofacompany?’‘Comeon.Thatisapracticaldream.’‘Okay.Whereshallwebuythehouse?’‘Letussee,somewhereinSantaCruzorBandra,maybe.’Manyunexpectedthingshappeninlife,andShrikant’slifewasnotan

exception.Hiscareerhadgoneverywell,hisbosswasextremelyhappywithhisperformanceinDelhiandnowhewasbeingpromotedasaprojectmanagerandsenttoLosAngeles,USA.ShrikanthadbeentotheUSafewtimesbeforebutthistime,hewasgoingto

staythereforthreeyears.MrKelkarhadassuredhimthatthecompanywouldtakecareofhiswife’s

travelaswellastheirlivingexpensesforthreeyears.Shrimatiwasthrilled.ShetookloadsofpresentsfromDelhiforherparents,

RamaandherchildrenandGangakka,beforeleavingfortheUS.

Withthesuddenaffluence,Gangakkacouldaffordtomakesomechangesaroundher.Shegotthehouserepairedanddiditupwithmoderninteriors.Sheacquiredseveralnewhouseholdappliances.Shehadmoretimetogossipnow.ButherfeelingstowardsShrimatihadnotchanged,evenafterfiveyearsofhermarriagetoShrikant.ShehadnevershownanyaffectiontowardsShrimati.Thoughtherewasaphoneathome,shenevercalledher.Shrimatitriedherlevelbestbutfailedmiserablytowinhermother-in-law’sconfidence.Gangakkanolongertauntedheraboutdowry.Nowitwasaboutnothavingchildren.‘Shrimati,wasn’tSharadayourclassmate?Itseemsshedeliveredherthird

childlastweek.IhadgonetoVandana’sson’sbirthdayandshetoldme.Hersonisverygood-looking.’Ramapouredfuelontheconversation,‘RememberIndira,Desai’sdaughter

whomAnnaCharihadproposedforShrikant?Shegavebirthtotwinboys.Herin-lawsareindeedverylucky.’Shrimatifeltsuffocatedinthisatmospherebutdidnothaveanyanswerto

theircomments.Manyatimesshewouldfeelliketellingthemtoadvisetheirsoninstead.Buthershynesswouldn’tallowher.ShrimatihadoncesaidtoShrikant,‘Shri,wehavebeenmarriedforfiveyears

now.Allourfriendsarealreadyparents.Ifeellikehavingachildnow.’ButShrikantwasveryadamantregardingthemhavingchildren.‘Sowhat,Shrimati?Wegotmarriedatanearlyagebecauseourcircumstances

weredifferent.Iamhardlytwenty-eightyearsold.Letusfirstsettledown.Manyofourclassmatesarestillnotmarried.LookatRavi,Anthony...Let’snotbeinahurrytohaveababy.’HowcouldshetellGangakkaallthis?Kamalawasveryhappyandthankedgodthatherson-in-lawwasdoingvery

wellandherdaughterwashappy,unlikeherself.Shrimati’sfatherShrikantrao,ontheotherhand,boastedsayingthatthoughShrikantwasn’tthepropermatch,stilltheygottheirdaughtermarriedtohim.HeclaimedthatShrikant’sprosperitywasbecauseofhisdaughter’shoroscope.AttimesKamaladidfeelbadthatShrimatididnothaveanychildrenyet,but

shewasnotlikeGangakka,totalkdirectlyaboutit.ShewasawarethatShrimatiwasverysensitive.Sosheindirectlytoldherdaughterthatitwastherighttime

tohavechildren.Shrimatireplied,‘Avva,Iamawareofitbutforthis,Shrikantshouldagree.’Gangakkawasveryhappythathersonwasdoingwellbutatthesametime,

shewasextremelyunhappythatShrimatitoowasgoingabroad.SowhenShrimatiwouldvisitHubli,Gangakkawouldfindsomereasontogooutofstationandwouldn’treturnuntilShrimatihadleft.Shejustcouldn’tstandShrimati’spresence.IfatallGangakkawaspresent,ShrimatiwasnotallowedtoworkinthekitchenbecauseGangakkaneverlikedVaishnavafood.ThesituationinShrimati’smother’splacewasnodifferent.HergrandmotherfoundfaultwithherandsaidShrimatihadtakenhermother-in-law’ssideandbecomeaSmartha.ButtherealreasonforShrimati’sunhappinesswasthelackofloveand

affectionfromGangakkaandRama.Nomatterwhatshedid,itwaswrongintheireyes.Shrimatiwasupsetbecausesomewherewithinherselfshefeltshehadfailed.SheacutelyfeltthatshewasanunwantedmemberinShrikant’sfamily.Andyet,shehopedthattheywouldloveherandaccepthersomeday.Sheknewloveandaffectioncannotbetaughtorpurchasedwithmoney.The

sincerefeelingoffondnessshouldcomefromwithintheheart.Itdoesn’tmatterifthepersonhaswealth,intelligenceorbeauty.Inhercase,thoughitwasafutileexercise,stillshewashopefulthatsomedaythingswouldchange.Sometimes,whenshewasaloneinhermother’splace,manythingswouldcometohermind.ProfessorRaoandhiswifeknewShrimativerywellandtheyhadbeenvery

keenthatShrimatishouldmarrytheireldersonwhowasadoctorintheUS.ButShrimatihaddeclinedthatproposalpolitelybecauseofhercommitmenttoShrikant.Perhapsifshehadmarriedsomeonewhoseparentslikedher,thingswouldhavebeendifferent.Ofcourse,sheneverregrettedmarryingShrikant.Hisloveandaffectionwascompleteandhewasloyaltoher.Buttoliveinsociety,onerequiredalotofsupportfromthefamilytoo!EvenaftersomanyyearssheneverfeltathomeinGangakka’shouse.Shewasstillanoutsider.ButhowcouldsheexplainallthistohermotherortoShri?Vandana’smotherwasnicetoherbutbecauseShrikantwasdoingsowelland

Shrimatiwasverywell-offnow,shewouldtauntherinadifferentway.‘OhShrimati,wespentsomuchforVandana’swedding,butyouarevery

lucky.Evenwithoutspendingapaisafromyourfather’spocket,youhavecaughtholdofaniceguy.IhopeKavithawilllearnalittlebitfromyou.’ItwastruethatVandana’shusbandwasnotassmartasShrikantandhadnot

ItwastruethatVandana’shusbandwasnotassmartasShrikantandhadnotgoneaheadinhiscareer.ButShrikantwasnotonlyintelligent,hewasalsohard-working.That’swhyhewassosuccessful.ShrimatiwenttomeetSharadaatherin-laws’place.Theirswasajointfamily.

Therewashardlyanyprivacy.Sharadawasbusywithallthehouseholdchores,butshewasveryhappytoreceiveheroldfriend.Unfortunatelytheyhardlygotanytimetotalk.‘Shrimati,doyourememberhowyouusedtoinsistthatIshouldcompletemy

BA.AttimesIfeelwhatisitsusenow?IhavenottouchedabookeversinceIfinishedtheBAexams.Buttellme,Shrimati,youmustbehavinglotsoffriendsinBombay?’‘No,Shari,Idon’t.Actually,Ihaveveryfewfriendsnow.Weallgrewup

togetherwithoutexpectinganythingfromeachother.Todaythingsaredifferent.’Thenchangingthetopic,Shrimatiaskedherfriend,‘Shari,whydidyouhaveathirdchildinthisdayandage?’ThisremindedShrimatioftheconversationshehadhadwithShrikant,howhe

hadproposedtoherandsaidthattheycouldnotaffordathirdchildwhomshehaddeclaredshewouldcallSiddharthaGautama.‘Itwasmymother-in-law,shewantedamalechild.Itisverynecessaryfor

ourbusiness-orientedfamily.Andasyouknow,myfirsttwoweredaughters.’‘ThenyoumusthaveprayedalottoBhandiwadMarutiandofferedpedas!’

Shrimatisaidwithalaugh.

S IXTEEN

ShrimatiwasthrilledthatshewasgoingtotheUS.ShehadbeenintouchwithProfessorCollinsthroughlettersbuthadnotmethim.ThiswasagoodopportunityforhertogotoChicagoandmeethimandhisdaughterDorothy.Shrikant,nowoneoftheseniormostinhiscompany,washappythathecould

understandtheglobalmarketandexploreglobalbusiness.Heknewthatifheworkedharderandprovedhimself,hewouldbemadea

vice-presidentinacoupleofyears.Rightnow,hewaspostedasheadoftheAmericanoperations.Shrikanthadplentyofresponsibilities.HisbossMrKelkarwaspinningallhis

hopesonShrikant,soShrikantmadeitverycleartoShrimatithatlifeinAmericawouldbehecticandshewasnottoexpectanythingfromhim.Hewouldlikehertobeonherown,hesaid.WhentheDeshpandesarrivedinLosAngeles,theyweregivenawell-

furnishedtwo-bedroomapartmentbythecompany.Afterayear,theycouldconsidermovingtoanotherplace.ForShrimati,everythingwasnewandfascinating...themarket,theroads,thepeople,everything.Andshewaskeentolearnaboutallthosenewthings.SincethepublictransportsysteminLosAngeles,orLAasitispopularlycalled,wasnotgood,ShrimatiandShrikanthadtolearndriving.Theypurchasedtwosecond-handcars,anabsolutenecessity,ratherthanaluxury.AftertheyhadsettleddownandShrimatifeltmoreconfidentabouttravelling;

onherown,shewenttoChicagotomeetProfessorCollins.ThereshealsometDorothy.DorothyhadfinishedherPh.DandwasworkingintheUniversity.

ProfessorCollins’shomewasfullofbooks,journals,researchpapersanddocumentsonhistory.Theatmosphereintheirhome,theconversation,thefascinatingworktheydid,wastrulyatreatforShrimati.AsDorothywastravellingtoEurope,shesuggestedthatShrimatishouldjoin

her.Theentiretourwouldtakethreemonths.Shrikantwasmostencouraging.Hewantedhiswifetobeboldand

independent.SoShrimatiwentonthetourandthoroughlyenjoyedherself.Oneyearwentbyveryquickly.Shrimatiwasbeginningtofeelquiteathome

inLA.Butasuddenphonecallupseteverything.TheygotthesadnewsthatVishwasKelkarhaddiedofaheartattackand

ShrikantwasrequiredtoreporttotheIndiaofficeimmediately.ShrikantleftShrimatitowindupeverythingandreturnedtoIndiaalone.It

wouldtakeheracoupleofmonthstocompletealltheformalities.Heknewshewascapableofhandlingthemonherown.OnhiswaybacktoIndia,ShrikantkeptthinkingaboutMrKelkarandhis

suddendemise.Hehadbeenamanofcleanhabits,alwaysonhistoes,workingrelentlesslyallthetime.Hehadsufferedfromagastriculcer,caused,asheusedtosay,bytension.Hewoulddismissithumorouslyasan‘executivedisease’.Whatwasthecauseofthestress?TherehadbeenrumoursthatVishwaswas

nothappyathomeandhadsomemaritalproblems.Didthataffecthishealthandcausetheheartattack?Shrikantcouldnothelpwonderingwhyhehadbeencalledbackwhenthere

weresomanypeoplemoreseniortohimintheBombayoffice.Wastheresomethingspecialawaitinghim?Yes.Therewas.Theboardofdirectorsfeltthathewouldbetherightperson

tosucceedMrKelkar.Thoughhehadspentonlysixyearswiththecompany,theygavehimthe

generalmanager’spost,onprobationforsixmonths.Dependingonhisperformance,hewouldbeconfirmed.Shrikantwasextremelyhappy.Thenextdayhewenttothegeneralmanager’sofficeandsawtheempty

chair.Foraminutehewasscared,thinkingofthetensionthepersonwhooccupiedthatchairhadtoundergo.Theprice,foranambitiousperson,isheavy.HerememberedVishwas’swordsandrepeatedthemtohimselfagain.‘Thegoddessofsuccessdoesnotknockonyourdoortwice.Everyopportunityshould

becompletelyutilized.Asmartpersonisonewhoconvertseveryfailureintosuccess.Successdoesnotalwaysmeanknowledge.Therearemanyfactorsthatmakeapersonsuccessful.Hardwork,couragetotakerisks,andalsotheabilitytomakepeoplerealizethatyouworkhard.Thepersonwhoworksfromninetofivewillneverbecomesuccessful.Onlyhewhothinksaboutthecompanyallthetimeandfocusesonhiswork,canbesuccessful.’Now,allthatShrikanthadtodowasconcentrateandfocusonhiswork.He

hadgothisopportunityandhehadtosucceed.Hewouldshowhisseniorsthathewasindispensable.Thatwasnotdifficultforhim.

SEVENTEEN

ShrimatiarrivedinIndiathreemonthsafterShrikant’sreturn.Shrikantwenttotheairporttoreceiveher.Hewasoverjoyedtoseeheraftersuchalongtime.Whentheycameout,

Shrimatisawanewcarandadriverwaitingforthem.Shrimatiwassurprised,‘Hey,Shri,what’sthis?’‘Shrimati,thecompanyhasgivenmeVishwas’sposition,’Shrikanttoldher

beamingwithhappiness.‘Theyhaveconfirmedmeasgeneralmanagerafterjustthreemonthsinsteadofsix.’‘Congratulations!Butwhydidn’tyouinformmebefore?’‘Iwantedtogiveyouasurprise.Areyouhappy?’‘Shri,Ihavealwaysbeenapartofyourlife.Yourachievementshavealways

beenmine.’Shrimatinoticedthecarwastakingadifferentroute.‘Shri,wherearewegoing?’‘Ihavepurchasedanewthree-bedroomflatnearBandstandinBandra,facing

thesea.Youwillloveit.’Shrimatilookedworried.‘Shri,howmuchmoneyhaveyouborrowedforthat?Wewillhavetowork

throughoutourlifetorepaythatloan,isit?’‘Shrimati,areyoumad.Iamgeneralmanagernow.Ihaveadifferentstatus.

Thecompanyhasgivenmeaninterest-freeloan.’‘Whatisthenameofourapartment?’‘SeaWaves.’‘Shri,howdidyoumanagethesethingsallbyyourself?’

‘Shri,howdidyoumanagethesethingsallbyyourself?’‘WhenImanagedtogetthefirst-rankerShrimati,thisisnothing.’‘Oh,comeon,Shri,tellmeseriously.’‘Successisneveraccidental.Onehastoplanforit.’Whentheyreachedtheapartment,Shrimatiwasamazed.Theplacewasway

beyondherimagination.Itwasaveryposhandwell-furnishedhouse,befittingShrikant’snewposition.Therewerethreebalconiesandfromeverybalconyshehadaviewofthesea.Withthenewdesignation,lifehadchangedenormouslyforShrikant,butnot

forShrimati.Hehadbecomeextremelybusyandwastouringalot.Hetravelledtwentytotwenty-fivedaysamonth.Hislifeonlyrevolvedaroundhiscompany,nothingelse.OnemonsooneveningShrimatiwassittinginthebalcony,staringattheroad.

Therainwassplashingontothebalconyandshewasgettingwet.Butshecontinuedsittingthere,withnoinclinationtogetup.Thatmorningshehadnoticedafewgreyhairsonherhead.Suddenlyshebegantofeelagewascatchingupwithher.Everythinghadworkedoutwellforthem,financiallyatleast.Buttheystill

didn’thaveanychildren.Thepreviousevening,VandanahadcometovisitShrimatiwithhertwo

children.VandanastillstayedinMaladbutinatwo-bedroomapartment.Onceinawhiletheywouldmeet.Theyearsoffriendshipbetweenthetwowomenallowedthemtodiscussevenintimate,personalmatterswitheachother.‘Shrimati,Ihopeyoudon’tmindmeaskingthisquestion,butdon’tyouget

boredwithoutchildren?’‘OfcourseIgetbored.Ihavegonetoagynaecologistandshesayseverything

isnormal.’‘No,youshouldgotoaspecialist.Youdon’thaveanyshortageofmoney.

YoubettergotoHindujaHospitalatMahim.Thereisaverywell-knowndoctortherecalledDrPhadke.Don’tgoalone.TakeShrikantwithyou.Butdon’tdelayitanyfurther.’Vandana’sadvicewaswhatShrimatihadbeenthinkingaboutasshesatonthe

balconythatnight.Asusual,Shrikantcamehomeatnineo’clockinthenight.Afterhisdinner,he

quicklysettleddowntoreadtheFinancialExpress.Shrimaticameandsatnext

tohimonthesofaandbroachedthetopic.‘Shri,Iamgettingboredathome.’Withoutevenlookingather,Shrikantsaid,‘Ihavetoldyouseveraltimesto

registerforaPh.Dbutyoudon’tseemtobebotheredatall.’‘No,Shri,Iwantsomethingmoreimportantthanthat.’‘Thentakecomputerclasses.Thatwillhelpyoualotandonceyoustart

surfing,youwouldn’tevenknowhowtimeflies.’Shrimatigotreallyupset.Howisitthathedidn’teventhinkofchildren?‘Shri,thecomputerisnoteverythinginlife.Ifyouwantmetolearnabout

computers,thenyoustudyalittlebitaboutmysubject.Moreover,Iamnotinterestedingettingadegreeforanyfinancialgain.Iobeywhatmyhearttellsme.’Shrikantfoundherwordsstrange.‘Shrimati,inreallifeyoushouldalways

decidewithyourhead,notwithyourheart.Ifyoudon’tdothat,it’sdisastrous.’‘Thatisyourwayofthinking,Shri.Ineednotlearncomputersbecausethere

isanexpertathome.Idon’thaveanyinclinationforit.Justbecauseyouhavearopeathomedoyougoandbuyabuffaloforthat?Educationandmarriagearethetwothingswhereyouhavetoobeyyourheart.IntheWest,youcanchangeyourmarriagepartnerandyoursubjectofeducationwheneveryouwant,butnotinourrigidsociety...’Shrikantstoppedherspeechbytakingholdofherhands.‘Now,whatdoyouwant?Tellmestraight,’hesaid.‘Shri,letusgotosomespecialist...’‘Why,what’swrongwithyou?Areyouunwell?’Shrikantwasperturbed.‘No,Shri,Iamperfectlyallright,butdon’tyouthinkweshouldhavechildren

now?Wearewellsettledfinancially.Bothofusareoverthirty,andthirtyislateforawoman.’Shrikantwassilentforaminute.Thenhesaid,‘Okay.Makeanappointment

andwewillgo.’ThefollowingweektheymetDrPhadke.DrPhadkewasaseniordoctorwith

morethanfiftyyearsofexperience.Hehadseenmanychildlesscouplesandcouldunderstandtheiranxiety.Shrikantdidthetalking.Heaskedquestionsaboutwhytheywereunableto

havechildren.Wasthereanythingwrong?WasthedefectinhimorinShrimati?

