The Madras Affair

by Sundari Venkatraman

  Gautam pulled out his phone from his pocket, dialled Sangita's number, and handed it over to Sandeep.

  Sandeep ran down to sit on the grass beside Butterscotch who was lying there, tongue hanging out, cooling down after the game. Sandeep wanted his mother to hear the Lab bark. The canine obliged him with great delight.

  Ganapathi placed a comforting hand over his favourite grandson's forearm. The muscles were bunched up in tension. “Relax, my boy. Not long now,” he said soothingly.

  Gautam's tension reduced some. He looked at his grandfather. “Why don't you and Patti open a school on parenting and grandparenting?” he asked.

  Vimala gave him a tremulous smile in reply. She was shaken by Sandeep's words. She wowed then and there to make him forget his unhappy times.

  Raghavan arrived at Shraddanjali at seven o' clock. Sandeep had finished his dinner, thanked Ramanna and complimented him on his cooking.

  Raghavan greeted the grandparents and apologised to Gautam about the delay.

  Gautam smiled at his brother-in-law to be. “Not at all, Raghu. If it was in my hands, I wouldn't send him back at all,” he said, careful not to let Sandeep understand him.

  Raghavan gave Gautam a startled look before smiling in agreement. He drank the coffee that Ramanna served before getting up to take their leave.

  “Give me a minute,” said Gautam before running up to his room to get the matching blouse pieces for Sangita's saris along with Sandeep's and Ramya's clothes.

  He gave the parcel to Raghavan and requested him to give it to Sangita.

  “Sure, Gautam.”

  Raghavan and Sandeep left in a flurry of goodbyes and the little boy chattered all the way home to his uncle about his shopping spree.

  Radha wanted to blast her grandson for going away with Gautam. She was standing near the entrance, wondering what was keeping him, unaware that her own son had gone to pick up his nephew.

  Her face grew red as she saw Sandeep getting out of his uncle's car.

  “Where were you all this long?” she snarled as her hand rose to box his ear.

  Sandeep moved out of her reach. “I went to my great grandparents' house,” he declared. “I'm going to live there with Mummy very soon. They have promised not to beat me or box my ears. So you don't touch me, okay? I hate you,” he said vehemently, before running up the staircase as fast as he could, leaving a fuming Radha speechless.

  Rekha greeted her husband, her eyes twinkling with mirth at Sandeep's words, keeping an otherwise straight face.

  Raghavan gave her a small smile in return before handing her the packet from Gautam, indicating with his eyes that it was meant for Sangita.

  Rekha gave him a small nod. They didn't utter a single word, not wanting to trigger off the time bomb that was ticking away in the hall.

  20

  The date was October 1, the time 9.45 pm. Ganapathi, Vimala and Gautam were waiting at the lounge of Anna International Airport. They were waiting to receive Alistair Sinclair and the rest of his family who were arriving from Washington DC.

  Gautam was striding around restlessly while his grandparents were seated calmly, talking to each other. He was the first one to catch sight of his father, his tall frame with blonde-grey hair towering over his mother, Swetha, who he held by the elbow.

  A grin split Gautam's face as he caught sight of the rest of the family behind them. He moved forward to hug his parents fondly.

  Alistair caught sight of his parents-in-law and went over to greet them with wife in tow. Vikram, who was the eldest and older than Gautam by three years, caught him in a bear hug.

  “Congrats, buddy! You do look like the cat's that got the canary. Where's the bride-to-be?” he looked behind Gautam searchingly.

  His brother shrugged his wide shoulders and said, “Thanks, boss. You'll get to meet Sangita in a couple of days.” He bent down to kiss Dona's soft cheek as she grinned at him.

  “Hey brother-in-law, where've you hidden her?”

  Gautam winked at her. “Well,” he drawled cheekily, “I wanted to hide her from my lecherous brothers. Do you blame me?”

  Dona rolled her eyes in acknowledgement. “I know watcha mean.”

  Gautam turned around as he felt a small fist punching his muscular arm. “Sara! My darling sis!” he hugged her close. “As gorgeous as ever.” He kissed her on top of her tawny head.

  “Congrats bro! Where's my sis to be?” she asked.

