A right call after the fall

A Story by Joyram

A keen drama of love between a young couple, ultimately resulting in two marriages where the young woman's mother turns as the second bride in the second marriage.

It was well beyond midnight and I (Ram) was about to get into my second phase of sleep. Exactly at that time, I heard a big noise from our compound gate. I could immediately sense something was wrong. I opened the window of our bedroom and flashed my cell phone. Apparently something heavy had fallen on our gate that caused such loud noise. I put on the corridor light and the street lights were also on. I tried to open the steel gate but could not, as something behind me got stuck with the gate. I quickly climbed the adjacent compound wall and looked down below the gate. To my surprise, a man had fallen flat right on the gate.

In the meantime my wife, Seetha, too woke up, hearing the unusual sounds. We pushed the gate hard and moved that fallen stranger a bit forward so that we could open the gate wider and go outside the gate. The man seemed to be young, wearing good attire. He was moaning and breathing heavily, apparently drunk. I told my wife “I shall call the police” to which she said, “Let us first help him to sit up and talk”. Then we two helped him to get up but he seemed to be out of control. We held him tight and brought him slowly inside our corridor and made him sit on the bench but he slipped on the floor. He was in an inebriated condition. Seetha brought some water and splashed it on his face. Shrugging, the man slowly opened his eyes which were sunk deep, roaming here and there wildly. He started looking around with a sense of embarrassment and confusion. I slowly pulled him and made him sit on the bench and made him sip some water. The man told in an indelible voice “Where am I? Who are you people?” I told him “Don’t worry. You are in a safe place. You have drunk too much, it seems.” He said, “Thank you thank you thank you people”. He moaned “I lost my route to the parking place where my car was parked”. With that, we could make out what had happened further. He lied with closed eyes for about half an hour. In the meantime, we two held a brief discussion as to whether to entertain that man inside our house or let him stay outside. Good sense prevailed on us and we decided to let him in. Just then, he opened his eyes garbling “Sir, may I get some hot tea”. Seetha instantly went to the kitchen, prepared hot tea, and offered him. Though he could not hold the cup tight, he managed and drank it, his hands trembling a little. Soon he gained consciousness and seemed to have gained confidence as well. He thanked both of us. Going by the location as described by him, his car was parked about one km away from my place. We came to know that he drank four pegs of liquor that night which was abnormal for his occasional two-peg drinking. When he started to walk towards the parking area he must have missed the direction and eventually landed in front of our gate.

Later I offered to drop him at the car parking in my vehicle. But he said that he had to travel 15km to reach his home. Since the man spoke politely and appeared gentle, I suggested to my wife that we might retain him at our house for that night and would leave him the next morning. She agreed and I asked the man to stay back at hour home that night, to which the man gladly agreed with a big relief on his face. Seetha asked him whether he would like to eat something for which he thankfully accepted. She made and served him hot dosa (a traditional south Indian edible) which he relished with satisfaction. We took a calculated risk of sheltering a stranger in our house, hoping nothing untoward would happen. I took him to the bedroom and made him lie on the cot and showed him the washroom.

The next day morning I went into the bedroom and found him still sleeping. When my wife was making tea, I could hear a thudding that suggested that the man must have gotten up from the bed. I went inside and offered him a new toothbrush along with toothpaste. He gesticulated with folded his hands. When he came out of the bedroom, we three had hot tea. He enjoyed every sip of it, as could be seen from his action.

He told us his name was Vasanth and begged us to forgive him for vomiting in our bathroom the previous night. He added, rather quickly that he had cleaned it up. I later found the bathroom spick and span. Sure, the man had cleaned up the mess, using the sanitizer and broom, immediately after he woke up.