Coulditbecorrected?DrPhadkesmiled.‘Well,MrDeshpande,whereareyouworking?’Shrikantrepliedconfidently,‘Iamthegeneralmanagerofasoftware

company.’‘Thehumanbodyisnotacomputer.Manyatimeswedonotknowwhy

thingshappeninaparticularway.Wecangivetheprobablereasonbutnottheexactone.Wecanalsoprescribeamedicinethatmaypossiblyrectifytheproblem,buteachhumanbodyreactsdifferentlytothesamemedicine.So,itisnoteasytogivedefiniteanswers.However,Iwouldlikeyoubothtoundergocertaintestsandgetbacktomewiththeresults.’Thewholeofthefollowingweek,ShrikantandShrimatispenttakingallthe

teststhatwereadvisedbythedoctor.ShrikantshowednoemotionoranxietyduringthetestswhereasShrimatiunderwentaturbulenceofemotions.Sheprayedforgoodresults.WhentheymetDrPhadkethenexttime,theycouldnotmakeoutwhatwason

thedoctor’smindbylookingathisface.Aftergoingthroughallthereports,DrPhadkesmiledandsaid,‘MrandMrs

Deshpande,bothofyouareeducatedandintelligent.So,itshouldbeeasyforyoutounderstandthis.Neitherofyouhasanyproblem.Butinordertohavechildren,eitherthefieldortheseedmustbeverypotent.Ifbotharepotentthenitisveryeasy.Butinyourcase,bothhaveordinarypotency.Inmedicaltermswecallthis“sub-fertile”.Thatdoesnotmeanthatyoucannothavechildrenatall.Itmightperhapstakelongerforyoutoconceive.’Shrimati’seyesfilledwithtearsofdisappointment.Butshetookholdof

herselfandasked,‘Doctor,youmusthaveseenmanycasessuchasours.Howlongcouldittakeforpeoplelikeustohavechildren?’‘Shrimati,otherpeople’sexperienceisirrelevantforyou.Itdependsuponthe

individualbody.Forsomepeopleitmaytaketenyearsandforothersmaybeonlyfive.Youshouldnotloseheart.’Shrimatiwasholdingbackhertearsuntilshereachedhome.Assoonasthey

reachedhome,sheburstintotears.Wouldn’tAshoka,Vikramaditya,SiddharthaGautama,aboutwhomtheyhad

talkedsomuchbeforemarriage,bebornintheirfamily?WouldtherenotbeanyheirtoShrikant’sandherintelligence?Wouldtheirfamilyendthere?Shrimati

heirtoShrikant’sandherintelligence?Wouldtheirfamilyendthere?Shrimatifeltutterlyhopelessandhelpless.Thegatesofherdamofsorrowsbrokeopenandtearsgushedoutasfloods.Allthechildrenshehaddreamtofwouldremainonlydreams.She

rememberedGangakkareferringtoherasabarrenwoman.Howcouldsheconvincetheuneducated,unsympatheticGangakkathatshewasnottobeblamed,butneitherwasShrikant.Shecontinuedsobbing.Shrikantcameandputhisarmsaroundher.Histouchonlyincreasedher

sorrow.Itwasgettingdark.Shrimatihadnotyetputthelightson.Shefeltthatherlifewasfullofdarknessnow.Shrikantconsoledher.‘Comeon,Shrimati,takeiteasy.Thisisnottheendof

ourlives.Idon’tbelieveinsuchthings.Ifwedonothavechildrenthenwewillhaveonlyoneworry.Onthecontraryifwehavechildrenandiftheydon’tcomeupwell,thatwillbecomeaconstantworry.Wedonothaveanyempirethatweneedsomeonetoinherit.Andifyouthinkthatyouneedtohavechildrentolookafterusinouroldage,forgetit.WhatthehellhaveIhavebeendoingformymotherotherthansendingmoney?Ifyouareworriedaboutwhowillperformourshraddha,thenitisafoolishthought.Ididnotperformmyfather’sshraddha.Letusworkhard,andstartacharitabletrustthatcanhelpmanyneedychildren.Besides,thedoctorhasn’tsaidthatitisimpossible.Weshallwaitandsee.’‘Shri,Idon’twanttowaitanymore.Canweadoptachild?’Shrikantsuddenlybecameveryserious.‘Shrimati,thinkagain.Otherpeople’s

childrenwillneverbeours.Wenaturallytendtopardonourownchildren’smistakes,butitwillnotbepossibletodothatwithsomeoneelse’s.Iamnotcomfortablewiththatidea,somehow.Shrimati,youareanintelligentperson.Useyourenergyformoreconstructivework.’ShrimatiwasstunnedbyShri’swords.Theverythoughtthatshewouldn’texperiencemotherhoodwashurtingher

deeply.

EIGHTEEN

Afteraverylongtime,ShrikantreceivedaletterfromRaviPatil.ShrikantwasnowoneoftheprominentpersonsinhisfieldinIndiaandabroad.Hehadasecretary,MsPriya,intheoffice.Overaperiodoftime,herequiredsomeoneathometoo,whowassmart,reliableandabletotakeresponsibilityandmostimportantly,intelligentandobedient.ShrimatisoonbecametheextremelyefficientpersonalsecretarythatShrikantDeshpandehadwantedathome.Shrikantdidnothavetocreateanofficialpositionforher.Itwastheobedient,understandingandhelpfulnatureofShrimatithathadmadeShrikanthandoversuchgraveresponsibilitiestoher.ShebelievedthatShrikantwasdoingagreatjobanditwasherdutytohelphim.Inadditiontolookingafterhispersonalcorrespondence,shehadtobeagood

hostesstoShrikant’spersonalandofficialgueststoo.ShrikantwouldmerelysignallthelettersthatShrimatiwouldprepare.Shrimatihadlearntbasiccomputerskillsandwasabletousetheinternetande-mailtoo.Aftermuchcoaxing,GangakkahadbeenpersuadedtovisittheminBombay.

Thereafter,shemademanytrips.Herfavouritepartofthehousewasthebalcony.Shewouldnottravelbybusortrainanymore.Shewouldonlyfly.ThesuccessandprosperityofhersonhadmadeGangakkamorearrogant.

However,shedidnotchangehermindaboutShrimati.ShestillthoughtitwasbadluckthathersonhadmarriedShrimati.AssheheldRavi’sletterinherhands,Shrimati’smindwentbacktothegood

oldHublidays.

Onceuponatime,allofthemweresoclosetoeachotherbutnow,everyonewasintheirownworld.Malleshwasmarriedandhadtwodaughters.Hewasrunninghisfather’soilshopsuccessfullyandhadamassedalotofblackmoney.HehadgoneonaworldtourwithhiswifeandonthewaybackhadstayedwiththeminBombay.Theyhadtalkedabouttheirschooldaysandtheboys’vsgirls’teamjokes.Jokingly,Malleshhadsaid,‘IhavetwodaughterssoIaminthegirls’team

now.’ShrimatinoticedthatthoughMalleshhadoncebeenaveryclosefriendofhis,

ShrikanthardlyspoketoMallyainafreeandfrankmanner.ItwasShrimatiwhospokeallthetime.RavihadbeenintheUSforalongtimenow.Hisfatherwouldstillconvert

thedollarsalaryintorupeesandtelleveryonehowmuchhissonwasearning.Shrimatistartedreadingtheletter.

DearShrikant,

Idon’trememberwhenIhadwrittentoyoulast.Thegaphasnotbeenintentionalbutonlyduetothechangesinouraddress.Myfatherinformsmeonceinawhileaboutyourprogress.ButtheotherdaywhenIsawyouat

theconferenceonsoftwaretechnologyatSFOonCNN,Iwasdelighted.Youhavenotchangedmuchphysically.Butyouhaveachievedgreatthingsinlife.YourtalkonthecomputerindustryintheThirdWorldwasgreat.Myheartycongratulationstoyou.Yourspeechhadsuchauthorityandwasveryeffective.Irememberedourconversationonthetrain,thedayweleftIIT.

Shrikant,thereareveryfewachieversinlife.Thosewhoachievewhattheysetoutto,areevenmorerare.Whatyouhavedreamt,youhaverealized.Myheartjumpswithjoy.Ialsoremember‘theotherhandofyours’whoisbehindyoursuccess.Shehasbeenunassuming,undemanding,andtotallysubmissivetoyourneedsandtoyourachievements.Shrikant,withouther,youwouldnothavebeenwhatyouaretoday.

Letmewritesomethingaboutmyself.Perhapsitisnotanachievementatallintheworldlyway.Asyouknow,IusedtoreadaboutpsychologyalotinmyIITdays.Aftercomingtothiscountry,Istartedstudyingmorepsychologythanengineering.Inourcountry,thefutureofchildrenisdecidedbytheparents!Thereasoncouldbeoureconomicandsocialconditions.Parentsfeelthatifthechilddoesnottakeupengineeringormedicine,thenheorshecannotsurvive.Theydon’tcarewhatthechildreallywants.Aftercominghere,IrealizedthatIpreferpsychologytoengineeringandsoIchangedmysubject.Mydecisionmademyfatherveryangry.HethoughtIhadgonemad.Mysisterswereequallyupsetandsentmetearfulletters.However,Iaminacountrywheresuchpressuresarenotimportant,soIdidwhatIliked.

IhavecompletedmyPh.Dandamworkingasapsychologyprofessorinacollege.Inthisrichcountrywherepersonalfreedomismoreimportant,thereareweaksocialbonds.So,therearealotmorepsychologicalissues.ThoughIwouldliketocomebacktoIndia,myprofessionmightnotfetchmetherightjob,soIamcontinuinghere.

IhopeyoureceivethisletterbecauseIhavepickedupyouraddressfromComputerWorldmagazine.Kindlyreply.

WhenIthinkofShrimati,Icontinuetobeamazedbyherclearthinkingandherwisedecisions,likewhenshechosetojoinartscollegeinspiteofgettingthefirstrankinhertenthboardexams.Doyourememberthatwehadlaughedather?NowwhenIlookback,Ifeelshewasthebrightest.Sheknewwhatshelikedandshedidexactlythat.Shrikant,youareveryluckytogetsuchacompanion.

Whatisthenewsoftherestofourfriends?Anthonyisinthemerchantnavy.Imethimtwoyearsback.VasudevShenoyleftengineeringandjoinedtheIAS.HeisinDelhi.IheardthatyouvisittheUSoften.Thenexttimeyouarehere,pleasecallmeonthisnumber,215-386-6660.IwouldliketomeetyouandShrimatiwheneverIaminIndia.PleaseremembermetoShrimati.

Yoursaffectionately,Ravi

ShrimatiwasdisturbedafterreadingRavi’sletter.Oflateherself-esteemhadgonedownsomuchthatshewonderedwhethershereallydeservedallofRavi’scompliments.Ifshewassoclearinherthinking,thenwhywasshesodisturbed?Shedidn’tknow.ShrimatiwantedShrikanttoreadRavi’sletterandtalkaboutit.Soshekeptit

nexttohisplateonthediningtable.InherheartofheartsshehopedShriwouldreadthecomplimentsthatRavihadpaidherandsayafewwordsofpraisetoher.Shrikantdidreadtheletterandwithoutanyemotion,hesaid,‘Pleaseenterthe

contactdetailsinmypersonaldiaryandoursystem.’Shrimatiwasdisappointed.

NINETEEN

Shrikantgotbusypreparingthestatisticaldataofhiscompanyashewastoleaveforabusinesstourroundtheworld.Afterthistripthecompanywasplanningtolistitssharesonthestockexchangesofothercountries.So,thistourwascrucial.Recently,thecompanyhadadoptedtheESOPplan.TheESOPconcepthad

beenrecentlyintroducedinIndia.Whenacompanywentpublic,allemployeesgotastockoption,asaresultofwhichtheyallbecameshareholdersofthecompany.TheemployeesofShrikant’scompanywereveryhappybecauseitwasseenasagreatincentivetocontinuetoworkinthatcompany.Shrikantbeingoneoftheoldestemployeeshadbeenofferedaverylargechunkofthestock.BecauseofthatShrikanthadbecomeamillionaire.Itwasveryrareforalower-middle-classpersontobecomesorichinsuchashorttime.Itwasironicalthatthoughhewasnotobsessedwithmoney,ithadcometohim.Shrimatiwasunwell.Shewassufferingfromtheflu,andithadlefther

extremelyweak.InspiteofthatshehadtodoShrikant’spacking.Hewasgoingtobeawayforamonthsoshehadtomakesurehehadeverythinghewouldneed.ShrikantandShrimatihadnowmovedupintotheneo-richcircle.Shehadtwo

drivers,acookandamaidtohelpwiththehousework.ShrikantnowownedabrandnewMercedesBenz.Shrimatitoohadherowncaranddriver.ShrikanthadwantedtoshifttoSouthBombay—theprestigiousCuffeParade

orMalabarHill—ashisstatushadchanged.ButitwouldtakealongtimetofindaproperhousewithallthedocumentsinorderandShrikantdidnothavesomuchtime.HeaskedShrimatitotalktoagoodrealestateagentandcheckout

whatwasavailablewhilehewasaway.However,Shrimatididnotshowmuchinterest.ShrikantnoticedthatShrimatiwasveryunwellandwasquiteupset.‘Shrimati,

youdon’tlistentomeatall.Allthetimeyousitinthebalconyandwatchthesea.Theseabreezehasaffectedyou.Ifyoufallillnow,howcanIgo?Myschedulewillbeupsetandourcompanywillsuffer.Doyourealizehowimportantthisis?’‘Shri,thereisnoconnectionbetweenmewatchingtheseaandyougoing

abroad.Regardlessofmyhealth,youmustgo,’Shrimatitoldhimpatiently.TowhichShrikantrepliedinagentletone,‘Shrimati,thatwasnotthereason.

IfyouareunwellandifIamoutoftown,itworriesme.However,ifyouneedanything,pleasecontactHarish.’HarishwasShrikant’sjuniorcolleagueinthecompany.Buttheywerecloseto

eachotherastheyhadbeenclassmatesatIIT.Suchthingshappenedinthecorporateworld.Yourclassmatescouldbecomeyoursubordinates.Capabilityismeasuredintermsofthesuccessinone’scareer!Shrimatiherselfwastheprefectexample.OnceuponatimeshewasconsideredmuchbrighterthanShrikant,butnowshecouldnotbecomparedwithhiminanyrespect.AfterShrikantleft,Shrimatiwenttobedagain.Silentlysheprayed,let

Shrikantcancelhistourandcomeback.LettherebesomeproblemwiththeaircraftsothatShrikantisunabletogo,shethought.Thatdayshewantedsomeonetositnexttoherandcomforther,someonewhowouldcomeandstaywithher.Shemissedhermother.Thenextday,hertemperatureincreasedandShrimatifounditdifficultto

breathe.ShewassupposedtovisitVandanathatweek,butknewshewouldnotbeabletogo.Shewassleepingallaloneinthehuge,beautifullydone-upbedroom.Thecookwasonleaveandthemaidwentawayintheeveningaftershe

finishedherwork.Shrimaticouldnotsleep.Shekeptthinking,ifIdie,noonewouldevenknow.

Whatkindofalifeisthis.Itwassoempty,solonelyinspiteofallthewealththatShrikanthadearned!Thenextmorning,hermaidChampacameasusualandrangthedoorbell.But

nobodyansweredthedoor.Champagotscaredandwenttotheneighbour,Mr

JamshedMehta,ashehadanextrasetofkeysforthehouse.MrsMehtacamewiththekeyandopenedthedoor.ShewasshockedtoseethatShrimatihadaveryhighfeverandwasinastupor.ShecalledupNanavatiHospitalandShrikant’scompany.Arrangementsweremadetoadmitherimmediately.Harish,hiswifePrabhaandVandanarushedtothehospital.DrPatel,oneoftheseniormostdoctorstoldthem,‘Nothingtoworry.She

needspropermedicationandrest.Cananyonestaywiththepatient?’VandanagotworriedandtoldHarish,‘PleasecallupShrikant.Ifsomething

goeswrong,then...’ButHarishknewShrikant’snatureverywell.Hewouldn’tcomeunlessthere

wasanemergency.Sohetoldthedoctor,‘MrDeshpandeisoutofthecountryanditwillbesometimebeforehecancomeback.Pleasearrangeforaprivatenurse,andnevermindtheexpenses.’Vandanawasshocked.Inhermiddle-classcircleshecouldnotimagineany

husbandleavinghiswifewhenshewassosick.Sherememberedherowncase.Whenshehadgoneintolabourandthepainwasunbearable,herhusbandPramodhadstoodbyhersidecomfortingherandencouragingher.Afterthedeliveryhehadtakenamonthofftostaywithher.ThedoctorsinthehospitalteasedhersayingthatPramodhadsufferedmorethanVandana!Vandanalookedatherdearfriendlyingthere,almostunconscious.Forthe

firsttime,shepitiedShrimati.Ahandsomeyounghusbandwhowasextremelyambitious,travelling

throughouttheyear,andin-lawswhoonlyspokeillofher.Notevenachildforcompany!Vandana’smotheroftenenviedShrimati’slifebutVandanahadneverfeltthatway.TodaymorethaneversheappreciatedherluckandwasgratefulthatherlifewasamilliontimesbetterthanShrimati’s.Therewassomuchlove,affectionandkindnessinherlifeunlikeShrimati’s.ShewonderedhowShrimatihadlivedwithsuchodds!Afteracoupleofdays,Shrimatirecoveredherstrengthandwasoverjoyedto

seeherfriendVandananexttoher.VandanainsistedthatShrimatishouldcometoherhouseandrestforafewdays,butShrimatirefused,knowingitwouldmeanextraworkforherfriend.Also,Vandana’schildrenweresmall.Afteraweekinhospital,Shrimatireturnedhome.Thefirstthingshehadtold

HarishwhenshefeltalittlebetterinthehospitalwasnottoinformShrikant

aboutherillness.Sheknewitwouldaffecthisstateofmindandhewouldnotbeabletoconcentrateonhiswork.Harishwassurprised.IfhiswifePrabhawereinthesamesituation,shewould

havecalledupatleasttentimes,scaredhimandcreatedascene.Andhetoowouldnothavestayedawayfromheronofficeworkinsuchacase.ButherealizedthatShrimatiwasanexceptionalwoman.Shecaredsomuch

forherhusbandandrespectedhisworkthatshenevercreatedanyproblemthatwouldaffecthiscareer.Hethoughtshewasliketheladywhocarriesatorchandremovesalltheobstaclesontheroadtosuccessforherhusband.Shrikanthadtakenherforgranted.Hehadararediamondinhishandbuthe

wassearchingforaworthlessglassofachievement.