  Gautam's face felt stiff keeping up the pretence. He'd never needed to be false with his family before. “Sangita's family is conservative, Sara. They weren't too keen on letting her out with me so late at night,” he said.

  Sara's eyebrows almost disappeared behind the fringe of hair lying on her forehead. Her eyes seemed to ask, 'and when has that ever bothered you before, my dear bro?' But she didn't saying anything and let it go at that.

  Gautam felt a sharp slap on his back and turned around to greet the baby of the family. Siddarth, his almost identical twin, was younger to him by seven minutes.

  “Sid!” The brothers hugged each other. The Sinclair family was a close-knit one. And the twins had been inseparable until Gautam decided to settle in India.

  Siddarth felt a slight desperation in his twin's hold and placing his hands on Gautam's shoulders, moved away to look at his face. Both men were exactly the same height and had identical hair and skin colour. Only Siddharth's eyes were jet black like their mother's.

  Sid studied his twin's face and deduced that all wasn't hunky dory. Gautam guessed his intentions even before he opened his mouth and stopped him from saying anything, giving an imperceptible shake of his head.

  He felt a tug on his shorts and looked down to see his adorable nephew and niece staring up at him.

  Dominic was six and Vera two and a half. Gautam went on his knees to hug them close. He was rewarded with a loud, wet kiss from Vera while Dom exclaimed, “Yuck, that's sissy,” as he shook his uncle's hand like a grown up.

  Gautam was meeting them almost after nine months. He said, “But you guys have become so tall. How's little Sheena?” He turned around to look at one-year-old Sheena who was fast asleep in her pram, her thumb tucked securely into her mouth.

  His immediate emotion was one of envy. He wished to have a daughter with Sangita! He shook his head to clear it of these thoughts as he helped his brothers collect their luggage.

  He went to his mother who had been looking out for him. A bright smile lit her petite features. Gautam placed an arm around her shoulders and said, “So, Mom, how's it coming back to Madras after two years?”

  “It's been that long, hasn't it? Time seems to be flying. Now you tell me, where've you hidden my new daughter? I was so looking forward to meeting her. And where's this grandson of mine? I hear he's about the same age as Dom here.”

  “All in good time, Mummy dear. Let's get us all home first.”

  They reached Shraddanjali in half an hour.

  The kids were fed and put to bed while the others relaxed over coffee after the sumptuous dinner lovingly prepared by Ramanna.

  Ganapathi updated the family of the actual circumstances in his typical, blunt fashion.

  “Well, Alistair, the situation's like this. Sangita's parents are dead set against the wedding. They are very old fashioned and feel that their widowed daughter should never remarry. Given half the chance, they would like to have Gautam arrested and behind bars, only the law's not in their favour.”

  There was surprise on everyone's face except Siddarth's who had come to know about the situation from his twin a short while back.

  “But Pappa, didn't you try talking to these people personally?” asked Alistair. He knew how determined his father-in-law could be when required.

  “Do you think I haven't? Last evening, Vimala and I went to meet Sangita's parents. They behaved abominably.” Ganapathi told them briefly of his unsuccessful visit.

  At about 5.30 in the evening, Vimala and Ganapathi knocked at the door of Sangita's residence
.

  The door was opened by Rekha who invited them in and showed them the sofa. Gopal was already seated there while Radha stepped out from the kitchen. Sangita sat on the top step of the staircase, feeling too nervous to come down.

  Aware of the impending visit, Rekha had shut the kids in her room in front of the TV. Raghavan and Rakesh weren't home yet.

  Gopal raised his head from the Ananda Vikatan he had been reading and looked at the guests without so much as a smile on his face.

  “Do sit down. Rekha,” he called to his daughter-in-law, “bring some coffee.”

  Rekha went into the kitchen to follow his order, one ear cocked to the happenings in the drawing room.

  “So, Ganapathi, how are you?” asked Gopal, extra polite.

  “I'm fine, Gopal. How are you and Radha?”

  “We are okay, I suppose. Anyway, as fine as an old couple with disobedient children and especially a young, widowed daughter,” he said bitterly.

  Radha sat back to allow her husband to do the talking after giving Vimala a curt nod.

