by welcome
knot? How sad that I got carried away only to end up being pregnant! Oh, how fate has
contrived a parental part in my downfall!"
„What a paradox pregnancy for women is," Nithya thought that night. „If a married
conceives, it"s a cause for celebration, but with an unmarried, it"s a means of castigation.
After all, man doesn"t have any bother in this regard, but then, someone has to bell the cat
of nature"s urge for procreation. At least, he should"ve got the decency to arrange for the
abortion. But the bastard seems to have designs on me into the future as well. He may even
resort to blackmail to entrap me all again. Will he ever allow me to live in peace? Oh, what
a devil have I courted?"
As she imagined his shadow on her future, she was frightened no end.
„Had I not conceived," she reasoned, „it wouldn"t have been so tough on me. Well, I
wouldn"t have made myself as vulnerable to his blackmail later. Won"t it pay to take
precautions for women in love to save their skin? Why, the hymen would go away anyway
but how can any be wiser to the coitus that caused its rupture? Whatever, I"ve to get on to
the table straight away for there is no other way."
„Is death the only solution to my predicament?" she thought as the hypocrisy of
women"s chastity seemed an irony to her. „Oh no, what dreams I had for my life! But, how
sour they all turned out to be! And that"s another story. Now, before all else, I should get
out of this mess. But how am I to go about it? That"s the big question! And what of the
future threat from him? Well, I would see how to deal with him later, if he ever returns."
While she remained pensive at home, she sought the privacy of the park to let out her
steam. Unable to confide with any and overwhelmed by her predicament, she reached a
dead end when Chandra fortuitously forced himself into her life. Well, driven by despair
and backed by sixth sense, she sought to befriend him in the hope that he certainly
wouldn"t harm her even if he may not be of help.
Crossing the Mirage
While Nithya bowed her head narrating her tale of woe, Chandra glued his eyes on her.
When she finished, as she looked at him to gauge his response, he bestowed her with his
caressing look of love. Overwhelmed, she cried for the empathy he evoked in her.
“Oh, God,” Chandra said in sorrow, “how sad!.”
“What to do when someone deceives you?” said Nithya sighing. “See what a mess I'm
in now!”
“So you want to get aborted?”
“Why don't you help me?” she clutched his hand involuntarily. “I've no clue how to go
about it.”
“I value your trust in me,” he said placing his on hers, “as much as I value you. But is
abortion a solution?”
“Tell me,” she said helplessly, “what else can I do now?”
“Why, life has a way of shadowing problems with opportunities,” he said looking into
her eyes tentatively.
“Having undone my life,” she said with a sense of rejection, “what opportunity can I
possibly have now?”
“Marriage, for one.”
“Are you joking or what?”
“Why,” he said, “won"t you like to put this all behind and get on with your life?”
“But even then I need this abortion, won"t I?”
“You could abort the child,” he said as his tone drew all the empathy his heart felt for
her, “but would you be able to get rid of your guilt?”
“Aren"t you scaring me even more?”
“Oh no,” he said taking her hand, “you know I wish you well. Why not see what the
options are and their likely impact upon your life.”
“Thank God, at least, I"ve chosen a friend well,” she said in admiration. “Please be my
friend, philosopher and guide.”
“Thanks for the offer and know it's accepted,” he said in all happiness.
“Wonder how you make me feel relaxed!” she said. “Now tell me what the solution
could be.”
“Well, we'll go through the options for you to arrive at the solution,” he said. “For one,
you can get aborted and marry someone on the sly.”
“Right or wrong,” she said bowing her head, “that"s what girls in my situation do, don"t
they?”
“Well, that"s the only option available for the most of them,” he said endearingly. “But
it"s not the case with you.”
“How is it different with me?”
“Before we come to that,” he said in the manner of counselling her, “why not visualize
the pitfalls of marriage on the sly? Won"t your conscience prick you if you marry by hiding
your past?”
“I haven"t thought about it so far,” she said and paused for a while. “Oh, I'll surely
suffer from qualms all my life.”
“What's worse, what if Vasu blackmails you?” he said as softly as he could so as not to
raise her fears. “If you give in, won't it tell upon your conscience, and if not, what if he
makes your man privy to your past? Wouldn't it be like between the devil and the deep
sea?”
“Oh, God!” she cried. “Looks like I"ve made myself vulnerable forever. What am I to do
now?”
Shaken to the core, she looked at him for support.
“What if you reveal all to the prospective groom?” he said sounding as detached as
possible from the proposal. “Won"t you clear your conscience and block the blackmail as
well?”
“You know the premium you men put on wife's virginity,” she said as though she was
discounting the idea. “And that being the case, who would want to marry me?”
“Maybe,” he said, “but widowers and divorcees could be less fussy about virgin
brides.”