He thanked us emotionally, saying that we were like god-sent people who saved him. I told him to have breakfast, which he politely turned down, saying that he had already troubled us enough. When I took out my vehicle and asked him to get in, he suddenly burst out and cried emotionally. I managed to bring him inside the house and asked him to relax. Then we offered him hot idlis with sambar and chutney which he gleefully savored with us. He thanked us for the tasty breakfast when my wife offered a hot brewing filter coffee. He began to drink it slowly with a lot of relieved look, as though he was sipping drops of nectar. It was then; that he started to narrate his life story as below:

“Vansant hailed from a decent family which lived in Bangalore. After graduating in engineering, he studied MS. After securing an MS degree he did not like to stay in the US but preferred to live in India. He joined a private company in Bangalore, a couple of years ago. Later, on the grounds of better prospects, he got his new employment at a Chennai-based MNC, a year ago. Since then, he had been staying in Chennai in a bachelor’s accommodation. He was attracted by one of his office colleagues, Priya. Somehow, in a short time, the two were mesmerized into falling in love with each other. Priya was a graduate with a diploma in software engineering. Her father was working as a branch manager in a private company, earning lucratively. Vasanth’s father was working as a Professor in Economics in a reputed college in Bangalore and like Priya’s mother, his mother was a homemaker too. Vasanth liked Priya, not only for her good looks but for her openness, broad mind, and helping tendency. Priya admired Vasanth’s gentle manners, witty chats, and compassionate heart. Picking up momentum, the two, started to go out for movies, concerts, beaches, etc. Engulfed by the fire of love and lust, they went to Mahabalipuram (a beach of historical heritage, near Chennai), stayed in resorts, and had the great fun of romantic delight. During these utter enjoyment days, they talked about many things except marriage. One day, on a cool evening, they were enjoying the Mahabalipuram beach. The following conversation popped up between them:

Vasanth: Priya, I am not only thrilled talking and chatting with you but derive good satisfaction and relief out of it. I want to ask you one thing.

Priya: Tell Vasanth, I have a gut feeling about what you would ask.

Vasanth: Is it so? Tell me, dear, what is in my mind?

Priya: Marriage; about our becoming bride and bride groom. Getting engaged; go through the rituals of pre-marriage and post-marriage; Shake everyone’s hands attending our wedding; Known or unknown, smile at everyone at the venue; pose for film-shoot like photos and videos; go out for honeymoon for a few days; enter your home, as a daughter in law to your parents, mold myself according to their expectations, including yours too, announce the news of my conceiving in the next five-six months, get over the rituals during the fifth and 7^th month of my pregnancy, deliver the baby at my parent's place, stay put there for a few months post-delivery and come back to your house and start living in the drudgery of married life, forever, what else Vasanth?

Vasanth (carried away by Priya’s smart guess and her flawless style of expression): Hats off to you, Priya; you have exactly read my mind; Everything you said is fine but your opinion is that post-marriage would be drudgery is not only acceptable but hurts me as well. Will not marriage be the culmination of our love bondage?

Priya: Vasanth, I appreciate your sentiments and wishes. I too had such fascinating thoughts in my mind, till a few years ago. But, something happened in my life that changed my notion about marriage. My father and mother got divorced two years back, all of a sudden. Being their only daughter, who graduated just then, had to undergo the unexpected shock and turmoil. I lost myself in a world of utter gloom and dejection. Now, I am staying with my mother. I can tell you, how depressed she feels about losing her husband to another woman, after 21 years of married life.

Vasanth: Priya, really I am shocked and sorry to hear about that and I sincerely empathize with you. I can imagine the plight you and your mother are in. My prayers are for the welfare of both of you. But still, Priya, all marriages don’t end up in divorce. Your parent’s case is an exception. If we have to go by statistics, the divorce rate is something like one percent in our country. Please, don’t get carried away by an isolated unfortunate incident in your family.

Priya: Vasanth, whatever you may say, my mind dwells far away from the concept of marriage. At this point in time, I believe firmly in a live-in relationship scenario, wherein we continue to live together without any social contractual binding and clutches imposed by arranged marriage.

Vasanth, while consoling and reassuring, persuaded her to reconsider her stance but Priya appeared unshakable and stood to her firm ground.

Unable to reconcile himself with Priya’s decision, Vasanth became jittery and vacillating. It resulted in the two not meeting each other often, as they used to. Without any idea about their son’s love affair, Vasanth’s parents were following him up regularly, seeking his nod for registering his horoscope on the matrimonial websites. He did not have the guts to tell his parents about Priya due to the stubborn dislike she had for marriage. He gave some or the other excuse and reason and dissuaded them from further action with regard to his marriage. To overcome the pressure and worry, he resorted to boozing now and then. ”

That’s how I ended up here, literally flat on your doorsteps“, Vasanth completed his story.

