A suitable Man

Chapter 9

Smriti's house

Padmakar woke up in a happy mood today, he smiled at Smriti, something he rarely did. Smriti was puzzled to see his behaviour. She was carrying on with her household work when came and asked her to sit besides him. Smriti had an alarming feeling but didn't say anything.
" Smriti Putti, how do you like this boy? Showing her a younger photo of Vishwanath. Smriti frowned at the photo, " but Appa is this the same uncle who came few days ago? He still has that funny smile he had in his youth, but why are you showing this to me?

Padmakar replied, " you are going to marry this man, he has timber business and rubber plantations in, he is very rich, you will be kept like a queen. Your brother will go for the best colleges further.your Appa won't have any hardships in life again"

Smriti was repulsed and angrily replied," Appa, I won't marry him, how can you do this to me? I am your daughter, not some trading commodity,!!! He is old enough to be my father,and of all people in the world, you are saying this.... Have you ever thought about me....have you ever loved me enough to think if he is suitable or not!!! You only need money, that's it, I am earning, Amma's all assets including her home is yours, yet you gamble away everything and still want more. This greed will consume you too one day. Don't make me a scapegoat for this. Please Appa, don't spoil my life".

Padmakar was very angry now, " you selfish girl, only think about yourself that's all, you have a younger brother whose education needs funds, this house needs funds to maintain, that stupid cow of yours need funds too. Where do you think all this money should come from. The few coins you earn, do you think they are enough???? This man has lucrative businesses, huge house, and he is a childless widower, what more do you want? There is nothing in the world that money can't buy... he is not even asking for any dowry. Your denial will make us lose on so many things can't you see??? Barked Padmakar.

Smriti weeped, " Appa, I don't want all these riches, I don't want to be bound in a gilded frame where I am just a showpiece, I am not going to give in to that perverted old man, please don't force me, please Appa, else I shall run away from home...

Padmakar was enraged beyond words, " you chit of a girl, you are threatening me, Do you know what threatening means, If you put even a step out of this house, I will cut that cow of yours in two and give her to the butchers, if you deny a word further I will stop Shashank's education and bring him back here. Let him do odd jobs, I shall sell this house and everything you hold dear and then let's see how you threaten me.
I am not going to listen to your crap talk, You are going to marry Vishwanath in a fortnight from now, that's final"

Smriti sobbed, " please Appa, please don't do this to Ganga or Shashank, please do not jeopardise their lives for me, but please think about me, I beg you Appa, please..

Padmakar didn't pay any heed to her wails, he had to get this through, a lot of things were at stake. Smriti had to marry Vishwanath. He just ignored her and went away to his daily routine.

Smriti buried her face in her hands and rushed to Ganga, she just hugged her and cried her heart out. What a misfortune had befallen on her. How could she marry that abomination of a man. How could she when her heart didn't know what it really wanted, why was she denying the fact that she was falling for Mahendra, how many things were left unsaid between them. She didn't even know whether Mahendra loved her, for that matter whether he loved her enough to marry her. But her Appa would never agree to Mahendra too. She was caught in a web, a web she couldn't free herself from. She felt defeated, she contemplated suicide.But suicide was a coward's way out. She was not raised to be a coward by her dear mother.

She had to do something about it. On one hand was accepting this marriage and the suffering it would subject her to, but it would make life easier for her family especially her brother and father. They were the only family she had. On the other hand, She was not sure about her feelings for Mahendra and also whether he loved her enough to take her away from all this. She was in a fix.

She got up and got ready to go to school. she would go to Mahendra's house, try to talk with him, but how?? And what would she talk about, She thought. It was getting more and more complicated. Why god why do you subject me to such pains, she cried, even if She got married to that Vishwanath, she would be to a lifeless body". There was no way out of her agony. She thought at least once she would speak with Mahendra, once she would see him to her hearts fill.

Hosamane, Urkeri,

Mahendra was busy with the paperwork regarding his cashew nut plantations, Shankar was helping him with the details when his phone rang.

Mahendra smiled at the number flashed on the phone screen, " Good morning Amma, today is a beautiful morning as you called"

Suddenly his face went grim, " What !!!! Dodda, Oh my God!!!, no nothing is going to happen to her. I am coming right away.

Mahendra rushed saying this out of his house. Shankar shouted behind him, " what happened, where are you going?

Mahendra said, " I am going to Bangalore, Dodda has suffered an heart attack".

Few hours later

Smriti walked her usual way to her school, she stopped at the magnificent gate of Hosamane. She looked inside but couldn't spot him anywhere. She swayed it open and looked to find any house help around. Shankar came out seeing her enter, " yes madam, how can I help you?, he asked

I came to meet Mr. Shetty, Smriti replied timidly.

Shankar said, " Oh, he has gone to Bangalore this morning, his grandmother suffered an heart attack, don't know when he will come back"

Smriti's heart sank, this was it, he was not there. She was in a hopeless situation. She inquired about his mobile number. Shankar asked her the reason for her enquiry. She didn't have any explanation. Although Shankar gave his number, he was not sure what this girl wanted.

With a heavy heart Smriti returned home. She thought of calling Mahendra, texting him, but couldn't gather courage, and she knew his grandma was ill. She didn't know in what state he would be and whether he would talk to her.

This was it, this was coming to an end, her own sweet little fantasy, she would be married long before he came back, if he came back. Fate had not left her any choice. She wiped her tears, got up and braced herself for whatever life was throwing at her.

Mahendra, on the other hand, didn't have any inkling about all this. His thoughts were filled of Dodda and onlyDodda. He prayed, Oh god, please don't let anything happen to her" his whole childhood flashed in front of him, the love he was showered with. The power and the respect she commanded, His wonderful Dodda. It bled his heart to see her frail and fragile, lying in the hospital with all the tubes and pipes coming out from her. She had to survive, he would do everything in his power to ensure that.

To be continued....
" Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray"
-Rumi