TWENTY

DearShrimati,Sorryfornothavingrepliedtoyourearlierletter.AsusualIwasinsomepartoftheglobedoing

somework.IreceivedyourNewYearcard,andthoughlate,DorothyandIthankyouverymuch.OurwarmregardstoyouandShrikant.

Shrimati,alongtimeagoyouhadtalkedaboutthehistoricalandarchitecturalmonumentsofyourcountry.YoumaynotrememberitbutIdo.Youhadtoldmethatonerequiresatleastsixmonthstotakeatourofyourcountry.Rightnow,Ihavethreemonths’timeandIhavedecidedtovisitIndia.Myheartyearnstoseetheplacesthatyouhaddescribed.

Itwouldbeagreatpleasureifyoucouldaccompanymeonmytravels,butifyouhaveanywork,thencanyoupleasearrangemyitineraryandaccommodation?IamcomingtoBombaydirectly.

Iwillwaitforyourreply.

Yoursaffectionately,MikeCollins

Shrimatiwasdelightedtoreceivethisletter.Probablyhewastheonlyforeignguestwhosecompanysheenjoyed.MostoftheguestsshehadtoentertainwereShrikant’sbusinessassociateswholookedatIndiafromaverydifferentangle.Forthem,Indiameantcheapsoftware.TheiritinerarywastosunbatheinGoa,

seetheTajMahal,buytonnesofsilverjewellery,stayatTheOberoi—that’sall.Theydidn’treallyunderstandwhatIndiameantnorweretheyinterestedinknowing.Shrimatidislikedpeoplelikethat,butitdidn’tbotherShrikantverymuch.

Whentheywereinvitedfordinner,thehandsomeShrikantwouldsmilecharminglyandsay,‘Ohitwasagreatpleasuremeetingyoutoday’or‘Youhavemademyday’.Shrimatiwouldfeellikewalkingoutofthedinnerpartybut

shewasawarethatasMrsShrikantDeshpande,thewifeofthecompany’sdirector,herpresencewasimportant.SinceShrikantwasgoingtobeoutofthecountry,Shrimatiwashappythat

shecouldjoinProfessorCollinsonhistrip.Suddenlyshefeltshehadgrownwings.Herspiritssoaredandshefeltlikesingingwiththekoelinspringtime.EnthusiasticallyshemadeallthetravelplansandwaitedforProfessorCollins’sarrival.ShewenttotheairporttoreceiveProfessorCollinspersonally.Shewas

meetinghimafterfiveyears.Helookedalittleolderbutwasasenergeticasever.Thepursuitofknowledgehadkepthimyoung.ShrimatihadplannedfortheirjourneytostartatDelhiandendinBombay.

TheirfirstdestinationwasFatehpurSikri,Akbar’scapitalcity.Whentheyvisitedthefortthere,ShrimatidescribedtoProfessorCollinsseveralsignificanthistoricaleventsthathadtakenplaceatthatfort.‘Sir,don’tyoufeelthatthereisadifferencebetweentheAgraFortandthis

smallfort?ItseemstheMughalsshiftedtheircapitalfromheretoAgraduetoshortageofwater.WhenAkbartheGreatdidnothaveamalechild,heprayedtotheSufisaintSalimChishtiforason.Hedidgetasonandoutofgratitude,namedhimSalim.Eventoday,peoplecomeandprayatthetombfortheirwishestobefulfilled.Theymakeaknotwithapieceofthreadandtieitonthewindowgrilleandwhenthewishisfulfilled,theycomebackanduntietheknot.Thissaint’stombishere,inthefort.’FromAgratheywenttoUjjaininMadhyaPradesh.Sheexplainedthe

importanceofthiscitytotheprofessor.‘Sir,Ujjainisaplacewithaveryrichhistory.Ifoneknowsandloves

Sanskrit,onecannotmissreadingaboutUjjain.ItappearsinallofKalidasa’splays.KalidasawasagreatSanskritscholarwhobelongedtoUjjain.OnceuponatimethisplacewascalledAvantika.GoddessAvantiwasthepresidingdeityofthisarea.ThisisalsoaplacewheretheromancebetweenPrincessVasavadattaandUdayanabloomed.Inhisyoungerdays,EmperorAshokawasthegovernorofthisland.ItseemshisbeautifulwifeVidishawasfromtheneighbouringtown.HisfamouschildrenSanghamitraandMahendrawerebornhere.ThisplaceisextremelyimportantforHindus.TheMahakaleshwarJyotirlinga’sshrinein

UjjainisoneofthefamousjyotirlingasofIndia.Themythssaythattherewasamysteriousauraoflightaroundthelinga...’ProfessorCollinsinterruptedher,‘Shrimati,isUjjainnotastrangename?’‘Yes,Sir.SomehistoriansbelieveUtkarshaJaya,thatis,“thegreatvictory”

wastherootnameforUjjain.OthersbelieveitwasUdattaJain.’FromtheretheywenttoMandu.ThereShrimatirelatedtoProfessorCollins

thefamouslegendofRajaBajBahadurandRaniRoopmati.TheirstoryisoneofthegreatestromancesofIndianliterature.MandualsohasbeautifulpalacesnamedafterHindustaniragas,shetoldhim.AstheywentalongShrimatiexplainedeverythingfromtwoperspectives,one

fromthelocalfolktalesandtheotherfromimportanthistoricalevents.BythetimetheyfinishedthenorthIndiatour,almosttwomonthshadpassed.

Meanwhile,ShrikanthadreturnedtoIndiaandwantedShrimatitocomebackhome.HehadsomeimportantguestsandShrimatiwasrequiredtoreceivethem,andbethehostesssincetheywereimportantclients.Shrimatiwasdisappointed.Shearrangedforaproperguideandmadesureall

thearrangementsfortheremainingonemonthwereinplacesothatProfessorCollinswouldhavenodifficultiesbeforehereturnedtoBombay.WhenhecamebacktoBombayafteranexhaustingandexhaustivetour,

ProfessorCollinswasalittletiredphysically,butmentallyfeltfullycharged.Hedeclaredthatthoughhewasseventyyearsoldhewasstillyoungatheart.ProfessorCollinshadmadeextensivenotesduringhistravels.Hehadsome

ideasaboutwhathewoulddowiththem.Shrimatihadgonethroughallhisnotesandsomeofthemshehadappreciated

andsomeothersshehadcriticized.Shewasveryhappyabouthisvisitbutnowshewassadthathewasleaving.Shewouldgobacktobeinglonelyonceagain.ProfessorCollinswastoleaveforKarachithenextdaybutsinceShrikantwas

inBangkok,theywereunabletomeet.Aftersupper,ProfessorCollinsandShrimatisatinthebalcony,watchingthe

sea.Today,theseadidnotsootheShrimati.ProfessorCollinsbrokethesilence.‘Shrimati,whatareyouthinkingof?’‘Myloneliness.Sometimesitisverydepressing.’‘Shrimati,mayIgiveyousomeadvice?Hopeyouwillnotmind.Oneshould

havethebasichappinesswithinoneself.Thathappinesscomesfromconfidence,

andconfidencecomesfromthekindofworkonedoeswhole-heartedly.‘Ihavenoticedthatyouhavenotlostyourloveforhistory.Ihavebeen

observingyoueversinceIhaveknownyou.IrememberhowyoudescribedBadamiandSravanabelagolaandAjantaandElloramanyyearsago.Howyouapproachedthemonumentsandplacesofhistoricalsignificanceonthistripwasalsocommendable.Youhavebecomemoremature.Youarenolongerasemotionalabouthistory,youhavedevelopedacriticalandanalyticalapproach.‘Ihadthoughtthatmarriage,thiskindofwealth,familyresponsibilitieswould

havemadeyoudull,lazyandarrogant.Butyouarestillverysensible,yourattitudetolifehasnotchanged.Ifanything,yourthoughtsseemtogodeeperandhavebecomeclearer.‘Shrimati,ifyouwanttodoaPh.Devennow,youcandoit.Ageisnotabar.

Iwillgetyouascholarship.Apersonlikeyoucanalwayspickupthethreads.‘Butthedecisionhastobeyours,yourpersonalchoice.Ionlywantedtotell

youtothinkitover.’ProfessorCollinspausedandlookedatherface.Therewassadnessandthere

wasimmeasurablehelplessness.Hecontinued,‘Inlife,everyoneisnotblessedwithintelligence.Peoplewho

haveintelligencedonotuseitproperly.Iamsurprisedtoseethatyouareleadingsuchafruitlesslife.Ifyouholdwaterinyourhandittricklesaway.Yourintelligencetooistricklingawaywithtime.IfDorothywerehere,Iwouldhavesaidthesamethingtoher.MaybemycultureisdifferentsoIvieweverythinginthatway.Livinglikethismaybeverycommoninyourculture.’ShrimatididnotreplyandProfessorCollinsdidnotcontinue.ShrimatiwenttotheairporttoseeoffProfessorCollins.Whenthesecurity

checkannouncementwasmade,shelookedathim.Hewasoldandtiredbuthislifewaspureandclean,likeahermit’slife.Thethirstforknowledgewasthebreathofhislifeandtherewasnoguile,deceitormanipulationoranyotherdesireinhim.Thatiswhyhecouldlookateveryonewithacompassionateheart.Thoughhewasn’trelatedtoher,norbelongedtohercountry,thekindof

concernProfessorCollinsshowedherremindedShrimatiofhermotherKamala.Unknowingly,tearsfilledhereyes.SheopenedthebagthatshewascarryingandpresentedProfessorCollinswithabeautifullyembroideredKashmirishawl.‘Sir,whenyouareworkingonyourresearch,orwheneveryoufeelcold,you

canusethis.LetitremindyouofmethoughIstaythousandsofmilesaway.’

canusethis.LetitremindyouofmethoughIstaythousandsofmilesaway.’‘Shrimati,Idon’trequireashawltorememberyouby.WheneverIseeany

studentwhoisbrightandsharp,Ithinkofyou.’Therewasafinalcallforpassengerstogotosecurity.SuddenlyShrimatibent

downandtouchedhisfeet.Itwasaspontaneousgesture,showingalltherespectandregardshefeltforhim.ProfessorCollinswastakenaback.Hepattedhershouldersandsaid,‘May

godblessyou,mychild,’andwalkedaway.

TWENTY -ONE

JacobandDollyLyneswerecomingtoIndia.JacobwasthepresidentofanAmericancompanywithabusinessinterestinShrikant’scompany.MostoftherevenuethatthecompanyearnedcamefromAmerica.SoShrikantwasverycarefulinthewayhetreatedhisAmericanclients.HewasawarethatasoftwareprojectthatwasdesignedinIndiawouldfetchmuchmoreprofitthanitwouldifitwasdoneinAmerica.Shrikant’scompanyhadtosetagoodtrackrecordifitwantedtobelistedontheNewYorkStockExchange.ShrikanthaddecidedtohostadinnerinhonourofJacobandDollyLynesin

oneoftherestaurantsattheOberoiTowersatNarimanPoint.Tosuchparties,Shrikantwouldinviteleadingbusinessmen,industrialists,governmentofficials—allthewho’swho.Thepurposeofthesedinnerswasnottoeat,buttodevelopcontacts.Normally,theinviteswereprintedinthenamesofShrimatiandShrikant.

Shrimatihadtoplaythedutifulhostess,welcomeeveryonewithasmileandseethatalltheguestswerecomfortable.Shehadtotalktoeverybodyandmakethemfeelimportant.AweekhadpassedsinceProfessorCollinshadleftIndia.Shrimatistarted

thinkingmoreandmoreabouthistory.Sherealizedthatshemissedstudyingthesubject.Athome,searchingforsomeimportantpapersshecameacrossRavi’sletteronceagain.Thatdisturbedherevenmore.RavihadwrittenthatShrimatiwasclearinherthinking.Wasshereallyclear?Ifthatwasso,whywasshegettingsoupsetoflate?Shefeltavacuumwithinherself,thattheworkshewasdoingwasagainstherwishes,thatshewasn’tenjoyingit.Sheaskedherselfthe

reasonforfeelingthisway.Thenshesuddenlyrealizedthatshehadneverenjoyedattendingparties.Butshecouldnotstayawayfromthemeither.Likethatevening’sdinner.Thethoughtmadeherevenmoreunhappy.Itwasadifficultsituation.Ifsherefusedtoattend,Shrikantwouldgetupset,andifshewentshewouldbeupset.Thatday,forthefirsttime,shedecidednottogoforthedinner.Shecalledup

Shrikant’soffice.Priyaansweredthephone.Priya,Shrikant’ssecretary,wasextremelyefficient.Shelovedherjoband

workedashardastwopeople.‘Priya,willyouputShrikantonthelineplease,Iwanttospeaktohim.’Shrimatiwasawarethatpersonalmessagesshouldnotbepassedthroughthe

secretaryasitcouldleadtogossip.‘Sorry,madam,sirisonavideoconference.’‘Allright,Priya,butinformhimthatIhadcalled.’Shrimatiwasangry.Washiswife’scallnotimportantenoughforhim?He

couldhaveexcusedhimselfandcomeoutforaminute.Therewereotherstherewhowerealsopartoftheconference.ForaminuteshewasupsetwithPriya,butshesoonrealizedthatshehadjustbeendoingherduty.Shrimatiwassousedtodoingwhatevershewastoldthatbeingobedienthad

becomeahabit.Itoftenupsethergreatly,yetshecouldnotdisobeyinstructions.Shrimatiwasexhausted—mentallyandphysically.Shefeltshehadtogetout

ofthehouse.Shetookhercaroutandwasabouttodriveoffwhenherdriver,smokinga

beediwiththeotherdriversinthebasement,camerunningtowardsher.Shewavedhimoff,sayingshewantedtodriveherself.Shedidnotknowwhereshewasgoing.Withoutthinkingshefoundherselfon

theroadtoJuhubeach.Oncethere,sheparkedthecaranddecidedtotakeawalkalongtheshore.Itwasafternoonandtherewerehardlyanypeopleonthebeach.Haditbeen

eveningtherewouldn’thavebeenanyplacetostand!Shesawafewteenagecoupleswhohadobviouslybunkedcollege.Probablyitwasthebesttimeoftheirlives.Shrimatitoorememberedhercollegedaysandshebecameevenmoreupset.Shrikantwouldmakeupexcusestotellhismotherandcometomeetheratthebotanicalgardens.TheywouldwalkuptotheTaiwacwatchcompany

compound.Shrimatiwouldhaveherclassesonlythree-timesaweek,butwhenShrikantwasintown,shewouldcometocollegeallthesixdays.WhenShrikantwasintownhewouldnotmissgoingtotheUniversityevenonasingleday.Theywouldtalkendlessly.Thoughtheydidnothavemoneyatthattime,theyhadsomuchtotalkabout.Shrikantdidallthetalkingandshelistenedtohim.Shrikantwouldtellherabouthiscollege,hisfriendsandprofessors,hisstudies,theextracurricularactivitiesandallabouthislifeatIIT.ThoughShrimatihadn’tmetanyofthepeoplehetalkedabout,shefeltsheknewthembecauseshehadheardsomuchabouteachperson.Thosehadindeedbeenbeautifuldays.WhathadhappenedtoShrikantnow?Thelove,affectionandsharingofideas

anddreamshaddisappeared.Hehardlytalkedtoheraboutthecompanyorotherbusinessmatters.Theonlytimehespoketoherwastoassignalistofchoresforhertodo.Forhimshehadundergonesomuchopposition,criticismandnastinessfromherin-laws.Shehadevengivenuphercareer,onlybecauseshereallylovedhim.ButShrikantwasnotthesamepersonsheknewbeforetheirmarriage.ThisShrikantDeshpandewasonlyinterestedinname,fame,positionandstatus.Inbuildinguphisbusiness,hehadforgottenhisdearwife.ThisShrikantappearedastrangertoher.Wherecouldshefindherold‘Shri’?Shrimatisatonawoodenbenchandgaveventtohergrief.Shesobbed

uncontrollably,unmindfulofthepeoplearoundher.ButthiswasBombay.Nobodywouldcomeandaskherwhatthematterwas,ortrytoconsoleher.Shrimatirealizedthathermemoriesweremakingherunhappy,insteadofsoothingher.Shefeltshecouldnotsitonthebeachanylonger.Shewantedtogosomewhereelse.Shewipedhertearsandwenttothecar.Itwaslikeaheatedoven.ShefeltlikegoingtomeetVandana.Butshedidnotwanttogounannounced.SherealizedthatPramodmighthavetakencasualleavefromworktobewithhisfamily.Shedidnotwanttodisturbthem.Shrikantneverusedhiscasualleave.Heworkedallthedaysoftheweek.Evenhisearnedleavewashardlyevertaken.Heavingadeepsigh,Shrimatidecidedtogobackhome.Whenshewalkedin,hermaidChampatoldher,‘Madam,therewasaphone

callfromsaab.’ShewasinnomoodtotalktoShrikant.Butherduty-conscious

minddidnotallowhertoignorethemessage.Maybehehadsomeimportantworkforher.Otherwisehewouldnotcallherfromtheoffice.Whenshecalled,ShrikantwasnottherebuthehadleftamessagewithPriya.