I listened to his interesting and intense story, attentively. I told him “Vasanth, for the time being, don’t think of the past now. Right now, you are stable. Just get into your routine. Since you two have not parted ways, keep in touch with Priya. Don’t show either your disgruntlement or anguish to her. We will see what best can be done in the course of time. I don’t have any busy schedules and commitments; I am ready to offer my services to you in this regard. Now cheer up, I will leave you at the parking place. “

Vasanth looked a lot relieved after hearing my soothing words of comfort. After all, he was undergoing a mental boil down and it was natural for any man of his circumstances to feel dejected when things, seemingly enjoyable, went topsy-turvy.

He got into my car and was thankfully his car’s key in his pocket safely. When I dropped him off, he got into his car, thanked me again, and said he would be in touch with me. He told me “Ram Sir, I am indebted to you”

Although the conversation at the beach created an invisible veil between Vasanth and Priya, Vansant’s love for the girl was intense and dedicated, so much so, that he would not marry any other woman in his life. Priya too had a similar urge to live with Vasanth and could not afford to lose him. Due to the deep-rooted love, the two somehow managed to hold on to their association, though with more distance than closeness. The two met very rarely and such short meetings were spent more in silence.

Vasanth found in me a shoulder to cry his. He used to visit my house now and then and spend hours together. He liked my wife’s cooking. Whenever he visited us, he brought something or the other, fruits, sweets, and edibles. He joined us for lunch and occasionally, dinner too before he returned. On our wedding days and birthdays, he bought us nice gifts. I could read from his behavior that he considered us his best well-wisher on earth.

On one such occasion, we had the following conversation:

Me (with a deliberate tone of sarcasm): Vasanth, what is happening to your subdued romantic association with Priya?

Vasanth: Ram Uncle, (since one month he switched over from Sir to uncle) what to tell. It is like a diehard situation for both of us. We are close yet so far. We have mutual love and care yet keep away from meeting each other.

Me: Oh, that sounds both good and bad. I tell you one thing Vasanth. Now take it from me, Priya is yours for all reasons and all seasons. You both have soulful attachments for each other. It is just a question of time before you two hold your hands together.

Vasanth: Thanks, uncle. I believe strongly in your words

Me: You tell me one thing Vasanth, what is going on with her mother? Has she come to terms with the reality?

Vasanth: It is a 50:50 situation, I believe. But there is an interesting development. Priya tells that a gentleman, Mukund, her mother’s college mate, keeps visiting their house once or twice a month. He was her mother’s senior in her college and they both sang together at the college programs on a couple of occasions.

Me: Oh, quite interesting Vasanth. I think you should update me on this aspect frequently.

Vasanth: Sure uncle, I will let you know

After a month, Vasanth shared more news about Priya’s mother.

Vasanth: Ram uncle, it seems the man has stepped up his frequency and keeps visiting her mother, once a week and on a few occasions, they went out together.

Me: Ah, good going. Now I want you to introduce me to Priya and her mother if you don’t feel otherwise. Can you do that?

Vasanth: Why not uncle, you are my best well-wisher. I will first bring Priya here and later we can meet her mother.

As assured, Vasanth brought Priya on a Saturday afternoon. I was glad to meet Priya, who not only looked handsome and smart but sounded friendly with me and my wife. Since Vasanth had already appraised her about me and my wife, she found it relatively easier to speak her mind.

Priya: Uncle, my mother’s name is Chithra, aged 48 years. She is in love with her ex-college mate and now her boyfriend, Mukund. He is 49 and reciprocates my mother’s love. Mukund was in the US for 20 years, returned to India about six months ago, and is into some software business. For reasons best known to him, Mukund did not marry. The two got connected through social media five months, a few months ago and now they are closer.

Me: Thanks Priya for the vital information on your personal front. Let me make it clear at this stage, that I am a well-wisher of both of you.

Priya: Thank you uncle, but Vasanth has already apprised you about our association and my philosophy about living together.

Me: I know that Priya. You are absolutely right from your perspective. Let us hope that time will be friendly for both of you.

Another month passed by. Vasanth and Priya visited us again. Seetha, my wife, made special lunch which the two nourished and liked. Priya somehow got on nice terms with Seetha. The two spent hours together. Priya spoke in detail about her mother and her boyfriend. Priya invited me and Seetha to her house, which we gladly accepted.

