Mahashweta Read online

  Anupama’s father had bought her an artificial silk sari, for that was all he could afford. Radhakka had been very particular about the way her future daughter-in-law decked herself. She had showered her with many expensive saris and ornaments. While Anupama was trying on a diamond necklace, she overheard Vasumathi whisper, ‘Oh, this is only ten per cent of Radhakka’s jewels.’ This had suitably impressed all the women present.

  But Anupama said to herself, To me the greatest jewel is my Anand. The rest only weigh me down.

  Though Anand wanted to talk to Anupama, he was unable to do so because of the crowd around them. When they were finally alone, he found that she still remained silent. ‘Anu, why aren’t you talking to me? The day you came to sell tickets, you were talking so freely.’

  Overcome by shyness, Anupama did not lift her head.

  ‘Anu, I am giving you my heart today, please keep it safe.’

  Anupama smiled and dimples appeared on her cheeks.

  A week had passed since the wedding and all the relatives had left. Anupama and Anand had a room in the first floor of Lakshmi Nivas. Anupama had taken a leisurely bath and stood in the balcony, drying her long hair, enjoying the privacy and solitude. Her life seemed a perennial fountain of joy, of love and happiness. She was unable to understand how philosophers could describe such pleasures as temporary.

  Anybody would envy her. God had been kind to her and she had married into such a distinguished family without having to face any obstacles. Her only worry was that, within two months, Anand was supposed to go to England for further studies.

  Radhakka, too, was upset about the proposed trip and argued incessantly with Anand, ‘You have studied so much in our country. Why do you have to go to another country to study further? By the grace of God, we have enough money and you don’t have to go there to earn more. Now that you are married, you should settle down here.’

  ‘Avva, I am not going for the sake of money. I am going there to learn new things and it is just for two years. Please don’t stop me.’

  Anupama could not bring herself to argue with him. She was still adjusting to her new environment and that was making her diffident. Anand told her, ‘Anu, this is our only opportunity to go out and see the world. Once we come back we’ll stay in Lakshmi Nivas forever.’

  Over the next two months, Anand and Anupama went everywhere together; and every minute spent in each other’s company was infinitely precious.

  Radhakka had eventually reconciled herself to Anand’s departure, but she had one wish. Deepavali was only two months away, and she wanted her new daughter-in-law to perform the Lakshmi puja, and then leave for England.

  This was not an unreasonable demand and as it was only a matter of two months, Anand and Anu happily agreed to it. It was decided that Anupama would join Anand immediately after Deepavali.

  As the day of Anand’s departure drew near, Anupama became subdued. Her husband was going to an unknown country, and people had been making malicious comments that she could not ignore. ‘One can have a wife here and another there as well. The women there are very aggressive,’ they had said.

  Anupama constantly feared that something untoward would happen if Anand went abroad. Anand read her mind and said, ‘Anu, don’t worry. I’ll count every hour, every minute and every second till you arrive.’

  ‘Suppose something happens to make you forget?’

  ‘What a foolish girl you are! Haven’t you heard what they say in a church wedding? “Till death do us part. . .” And that is my promise to you. We shall always be together. Anu, how can I ever think of anybody other than you?’

  Anupama sighed with relief.

  Anupama stood gazing at the sky until she lost sight of the aeroplane. She felt miserable and her heart was heavy. Anand had been a stranger to her three months back and now he had become the most important part of her life. She had still not understood fully how that had happened. She looked up at the sky again.

  Radhakka understood her confusion and reassured her, ‘Don’t worry, time will fly very fast. Shall we go now? It will be late by the time we reach home.’

  Radhakka, Girija and Anupama had gone to the airport to see Anand off. No one spoke on the drive back home. As they drove through the market, Radhakka remembered that she had to collect some ornaments she had ordered from the jeweller’s shop. Radhakka was reluctant to take her new daughter-in-law to the jeweller with her. She did not want her to be dazzled by all the wealth on display and desire more than what was due to her. So she said, ‘You buy some vegetables here. I will be back with Girija in a few minutes.’

  Anupama did not ask where they were going as she did not want them to think she was prying. She told the vendor to weigh out the vegetables and was standing near the shop, lost in thought, when the driver asked her, ‘Madam, avva has forgotten to give me the money. Will you pay for the vegetables?’

  Anupama went back to the car to get her purse. She had already taken out the money when she realized that the purse was not hers. It was Girija’s. Anand had bought two identical purses when they had gone to Ooty on their honeymoon—one for Anupama and one for Girija. Anupama was disconcerted at the thought that she had handled someone else’s purse without asking. As Anupama replaced the money, she noticed that Girija’s purse was like that of any other college student. It contained a mirror, a small comb, a packet of bindis, a handkerchief and some money. What caught Anupama’s attention was a packet of oral contraceptives hidden inside with a note that said, ‘After 10 p.m.’.

  Anupama had been taking the same tablets since her wedding because Anand had not wanted children so soon. Finding the tablets in Girija’s purse had momentarily stunned her. When the driver returned to take the money, Anupama gave it to him. Confused, she sat in the car thinking about the note. Who was the person Girija was going to meet? Was Radhakka aware of this?

  By the time mother and daughter returned, Anupama had managed to calm herself. Girija looked so innocent that, for a minute, she felt she had misjudged her. Worried by the strange look on Anupama’s face, Girija asked her at once, ‘Anupama, have you seen my purse?’

  ‘No, I don’t know where it is.’ That was one of the few lies Anupama uttered in her life.

  ‘Girija, you should be careful with your belongings. Otherwise Lakshmi will never stay with you,’ Radhakka admonished.

  Anupama began to observe Girija’s activities from that day on. She dared not discuss her suspicions with anyone. She was too intimidated by her mother-in-law to feel at ease with her. At times, she thought of telling Anand everything. But she had known him for barely two months and did not feel comfortable writing to him on such a sensitive issue; nor did she wish to talk about it over the phone.

  It is said that wealth normally never comes alone. It is generally followed by arrogance, and so it was with Girija. She did not pay any attention to Anupama or try to be friendly with her. She had her own room and her own set of friends, and she was always busy with her own activities.

  One day, during dinner, Girija told her mother, ‘Avva, all my friends have decided to go on a two-day study tour to Belur and Halebeedu. I want to go, too.’

  ‘Will there be any boys joining this tour?’ asked Radhakka.

  ‘No, only the girls from our class and our lady teachers are going,’ Girija assured her quickly and was given permission to go on the trip.

  While Girija was away Radhakka’s friend, Sundaramma, who was celebrating her grandson’s first birthday, invited her to attend the function. Radhakka had not been feeling well, so she called Anupama and said, ‘Anupama, you must attend the function. Give the child a silver bowl as a gift. Remember to wear your emerald ornaments and take the car. But don’t stay too long in their house.’

  Radhakka believed that the purpose of attending a function was not so much to socialize or participate in the festivities as to flaunt one’s wealth. Her actions were never the result of love or affection. Anupama could not go out without taking the car and the d