‘Sirwantsyoutobringhiswallet,whichhehasforgottenathome.’HearingthatmadeShrimatimoreupset.Whenshedidnotsayanything,Priyaasked,‘Madam,areyouthere?Iseverythingallright?’Quickly,Shrimatireplied,‘Yes,Priya,thankyou,’anddisconnectedthephone.

TWENTY -TWO

BythetimeShrimatireachedOberoiTowers,someoftheguestshadalreadyarrived.ShrikantlookedveryannoyedbecauseShrimatiwaslate.Itwasherdutytocomeearlyandreceivetheguests.Shrimatinoticedhisexpressionbutignoredit.Shelookedpaleandtired.Andunenthusiastic.ThatmadeShrikantevenmoreangry,thoughhedidnotshowit.Heintroducedhertosomenewguests.Insteadofshakinghandsasusual,thatdayShrimatifoldedherhands,said‘Namaskar,’andsmiled.Shrikantadded,‘Wearepleasedtomeetyou.’Shrimatiwasverytemptedtosay,‘Iamextremelyunhappyatmeetingpeoplelikeyouandwastingmytime.’Butshecouldnotsaythat.Shewas,afterall,thewifeofthedirectorofthecompany.Shesmiledartificiallyandsaid,‘Iamgladtomeetyou.’Waiterswithdrinksweredoingtheroundsamidstthegroupsofconversing

menandwomen.Diningwasamereformality.Afterherfirstsuchparty,Shrimatiwastakenabackatseeingthebill.‘Isn’tittoomuch,Shri?’sheasked.‘Thefoodwasn’tverygoodeither.’Laughingatherignorance,Shrikanthadreplied,‘Don’tapplyyourHubli

normstosuchaparty.Theamountofmoneywespendatthesepartiesisapittancecomparedtothebusinessweget.’Everydinner,everyconversation,everyrelationshipwasbasedonprofitand

loss.Whatawaytolive,shehadthought!Shrimatiwasremindedofthatconversationonceagain.Shewaslostindeep

thoughtwhenHarish’swifePrabhacameandtappedhershoulder.‘Shrimati,whereareyoulost?’Prabha,anMAinsociology,wasfromAgra.Shehadasix-year-oldson,Amol,whowasinaboardingschoolinKodaikanalinTamilNadu.‘Ohhello,Prabha,Ididn’tseeyou,’Shrimatisaid.‘HowisAmol?Doyou

‘Ohhello,Prabha,Ididn’tseeyou,’Shrimatisaid.‘HowisAmol?Doyoumisshim?’sheasked.ShehadmanagedtoevadePrabha’squestion.ThetalkativePrabhareplied,

‘Tobeveryfrankwithyou,Shrimati,Iamhappythatheisinboardingschool.Itisaverydisciplinedlife,andhehaslotsofcompany.Asanonlychildhegetsboredandwasbeginningtogetalittlestubborn.Besides,weonlytalkinHindiathome.TherehewilllearntospeakexcellentEnglish.’Prabhawasafriendly,open,person.ThoughShrimatiandsheweredifferent

innaturetheywereverygoodfriends.Prabhadidnottakelifeseriously.Shedidnotthinktoodeeplyaboutanythingeither.WheneverHarishwentontour,shewouldgotoAgra.Shehadabigfriends’circleeveninBombay.Allofthemwouldoftengooutforlunchorshopping.‘Prabha,whydon’tyouhaveanotherchild?Amolwillalsohavecompany.’‘Areyoumad,Shrimati!IhadalotofproblemsduringpregnancyandIdonot

wanttogothroughitagain.‘TheconversationwasinterruptedbyMeherEngineer.‘Hi,Shrimati!Youarelookingsobeautiful.Howdoyoumanagetostayso

slim?DoyougotoFiguretteatBandra?Itseemsallfilmstarsgothere.IwishIwereinBandra,’MrsEngineersaidwistfully,lookingdownatherobesebody.MrEngineerwasawell-knownbuilder.TheywerejoinedbyPremaMalhotra,wifeofanadvertisingexecutive.

‘Shrimati!Hownicetoseeyouagain.Whatareyourplansfortheweekend?ItseemsthereisadiamondjewelleryexhibitiononatTribhuvandasZaveri.Allofushavedecidedtogo.Whydon’tyoucomewithus?’shesaid.‘Sorry,Imaynotbeabletocome.Shrimightbeathome.’‘Ohc’monShrimati!Youbehavelikeaperfecthousewife.Whenourmen

don’tbotheraboutusandtravelallthetimefortheirwork,wealsoshouldspendourtimethewaywewant.’Thatwastheadvicegivenbytheelderly,infactseniormostlady,IndumathiSukhtankar.Shrimatiwasfeelingsick.Sarees,jewelleryalwaysbroughtherbad

memories.TheywouldremindherofGangakka’staunts.Gangakkawantedherdaughter-in-lawtobesimplebutherdaughtercouldwearthebestofsareesandloadsofgoldornaments.IfShrimatiboughtanexpensivesaree,GangakkawouldshoutatherforwastingShrikant’smoney.Ramahadanindirectwayofmockingher,‘Shrimati,foryourcomplexion,

pearljewellerymightbebetterthangold!’suggestingthatShrimatiwasdarker

pearljewellerymightbebetterthangold!’suggestingthatShrimatiwasdarkerthanShrikant.Butthereisnousethinkingofallthatnow,thoughtShrimati,andwentbacktotheguests.Shrikanthadnoticedthathiswifewasnothernormalselfthatdayandonthe

pretextoftakinghiswalletfromher,hewentuptoShrimatiandsoftlybutfirmlytoldherinKannada,‘Shrimati,what’swrongwithyou?YouhavenotspokentoJacob!Goandtalktohimandhiswifeimmediately.’Thechiefguestsfortheevening,JacobandDollyLynes,hadarrivedafew

minutesearlier.Dollyhadanartificialsmileonherlips.Shewasapartyperson.Sheattendedandhostedahundredsuchpartiesthroughouttheyear.Shrimatiwentuptothemandwithasmile,greetedthem.Aftersomesmall

talk,DollysaidtoShrimati,‘Itseemsyouareveryknowledgeableinhistory?YoumusthavegotyourdoctorateinAmerica.‘Shrimatirepliedcurtly,‘No,IamjustanMAfrommyhometown.’‘Oh,isthatso?Thenhowdidyoumanagetoacquiresomuchknowledgeand

sophistication?’Shrimatididnotbothertoanswerthatquestion.ForDolly,theanswerwasnotimportant.Shewasjustmakingconversation.‘Well,Shrimati,thenyoumuststudytheancientandsplendidhistoryof

America.’‘Excuseme,Dolly.Yourhistoryisneitherancientnorsplendid.Thesuccess

ofAmericaistheresultoftechnicalprogressandimplementationoftheinnovativeideasthatwereborninsomeothercountry.Yourcountry’shistoryistheyoungestintheworld.’‘Idon’tunderstand...’‘TaketheexampleofSAPsoftware.ItwasinnovatedinGermanybut

implementedintheUSandtodaythewholeworldthinksitisanAmericaninvention...’Shrikant’ssharpearscaughtShrimati’scoldandharshremarks.WhatwasShrimatitalkingabout?Thiswasnotthekindofthingtosayata

party.DollywasthepowerbehindJacob.Whyarguewithsuchaperson?Herehewastryingtopleaseeveryone,andtherewasShrimatibeingsoblunt.

Shrikantwasworriedthatshemightspoilthingsforhimandruinhisbusiness

dealings.Amanofgreatcommonsense,heknewthatifsomeone’sclotheswerestuckonathornbush,itwasbettertogentlyfreethegarmentthanpullitoff.Shrikantjoinedtheconversation.‘Hello,Dolly!Youlookwonderful!HowwasyourtriptoJaipur?’ThiswasanindicationforShrimatitostopbeingblunt.Butshedeliberately

ignoredit.‘Oh,Shrikant,itwaslovely.IcanseesomuchWesterninfluenceinIndia.

Lookatthenameofthisroomforinstance.ItissuchabeautifulFrenchname.’NeitherDollynorShrikantknewwhatLaGiacondameant.Shrimaticouldnotresist.‘ItisnotamereFrenchname.Itisthenameofthe

world-famouspaintingofLeonardodaVinci,theMonaLisa,theladywiththeenigmaticsmile.Itishertheroomisnamedafter.IfonegoestoParisandonehasthetimeandtheinclinationtovisittheLouvre,onecanseetheMonaLisathere.’Shrikantwastakenaback.HefeltthatthiswasaninsulttoDolly.Shrimati

wasnotbehavinglikeacharminghostess.Onthecontrary,shewasbeingrudetohisguest!HowdiditmatterifitwasLaGiacondaorMonaLisa.Gettingbusinesswas

Shrikant’sultimateintention.Thepartywentonasusual.ShrikantdidnotdisturbShrimatiagain.

TWENTY -THREE

Whilereturningfromtheparty,Shrikantwasnothisplacidself.Hewasfuming.HewantedtotalktoShrimati.HecouldnotwaittilltheyreachedhomesohestartedtheconversationinKannada.EveninthatsituationhetookcarethatMaruthi,hisdriver,shouldnotunderstandthecontentsoftheconversation.‘Shrimati,whatisthematterwithyou?WhydidyouinsultDolly?Who

wantedyourknowledgeofhistory?’‘Shri,Ididnotgotheretoexhibitmyknowledge.Forthatmatter,Ididnot

evenwanttogo.EvenifIhadwantedtoshowoff,therewasnoonetherewhowouldhaveunderstoodit.LookatDolly!Lookatherarrogance!ThewayshelooksdownuponIndia—shebelievesthatwehavetolearneverythingfromtheircountry.LookatProfessorCollinsorDorothy.Theyaresoknowledgeableandyethumble.Educationshouldbringsimplicityandmodesty.’‘Enoughofyourlecture,Shrimati.Don’ttalkaboutyourworthlesssubject.

Theworldofbusinessissodifferentfromyours.Historycannotfeedyou.Don’tbehavelikeahistorianatsuchparties.Youshouldrememberthatyourepresentourcompanyandmustbeloyaltoit.Afterall,whatisthereinIndia’shistorytoboastsomuchabout?’Shrikantpaused.Shrimatiwastremendouslyhurt.Shedidnotanswer.Whateverlanguagethey

hadspokenin,Maruthiwouldknowthathusbandandwifewerequarrelling.Whentheyreachedhome,Shrikantchangedintohisnight-dressandpickeduptheEconomicTimes.Heusuallyglancedattheheadlinesinthemorningastherewasn’tenoughtimetoreadindetail.Butatnighthereaditcarefully.Thatday,

hewassoupsetbytheincidentthatthoughhewasholdingthepaper,hewasunabletoread.Shrimatiwasmoreupsetthanhim.Hermindwasseething.Forthefirsttime

intenyearsofmarriage,Shrikanthadattackedherindividualfreedom.Whathadhesaid?Shrimatirecalledhiswords.Don’ttalkaboutyourworthlesshistory.Theworldofbusinessissodifferentfromyours.Historycannotfeedyou.Don’tbehavelikeahistorianatsuchparties.Youshouldrememberthatyourepresentourcompany...Afterall,whatisthereinIndia’shistorytoboastsomuchabout?Shetoocouldhavesaidmanythingstohim,‘Shri,donotforgetthatyouare

notonlythedirectorofacompany.YouarealsothehusbandofShrimatiwhoissensitiveandsentimentalaboutIndianhistory.Donotmeasureeverythingintermsofprofitandloss.’Butshehadnotsaidthat.Shehadnevertalkedillofanybody,ordeliberatelyhurtShrikant.Buttodayhissharpwordshadchoppedthetendertreeoftheirrelationship.ShrimatisnatchedthepaperthatShrikantwastryingtoread.‘Shri,tellmewhatwasyourintentioninsayingallthatinthecar?Ihavenot

doneanythingtobringdownyourprestige.’ThenormallyquietShrimatiwasburstinglikeacrackertorchedbyaflame.Shewassoupsetandemotionalthatherhandsweretrembling.Shrikanttookherhandsandmadehersitnexttohim.Hewascoolandcalculativeinhiswords.‘Shrimati,weIndiansliveonourpastglory.Onceuponatime,itissaid,Indiawasthemostprosperouscountry,thelandofhoneyandnectar.DiamondsandpearlsweresoldonthestreetsofHampi.ThedoormenofNalandaUniversitywouldconducttheentranceexaminationsforstudents.Whetherthereisanytruthinthatornot,Idonotknow.Butthesearethingsofthepast.Forgetthepast.Whatwearetodayiswhatisrelevantandimportant.Wehaveaveryrigidcastesystem,superstitionsaboundandtotopitall,ahighlycorruptsociety.LookattheWest.Theyarescientific,systematicandprogressive.Youtalksomuchabouthistory,letmeaskyouasimplequestion.Whichismoreimportant,theKalingawarwhichyourEmperorAshokafoughtorpresent-dayterrorismwhichwehavetostop?WemustthinkofthewaysbywhichwecanmakeIndiaamodern,scientificanddevelopedcountry.‘Shrimati,youtalksomuchaboutAshokaandidolizehim.Whathashedone?

HeembracedBuddhism.Hence,hisarmybecameweak.Subsequently,henever

HeembracedBuddhism.Hence,hisarmybecameweak.Subsequently,heneverfoughtawartoprotecthiscountry.Eventually,hisempirewasdestroyedbyhisenemies.Becauseofhisattitudewelostourcountrytoinvaders.’ShrikantwascriticizingShrimati’sfavouritesubjectandbelittlingherhero,

Ashoka.ThoughShrikantdidnotknowmuchaboutAshoka,hesaidallthatbecausehewantedtohurtShrimati.Businesshadtaughthimthat.Toinsultaperson,youdon’tneedtoattackhimorherdirectly,onecandothatinsteadbyattackingwhatthatpersonadmiresorrespects.ThoughShrikanthadspokencalmlyandcoolly,hewasstillfuminginside.Hewenttotherefrigeratoranddrankaglassofwatertohidehisanger.Shrimati’sfuryknewnobounds.‘Shri,whatareyoutryingtosuggest?Do

youmeanhistoryisasubjectofthedead,thelostandthedefeated?Doesthepastnothaveanyrelevancetothepresent,accordingtoyou?Youarewrong.Itdoes.Acompany’spastcansaywhatacompany’sfuturecanbe,onlyinyourlanguageitiscalled“trackrecord”!YougavemetheexampleofAshoka,butwhatdoyouknowabouthim?Oneshouldn’ttalkaboutanythingwithoutknowingenoughaboutthesubject.Forapersonlikeyouwhoalwayscalculateseverything,understandingsuchagreathumanbeingiswaybeyondyourability.Ashokanevertriedtoimmortalizehimself.Hisdeedsmadehimgreat.Whenanempirefalls,therearevariousreasonsforit.Thesuccessorsoftheemperormightnotbegood.Theinvadermightbemighty.Justastrongarmycannotwinawar.WhathappenedtoAllauddinKhiljiwhoextendedhiskingdomfromDelhitoRameswarambysheerpowerofthesword?Hisempirevanishedwithinfouryearsofhisdeath.AbenevolentkinglikeShivajimadeagreatimpactwithhissmallarmyagainstthemightyMughals.Forafailure,therearemanycomplexreasons.Andforyourinformation,warisnottheonlysolution.‘Shri,youhavevisitedBoston.YouhavevisitedDelhi.Bostonisnotolder

thanDelhi.ButthehistoricalsenseofAmericansmakesthempreserveallthehistoricalmonumentsofBoston.HaveyounotseentheFreedomTrialinBoston?Howmanyofuswouldliketokeepourmonumentslikethem?EverysmallcountryinEuropeisextremelyproudofitshistoryandwillmakeeveryefforttopreserveandshowcaseit.’Shrimatipausedandswalloweddeeply.Herfacewasflushedwithemotion.

Shethencontinued,‘Overaperiodoftime,thesuperstitionsofaculturegrowontobecomeahabit.Theolderthecivilization,thegreaterthesuperstitiousbeliefs

andhenceslowertheprogress.Itislikeawave.Oldercivilizations,likeEgypt,ChinaandIndia,arerigidunlikeAmerica.Justasthereareupsanddownsinthelifeofanindividual,thesameistrueforacountry.’ShrimatipausedandlookedatShrikant.Shehadneverspokensomuchwith

suchfeeling.Shrikantwassurprised.Helookedatherasifhewasseeingherforthefirsttime.Shrimatihadnotfinished.Sherememberedthewayhehadwhippedherwithhiswordsandshecontinued.‘Don’tthinkWesterncountriesdonothavesuperstitionsandthattheyare

alwaysrational.Whyisnumberthirteenconsideredabadnumber?Whydotheysaywalkingunderaladderbringsbadluck?Andwhydoyounggirlsrushtocatchthebride’sbouquet?Oneshouldthinklogicallyaboutwhywehaveremainedeconomicallybackward.Abrightpersonlikeyouwhoisinbusinesscanunderstanditverywell.Youdon’trequireahistorian’shelp.WhentheIndustrialRevolutiontookplace,wewereslavesoftheBritish.Theydestroyedourhomeindustriessothatwewouldhavetobuytheirproducts.Astepmotherwillneverloveherstepchildren.SotheBritishneverbotheredabouttheindustrializationofourcountry.Pleasedonotthinkthatindustrializationissuchagreatthing.Itloosenssocialbonding,bringsinadisparitybetweenthehavesandhavenotsandmostimportantly,leadstopsychologicaldisorders.’Shrimatistoppedtalking.Shrikantwasstilllisteningtoher.Thistime,

Shrimatidrankwater.Shecontinued,hervoicesoftening.‘Shri,pleaselookatyourdress,andthe

Englishlanguagethatyouspeakmostofthetime.IsitnotawitnesstothevictoryofBritishcolonization,evenaftermanyyearsofindependence?’ThiswastoomuchforShrikant.Hewasdumbstruck.Hehadneverexpected

Shrimatitolashoutathimwithsuchharshwords.Shewouldusuallycryandkeepquietbutneverarguewithhimsofiercely.Asanindividual,hewasawarethatShrimati’sargumentswereclear,preciseandlogical,butasahusband,hewasunabletodigestit.ItwasprobablythefirsttimeinthetenyearsoftheirmarriagethatShrimatihadshownherunhappinessanddisagreementwithShrikant’swayofthinking.InthatinstantShrikantfeltthattheyweretwostrangerslivingunderthesameroof.