On a sunny Sunday morning, we went to Priya’s house. A warm welcome extended by her mother Chitra, surprised us pleasantly. While I and Priyanka were having a general chat on various matters, Seetha and her mother conferred with each other in the kitchen. Later, a variety of lunch greeted us. We enjoyed it thoroughly and took leave of them after 3 PM. On the way back home, Seetha shared certain things about Chithra. It seemed her boyfriend Mukund was willing to marry her, although Chithra did not like the idea after the debacle in her first marriage. That tip gave me a spark and I decided to ignite Chithra to marry Mukund.

Chitra and I had occasional telephone conversations now and then. Once I asked Chithra “Chithra Ji, would it be a bad idea to conduct the marriage of Priya and Vasanth” She was taken off guard by my most unexpected question. However, she managed to quickly come to her senses and told me “No, not at all. In fact, it would be nice if the two got married. But, Priya has formed her own opinion after the setback in my marriage.” I told her “will you permit me to say something, rather sensitive? She said “Absolutely, please go ahead”. I told her “Why don’t you and Mukund get married? Chitra said,” Oh, how it could be when I am a 48-year-old mother of a daughter, whose marriage itself is hanging loosely.” I told “Listen, Chithra Ji, we always walk with the time but time does not walk the way we want it. You lived two decades of married life but something went wrong and you are now in this predicament.”

Chithra: Yes Ram Ji, I agree with you

Me: “You please, tell Priya that you and Mukund have decided to marry and after that, it would be the turn of Priya to marry Vasanth. I am sure you will tell her that after all, marriage is a symbolic act of togetherness from the point of society, more so when Vasanth wants it to be conducted that way”

Chithra: Yes Ram Sir, after talking to Mukund, I will do the needful.

Me: Every marriage doesn’t go haywire and most of the marriages remain intact out of which many are successful. Instead of having a live-in relationship that will be more like a dubious, uncertain, and unsecured relationship, Priya should marry Vasanth and realize their dream of living together. That way both of them will be reassuring themselves of their future.

Chithra: Your suggestion impresses me, Ram Ji. I shall interact with Mukund and then with Priya. Thanks for your care and concern for us.

After about a month’s time, Priya and Vasanth came to our house with sweets. Priya with a bright face told, “Uncle and aunty, my mother is going to get marry Mukund.” We two felt glad and relieved over the positive developments. I told Priya “If you are so happy that your mother is getting married, how happy your mother would be to see both of you getting married?

Priay “Yes uncle, I think so”

After a few weeks, Chithra telephoned us and informed us that she was getting married to Mukund in a temple complex, the succeeding month with a minimum gathering of people. I suggested to her “Chitra Ji, hearty congratulations, how novel and delightful it would be if your marriage and your daughter’s marriage happen the same day.” That must have startled Chitra Ji. She told that she never could think from that angle and was excited over my idea. He assured me that she would discuss my novel suggestion with Mukund and Priya and come back to me. Within a week’s time Chitra called me “Ram, your suggestion is getting materialized. Yes, both the mother and daughter are going to get married on the same day, in the same venue. Mukund and Priya visited us again, that time they bought one kg of sweets, half on their behalf and half on Chitra’s mother. I ate as much, seethe as less, balance distributed to the neighborhood.

One day, I got a call from an unknown number. I wanted to ignore it but intuition prompted me to respond. The caller spoke, rather in a threatening voice but it had some touch of familiarity. “I understand that you are a too smart man indulging in uniting these two couples. What vested interest do you have in it?” I had a gut feeling that the caller must be Chitra’s ex-husband and it proved to be true. He told me “It was not me who divorced her but she only divorced me.” I asked “why should she do that? He said “I had been friendly with my private secretary at the office. My wife was envious and jealous of our association.” I asked him “How could your wife know that you are friendly with your office colleague,” He told “My secretary used to accompany me to many outstations, where I had important meetings and business deals to attend. Once, we two were out of the station on one such business mission and were staying in a hotel. My wife called my number from some other phone and unfortunately, my secretary answered it. That provoked Chitra to verify our relationship. She got convinced that I was having an extramarital relationship with my secretary. Then she took the extreme step of divorcing me. Now, I will not allow these two marriages to happen. I do not want my wife to be another man’s wife. Nor do I want Priya to be a victim to your ordinary chela (disciple)”. Saying these, that man put down the phone. Later I came to know that Chitra’s ex-husband Surendar only spoke to me. Now let me tell you something that gives a new twist to this story. It was an incredible coincidence that he was my college mate, a villain of sorts. Yes, we studied in the engineering college together. We two used to participate in many games and competitions. In both categories, somehow I used to be ahead of him, almost in every discipline. Be it cricket, chess, carom, shuttle badminton or essay, poetry, and singing. He hated me openly for my supremacy over him. I got plenty of prizes in all these events but I never used to boast about myself and remained rooted to the ground always. Surendar carried a grudge against me for overpowering him in every completion. I did not do it deliberately but it so happened. There were times when I lost sometimes in certain competitions. But even in losing, I was the winner against him due to my edge over his ranking. On the final day in college, he told me without mincing words “Ram, don’t think that you are the jack of everything. Now let us see who is going to win the career and life game.”