“But how am I to explain my unusual preference to my parents?” she said, “Well, even
if someone marries me still, he might put me under probation till I"m fifty, if not longer.
Also, my confession to all and sundry might scandalize me by word of mouth. Oh it"s no
less risky.”
“Well,” he said, “it's a possibility.”
“Oh, am I destined to remain unwed all my life,” she said with a sigh, “for just a
misstep in youth? How cruel has life become for me!”
“I see a way out my friend,” he said as he readied to bare his heart.
“Me marrying a eunuch!” she said with a weary smile in spite of her situation as her
sense of humour ensured it.
“Well, the next best,” he said and laughed in half jest.
“Jokes apart…,” she began eagerly.
“I"m not joking.”
“Oh, come on.”
“Why not marry me?”
“But why should you” she said a little taken aback, “after all that?”
“I"ve my own reasons,” he said seeing hope, “love being the foremost.”
“I think it"s absurd.”
“Is it because you don"t fancy my looks?” he said and looked disappointed.
“Oh, no!” she said taking his hand, “what my looks have brought me but misery!”
“If you can turn blind to my looks,” he said nevertheless, “you would find me charming
in every way.”
“You"re only compounding my confusion.”
“Don't think that I"m taking advantage of your situation,” he said in an outpour. “I love
you with all my heart and soul. I don"t want to stress upon that because it may not
mean
much to you now, and for all that you could"ve lost faith in love itself.”
“That"s my tragedy.”
“Don"t worry,” he said confidently, “I"ll make you believe in love all again.”
“You infuse hope,” she said vacantly, “and puzzle me too. Is it not pity at work?”
“On the contrary,” he said spiritedly, “I love your spiritedness. I"ve loved you at first
sight and now I"m beginning to admire you. I shall feel lucky if you agree.”
“Looks like I"ve lost my capacity to think,” she said thoughtfully. “Now help me put the
thorn away and then give me time to think it over.”
“Why not,” he said mysteriously, “I've the rose with the thorn as well?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean,” he said with apparent conviction. “I would take you with the
child.”
“Oh, but why?”
“Life is a combination of circumstances as Tolstoy put it,” he said as she stared at him in
wonderment. “Why not we face the facts, if not for the unwanted child in your womb, you
wouldn't have had a second look at me, and but for your handicap, I couldn't have dared of
proposing to you.”
“Maybe, but unfortunately, looks do matter in choosing mates.” she said apologetically.
“But then, as the saying goes, handsome is as handsome does. I suppose you're well-read.”
“I did savor a few drops of the ocean of ideas, that is, the novel,” he said. “And if only
you hear my tale, you would know why I want your child in tow.”
“Of course, I'm curious.”
The story of his life, that he narrated to the last detail, filled every recess of her heart
inducing empathy for him.
“What a soul I've met!” she said empathically, taking his hand. “Oh, you've chosen to
forego your right to father out of consideration for the unborn! Won't that show your innate
capacity for loving?”
“Well,” he said his eyes welling with tears, “I haven't seen it that way.”
“That's the beauty of your soul,” she said touchingly. “I take it as my fortune to become
your wife and mother your child. I promise you to give you many lovely children, as many
as you want. Go in for the corrective as I get aborted?”
“Oh, how I allowed myself to be mired in the mirage of ugliness,” he said excitedly,
pressing her hand. “Know you've led me to the oasis of beauty.”
“In a way, it is the case with me too,” she said holding his hand as though not to lose it
ever. “But for you, I would"ve chased the mirage of disaffection all my life. In helping me
cross it, you've enabled me to trace the treasure of my life in you.”
“Aren"t we blessed really?” he said and kissed her hand while she felt she had a
newborn purpose in her life.
“Oh, what a fortune!” she said in ecstasy.
“It"s my word that you would forever feel loved by me.”
“It"s my promise,” she said in all gratitude. “I shall love you soon enough and value you
all my life.”
“I cherish you, Nithya,” he caressed her hand as one would a find.
“I"m proud of you,” she said, kissing his hand.
“Now perhaps,” he said, “it"s my turn to ask you whether sentiment has overwhelmed
your judgment.”
“You may check up at the morrow,” she said joyously. “I too have read a little of
Shakespeare.”
“A blue stocking of a wife then!” he said with a smile. “And I haven"t bargained for
one.”
“When you"re destined to get one,” she said, turning mirthful, “what can be done?”
“Let"s wait till the morrow.”
“No way,” she said naughtily, “if you want to get rid of me.”
By the time they had to part for the day, they turned so close that he insisted he would
drop her at her place.
“Goodbye till tomorrow,” she dismissed him as they reached that street corner.
“At three then,” he waved her goodbye.
“Won't I make it on the dot,” she waved back at him.
As he stood rooted with a heavy heart, she reached home in relief. Overwhelmed with
joy, that night, they both waited for the fresh dawn with hope.