TWENTY -FOUR

ShrikantreceivedaletterfromGangakka.Shewrote,oncewhenShrikantwasillasachild,shehadprayedforhisrecoverytoLordMylaralinga.Now,theLordhadappearedinherdreamsandhadremindedherofherdues.SoshehaddecidedtogiveagoldencrowntotheLord.Sheorderedhersontotakeafewdays’leaveandmakethepilgrimagewiththecrown.TherewasnomentionofShrimatiintheentireletter.ThetempleofMylaralinga,anothernameofShivaorEshwara,issituatedon

thehillsofDevaragudda,aroundahundredkilometresfromHubli.GangakkahadgreatfaithinthefamilydeityandbelievedthatunlessLordMylaralingablessedhim,Shrikantwouldnotprosper.Shrikantknewthathismotherwasverysuperstitiousandgodsappearingin

herdreamswasacommonoccurrence.Hewasveryhappythathismoneycouldbeusedtofulfilhismother’swishes.Moneywasnotanissueatall.ButShrikantbeinganatheist,neverwentwithheronpilgrimages.HethoughtthatthenexttimehewenttoBangalore,hewouldvisithissisterandmotheratHubli.ButtravellingtoHubliwouldtakeupanextraday.WhilehavingdinnerthatnighthetoldShrimati,‘Onmynextvisitto

Bangalore,marktwodaysoffforpersonalwork.’Shrimatiimmediatelyrealizedthereason.Itirritatedher.Thoughshetriedto

hideit,herunhappinessshowedonherface.‘So,youaregoingtoHubli.Isthereanyspecialreason?’‘Notreally,butIwantedtoseeAvva.’‘ButShrikant,Iwantyoutotakeacoupleofdaysoffandsitwithmetotalk

overmanythings.’

overmanythings.’‘Whatistheretotalkfortwodays,Shrimati?’‘Whenyoucanspendtwodaysforyourmother’ssake,can’tyouspendtwo

dayswithme?Iamallalonehere.’‘Thatisnotanewthingforyou.Ifyouwant,youcancometoHublitoo.’‘Whenyourmotherhasnotcalledme,whyshouldIcome?WhyshouldIstay

alonehere?Hasyoursisterstayedaloneanytimeinherlife?Yourmothergoestokeephercompanyevenifsheisaloneforaday.’‘Shrimati,don’tcompareyourselfwithRama.Youaremoreeducatedthan

her.’‘Shrikant,youhaveonesetofrulesformeandanotherforher.Everytimeshe

getstheupperhandonlybecausesheisuneducated.IsitwrongthatIameducated?WhyshouldIhavetosufferlikethis?’Actuallytheissuewasnotaboutstayingalone.ItwasGangakka.‘Shri,youhavetimeandmoneyforyourmother.Idon’twantyourmoney.

ButIwantyourtime.’Shrimati’sangerwasragingandherpatiencewasbreaking.ShecouldnottakeanymoreinsultsfromGangakka.‘Avvaknowsthatyouarenothappythereandyouwon’tcome.Soshehasnot

invitedyou.’Shrimatistartedsobbing.Allsaidanddone,ShrikantwasGangakka’sson.

Evenaftertenyearsofmarriage,hehadneverbeenShrimati’shusband.Itisthedutyofeverymothertoeducateherchild,regardlessoftheodds.Shrikant,however,believedthathismotherhadmadeanextraordinarysacrificeforhim.Ontheotherhand,allthatShrimatihaddonewasmerelythedutyofawife,andtherewasnothingspecialaboutit.Shrikantpickeduphisfilesandwenttohisstudy.Shrimatiwashopingthathe

wouldtalktoher,consoleher.Buthedidn’t.Shrimatifeltsuffocated.ShecouldnotstayinthesamehousewithShrikant.Shetookthehousekeysandwalkedout.Itwasnightandshewasallalone.Hearingthesound,Shrikantknewthat

Shrimatihadopenedthefrontdoor.Heshouted,‘Shrimati,don’tgooutalone!’Sherepliedcoolly,‘Icanmanage.’Shrikantwasrelievedthatthequarrelhadended,andimmersedhimselfinhis

files.Shrimatigotoutofthebuildingandstartedwalkingdowntheroad.

Thisprestigiousapartmentblockhousedexecutivesofmanycompanies.Shewonderedwhethereveryfamilyhadfightsliketheirs.Wasthererealpeaceinanyfamily?Werealltheseambitiousmenasunconcernedabouttheirwives’feelings?Whoknows!Nobodytellsthetruthabouttheirfamilylife.Mosthusbandsandwivesputon

theappearanceofbeingperfectlymatched!Shrimatiwalkeduptotheseasideandsatontheconcreteembankment.Atthis

hour,veryfewpeoplewerearound.Undernormalcircumstances,Shrimatimighthaverealizedthedangerincomingoutaloneatnightandfeltscared.Butthatdaysuchthingswereofnoimportance.Shejustwantedtobealone.Hereyesfilledwithtearsandrolleddownhercheeks,wettinghersaree.Sherememberedallthefightsathome.Thecoolseabreezeruffledherlonghairandtouchedherface.Itbroughtbackmemoriesofthehappydaysofthepast.Shewasdreamingoncemore...SomanyflowersofsplendidcolourswereinbloominthemonthofShravan.

Shecouldsmellthefragranceofthechampaka,jasmine,rajanigandhaandaboveall,thedelicatebakula...Hermindwasfullofsensation.Herheartwasfullofhopeandlonging.She

wouldgatherallthebakulaflowersandmakeastringthatwouldadornherplait.Shrikantwouldcome.Hewouldtakethestringofbakulafromherhairandinhaleitsfragrance.Hewouldn’tletherwearanyotherflowerinherhair...Hewouldalwayssaythattheflowersinherhairsmeltdoublysweet...Thewaveswerecrashingagainsttherockwithoutrest,andsowereher

dreams.Shesatthereforalongtime,andthenwithoutwarningitbegantorain.Itwas

anunseasonableshower.Shrimatiwasdrenched.Therewassomuchwaterintheseaandtherewassomuchwaterinthecloudsbutshefeltthirsty.AllsheneededwasafewkindwordsfromGangakkaorafewwordsofappreciationfromherhusband,toquenchherthirst.Thenightpolicemanwhowaspatrollingthearea,calledouttoher,‘Madam,

pleasegohomenow.Itisdangeroustosithereallalone.’Shrimatiwasinnomoodtoargue.Soshegotupandstartedwalkingback.Whenshereturnedhome,Shrikantwasstillbusywithhisfiles.Bythistimeshehadcalmeddownandwantedtotalktohim.‘Shri,canyoudomeafavour?’

‘Shri,canyoudomeafavour?’Shrikantwashappythathiswifewashernormalselfagainsothathecould

workmoreefficiently,withpeaceofmind.‘Whatisit,Shrimati?Isitsomethingimpossible?’‘Ifyoumakeupyourminditisnotdifficult.’‘Whatisit?’‘Shrikant,youhaveachievedalotinlife.Wehaveenoughmoneyfortherest

ofourlives.Giveupthisjob.Let’sgobacktoHubli.Thereyouhadsomuchtimeforus.Wecandowhateverwewant.’Shrikantlaughed.Hepushedthefilesacrossthetableandcameroundto

whereshewas.Puttinghisarmsaroundher,hesaid,‘Shrimati,areyouawareofwhatyoujustsaid?Thinkrationally,andbepractical.Youwantmetoretireattheageofthirty-three!Amanisinhisprimeatthisage.Itisthetimeforhimtogrowprofessionally.Besides,IstillfeelthatIhavenotachievedmuchinlife.IcannotliveinHubli.WhatwouldIdothere?Hubliismypast.IwillbelikeafishoutofwaterinHubli,thoughIwasbornandbroughtupthere.MypresentandfutureisinBombay.Idonotwasteevenamomenthere.’Shrimatididnotknowwhattosaytothat.‘Shrimati,thepastisalwaysbeautifulbecausewecannotgetitback.

Childhoodlooksbeautifulwhenyouareyoung.Youthlooksromanticwhenyouareold.Whateverweloseisalwaysprecious.Thinkofadjustingandlookingforwardtoanever-changingworld.Don’tgetintothepast.’ShrimatiwasspeechlessatShrikant’swords.Shrikantlookedatherandsaid,‘Whyareyounotsayinganything?’Sherepliedsadly,‘Shri,ifyoucan’tunderstandmysilence,thenyouwillnot

understandmywords!’Shrimaticouldnotsleepthatwholenight.ButShrikantsleptsoundly.Things

likethisdidnotaffecthim.Hewouldfallasleepassoonashehitthebedsinceheworkedhardallday.Unabletosleep,ShrimatigotoutofbedandwenttotheGodrejalmirahinthe

room.ShetookoutthebundleoflettersthatShrikanthadwrittentoherduringhisIITdays.Shehadwrappedthemneatlyinasilkclothandhadkepttheminasandalwoodbox,asiftheywereagreattreasure.Shethoughtifshereadthemshewouldfeelbetter.Also,itwouldhelpherfindoutifitwasthesameShrikantwhowasnowherhusband.Sheopenedoneofthelettersandstartedtoreadit.It

wastheonewrittentoherwhenhehadseentheTajMahal,duringthefirstindustrialtourfromthecollege.

MydearShrimati,IsawtheTajMahaltoday.ThecityofAgraisverydirty.Idonotknowwhatyoufeelwhenyouseeitfromyourhistorian’sviewpoint.Buttheimmediatethoughtthatcametomymindwashowmanymarbleslabsthebuildermusthaveused!HemusthaveemptiedmanymarblequarriesinIndia.NoonecanbuildanotherTajMahal,becauseobviously,therewon’tbeenoughmarble!Iwonderhowmanymenworkedrelentlessyforthisprojectanddidtheemperorreallypaythemall!IamsurethatyouandIwillvisitthismonumentsometimeinourlifeandwhenwedo,Iknowyouwillbeamazedtoseeit.TheTajMahalissurroundedbyahugegarden.Whenwecomehere,Iwanttoliedownunderashadytree,myheadrestingonyourlap,readingacomputerbook...

Shrimatismiled,forgettingwhereshewasrightnow.Shefeltthateachwordinthatletterwasfilledwithaffection.Affectiondoesnotrequirebeautyorintelligence.Itonlyrequiresmutualloveandintensefaith.Thatiswhatultimatelybuildstrustinanyrelationship.Shrimatiputthelettersaway,switchedoffthelightandtriedtosleep.

Shrikantwassnoring.Shrimatiwantedtoask,Shriwherehaveyougone?WherehaveIlostyou?Shefeltshewassearchingforapathofloveinthedarkness,withoutatorch.

TWENTY -F IVE

Shrikantwokeupatfiveinthemorning.Hisdisciplinedmindcouldwakehimupatanytime.Heneverrequiredanalarm.Butthatday,eventhoughhewasawake,hedidnotgetoutofbed.Wasitmorethanjustlaziness?Wasitbecauseofwhathadhappenedthepreviousnight?Aftertossingandturningforfifteenminutes,Shrikantfeltthathecouldnotaffordtowasteanymoretime.Hegotupandwenttothekitchentomakehimselfacupoftea.HedidnotfeellikedisturbingShrimati.Whilehavinghisteainthebalcony,helookedatthesea.Afreshcoolmorningbreezewasblowing.Thoughitwaspleasant,hefeltthechill.HepulledhisgowntightaroundhimandwentinsideandbroughtShrimati’sshawltowraparoundhimself.Onceagainhefeltlikewatchingthesea,standinginthebalcony.Normally,hewouldneverwastetimelikethisearlyinthemorning.Hewouldrathermakeoverseascallsatthathour.Butthatday,hedidnotfeellikedoingso.Probablythiswasoneofthefewoccasionswherehelistenedtohisheartratherthanhismind.Inthedawn,Bandralookeddifferent.Thefisherwomencarryingtheirbaskets

offish,walkedbrisklytowardsthemarket.Theywereslim,welldressedandhardworking.TheyweretheKolicommunitywhohadonceuponatime,occupiedallofBombay.However,itwasnotjustacityanymorebutamegacityandtheeconomiccapitalofIndia.ShrikantcontemplatedhowinfifteenyearsBombayhadchangedandsohad

hislife.Inspiteofalltheproblems,Bombaywasmostdeartohim.Heappreciateditscosmopolitannature,itsprofessionalapproachandworkethic.Hethoughtifhehadn’tleftHubli,hewouldnothavebeeninthisposition!

Whilewatchingthesea,Shrikantrememberedhischildhood.Hubliwasaninlandtownsotheseawasunheardof.Herememberedthefirsttimethathehadseenthesea,whenhewasabouttwelveyearsold.HehadgonetoGokarnawithhismotherononeofherpilgrimages.ItwasthefirsttimehehadgoneanywhereoutsideHubli.Hehadveryfewrelativestovisit.TheonlyplacehecouldgotointheholidayswashisuncleSheenappa’shouse.Alongwithmemoriesofhischildhood,camethethoughtofhismother’s

hardshipsduringthattime.Belowhim,theroaringwavesweredashingagainsttheblackrocksandthenreceding.Whenonewaveflowedback,itmergedintoanotherone.Thiswenton,continuously.SodidShrikant’sthoughts.Onceagainherememberedhismother.HeronlydesirewasthatShrikantshouldbecomeanengineerandjointhePWD.ItwasbecauseGangakka’srolemodelwasShyam.Shyamusedtolookdownuponthem.Thingshadturnedaround,Gangakkawasthesuperioronenow,thankstoherson’sachievements.ThesunhadalreadyrisenandBombaywasbustlingwithactivity,destroying

themorningpeace.ButShrikant’smindwasstillinturmoil.Bombay!hethought.Withmoney,onecouldbuyanythingandeverythinghere,exceptamother’slove.Shrikantknewthathismotherwasnoteducatedandsoshewouldmakesomerudecomments.Shrimatiwouldn’tunderstandthat.HefeltthatbothGangakkaandShrimatiwerenotrational.He,ontheotherhand,wasalwayspractical.ActuallyBombaymadeeveryonepractical.PeoplefromNorthKarnatakaareveryemotional,Shrikantthought.Where

peoplearesentimental,emotionhastheupperhand.Whenpeopleareemotional,practicalityslackens.Whenapersonisnotpractical,heorsheisnotabletodoanybusiness.Whenthereisnobusiness,thereisnoeconomicgrowth.HismindwentbacktothefamilyfeudbetweenhisfamilyandShrimati’s.No

onereallyrememberedthereasonforit,butitstillcontinued.Shrimati’smotherKamalawasdifferent,though.Thebakulaflowercametohismind.Hethoughthowhehadnotseenanyfor

alongtime.Wouldhebeabletobuysomehere?HewantedtotellShrimatitogetafewforhim.Anefficient,resourcefulpersonlikeherwoulddefinitelyfindthem.Onceshetookresponsibilityforajob,shemadesureitwascompleted.AsusualShrikantleftforofficeateightinthemorning.Duetotheheavy

traffic,ifhedelayedleavinghomebyevenfiveminutes,hewouldgetlateby

halfanhourinreachinghisoffice.ForShrikant,whoweighedeveryminute,timewasprecious.HisdriverMaruthilikedtotalkbutShrikantdidnotencouragehim.Hebelievedthatadistanceshouldbemaintainedbetweenhimandthedriver.However,Shrimatididnotbelieveinbarrierslikethisandwouldchatwithdriversandmaids.Normally,Shrikantwouldlookatfilesormakecallsfromhismobilephoneas

hedrovetooffice.Butthatdayhefailedtodoanyofthesethings.Hetriedtofigureout

Shrimati’sbehaviouroflate.Shewasnolongerhercalmanddocileself.Shewouldargueoversillythings.Shehadeverythinginlife,allthecomfortsandconveniences.Hermother-in-lawwasnotstayingwithher,shecoulddowhatsheliked,buywhatevershewanted.Tothisday,Shrikant’schequebookwaswithher.Hewouldaskherformoneywheneverheneededsome.Hehadnobadhabits—hedidnotdrinknordidhewomanize.AndyetShrimatiwasunhappy.Shedidn’twanttogotoanybusinessdinnersanymore.ThelasttimeshehadgonetoGermanythreemonthsago,shehadspentthreedaysthereandenjoyedseeingtheBerlinMuseum.Shehadskippedeverysinglebusinessdinner.Shrikantcouldn’tunderstandwhattherewasinthemuseumthatsofascinatedher.Shehadseenthebestmuseumsintheworldandyetsheinsistedongoingthereeveryday.ShrikanthadgonetoParisforthreemonthsbutnotoncehadhethoughtofvisitingtheLouvre.Suddenlythecarjolted.Thedriverhadappliedtheairbrake.TherewasahugetrafficjamonthebusyPeddarRoad.ShrimatihadsooccupiedShrikant’smindthathehadnotnoticedit.Herbehaviourwasbotheringhim.Wasitherextremelysensitiveattitudethatwasmakingherunhappy?Recentincidentskeptsurfacinginhismind.LikewhenRamahadcometo

Bombayalongwithherchildren.ShrikanthadtakenallofthemfordinnertotheTaj.Lookingatthebill,Ramahadcommented,‘Shrikant,thecostofyouronenight’sdinnerisequaltoamonthofours.’ShrikanthadlaughedbutShrimatihadinterpreteditasRamaindirectly

hintingattheirlavishspendingonluxuries,whiletheyweresufferinginasmalltown!Shrikanthadtoldher,‘Shrimati,Ramahasneverseenafive-starhotel.So

don’ttakehercommentsseriously.’