  “Well, how's Sangita?” asked Ganapathi, taking the bull directly by the horns.

  “As if you don't know,” snarled Gopal. “I'm sure that fellow who's your grandson must be keeping you updated. He's turned my foolish daughter's head with so many false promises. This stupid girl also has no sense of shame. Thinks she can marry once again. I'm not able to show my face out in the streets. People are laughing at me.” His voice had steadily risen while Rekha waited in the kitchen for the right moment to make her entry with the coffee.

  Ganapathi looked at Gopal calmly. “Listen to me, Gopal,” he began in a placating voice, “Sangita's so young and beautiful. Don't you think it's very unfair wasting her life...”

  Radha couldn't sit quiet any longer and jumped to her feet to interrupt him rudely. “This is exactly what we had always feared. Her beauty attracting men like bees to honey. Do you remember?” she pointed her right index finger accusingly at Ganapathi, “Do you remember how much Gopal and I tried to have her head shaved after Giridhar's death? In fact, Athai was so insistent. But you,” her finger shook in fury as she glared at him, her eyes spitting venom, “you argued against it and stopped it. And now, your own grandson has the audacity to ask for her hand in marriage!” Her chest heaved with the effort it cost her not to scream the place down. “And he's half American; not even a Brahmin. Just what do you people think of yourselves? Interfering in our family affairs! We aren't standing at your doorstep begging for alms. We're leading a respectable life here and now you're trying to wreak havoc. Just how dare you?” she shouted, her stance agitated.

  Vimala turned to look at Sangita who stood up in protest. She gently shook her head, stopping the words that trembled on the younger woman's lips. Sangita raised a shaking hand to wipe the perspiration that had beaded on her forehead and upper lip. She couldn't help wondering what would happen to her life.

  Gautam's face rose in her mind, bringing a sense of calm. She sat down once again on the top step, while her parents did their level best to tear her future to shreds.

  Ganapathi raised both hands in a gesture of peace. “Look here, Gopal, Radha. Sangita's so young. Can you imagine her life over the next fifty years or so? I...”

  “Aahaa! What sympathy! It's the kind a fox feels for a sheep. Why do you care? Sangita's none of your business. She's our daughter and will lead her life the way we choose,” yelled Radha.

  “But please try to understand, Radha. Gautam loves her. He'll take care...”

  “Just stop it, will you Ganapathi?” said Gopal. “I think we have had enough of this nonsense. I don't believe in this so-called love. If that's the name you want to give for the lust your grandson has for Sangita, it's your lookout. But you'd better warn him to take his libido and go elsewhere to look for a wife. We'll never agree to this wedding.”

  “But, Gopal...” Ganapathi sat there for another hour putting up with the insults meted out by Sangita's parents, trying his best to persuade them to his way of thinking. All in vain! They stood adamant in their stance.

  Both Ganapathi and Vimala got up to leave, their shoulders stooped wearily, disgusted with the other couple. Rekha stood at the kitchen entrance, horror-struck, not having found the right moment to serve the guests with coffee. The situation had been too fraught with drama.

  Sangita had come down to the last stair, hovering hesitantly. Vimala took a few steps unexpectedly and gave the young girl a warm hug. “Don't you worry, my dear. The wedding will take place as planned,” she whispered reassuringly before patting her cheek and leaving the house, following her husband.

  Ganapathi looked at his son-in-law wearily. “So that's it. I'm really at a loss to know what to do. It somehow doesn't feel right to make Sangita come away secretly.”

  “That's true, Pappa,” said Alistair. He turned towards his son. “Gautam, you did mention that one of Sangita's brothers is engaged to Padmanabhan's daughter, right?” At Gautam's nod, he looked at his aged parents-in-law, “Now, don't you guys worry. I think I've the answer to the problem. Let me go meet them tomorrow.” He yawned. “And now, bed, I think. You'll have to excuse me. The jet lag's getting to me.” He got up and stretched his arms before wishing everybody 'goodnight'.

  Swetha sat with her parents for some time while the youngsters hung around chatting late into the night.

  21

  Padmanabhan and Alistair Sinclair knocked on Sangita's door at seven the next evening after ensuring that both the sons of the house were back from work.