I could not believe that destiny was so immaculate and clinical in its executions. When I almost erased Surendar from my memory, he was still carrying the ill feelings for me for events that happened 30 years ago. I did not reveal anything about this telephonic conversation to any of the trio involved.

After a few days, Chitra called me “Ram, surprisingly Surendar, after a gap of almost one year, called me yesterday and proposed our reunion. He said that he did not marry his private secretary and wanted to live with Chitra again. He told that his secretary was more eyeing his wealth than his welfare. When I told him I was in love with Mukund, he said ‘Let him be your boyfriend, I have no objection but don’t marry him when I am ready to come back to you.” I told her “Oh, it is strange as well as interesting. Don’t take any hasty decisions. Take your own time. I suggest you think about it seriously.”

I called Vasanth and asked him whether he could ascertain the present status of Surendar, both on the personal and career front, and update me. I referred Surendar’s phone call to Chitra. He said ‘Sure Ram uncle. Priya told me about this. I will come back to you shortly”

In the next ten days, Vasanth updated me about Surendar “He did not marry his private secretary but the two are in a live-in relationship. She had stopped working as a private secretary for him. But Surendar does not seem to be quite happy with her due to her associations with her other boyfriends. Regularly, she goes to parties alone and returns home well beyond midnight Maybe that is why he wants to come back to Chitra aunty. As regards who filed the case for divorce, it was Surendar who initiated the legal suit and not Chitra aunty”.

In the next one week, swift developments took place. Chitra conferred with Mukund about the intention of her ex-husband. Mukund felt shocked and disappointed and told Chitra “I have never married to date and was excited about getting married to you and leading a new life for a couple of decades in your wonderful company. I could never imagine this kind of development when he divorced you two years ago. But still, if you are really willing to welcome Surendra back to your fold, please go ahead. After all, a known devil is better than an unknown angel.”

When Chitra discussed the matter with Priya she told “Mother, if you ask my opinion, I would never like you to live with him again, having seen his ungrateful act, after living with you for two long decades and set a wrong precedence in our family”. Chitra, on her part, thought “Once he has betrayed me and disconnected with me, how can I trust him again? What is the guarantee that he would not indulge in such behavior of infidelity? Once a major rift is caused between life partners, it will remain as a loophole, however best one may try to bridge the gap. When Priya is married, I will be left all alone. Mukund is a nice man and I know him since my college day. He has not changed much even after staying in the US for a long time. His yearning for a married life looks to be genuine. Having lived in the US, he must have seen and enjoyed a material life, of world-class, albeit marriage. So what is the harm in my marrying him?”

Chitra telephoned Surendar and clarified in unequivocal terms that she did not like to live with him anymore and would go ahead with her proposed marriage with Surendra. Surendar, though not shocked at this, told Chitra that she was making a big mistake. He told her “At least see to it that Priya doesn’t become a victim of that ordinary fellow Vasanth. There will be bountiful rich young men who would like to hold her hands.” Chitra snapped the conversation “Priya knows better”

Chitra arranged wedding cards printed with the details of the two marrying couples. It was boldly printed beneath the invitation that the chief guests for the marriages would be Mrs& Mr.Ram. I felt a bit embarrassed seeing such publicity for me. But I did not mind because it was their choice and satisfaction. The marriages were held as planned with a limited gathering. To give an interesting sort of amusement, Vasanth tied the nuptial knot on Priya followed by the same act by Mukund on Chitra. Priya quipped “Ram uncle, I could say to my people that I got married before my mother” I laughed loudly and appreciated and admired his sense of smart humor in Priya.