Whenhewasyoungherememberedhismotherspendingenormoustimeandlabourcookingwithfirewoodandusingthegrindingstone.Shrimatihadneverhadtodothat—shehadacook.AndtheamountShrimatihadtravelled!Probablyonlyabirdwouldhave

travelledasmuch!ItwaspossibleonlybecauseShrikantearnedthatkindofmoney.Todoso,he

hadtoworkthewayhehadbeenworkingalltheseyears.Evennow,unlessthecompanydidwell,theycouldnotaffordtopaysuchsalaries.Ifthecompanyhadtobewell-off,thenbusinesshadtobebetter,andtodogoodbusiness,entertainingwasamust.ButShrimatirefusedtoattendsuchparties.Wasitnotwrong?WhileShrikantponderedthesethoughts,thecarreachedNarimanPoint.

ShrikantsawhisofficeandGangakka,RamaandShrimati,allvanishedfromhismind.Computers,competitionandproductsoccupiedthatspace.

TWENTY -S IX

AssoonasHarishsawShrikant,hefeltrelieved.Hehurriedlycameandsaid,‘Shrikant,IamextremelysorrybutIforgottoinformyouthatthestateITministerissupposedtovisitourofficetoday.’Shrikantwasupsetforasecond.‘Howcouldyouforgettotellmesuchan

importantthing?Itisunpardonable.’Shrikantrushedtohischamber.Hisroomwasspaciousbutspartan.Hehadan

excellentaestheticsensibility.Anyonewhowalkedintohisoffice,couldmistakeitforanAmericanoffice.Normally,Shrikantdidnotmeetallthevisitors.Onlyifthepersonwasvery

importantdidShrikantgivehimanappointment.Whenhecametoknowthattheministerwassupposedtovisit,hestartedchalkingouttheprogramme.OvertheyearsShrikanthadacquiredextraordinaryknowledgeindiversefields.Hehadalsodevelopedgreatconfidence,probablytheresultofhisphenomenalsuccess.Successmakesapersonconfident.ButShrikantputitinadifferentway:Repeatedsuccessmakesapersonarrogantandoccasionalfailuremakesapersonconfident,hewouldsay.HarishcouldnothelpnoticinghowmuchShrikanthadchangedoverthelast

fifteenyears.WhentheyhadjoinedIIT,HarishwasaBombayboyandShrikantwasasmall-townboy.Buttoday,Shrikantwassmarterthananyoneelse.Hewasgoingfromstrengthtostrengtheveryyear.Hehadalsobecomeaworkaholic.Initiallymenworkformoneybutsoon,moneybecomesunimportant.Itis

power.Thereisnothinglikepower.Powerislikeliquor.Oncetheintoxicationofpowercatchesholdofanambitiousperson,thereisnoescapefromit.Itisa

viciouscircle.Likeinawhirlpool,itisdifficulttocomeoutofit.Morework,moreinvolvementandmorepower.Theindividuallosestheabilitytoseeandenjoyanythingoutsidehiswork.Heisimmersedinworkthroughouttheday.Workishisbreath.Whathappenswhensuchpeoplegrowold?Allthepagesintheirbookoflifewillbeempty,exceptthepageofachievement.Shrikant’sbookwillcontaindifferentcomputerlanguages,differentspecificationsandproducts,butnothingabouthiswife,familyorfriends.Toachievethatkindofsuccess,onerequiredasupportive,intelligentbut

docileandunambitiouswife.Intelligentwomenarenormallyambitious.SomeonelikeShrimati,whonevereverdemandedanythingfromherhusband,wasrare.Harishthoughtforamoment.WhatwouldhavehappenedifShrikanthadmarriedapersonlikePrabha,whowasnotverysupportiveorRekha,whowasanexecutiveinthecompany?Theanswerwassimple.Shrikantwouldhavedesertedherorshewouldhavedesertedhim.Theminister’svisitwasover.HarishnoticedShrikant’sexpressionofpurejoywhentheministerleft.‘Hey,

Shrikant,howdidyoumanagesowell?’Harishasked.‘Harish,experienceismyteacherandanexpensiveonetoo.Tenyearsago,I

joinedthiscompanyasatraineesoftwareengineer.TodayIhavebecomeadirector.Ididnothaveanygodfathersoranypoliticalsupporters.ThecompanydoesnotevenknowtowhichcommunityIbelong.Ihaveworkedhardandsincerelyforthebenefitofthecompany.NotforadayhaveIputmypersonalneedsorhappinessbeforethecompany’s.Thecompany’ssuccesshasalwaysbeenmoreimportanttomethananything.Thereisnoshortcuttosuccess.’Shrikantwentbacktohischamber.Priyawascheckinghisdiary.Harish

followedhim.‘Shrikant,wewantedtoarrangeaseminarforallourprojectmanagersatKodaikanal.Canyouinaugurateit?’‘Whysuchanoddplace?’‘Shrikant,everyoneisnotlikeyou.Theywanttotakeabreakfromtheroutine

andspendtimewiththeirfamilies.Butwecannotaffordtogivethemleave,sothiswillserveboththepurposes.’‘That’sokay.Iamnotthebossofmydiary.CheckwithPriya.’Priyasaid,‘Sorry,Sir.Kodaiisnotconnectedbyplaneandhenceitisnot

possible.Forthenexttwomonthsyouarebusy.’‘Then,IamsorryHarish.Bytheway,howisAmol?’

‘Then,IamsorryHarish.Bytheway,howisAmol?’‘Oh,heisfine.Wevisitedhimrecently.Hedoesnotevenwanttocomehome

foravacation.Hefindsitboringhere.Hecomplainsthatneitherofusisathome,sohepreferstobeinthehostel.’EvenbeforeHarishhadfinishedhisreply,Shrikant’smindwentbacktohis

work.‘Harish,weshouldhavearoadshowintheUSsometime.Iwantitontop

priority.Weshoulddoitbeforeourcompetitorsgetintothemarket.Kindlygetbacktomeattheearliestonceyouhavemadethepreliminaryplans.’Shrikantimmersedhimselfinhisworkonceagain.Heseldomspokewhile

working.NormallyShrikantwasnotdistractedbyanything.Hecouldfocusfullyas

soonasheopenedafile.Butthatdayhefounditdifficulttoconcentrate.HefeltlikespeakingtoShrimati.Theirfrequentquarrelswereincreasingthedistancebetweenthem.Itisnaturalforanytwohumanbeingstodiffer.Ahusbandandwifeareno

exception.Infact,iftheydidn’tdiffer,thenthereprobablywassomethingwrongwiththemarriage.Thepreviousnight,Shrimatihadquestionedhisbasicpurposeinlife.She

showedthatshedidnotbelieveinwhatheconsideredessentialinlife.WheneverhewantedtotalktoShrimati,ShrikantdidnotaskPriyatoconnect

him,buthewouldcallhimself.Justashepickedupthephonetodialthehomenumber,Priyabuzzedhimandsaidthatthechairmanwantedtomeethimurgently.Shrikantputthephonedownandwalkedtothechairman’schamber...

TWENTY -SEVEN

Onthewayhome,Shrikanthadtoomanymattersweighingonhismind.Hewasmullingoverthelatestfiguresofthecompany’ssalesandbudget.Theywantedtohavearoadshowbutduetothecrashinthecomputermarket,ithadtobepostponed.InthissituationitwasessentialforhimtogototheUS,spendatleasttwotothreeweekstheretalkingtothemanagersandbankerstogaugethesituation.Heneededtobesuretheywerestillinterestedinhiscompany.HiswasnotthefirstIndiancompanytobelisted.Severalothercompanieshad

beenlistedandwerealsodoingwell.Shrikanttookeverychallengeasanopportunity.Hefeltthestrongerthe

hurricane,thegreaterthechallenge.Shrikantbelievedchallengesmeantopportunitiesforgrowing.Itwaspointlessworrying,actionhadtobetaken.HecalledupPriyaandtoldhertocancelallhisappointments,however

important,andinformedhertobookaticketforDelhithatnightandtotheUSafteracoupleofdays.Whenhereachedhome,hisheadwasheavy.HetoldhisdriverMaruthithat

hewouldbereadyinanhour’stimeandaskedhimtostaybacktodrophimattheairport.HeknewthatShrimati’sdriverwouldhaveleftbythen.Withoutevenlooking

forShrimati,hewenttohisstudyandpickingupsomepapers,calledouttoher,‘Shrimati,ImaybeofftotheUSfortwotothreeweeks.Kindlypackmybag.IthinkourfriendVasudevShenoyandhiswifearecomingfromDelhionapersonalvisit.Theyareourguests.Letthemstayhere,notinthecompany’s

guesthouse.Pleaselookafterthemandorganizealltheirtripsatourexpense.Heisanextremelyusefulpersontous.‘Pleasepackanextrapairofspecsandbootsforme.‘IwassupposedtogotoHubliforadaynextmonth.Butnow,Iwillnotbe

abletodoso.Informmymotheraboutthischangeofplan.Bytheway,shehasaskedforsomegolditem.Ifpossible,arrangeforitorsendthemoneyforit.’Shrikantgavealltheseinstructionswithoutoncelookingupfromhispapers.Maruthi,whohadfollowedhimintothestudywithhisbriefcase,was

surprisedtohearhimtalklikethistomemsaab.HethoughtShrikant’sbehaviourresembledhisdrunkardfatherTukaram’s.Theywereintheirownnasha,withoutbeingbotheredaboutothers.Underintoxication,theybehavelikethat.Lookatoursaab,Maruthithought.Hedoesn’tdrink.Buthebehaveslikehedoes.MaruthithoughtofhisyoungwifeTulasi.Hehadpromisedherthathewouldtakeherforamoviethatnight.Butbythetimehedroppedhisbossattheairportandreturned,allthetheatreswouldbeclosed.Tulasiwouldbeupset,butalsohappywithhisovertimeallowance.Maruthiwentdownstairs.Shrimatididnotmoveaninch.Shrikantlookedatherandsaid,‘Shrimati,

hurryup.Servemydinnerquickly.Icannoteatontheplane,youknow.Iforgottotellyou!Packtwoofmysuitsaswell.’‘Shri,whereareyougoing?’‘Didn’tyouhearme?IamgoingtotheUS,Isaid.’‘ButShri...’‘Pleasedon’twastetime.Iamgettinglate.’‘Icannotdoyourwork.Iwillgetboredbeingaloneforthreeweeks.Youhad

promisedthatyouwouldtakeleaveforthreedaysnextmonth.Andthosethreedaysyouwouldnottakeupanyofficialwork.BecauseofthatIbookedourticketstoLadakh.’‘Cancelthem.Idon’tevenhavetimetotalkaboutitnow.Ihavetremendous

pressurefromoffice.’‘Please,Shri,can’tyoupostponeyourtouratleastthistime,formysake?’SheknewShrikantwouldnotdoit.Ithadneverhappenedbefore.Butstillshe

wantedtoputherdemandforward,tolethimknowthatshedidnotwanttobethelowestpriorityanymore.ShrikantrealizedthatShrimatiwasnotgoingtodoanythingforhim.Hehimselfwenttothewardrobeandstartedtakingouthisclothes.

clothes.‘Shrimati,don’tbeirrational.TellPriyatosendyoumyitinerarytomorrow.

Packinsomeaspirinandsulphurtablets.Ihavetoleaveinthenexthalfhour.’Shrimatiwasstandingasstillasarock.Butinsidehermind,shewas

explodinglikeavolcano.ShehadbeensohappythatShrikanthadatlastagreedtospendthreedayswithher.Shewaslookingforwardtothetripwithmucheagerness.Now,shefeltlikeatiredtravellerinadesert,lookingforanoasis.Herheartdidn’twanttoacceptthatShrikantdidnotcareforher.Butbyhisbehaviourtodaysheknewshewasright.Shrikantwasonlylivingforhimselfandhisambitions.Hewasusingherasapersonalsecretaryathome.Atleastforhisofficialsecretarythereweretimings,butforheritwasanall-timejob.Herangerwasincreasingbyleapsandbounds,supercedingreason.‘Shri,youcannotgoanywheretoday.Youalwaysthinkofyourself.Youare

soselfishthatyouthinkonlyofyourposition,yourcompanyandyourmother.Youneverthinkofmeasahumanbeingorwhathurtsmeandwhatmakesmehappy!Youtreatmelikeamachine.‘Yougiveappointmentstoeverybodybutyoudon’thaveanytimeforme.

Don’tIdeserveone?Don’tyouhaveanydutytowardsme?Youspendalldayoccupiedbyyourcompany,physicallyandmentally.Whatisleftforme?YougivemefalseassuranceseverytimeandIbelieveyou.Iamneitherabanknorapostofficetosendmoneytoyourmother.Sheisrelatedtomethroughyou.Whenyoudonotcareaboutme,whyshouldIcareabouther?Shri,tellmenow.Whoisimportant,yourwifeoryourprofession?Askyourheartandtellme.‘Iamawarethatthevalueofapersonisknownonlyduringacriticaltime.

Thetimehascomenowandyouhavetodecidetoday,nowandatthisverymoment.’Shrimatiwasovercomewithemotion.Shecaughtholdofhisshirtand

snatchedthesuitcase.Thesuitcasefellopenandallthethingsscatteredtotheground.Shrikantwasstrugglingtocontrolhisrisingtemper.‘Shrimati,Icannotanswersuchanonsensicalquestion.Idon’twanttotravel

atmyownwillbuttheworkdemandsit.Itisyourdutytosupportahusbandlikeme.Now,youareemotionalandbeingsilly.Notonlyareyouwastingyourtimebutyouarewastingmyprecioustimetoo.Ihavemanythingstodo.Iamalreadylate.Pleaseletmego.’

Helplessanddisappointed,Shrimatistartedsobbing.Shedidn’twanthimtobehappywhenshewassounhappyinthismarriage.Shewantedtheheatofherunhappinesstotouchhimtoo.‘Shri,ifyouconsiderthatyourtimeismorevaluablethanmine,ifyourwork

ismoreimportantthanmyinnerhappiness,Iwillallowyoutogo.Youdoyourdutiestoyourcompanybecauseyouarepaidandgivenastatus.Whataboutmywork?Andwhatismyroleinthismarriage?Justthinkitover,whetheryouhavedischargedanyresponsibilitiesasahusband.Hasyourmotherperformedherdutiesastheheadofthefamily?Youdecideonewayortheother.Youhaveanobligationtoyourwife.Ifyoudonotfulfilit,Iwillnotstayinthishouse.’Shrimatiwasholdinghishandfirmly.ThiswasthefirsttimethatShrimatihadtalkedsoopenlyaboutGangakkaand

inrelationwithShrikant’swork.Therewasnologic.Bothwereentirelydifferentissues.Hewassurprisedbyherbehaviour.Hiswatchshowedthathewasgettinglateandhewouldmisshisflight.Hecouldnotaffordtospendonedayquarrellingwithhiswife.Heforcefullyfreedhimselfandsaid,‘Shrimati,thinkwhateveryouwant.Ihavetoldyoumyopinion.Iamnotgoingformyownpleasureorforextramoney.NeitheramIcheatingonyou.Shrimati,thewholeworldsaysthatyouaremoreintelligentthanme.Youthinkoveritandwhateveryoufeelisright,goaheadanddoit.Iamleavingnow.’ListeningtoShrikant,Shrimatifeltasifshehadtouchedalivewireandstood

dumbstruck.Shrikantdidnoteathisdinner.Hetookhisbagandleft.NowShrimatididnotcarewhatotherswouldsay.Sherantothebalconyand

shouted,‘Iwon’tbeintownforamonth.Iwon’tlookafteryourguests.’ThoughShrikantheardithedidn’trespondandjusttoldMaruthitodriveto

thedomesticairport.Heknewverywellthatshewouldbeathome,doallthework,becausedutyhadbecomeherhabit.Shewoulddowhateverheaskedherto.

TWENTY -EIGHT

Shrimatilookedattheseawithsorrowandbewilderment.Thegriefthatwasinherheartwasasdeepastheocean.Despiteherargumentsandhertearshehadnotlistenedtoher.Shesatonachairandfeltasifallherenergyhaddrainedout.Whathadsheachievedinherlife,sheaskedherself.ShehaddoneeverythingforShrikantbuthehadnotnoticedhersincerity;hedidnotvaluehersacrificesforhim.Hehadtoldherthathistimewasveryvaluable.Yes,hewoulddefinitelygrowinstatureandrisetoamoreprominentposition

overaperiodoftime.Butwhatabouther?Shehadtolivelikehisshadowallthetime.Shewouldn’thaveanyidentityofherown.Herlifewouldbethatofaplanetwhichshineswithreflectedlight,ratherthanthatofastarwhichradiatesitsownlight.Shealsorememberedthewayhehadsneeredather,Thewholeworldsays

thatyouaremoreintelligentthanme.Youthinkoveritandwhateveryoufeelisright,goaheadanddoit.Indeed,whathadshereallyachievedinlife?Nothing.Abigzero.Iftheyhad

children,thingsmighthavebeenabitbetter.EvenifShrikantspentallhistimeinoffice,shecouldspendhertimewiththechildren.ButShrikanthadrejectedtheideaofadoptiontoo.Maybeeveniftheyhadchildren,ShrikantwouldhavesentthemtoaboardingschoollikeHarishhaddone.OnecouldneverknowhowShrikant’smindwouldwork.Shethoughtaboutherlifetenyearshence,andshivered.Shehadalwaysdislikedbeingdependentonanyone.Livinglikethiswasworsethandeathtoher.