Setting the Pace
When it was past noon the next day, Chandra and Nithya, not wanting to make the other
wait, reached well before the appointed hour. As they reached the rendezvous, while her
face radiated charm, his gait exhibited confidence.
“On my word,” she said heartily, “didn"t I tell you, you can"t get rid of me?”
“You"re more beautiful than ever,” he said, mesmerized.
“You look all so different.”
“Thanks to your acceptance,” he took her hand, “seems I"ve gained in looks.”
“I"m happy for you.” she said.
“Let"s go to my mother who would feel happy for us both.”
“I"m not sure how my parents would react,” she said in apprehension. “You may have
to pull me out from there.”
“I"ve planned it all to the last detail,” he said, leading her enthusiastically towards his
Vespa. “Just wait and watch.”
Keeping pace with him till they reached his scooter, she stood rooted when it came to
getting onto the pillion.
“Shall we hire an auto?” he suggested, sensing her hesitation.
“Oh, no,” she said, as she positioned herself to ride pillion, “it feels a little odd, that"s
all.”
“I know it takes time,” he said, as he steered the vehicle.
“Better be prepared for an aggressive spouse.”
“Why not take me for a support?” he said, as she sat erect like a pole.
“What else am I doing?” she put her arm around him.
When they rode to the Pearl House, Anasuya was at the gate buying some garden pots
from a hawker. Seeing her son with Nithya, she smiled sweetly at them.
“Take her in,” she said in welcome. “I"ll join you readily.”
As Chandra was showing Nithya their place, Anasuya joined them.
“How do you like our place?” Anasuya said going up to Nithya.
“Nithya says she is tempted to live here,” said Chandra, as Nithya blushed.
“You"re welcome,” said Anasuya, taking Nithya"s hand. “I couldn"t have wished for a
better bahu.”
“Get us married then,” said Chandra.
“What about her parents?” asked Anasuya.
“You"re the first to know,” said Chandra.
“Would they agree?” Anasuya asked Nithya.
“I'm not sure,” said Nithya blushing, “but I would be glad if you take me.”
“It's my pleasure, leave the rest to me,” Anasuya told Nithya and reached Yadagiri over
phone.
“I feel happy and grateful,” said Nithya.
When Yadagiri came home post-haste, he found them all in a state of bonhomie. Sensing
that something was in the offing, he took a close look at Nithya.
“She's Chandra's pearl, Nithya,” said Anasuya to Yadagiri.
“The brightest ever,” Yadagiri said in all happiness.
“Oh, no,” said Nithya to Anasuya blushing to her roots, “you"re ever more beautiful.”
“I've given them our word,” Anasuya seemed to preempt her husband, “I knew you
wouldn"t object.”
“I wouldn"t have done any differently,” Yadagiri said joyously.
“But there"s a little hitch,” said Anasuya tentatively. “She"s not of our caste
.”
“That won"t bother me anymore,” said Yadagiri pensively. “What matters is their
happiness.”
“She"s not sure about her parents either,” said Anasuya as though he should prevail
over them.
“If they approve, well and good,” said Yadagiri nonchalantly. “If not, we would marry
them, and in style.”
Nithya was so touched that she found herself touching Yadagiri"s feet.
“May God give you a blessed life,” he blessed her.
The wedding of Nithya and Chandra that soon followed became the talk of the town.
While all were overawed by its grandeur, some felt it was reformist and hoped that it might
be a harbinger of change. However, many wondered whether the marriage would"ve taken
place in the first place if the bride were less charming for her base and the groom not so
well-heeled for his caste.
Oasis of Bliss
While Yadagiri envisaged honeymoon for the just married in Ooty, Chandra was averse to
it. Instead he wanted to stay put at home.
“Why, what"s the idea?” Nithya asked Chandra when he made his intent clear.
“Don"t I know you need time for that?”
“I like your sensitivity,” she said thoughtfully. “But I feel we should give our
honeymoon a fair chance.”
“You"re more than fair,” said Chandra in admiration
Since Yadagiri had made all arrangements beforehand, they were on course of their „fair
chance". As they poured out their hearts and bared their souls in the privacy of the first
class railway coupe, their peculiar acquaintance acquired the form of a unique friendship.
Gratified by their emotional closeness, they vowed to be open to each other forever.
When they reached their destination, they checked into an old-world motel. After
breakfast, they went out to explore Ooty"s scenic beauty in the midst of that spring. The
ambience of the hill-resort and the climate of the season enthralled their hearts enthusing
their minds. And that enabled them to shed the overburden of their inhibited relationship.
“Weren"t you expecting Rashid to turn up at our wedding?” she asked him, recalling
how overjoyed she had been at the presence of her friends" battalion.
“I thought he would,” he said, a little disappointed. “Maybe, it"s a short notice for him.