I met Mukund for the first time who appeared to be decent and socializing. He told me that “It sounds exciting and fantastic to be wedded at this age on this stage. We hope to marry again in another 10 years’ time.” I was a bit startled at that statement. Mukund clarified with a mischievous smile “Ram, I meant my Sashtiyapthapurthi (a symbolic repeat of tying the nuptial knot by the husband on his wife’s neck when he turns sixty years). I could not control my laugh. Everyone around too enjoyed the humor, including Chitra, Vasanth, and Priya.

A sumptuous lunch was served after the marriage ceremony. When the lunch was nearing completion, Surendar appeared on the scene from nowhere and caught the attention of everyone. He waited till the lunch was completed. Chitra, although taken by surprise and shock, requested him to partake in the lunch. But he said, “I am here not for eating but for greeting the couples.” I met Surendra’s eyes, maybe after three decades. He tried to smile at me but could not succeed. Later he wished the couples with flower bouquets. He told Chitra “ The house is already in your name and it will continue to remain so. Besides, I shall transfer two grounds (measuring 4800 square feet) of the open plot near Tambaram in the name of Priya, as my gift. He sought a five minutes appointment with Chitra and me. He confessed to us that he committed a blunder in divorcing Chitra. His second marriage was not going through, the way he expected, he told. He told me that he had a dream, a few days ago in which he underwent untold misery of torture and torment for his past acts, including the grudge he carried against me for decades together. He told me “Ram, I am sad on certain counts but happy to have met you again. If you will not mind, I would like to have your friendship.” I said “Why not Surendar, by all means. With these two marriages, there will not be any more competition between us in the future.”

Unable to accept Priya’s decision, Vasanth became jittery and vacillating. The two did not meet each other often, as they used to. Without knowing about his love affair, his parents were following him up regularly seeking his nod for registering his horoscope on the matrimonial websites. He did not have the guts to tell his parents about Priya due to the stubborn dislike she had for marriage. So, he gave some or the other reason to his parents and dissuaded them from further action with regard to his marriage. Feeling like, caught between the devil and the deep sea, Vasanth lost his composure and resorted to heavy boozing in a bar the night before dragging himself to me. “

I listened to his story very attentively. It was both interesting and intense. I told him “Vasanth, don’t think of the past now. Right now you are stable. Just get into your routine. Since you two have not parted ways, keep in touch with Priya. Don’t show your anger and anguish to her. We shall see what best can be done in the course of time. Since I don’t have any busy schedules and commitments, I am ready to offer my services to you in this regard. Now cheer up, let us savor the hot breakfast and I will leave you at the parking place. “

Vasanth felt a lot relieved after hearing my soothing words of comfort. After all, he was undergoing a mental boil down and it was natural for any man of his circumstances to feel dejected when things, seemingly enjoyable, went topsy-turvy.

Vasanth relished the hot Pongal sprinkled with ghee (a typical south Indian dish made with rice, one variety of pulses mixed in pepper and salt). It was delicious with the coconut chutney (gravy made of coconut, pulse, green chilly). With a cup of brewing hot coffee, Vasanth completed a fine breakfast and heaped a shower of praise on my wife for the delicious dishes. Later I dropped him at the parking place. Thankfully he kept the car key in his pocket safely. He got into the car, thanked me again, and said he would be in touch with me. He told me “Ram Sir, your timely help and goodwill gestures of adorable hospitality and offering your valuable services of counsel have made me indebted to you for lifelong.”

Although the conversation at the beach created an invisible rift between Vasanth and Priya, Vansant’s love for the girl was so intense and dedicated that he would not marry any other woman in his lifetime. Priya too had a similar urge to live with Vasanth and could not afford to lose him. Due to the deep-rooted love, the two somehow managed to hold on to their association, though with more distance than closeness. The two met very rarely that too for a meeting of less than an hour.