Shrimatitriedtoanalyseherfeelings.Whatcouldmakeherhappy?Herhusband’slove,andhistory.Sinceherhusbandhadmadehisfeelingsclear,onlyhistoryremained.Shethoughtofhercollegedays.Notforasingledaywassheunhappy.Inspiteofgettingallthosegoldmedals,beingofferedascholarshipbyProfessorCollinsandtheopportunitytogoandstudyabroad,shehadrejectedthemallbecauseshewasmadlyinlovewithShrikant.Shehadvoluntarilyclosedallhercareerpaths.Shenowfeltthathergreatestshortcomingwasthatshewasnotambitious.Hadshebeenso,perhapstodayshewouldhavebecomealeadinghistorianofthecountry...HermotherKamala’swordssprangupinhermind.Whenthetopicof

marriagewasraised,hermotherhadsaidtoherthatherin-lawswouldneverloveherandShrikantwouldnevertreatherbetterthanhispeople.Isitnottruethatbloodisthickerthanwater?Shrikant’slovehadevaporatedlikewaterfromacup.Nowthecupwasempty,andsowasherheart.Howtruehadbeenhermother’sprediction!ShrimatirememberedtellingShrikantafewtimesthathismotheralways

boughtthecheapestofgiftsforher,butforRamashewouldbuythingsworththousands!AndShrikanthadlaughedandsaid,‘Youhavemorethanenough,Shrimati,whyshouldmypoormothergiveyouanygift!’Shrikantwouldneverunderstandthatagiftisnotmeasuredbyitsprice,rather

bythefeelingsbehindit.WhenGangakkawouldgiveheranything,shewouldpurposelykeepthepricetagonandinfrontofoutsidersshewouldsay,‘Anyway,sheischildlessandmysonisapotofgoldtoher.Helistenstoeverythingshesaysandasksfor...’OnlyShrimatiknewhowshrewdShrikantwasandhowhemadepeoplethink

thathewasajorukaghulaam,aslaveofhiswife.Itwasalwayshisdecisionthatprevailedoverhers.Whyblameothersiftheybelievedit?Whenherhusbanddidnotcareforher,whywouldanybodyelse?Shrikant’swordskeptgoingroundandroundinShrimati’shead.Youthink

overitandwhateveryoufeelisright,goaheadanddoit.Shrikanthadneverusedsuchwordsbefore.Shehadalwaysthoughtthat

Shrikantwasproudofherintelligence.Sowhyhadhetalkedlikethat?Wasittohurther?Ifthatwasso,thenwhyshouldsheremainhere?Ahouseismadeupofjustfourwallsbutahomeiswherethereislove,affectionandameaningful

relationship.Whenthatwasnotthereitwasonlyahouse,andthebestthingwastogetoutofit.Butwherecouldshego?ShecouldnotgobacktoHubliandmakehermotherunhappy.Theonlywayforherwastogosomewhereshewouldfeelcomfortable.Shrimatihadalwaysenjoyedtheacademicatmosphereandthecompanyof

teachersintheUniversity.Theonlyoptionleftwastobecomeastudentonceagain.Eventoday,Indianhistorywasatherfingertips.Allthefacts,dates,events

werefreshinhermind.WhenshereadanybookonhistoryherconcentrationwasasgoodasShrikant’swasincomputers.SherememberedProfessorCollinsandhislastvisit.Probablyhehadmadehisoffertoherbecausehehadsensedherfutileexistence.Shrimatigotup,tookapenandstartedwritingtoProfessorCollins.Shedidnotmentionawordaboutherpersonalproblems.Shestatedhowstudyinghistoryhadalwaysmadeherhappy...Theletterexceededtwopages.Attheendshewrote,‘Sir,yourloveforhistoryisnotaffectedbyyourage.Apersonlikeyouisalwaysarolemodel.Itwouldbeanhonourformetoworkunderyou.Thetimehascomenow.Iwanttodomydoctorate.ButSir,withoutascholarship,Icannotcome.Ibelieveeconomicindependenceisoneofthemostimportantcomponentsoffreedom.Kindlyletmeknowyouropinion.PleaseconveymyregardstoDorothy.’Bythetimeshefinished,itwaslongpastmidnight.Shrimatifeltcalmandat

peace.Sheslept.Thenextmorningshewentandpostedtheletterherself.

TWENTY -NINE

Shrimati’smindhadbeeninturmoilforthelastthreeweeks.Attimes,shewouldfeelthatProfessorCollinswouldarrangeascholarship.Butthenuncertaintywouldcreepinandshewoulddoubtherownability.Ithadbeentenyearssinceshehaddiscontinuedherstudies.Couldshecatchupandcompetewiththestudentswhoweremuchyoungerthanher?Woulditbepossibletoconcentrateonherstudies?Hadshetakenthedecisionmerelyinanger?Wasitaproperdecision?Therewerethousandsofquestionsinhermindandshewasnotabletoansweranyofthem.Shrikanthadcalledhermanytimesinthosethreeweeks,butherreplieshad

beentothepoint.WhenVasudevShenoyandhiswifevisitedBombay,ShrimatidulytookcareofthemasperShrikant’sinstructions.Andthenonedayallherdoubtsweresettled.ShegotareplyfromProfessor

Collins.Sheopenedtheletterimpatiently.

Itisquitenaturalforascholarlikeyoutowishtobecomeastudentagain.Gettingascholarshipforyouisnotdifficultatall.Astherearemanythingsweneedtodiscuss,Ifeelthatyoumustcomeatleastoneweekbeforethetermbegins.Pleasedonotdiscardyourwritingsthinkingtheyareoutdated.Dobringthem.IhaveaskedDorothytolookforasmallapartmentforyouneartheuniversity.Beingavegetarian,itwouldbebetterforyoutobeonyourown,thaninadormitory.Untilyoufindsomething,youcanstayinourhouse.Iconsidermyselfluckytohaveastudentlikeyouatmyage.Itisratherdifficulttohave

goodresearchstudents.Dorothyisexcitedatyourarrival.Shrimati,thereisnoagelimitforlearning.Onewhohasathirstforknowledgeisatruestudent.Ifyouhaveanydoubtsinyourmindaboutyourcompetence,pleaseforgetthem.Americaisnotanunknowncountrytoyou.Iamsendingyouthevisapapers

sothatyoucancomeattheearliest.

Shrimatireadtheletteroverandoveragain.Yes.Shecouldbecomeastudentagain.Shefeltlifehadopenedanewdoorforher.Thistime,shewasmakingadecisionwithherhead,notwithherheart.Sittinginthebalcony,shedaydreamedaboutbeinginauniversitycampus,readinginthelibrary,studyingintheclassrooms,discussingintheseminarhall.Insuchplaces,onlyknowledgeisrespected.Thereisnobusinesstalkorpretensions.Thereisnoprofit,noloss.Howbeautifulherlifewouldbe!Howhadshenotconsidereditbefore,shewondered.Inlife,beauty,power,money,health,youtharenotconstant.Realwealthis

knowledge.Themoreyougive,thewealthieryoubecome.Thatisthereasonwhyteachersaregreat.Becausetheyspreadtheirknowledgeeveryyeartomanymanystudents,withoutexpectinganyrewardsorreceivinganyfavours.Butaftertheexcitementhaddieddown,Shrimatibecamealittleworried.

Onceshewasgone,whowouldlookafterShrikant?Oflate,duetocontinuoustension,hishealthwasnotsogood.Ifshewasn’tthere,itwouldcauseaproblemforhim.ShefeltsorryforShrikantashehadnoideaaboutmoneyorhouseholdmatters.Hewouldjustsignwhereverneeded.Hehadsomuchfaithinherthathewouldnotevencarryawallet.Ifshewentaway,whatwouldhermothersay?Whatwouldpeoplesay?Wouldtheygossipabouttheirmarriage?Theseconflictingthoughtspulledherindifferentdirections.Herfingersbegantopainfromgrippingthearmsofthechairsotightly.Finally,shemadeuphermind.Shecouldnotstayhere.ShehadtogosomeplacewhereshecouldgetthesamejoythatShrikantgotfromhiswork.Thatpleasurewasmorevaluablethanmoney.Shewasgoingawaynottoearnmoney,buttofindherownindividuality.ThestoryofBhamatithatshehadtoldShrikantlongago,camebacktomind.

EverywomancouldnotbecomeBhamati.EachwomanhadherownlimitsandShrimatitoohadcometotheendofherpatience.Wasitthedifferenceintheir

personalitiesthathadmadeShrimatitakethisdecision,shewondered.Orwasitherunbearableloneliness?Sheknewthatmanywomengointodepression,becomealcoholics,andinsomecasesbecomekleptomaniacs.Psychiatristsbelievethatwomendothisinordertodrawtheattentionoftheirbusy,ambitioushusbands.Shrimatithoughtofhermotherandgrandmother.Hergrandmotherusedto

saythathergrandfatherwasaterroranddidnotbelievethatwomenwerecapableoftakingdecisions.Henevergavewomenanyfreedom.AndyetRindakkahadneverspokenillofhim.Herownmotherwasmarriedtoaworthlessman,butshestillshowedhimrespectandneverspokeharshwordstohim.Hersituationwassodifferentincomparison.Shrikantwasunlikeeitherofthesetwomen,butshedidn’twanttostayonwithhim.Hergrandmotherhadneverhadeconomicindependencesoshemighthave

stayedbackbecauseofthat.Hermotherwasthesolebreadwinnerofthefamily.Butshestillcontinuedtostaywithherhusband.Thatwasbecausetheywereconditionedtobelievethatawomanshouldstaywithherhusband,irrespectiveofwhathewas.Shrimatididnotagreewiththatbelief.Shefeltthattherewasalimittowhich

onecouldbeobedientandsubservient,butoncethatlimitwascrossed,theindividual’shappinessbecamemoreimportant.Shrikantwasduetocomebackthefollowingweek.NowthatShrimatihad

madeuphermind,hermainconcernwashowtobreakthenewstohim.

THIRTY

Shrikantreturnedfromthehecticfour-weekbusinesstrip.Hewasextremelytiredandsleptforawhilebeforegoingtooffice.ItwasimpossibleforapersonlikeShrikanttostayathomebecauseofjetlag.HedidnotnoticeanythingwrongwithShrimati.Hesawthatshewascleaning

upsomething,butthatwasnotunusual.Shrimatiwasextraordinarilyneat.Heoftenjoked,‘IfIdon’tholdontotheshirtthatIamwearing,Shrimatimaygiveitawaytosomebodywhilecleaningthecupboard.’Beforeleavingforoffice,hehadtoldShrimatithathewantedtohaveanearly

dinnerthatday.Shrimatisaid,‘Shri,doyouhavetimenow?Iwanttotellyousomethingvery

urgent.’‘No,Shrimati,Iamlatealready.Wewillspeakoverdinner.’‘But,incaseyougetdelayedincomingbackfromyouroffice,itmightbetoo

late.’‘Oh,that’snotaproblem.Iwillcomeearlyforyoutoday.’Heleft,noteven

botheringtoaskwhattheimportantmatterwas.Hethoughtitwouldbeoneofherimpracticalideas.Therewasavastdifferencebetweenpromisingsomethingandexecutingit.

Butaspromised,Shrikantcamehomeearlythatday.Heseemedveryexcited,jubilanteven.Shrimatiwassittingonthesofa,staringattheceiling.Shrikantdidnotnotice

that.Hecame,threwhiscoatonthediningtableandsatnexttoheronthesofa.Holdingherinhisarmshesaid,‘Hey,Shrimati,todayyoumustcongratulate

me.Ihavebecomethemanagingdirectorofthecompany.Ihavebeenchosenasoneofthetopexecutivesofthecountry.Shrimati,whenIwasinIIT,myclassmateswentabroad.ButIhadsaidthatIwouldstayinIndiaandachievemoreherethantheydidthere.TodayIhaverealizedmydream.Nowyouarethewifeofamanagingdirector.Letusmoveoutofthishouse.WewilltakeupaplaceinMalabarHillmaybe,overlookingthesea,asperyourwish.Shrimati,IdonotliketofightwithyouandIfeelextremelyunhappywhenwequarrel.Youshouldunderstandthatmyprofessiondemandsallthesethings.Youcannothavethericeandeatittoo.Now,Iwilltakesometimeoff.Whereveryouwant,Iwillaccompanyyou.IwillnotgotoHubli.Thistime,youaremypriority.’Liketheolddaysheputhisheadonherlapandcontinuedtochatter.Shrimatiremainedsilent.Whateverhewassayingwasfutile,likepouringwateronastone.Normally,

Shrimatiwouldhaverejoicedathispromotion,asifitwasherown.Forthefirsttimeshedidnotfeelshewasapartofhissuccess.Shrikantfoundhersilencestrangeandthoughtshewasstillangry.Hegotupandturnedherfacetowardshim.Henoticedthattherewerenotearsorangerinhereyes.Onthecontrary,therewasadeterminationandsadness.Shrimatistoodupwithoutsayinganything.‘Shri,thisisthekeytothehouse,andthisonetoyourGodrejalmirah.Thisis

thefinancefile,asoftoday.Pleasekeepthemallcarefully.’Shrikantwaspuzzled.Hedidnotunderstandwhatshewastalkingabout.‘Shrimati,whydoIneedallthesethings?Areyougoingsomewhere?Even

thenIwillnotneedthesethings.’Shrimaticlosedhereyes,usedallherwillpowerandansweredslowly.‘Shri,IamleavingandIdon’thaveanyplanstoreturn.Iamhandingoverall

theresponsibilitiesofthehousetoyou.’Shrikantwasbewildered.‘Whereareyougoing?’‘IamgoingtotheUStodomydoctorate.Iwasjustwaitingforyourreturn.I

havecarriedoutalltheinstructionsthatyouhadgivenme,completedalltheassignmentsthatyouhadsetforme.’Shrikant’sexcitementwasflattenedatonce.Hejustcouldnotcomprehendthe

newsituation.HefeltasifsomeonewaspushinghimfromMountKailash.

‘Shrimati,ifyouaregoingtodoyourPh.DintheUS,thenwhenwillyoureturn?Howcanyoutakesuchamajordecisionwithoutevenconsultingme?HowwillyoumaintainyourselfintheUS?’SuddenlyShrikantfeltutterlytiredandhelpless.‘Shri,Iamgettingascholarship.Ihavethoughtoverthismatterforthelast

fourweeksbeforetakingthisdecision.IdidnotbringanythingwithmewhenIgotmarriedtoyou.Nowalso,Iamnottakinganythingfromthishouse.Myflightisscheduledfortonight.Iwaswonderingincaseyoudon’tturnuptoday,howIwouldperformmylastduty.Anyway,youhavecomeandnowIcanleavepeacefully.’Shrikant’smindhadgonenumb.Nothingshesaidwasregistering.Ina

disbelievingvoicehesaid,‘Shrimati,areyoujoking?’Butthenhiseyesfellonherpackedsuitcaseandherealizeditwasnojoke.Aftertakingadeepbreath,Shrimaticontinued,‘Shri,youhavereachedthis

positiontodaybecauseyouarehighlyfocusedandyouworkveryveryhard.Youhavededicatedthemostimportantpartofyourlifeandallyourtimetoachievingthisgoal.Itisnoteasy,Iagree.Lookatyourfriendswhowereasbrightasyou.Theyhavenotachievedwhatyouhave.Youhavesurpassedeverybodyinyourbatch.Youstartedasasoftwareengineerandreachedthepinnacleofyourcareerwithintenyears.Intheoldendayspeopleusedtocallthistapasya,penance,andforthattheywouldhavetogototheforest.Youhaveachieveditwithoutgoingtotheforest...’Shrikantstoppedher,‘Butthathasnothingtodowithyourleaving.’‘No,Shri.Listentomepatiently.Veryfewpeoplecanworklikeyouto

achievewhatyouhave,notbotheringaboutmaterialbenefitsorhappinessinlife.Butnothingisfreeinlife,Shri.Inachievingyourposition,youhavelostyourShrimati.‘Icannotliveinthiskindofanatmospherewiththeseartificialvalues.I

requiretobreathefreshair.Idonotwanttoliveasyourshadow.Iwanttofindmyownhappiness.Shri,ifIhadnotbeensensitiveandbright,Iwouldn’thavehadtosuffersuchloneliness.Icouldhaveenjoyedyourwealth.WhenIwasthinkingaboutmylifesofar,whatmygoalhasbeen,IhaverealizedwhatIwant.’Shrimatistopped.ShewaswaitingforShrikanttosaysomething.Buthewas

silent,stillinshock.

silent,stillinshock.Shrimaticontinued.‘Shri,IlovedhistoryandIlovedyou.Infact,onceuponatimeIlovedyou

morethanhistory.Butwhenyoulostyourfinersentiments,chasingyoursuccessintheworldofbusiness,Iwasleftwithnothingotherthanhistory.Forme,theglamourofmoney,house,carisimmaterial.Shri,askyourself.Ifyouwereinmyshoes,whatwouldyouhavedone?ThesamethingthatIamdoing.DoyourememberwhyyoudidnottakeupajobinHubli?Becauseyouknewyourgoal.Now,IamalsoclearaboutmygoalandIwanttoachieveit.Shri,youaremyguru.Ilearntthisfromyou.Wheneversomethingnewhappens,peoplecallitarevolutionintheperspectiveofhistoryandonlylaterappreciateitssignificance.Arunningmancannotchangehisdirectionallofasudden.Inphysics,youcallthatinertia.IknowthatifIleavenow,itisverynaturalforsocietytotalkaboutme.Butletmenotworryaboutthat.Apersoncanliveonlybyhisownfaith.Heneedstotravelonhisownpath,whetherithasstonesorthorns.Hecannottakesomeotherpath,eventhoughitissmoothandrosy,andthatisexactlywhatIamdoingtoday.’Shrimatitalkedasifshehadnevergotachancetospeakbefore.Itwaslike

liftingthevalveoffapressurecooker.ShrikantjustkeptlookingatShrimati,hismindcompletelyblank.Shecontinuedtospeak.‘Shri,whathaveIdonealltheseyears?Iusedtowelcomeyourguests,keep

youraccounts,lookafterthehouseandfulfilthedutiesjustthewayyourpersonalsecretarydoes.Iwasyourvaluable,glitteringornamentinthesocialcircuit.Inolongerwanttobethat.IwanttolivethewayIwant.Shri,Idon’twantadivorcefromyoubecauseinmyviewdivorceismerelyadocumentthatpermitsyoutoremarry.Ithasnoothersignificance.Idonothaveanysuchintentions.Youcannotchangeyourlifestyle.Youareboundbythat.Yourjobrequiresthatkindofcommitmentandyoucannotlivewithoutit.ButIcannotadjusttothat.Inthebestinterestsofbothofus,thisistheonlysolution.Shri,youtoldmetheotherdaythatIammoreintelligentthanyouandIcandecidewhatIwant.ThisiswhatIhavedecided.’Shrikantmovedforthefirsttime,fromhislongsilence.‘Shrimati,don’tmakeanemotionaldecision.Isaidsointheheatofanger.