  Radha and Gopal had never met Padmanabhan before. The two men were seated in the hall before it struck Gopal that one of them was an American. He put two and two together and arrived at an exact four.

  “Are you Ganapathi's son-in-law?” he asked Alistair directly without waiting for an introduction. “Well, I'm not sorry to tell you this. You aren't welcome here...”

  Rakesh made a small sound of protest. He felt embarrassed at the way his father was behaving in his future father-in-law's presence.

  “Appa...”

  Gopal wasn't to be checked. “You keep quiet,” he snarled at his younger son before continuing, “Well, I can't make this any clearer. In fact, I told Ganapathi...”

  Both the guests were on their feet now. Padmanabhan cleared his throat gently before interrupting. “Please excuse me, Mr. Gopal. We haven't met before. The name's Padmanabhan, CEO of PadmaClair Associates, also father of Lata. And let me introduce...”

  “Will you please keep quiet? I'm trying to make this American gentleman understand...” Gopal had begun at his sarcastic best and stopped suddenly to give Padmanabhan a startled look, as the latter's words finally registered.

  “You are...” he stuttered. “You are Rakesh's boss,” he declared in a weak voice. He turned to look at the tall American with new eyes. “And this is?” he asked of Padmanabhan without removing his eyes from Alistair.

  “This is Alistair Sinclair. He's fifty per cent owner of PadmaClair Associates, and hence is also Rakesh's boss,” declared Padmanabhan mildly.

  Now this assertion had a different impact on Gopal and his wife. The name 'Sinclair' was familiar, but Gopal was viewing it from another angle now. He hurriedly invited his guests to sit down and asked Rekha to bring some coffee. This time the coffee did materialise and was served before talks resumed.

  “Well,” said Padmanabhan, “that was excellent coffee,” he rubbed his hands together in pleasure. “Coming to the subject of my daughter Lata and your son Rakesh, you must be aware that they want to get married to each other?” he looked at Gopal enquiringly.

  Gopal nodded his head vigorously, while Radha eyed Padmanabhan avariciously, bundles of cash and gold jewellery dancing before her eyes. She smiled widely as Gopal called her forward and introduced her as Rakesh's mother.

  “Namaskaram! We are honoured that you want to get your daughter married to our son,” she gushed effusively.

  Padmanabhan continued. “I'm planning
to buy Rakesh a new car of his choice and will be promoting him to the position of Managing Director. Of course, Lata has her own car and as she's my only child, will be bringing a lot of jewellery with her.”

  Alistair watched in silent amusement as Gopal and Radha's eyes widened in awe as Padmanabhan's list kept growing. Now he knew their Achilles heel and bided his time.

  “I have even bought a two-bedroom flat in her name. Of course, I'm not suggesting that Rakesh and Lata live separately. But just in case...”

  The older couple was floating on cloud nine while Alistair turned to look around him. He looked at Rekha who had served them coffee as she stood at the kitchen entrance—wondering whether she was Sangita.

  His gaze crossed over Raghavan and moved towards the staircase. Someone was sitting on the top step, chewing her finger nail apprehensively. Even at this distance, he could see her expressive features twisted in anxiety. Her beautiful eyes were staring down in trepidation, while a frown marred her perfect forehead. That, of course, must be Sangita, decided Alistair.

  Padmanabhan concluded, “I'm sure that everything is to your satisfaction. Of course, we will celebrate the wedding on a grand scale. I will bear all the expenses.”

  Now Alistair was sure he could count every single tooth Radha and Gopal had, right from where he was seated.

  He heard them gushingly agree to everything Padmanabhan suggested. Now he said, “Just one more thing I wanted to mention. I heard that you've a daughter...”

  Gopal and Radha looked at each other apprehensively. What had Padmanabhan heard about her? They turned to look at him and nodded slowly.

  “Yes. Her name's Sangita. She's a widow. She lives here with her son,” said Gopal in a hesitant fashion.

  Alistair's jaw tightened. The old coot sounded almost apologetic about his own child.

  “Well,” Padmanabhan lowered his voice, “My daughter—being an only child—is quite pampered. Now the newlyweds will want to have a good time. But a widowed sister might be in the way...”