Vasanth found in me a shoulder to cry his feelings. He used to visit my house now and then and spend hours together. He liked the cooking by my wife. Whenever he visited us, he brought something or the other, fruits, sweets, and other edibles. During his visits, he invariably joined us for lunch and on many occasions had dinner also before going back to his place. On special occasions like our wedding day or birthday, he used to bring nice gifts. I could read from his behavior that he considered me his best well-wisher on earth. On one such occasion, we had the following conversation:

Me (with a deliberate tone of sarcasm): Vasanth, what is happening to your subdued romantic association with Priya?

Me: Oh, that sounds both good and bad. I tell you one thing Vasanth. Now take it from me, Priya is yours for all reasons and all seasons. You both have soulful attachments for each other. It is just the question of time, how long the time will take to romp you in together.

Vasanth: Thanks, uncle. I believe strongly in your words

Me: You tell me one thing Vasanth, what is going on with her mother? Has she come to terms with the reality?

Vasanth: It is a 50:50 situation, I believe. But there is an interesting development. It seems that a gentleman, Mukund, Priya’s mother’s college mate, keeps visiting their house once or twice a month. He was her mother’s senior in her college and they both sang together for college programs on a couple of occasions.

Me: Oh, quite delightful Vasanth. I think you should update me on this aspect frequently.

Vasanth: Sure uncle, I will let you know

After a month, Vasanth shared more news about Priya’s mother.

Vasanth: Ram uncle, it seems the man has stepped up his frequency and keeps visiting her mother once a week, and on a few occasions they went out together.

Me: Well done by them. Now I want you to introduce me to Priya and her mother if you don’t feel otherwise. Can you do that?

Vasanth: Why not uncle, you are my best well-wisher. I will first bring Priya here and later we may meet her mother.

As assured, Vasanth brought Priya on a Saturday afternoon. I was glad to meet Priya who not only looked handsome and smart but sounded friendly with me and my wife. Since Vasanth had already appraised her about me and my wife, she found it easy to speak her mind.

Priya: Uncle, my mother’s name is Chithra, aged 46 years. She is in love with her ex-college mate and now her boyfriend, Mukund. He is 49 and reciprocates my mother’s love. Mukund, who was in the US for almost 20 years, returned to India about six months back and is into some business. For reasons best known to him, Mukund did not marry. The two got in touch through social media for five months and now they seem to be closer.

Me: Thanks Priya for the vital information on your personal front. Let me make it clear at this stage that I am a well-wisher of both of you.

Priya: Thank you uncle, but Vasanth has already apprised you about our association and my philosophy.

Me: I know that Priya. You are absolutely right from your perspective. Let us hope that time will be friendly for both of you.

Another month passed. Vasanth and Priya visited us. They had lunch. Priya somehow got on nice terms with Seetha. The two spent hours together. Priya spoke in detail about her mother and her boyfriend. That day Priya invited me and Seetha to her house.

We accepted her invitation and visited her house on a Sunday morning. We were well received by Priyanka and her mother, Chithra. While I and Priyanka were having a general chat on various matters, Seetha and her mother conferred with each other in the kitchen. Later a variety of lunches awaited us there. We enjoyed the lunch and took leave of them after 3 PM. On the way back home, Seetha shared certain things about Chithra. It seemed her boyfriend Mukund was willing to marry her although Chithra did not like the idea after the debacle in her marriage. That tip gave me a spark and I decided to ignite Chithra to marry Mukund.

Chitra and I had occasional telephone conversations now and then. Once I asked Chithra “Chithra Ji, whether it would a bad idea to conduct the marriage of Priya and Vasanth” She was taken off guard by my most unexpected question. However, she managed to quickly come to her senses and told me “No, not at all. In fact, it would be nice if the two got married. But Priya has formed her own opinion after the setback in my marriage.” Then I told her “will you permit me to say one thing, very sensitive, here? She said “Absolutely”. I told her “Why don’t you and Mukund get married? Chithra said,” Oh, how it could be when I am a 46-year-old mother of a daughter, whose marriage itself is in a dilemma.” I told her “Listen, Chithra Ji, we always walk with the time but time does not walk the way we want it. You had a two-decade married life but something went wrong and you are now in this predicament.”