Areyouawareoftheconsequencesofyourdecision?’

‘Shri,Ihavethoughtabouteverythingcalmlyforthelastfourweeks.Youcandefinitelylivewithoutme.Youwillfindanexcellentsecretarywhocandoallthisworkforyou.Youmaymissmeforsometimebutyouwillgetusedto.Shri,ifyoureallyneedmyhelp,pleasecallme.WhereverIam,Iwillcomeandvisityou.Itisverydifficultformetoleaveyou,butIhavenootheroption.ImarriedyoubecauseIlovedyou.Iamnotleavingyoubecauseofourquarrel.Iamnotgoingawaybecauseyouareangrywithme.Iamnotdesertingyoueitherformonetarygainorsomeothertemptation.IamgoingawayonlybecauseIwanttobelikeyou.Youarenotlikeanormalhusbandwhowouldcontrolhiswife...’Shrimati’seyeswelledupwithtears.Shebecameemotionalandtherewasa

catchinherthroat.Thoughshehadthoughtoveritandhadtakenaconsciousdecision,itwasverydifficultforhertotalkanymore.Shewasscaredthatifshestayedalittlelongershemightchangehermindandgetintothesametrapagain.ShecamenearShrikantandsaid,‘Shri,Iamleavingnow.Myhouseisalwaysopentoyou.WhenyoucometotheUS,donotgoawaywithoutmeetingme.Pleasekeepintouch.Takecareofyourhealth.Don’tforgettodrinkskimmedmilk.Iwillnotaskyoutocomeandsaygoodbye.Itwillbetraumaticforbothofus.Iwanttogoodbyehereitself.Shri,Icannotgetabetterfriendthanyou.’Shekissedhisforeheadgently,huggedhimwarmly,thentookhersmallbagandwalkedout.Sheleftwithouteventurningback.Stunned,Shrikantcontinuedtogazeatherback.Hefeltthatshewastaking

hisspiritawaywithher.

THIRTY -ONE

TheclickofthedoortoldShrikantthatShrimatihadgone.Buthejustcouldnotbelievethatsuchathinghadhappened.TheShrimatihesawthatdaywassodifferentfromtheShrimatihethoughtheknew.Whatshewasandwhathehadthoughtaboutherwasentirelycontradictory.Hehadthoughtthatshedidnothavethestrengthtowithstandsocialstigmaandlackedgreatwillpower.Shrikantwascaughtinawhirlpoolofthoughts.WhydidShrimatidothis?As

farasherememberedherfromtheirchildhooddays,shewasshybutdifferentfrommostwomen.Shewasbrightand,mostimportant,shewasobedient.Andthatcouldbethereasonthathehadignoredher,becauseshewasnotaggressiveanddemanding.WhileothermenintheofficewouldsaythattheyhadtogohomeearlyandtheycouldnotworkonSundays,heusedtomakefunofthem,‘Oh,youdonotknowhowtotellyourwife.Lookatme.Mywifewillneverquestionme.’HerememberedthatonceHarishtoldhim,‘Shrikant,neitheryounoryourwifearenormal.Youarealuckyman.Youdonothaveanyfamilyproblem.’Butnow,hecouldunderstandwhatithadmeant.Whenhischairmancalledhimpersonallytocongratulatehimafterhis

promotion,hewasveryproudofhissuccess.Hethoughtallhissuccesswasduetohisownefforts.NowhethoughtofShrimati.Whatwashershareinhisachievement?Shealwayswishedhimprogress,silentlyandconstantlysufferedherloneliness.Actuallyshehaddeservedalion’sshareinhisachievements.Butheneveracknowledgedit.Today,shehadbrokenhispridebyrejectinghisposition,hisachievementsandleavinghim.

ShrikantwasamazedtoseethepapersthatShrimatihadleftforhim.WhydidShrimatileavehim?Shehadsaidshewantedcleanair.Wasthisatmospheresuffocatingher?Inanybusinessparty,lookingatprofitandlossisacorporateculture.Itisnotphilanthropyorhistory.WhydidShrimatitakeitpersonally?WasShrimatiscaringhim?Hadshegoneforafewdays?Thoughhisheartwantedittobethatway,hismindsaidthatitwasnottrue.Hethoughtonceagain.Nooneinthismale-dominatedsocietywould

appreciateherstepbutShrimatihadlefthimwithoutevenbotheringaboutwhatpeoplewouldthink.Shehadactedonwhatshefeltwasright.Manymorethoughtswereconstantlybreakinglikewavesinhismind.WasithismotherwhousedtodeliberatelyinsultherandhissisterwhowouldtauntherthathadmadeShrimatibitter?Itmighthavebeenoneofthereasonsforherdecision.Hefeltguiltyaboutitforthefirsttime.HecomparedShrimati’sdifficultieswithRama’s,forgettingtheirlevelofsensitivity.Ramawassoinsensitivethatshecouldquarrelwithanybodyandstillgotothatperson’shousefordinner.Howhadheneverthoughtaboutit?HismemorywentbacktothestoryofBhamati,thewomanwhohaddedicated

herentirelifetoherhusbandandhefeltShrimatiwasashadebetterthanBhamati,whohadneverseentheoutsideworldanddidnotknowhercapacity.Shrimatihadservedherhusbandwithsingle-mindeddevotionknowinghercapabilitiesandbeingawareoftheoutsideworld.Herhusbandrecognizedhiswife’ssacrificeandnamedthebookafterher.

Thatiswhatappealstomemore.ShrikantrecollectedwhatShrimatihadsaidlongback.But,inherreallife,herhusbanddidnotevenrecognizehersacrifice!How

cruelitwasforShrimati...Shrikantfeltpained.‘Oh,Shrimati,Icannotlivewithoutyou.Youaremy

sourceofenergyandinspiration.Icanseetheinfluenceofyourpersonalityinallmywork.Withoutyou,Iamincomplete.’Butheknewthatitwastoolate.Thereweremanypicturesthatcametohismind.Whentheyhadhadlessmoney,shewouldalwayssaveenoughforhimtobuy

books.Eventhoughtheywerenewlymarried,shewouldn’tdisturbhimwhilehewasreadingathome;rather,intheirsmallhouse,shewouldsitinthekitchenandreadsomebooks.Herememberednowhowmuchsheusedtogooutofher

waytopleasehismother.Inreturn,whatdidsheget?Sheerrejectionfromhisfamilyandhisnegligence.Ourmythssaythatduringthechurningoftheoceans,thedangerouspoison

haalahalacameout,buttherewasnotakerforthat.Then,LordShivadrankitforthebenefitofmankind...PoorShrimatiswallowedeverypoisonousinsult,justtokeepShrikanthappy.Probably,childrenwouldhavebeenthelinkthatwouldhaveheldtheir

marriagetogether.Buthemighthavekepttheminaboardingschool,likehiscolleagueshaddone,andpushedShrimatitofurthersorrow.Hewasamanwhocouldnottake‘anegativeanswer’foranything.Beitanymatter,itwashisdecisionthatwasfinal.Hewantedtowinineverysituation.Hewasaheadstrongpersonanditwasawonderhowshehadcopedwithhim.Thecoolbreezefromthebalconyblewintothehallandthekeysonthetable

felldown.Thepapersflewindifferentdirections.Shrikantdidnothavetheenergytogetupandcollectthem.HewasworriedabouthowshewouldliveintheUSwithoutmuchmoney.Shedidnothaveanyexpensivehabitsthough.Ifshehad,shewouldnothavelefthim.Hewasamazedathermeticulousentriesofalltheaccounts.Whenhelookedatthedifferentkeys,hedidnotknowwhichwaswhat.Everythingwashurtinghimnow.Hehadtreatedherjustlikeanassistantandshehadtoldhimthathecouldgetabetterone.Wasiteverpossible?Nobodywoulddothiskindofworkformoney.ShrimatihaddoneitoutofsheerloveforShrikant.Shrikantcouldhearthesoundoftherain.ItwasShravan,therainyseason,

anditwaspouringcatsanddogsinBombay.Hereturnedtotherealworld.Hewasamanofaction.Whateverhadhappenedhadhappened.Hefelthehadtosetthingsright.HehadtotellhismothertoloveShrimati.Thenherealizedwhatafutileexercisethatwouldbe.Peoplecannotbetaughtortoldtolove;itshouldariseonitsown.WherewasShrimatinow?Hadshereachedtheinternationalairport?Hefelt

likegoingandbringingherback.Buthisenthusiasmdisappearedlikeabubblewhenhethoughtaboutitrationally.IfhebroughtShrimatihome,couldhebethesameShrikanthewastenyearsago?Thatwasimpossible.ShrikantwasincapableoflivingthekindoflifeShrimatiwanted.Hehadlosttheabilitytoloveanyoneselflesslyortoopenuptoanybodybecausetheworldofbusiness

hadchangedhimdeeply.Hehadreachedsuchaheightthathecouldnotcomedown.EvenifShrimatihadstayedinBombayanddoneherdoctorateshewouldn’tbehappyashewouldnotbeabletochangehisways.Shewaseducated,knowledgeableandgood-natured.Hehadusedherforhis

advantage.ThatwasthereasonShrimatihadgoneaway.AllthesethoughtsrevealedthemselvestoShrikant,layerbylayer.Hebecameextremelyangrywithhimself.Hefelthelpless.Hewasavictimof

power,ambition,statusandsuccess.Theseawasroaringasifithadwitnessedtheterribletragedy.Suddenly,

ShrikantrememberedRavi’sletter.WhenIthinkofShrimati,Icontinuetobeamazedbyherclearthinkingandherwisedecisions,likewhenshechosetojoinartscollegeinspiteofgettingthefirstrankinhertenthboardexams.Doyourememberthatwehadlaughedather?NowwhenIlookback,Ifeelshewasthebrightest.Sheknewwhatshelikedandshedidexactlythat.Shrikant,youareveryluckytogetsuchacompanion.Heregrettedhisactionsnow,afterlosingthefortunehehadforgottenhe

possessed.Heexperiencedthesameshock,thesamedisappointmentandthesameagonythathehadfeltwhenhehadlosthisfirstrank,seventeenyearsago.AfteralltheseyearsShrikantfeltthathehadthenlostameaninglessrank,buttoday,hehadlosthismostpreciousShrimati.WhatwouldShrimatibedoingnow,hewondered,lookingathiswatch.

Maybethemandatorycustomcheckingisover.Hiseyeswerefulloftears,realizingthattherewouldbenobodytoevensaygoodbyetoher.Shewasallalone.Whatwouldtheirmothersthink?Butitdidnotmatterwhatpeoplethought.WhatwasimportantwasthatShrimatihadmadeherdecision.Healwaysthoughtthathisownlifewasmuchmoresignificantthanhersand

hisownwillstronger.ButnowhestooddisheartenedwithoutShrimati.Thetelephonerang,wakingShrikantupfromhisthoughts.Thesoundofthe

roaringseaandthepouringrainwasringinginhisears.ItwasHarish.‘Shrikant,congratulations.Itseemsourroadshowhasbeen

cleared.Ifallofusparticipateinthat,thenprobablywemaybelistedintheNewYorkStockExchange.Itisallbecauseofyourhardwork...’Sensingthesilencethatwasunusual,Harishcontinued,‘Shrikant,canyouhearme?’‘Yes,Ican.But...’‘Thereisnobutforyou,Shrikant.Youaretheleaderofleaders.Withoutyou,

‘Thereisnobutforyou,Shrikant.Youaretheleaderofleaders.Withoutyou,theroadshowwillnottakeplace.’Shrikantfelttheoldexcitementfloodthroughhim.‘Hey,Harish.Iwillcome

toofficerightnow.’‘Atthisoddhour?’‘Forsuccessthereisnooddandevenhours.Everyminuteisprecious.Iwill

gotoofficeandworkonthat.Iwantthelistoftheplacesthatwearegoingtovisit,thebudgetandotherdetails.Ihavebeenthinkingaboutthepremiumontheshareissue...’Shrikantwenton.Ashetalked,heheardaplaneflyingoverBandra,andheforgotwhathewas

saying.Thereceiverwasinhishandbuthewaslookingatthesky.Hesawtheredtaillampofaplaneinthedarksky.Shrimati,whohadwalkedwithhimsidebysideinthesameShravanrainfor

tenyearshadnowlefthimallalone.

THEBEGINNING

Lettheconversationbegin...

FollowthePenguinTwitter.com@PenguinIndia

Keepup-to-datewithallourstoriesYouTube.com/PenguinIndia

Like‘PenguinBooks’onfacebook.com/PenguinIndia

Findoutmoreabouttheauthoranddiscovermorestorieslikethisatpenguinbooksindia.com

PENGUINBOOKSPublishedbythePenguinGroupPenguinBooksIndiaPvt.Ltd,11CommunityCentre,PanchsheelPark,NewDelhi110017,IndiaPenguinGroup(USA)Inc.,375HudsonStreet,NewYork,NewYork10014,USAPenguinGroup(Canada),90EglintonAvenueEast,Suite700,Toronto,Ontario,M4P2Y3,Canada(adivisionofPearsonPenguinCanadaInc.)PenguinBooksLtd,80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,EnglandPenguinIreland,25StStephen’sGreen,Dublin2,Ireland(adivisionofPenguinBooksLtd)PenguinGroup(Australia),707CollinsStreet,Melbourne,Victoria3008,Australia(adivisionofPearsonAustraliaGroupPtyLtd)PenguinGroup(NZ),67ApolloDrive,Rosedale,Auckland0632,NewZealand(adivisionofPearsonNewZealandLtd)PenguinGroup(SouthAfrica)(Pty)Ltd,BlockD,RosebankOfficePark,181JanSmutsAvenue,ParktownNorth,Johannesburg2193,SouthAfrica

PenguinBooksLtd,RegisteredOffices:80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,England

FirstpublishedbyPenguinBooksIndia2008

www.penguinbooksindia.com

Allrightsreserved

Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,placesandincidentsareeithertheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously,andanyresemblancetoanyactualperson,livingordead,eventsorlocalesisentirelycoincidental.

ISBN:978-0-143-10377-6

Thisdigitaleditionpublishedin2013.e-ISBN:978-9-351-18339-6

Thisbookissoldsubjecttotheconditionthatitshallnot,bywayoftradeorotherwise,belent,resold,hiredout,orotherwisecirculatedwithoutthepublisher’spriorwrittenconsentinanyformofbindingorcoverotherthanthatinwhichitispublishedandwithoutasimilarconditionincludingthisconditionbeingimposedonthesubsequentpurchaserandwithoutlimitingtherightsundercopyrightreservedabove,nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinorintroducedintoaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans(electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise),withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofboththecopyrightownerandtheabove-mentionedpublisherofthisbook.

Gently Falls the Bakula

Documents

Transcript of Gently Falls the Bakula

Gently Read Literature

While my guitar gently whips

While My Guitar Gently Weeps Bass

Falls prevention - RGPEO - falls prevention.pdf · Montfort Falls Prevention Clinic ... Morse Falls Scale: History of falls, secondary diagnoses, parenteral therapy, use of ambulation

Lowering Student Debt- Reversing the Upward Trend Presenter Tim Bakula Associate Director of Student Financial Aid, University of Northern Iowa.

Gently Socratic Inquiry* - p4c Hawai‘ip4chawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/Gently-Socratic-NEW.pdf · Gently Socratic Inquiry 6 environment, inquiry grows. Gently Socratic inquiry is

Java Gently for Engineers and Scientists

If Monterrey falls, Mexico Falls

Niagara falls. Map Niagara falls : Niagara Falls are a group of three waterfalls (The Horseshoe Falls, The American Falls and The Bridal Veil Falls)

FALLS POLICY PREVENTION OF PATIENT FALLS

Wentworth Falls Public School Newsletter...Wentworth Falls Public School Newsletter Wentworth Falls Public School 5 July 2018 Falls Road, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782 * Tel: 0247571604

Gently Socratic Inquiry* - p4c Hawai‘i

Gently, Lord, O Gently Lead Us

Redesigning Ironing smart, simple, delightful....Ultra-Premium Gently touch to lower. Press and steam. Safer Stop scorching, accidental tipping and falls, and running into a hot iron

Reducing Falls and Injuries from Falls - Fall Prevention Monthfallpreventionmonth.ca/uploads/Toolkits/Falls Getting Started Kit.pdf · Reducing Falls and Injuries from Falls Getting

Children’s Books that (Gently) Teach

Gently Read Literature November 2011 Issue

Falls in Hospital Reducing falls and harm from falls Older ...fallsnetwork.neura.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Harvey-LBVC_Falls-in-Hospitals...Falls in Hospital Reducing falls

Gently Read Literature August Issue

Fluoride in groundwater: a case study in Precambrian ... · piedmont zone with alluvium and residual hills and gently sloping vast alluvial plain. The area falls under semi-arid cli-mate.