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  Unlike Vinuta, Surabhi was quite immature and looked upon life as a series of shopping expeditions for jewels and clothes, and outings for movies with friends. These represented to her the essence of a good life. She was not interested in studying for a postgraduate degree, nor was she concerned about staying at home all day without taking responsibility for any housework. If she chose to stay at home, her time was spent gossiping with her mother and watching TV serials in the afternoons.

  Gouramma indulged her fully, treating her like a princess. ‘Leave the poor girl alone. After all, she will marry one of these days and the responsibilities will begin. At least until then let her enjoy life,’ she would say if Shamanna or Girish asked Surabhi to do something.

  Vinuta, however, took on many of the household chores soon after she joined the family. She would wake up early and help her mother-in-law in the morning before going to school. She now had a permanent job in the same government school. Sometimes, she felt a little sad that Girish did not have an ear for music, like Shamanna did. But he certainly did not object to her singing.

  Shamanna would often say, ‘Vinu, you have a good voice. You should pursue music as an alternative career.’

  Shashikala was one of the temporary teachers in Vinuta’s school. Over the months she and Vinuta had become really close friends. One day, Shashi came to school, beaming. ‘Vinuta,’ she said in a low voice, ‘I have some news to give you. Let us go out for lunch.’

  During the lunch break she said with a blush, ‘My marriage has been fixed. With Shankar. His father and mine are great friends.’

  ‘Oh, that’s very good news! Congratulations! So, what does he do? Where is he from?’

  ‘Shankar is an MA in English and works as a part-time lecturer in a college in Mysore. He is also doing his PhD. After marriage, we plan to open tutorials. We will surely get on very well because we have known each other since childhood.’

  ‘Oh, that is good. When are you resigning?’

  ‘I am giving my letter next week because I have to give two months’ notice to the school. Shankar’s family do not have the custom of engagement in their family. So it will be the wedding, direct, in three months. It’s going to be in Mysore.’

  ‘Wish you all the best,’ Vinuta said again as she shook Shashi’s hands warmly.

  Vinuta missed Shashikala a great deal when she left the school, but involved herself totally in her work; it made her less lonely. Vinuta was really looking forward to Shashikala’s wedding. Since she and Girish had started life together, the two of them had never gone out anywhere except to a temple or the vegetable market. Now for the first time she would be going out of town with her husband.

  One day, out of the blue, the headmistress, Sushila Rao, called Vinuta to her office. ‘It seems Shashi’s marriage has been cancelled. Do you have any idea why? You ought to know because you two are great friends.’

  Vinuta was shocked. ‘I didn’t know this,’ she replied. Sushila continued to talk about Shashi, but Vinuta did not hear anything. Her mind was in a tortured spin. What could have happened? Had there been an accident? This was a marriage fixed with the approval of both sets of parents, so what could possibly have gone wrong?

  Somehow Vinuta managed to finish her work for the day and hurried to Shashi’s house. Shashi opened the door. When she saw Vinuta, she simply broke down.

  Vinuta looked around and noticed that the marriage preparations, which had been going on in full swing, had been stopped midway.

  Shashi’s mother came into the room. ‘Vinuta,’ she said, ‘you are Shashi’s friend, tell her not to act like this. She hasn’t eaten for two days. It’s destiny. She was not meant to marry Shankar. What to do!’

  Shashi took Vinuta’s hand and walked up to the terrace. It was pleasantly cool, all the lights in the city were gradually coming on. Vinuta marvelled at the beautiful sight, but to Shashi, nothing mattered. Vinuta put her arm around Shashi’s shoulders and gently asked, ‘What happened? Is Shankar all right? Has he met with an accident or something?’

  In an instant, grief vanished from Shashi’s face. A seething fury replaced it.

  ‘What can possibly happen to him? That devil is rock solid. He has humiliated all of us. I am just sick of life. I gave my heart to an unworthy man.’

  ‘Don’t talk in riddles. Tell me straight, what happened?’

  ‘He sold himself,’ Shashi said savagely. ‘One Indian family settled in the US came to India in search of a groom for their daughter. They put an ad in the papers saying that the girl had a green card and wanted a groom with certain qualifications.’

  ‘And Shankar fell for the proposal?’ Vinuta asked in disbelief.

  ‘He was not alone. Many others, doctors, CAs and other professionals, also applied, and went, just as if for a job interview. But Shankar was selected because the girl was also an MA in Literature. They offered him a green card through marriage and to support his PhD studies at any university in the US.’

  ‘But what about you?’

  ‘Who cares for me? His parents feel it is a great opportunity for him. He now feels that there is no future in tutorials. He has two sisters to be married off and his father is a retired man. If he had stayed back in India and married me, we would both have had to slog all our lives to repay the loans.’ After a pause, Shashi added, ‘Shankar told me that he would cover half my marriage expenses once he went to America. How generous of him, don’t you think?’

  ‘But Shashi, you have resigned your job and everyone knows about your marriage. Is nobody worried about that?’

  ‘What’s a teacher’s job, a simple girl’s life, in front of the Dollar?’

  Vinuta was speechless.

  ELEVEN

  Chandru’s dream had come true. He had finally got the magic ticket to the gates of heaven, the glorious green card. He was settled for life now. The son of an ordinary schoolmaster, who had never dreamed of riches, had not just become rich, he was now also an official resident of America.

  He was on top of the world.

  When he came home that evening he found a letter from Bangalore. Normally, he talked to his parents over the phone and rarely exchanged letters, so he guessed it was a long list of Surabhi’s demands or some such thing. He freshened up, brewed himself a cup of coffee and sat on the sofa to open the envelope.

  It was a letter from Girish with a few pictures enclosed.

  Dear Chandru,

  It would have been great if you could have attended our simple wedding. Anyway, I have sent some photos. Vinu says she knows you and has conveyed her regards to you.

  With affection,

  Girish

  Chandru looked at the photos. HIS Vinu, the same girl with the golden voice, had become his brother’s wife!

  Something that he had never imagined was now a harsh reality. The spring goddess of Dharwad, the girl who had stolen his heart, the Jayanagar schoolteacher were all the same girl. What a coincidence! What irony!

  The joy and excitement of that evening evaporated. For a minute, he was upset with himself: if he had not waited for the green card and had returned to India earlier, he could have married Vinuta. Then, he was jealous. Girish was neither handsome nor as well placed as he was, but had won a wife who was far superior to him in everything.

  He looked at the photos once again. Vinuta looked radiant.

  It took a few days for Chandru to accept what had happened and digest the reality of life.

  TWELVE

  The house was bustling with activity and anticipation.

  Chandru was due to come home after almost six years. Vinuta too shared the excitement. When she had set foot in Girish’s house after the wedding, she had learnt that Girish’s brother, who lived in the US, had been their tenant in Dharwad. That was when she had seen Chandru’s photos in her new home and recognized him. She then remembered his love for music and his diffidence in praising her openly. Providence had made him her brother-in-law, who deserved her respect and regard.