Chithra: Yes Ram Ji, I agree with you

Me: “You please tell Priya that you and Mukund have decided to marry and after that, it would be the turn of Priya to marry Vasanth. I am sure you will tell her that after all marriage is a symbolic act of togetherness from the point of society”

Chithra: Yes Ram Sir

Me: Every marriage is not going astray and in fact most marriages are successful. Instead of having a live-in relationship and having a dubious, uncertain, and unsecured relationship, Priya should marry Vasanth and realize their dream of living together. You tell her “When I myself am getting married again what is the problem for you Priya?

Chithra: Your suggestion impresses me Ram Ji. I shall interact with Mukund and then with Priya. Thanks for your care and concern for us.

After about a month’s time, Priya and Vasanth came to our house with sweets. Priya with a bright face told, “Uncle and aunty, my mother is going to get married to Mukund.” We two felt very glad over the fast developments. I told Priya “If you are so happy that your mother is getting married, how happy your mother would be to see both of you getting married?

Priay “Yes uncle, I think so”

After a month, Chithra telephoned and informed us that she was getting married to Mukund in a temple next month with a minimum gathering of about 50 invitees including us. I suggested to her “Chitra Ji, hearty congratulations, how novel and delightful it would be if your marriage and your daughter’s marriage happen the same day.” That must have startled Chitra Ji. She told that she never could think from that angle and was excited over my idea. He assured me that she would discuss my novel suggestion with Mukund and Priya and come back to me. Within a week’s time Chitra called me “Ram, your suggestion is getting materialized. Yes, both the mother and daughter are going to get married on the same day. Instead of the earlier fixed date, the marriage would be held in two months’ time. Mukund and Priya visited us again, that time they bought one kg of sweets, half on their behalf and half on Chitra’s mother.

Another month passed. One day, I got a call from an unknown number. I wanted to ignore it but intuition prompted me to respond. The caller spoke, rather in a threatening voice but it had some touch of familiarity. “I understand that you are a too smart man indulging in uniting these two couples. What vested interest do you have in it?” I had a gut feeling that the caller must be Chitra’s ex-husband and it proved to be true. He told me “It was not me who divorced her but she only divorced me.” I asked “why should she do that? He said “I had been friendly with my private secretary at the office. My wife was envious and jealous of our association.” I asked him “How could your wife know that you are friendly with your office colleague,” He told “My secretary used to accompany me to many outstations, where I had important meetings and business deals to attend. Once, we two were out of the station on one such business mission and were staying in a hotel. My wife called my number from some other phone and unfortunately, my secretary answered it. That provoked Chitra to verify our relationship. She got convinced that I was having an extramarital relationship with my secretary. Then she took the extreme step of divorcing me. Now, I will not allow these two marriages to happen. I do not want my wife to be another man’s wife. Nor do I want Priya to be a victim to your ordinary chela (disciple)”. Saying these, that man put down the phone. Later I came to know that Chitra’s ex-husband Surendar only spoke to me. Now let me tell you something that gives a new twist to this story. It was an incredible coincidence that he was my college mate, a villain of sorts. Yes, we studied in the engineering college together. We two used to participate in many games and competitions. In both categories, somehow I used to be ahead of him, almost in every discipline. Be it cricket, chess, carom, shuttle badminton or essay, poetry, and singing. He hated me openly for my supremacy over him. I got plenty of prizes in all these events but I never used to boast about myself and remained rooted to the ground always. Surendar carried a grudge against me for overpowering him in every completion. I did not do it deliberately but it so happened. There were times when I lost sometimes in certain competitions. But even in losing, I was the winner against him due to my edge over his ranking. On the final day in college, he told me without mincing words “Ram, don’t think that you are the jack of everything. Now let us see who is going to win the career and life game.”

After a few days, Chitra called me “Ram, surprisingly Surendar, after a gap of almost one year, called me yesterday and proposed our reunion. He said that he did not marry his private secretary and wanted to live with Chitra again. He told that his secretary was more eyeing his wealth than his welfare. When I told him that I was in love with Mukund, he said ‘Let him be your boyfriend, I have no objection but don’t marry him when I am ready to come back to you.” I told her “Oh, it is strange as well as interesting. Don’t take any hasty decisions. Take your own time. I suggest you think about it seriously.”

When Chitra discussed the matter with Priya she told “Mother, if you ask my opinion, I would never like you to live with him again, having seen his ungrateful act, after living with you for two long decades and set a wrong precedence in our family”. Chitra, on her part, thought “Once he has betrayed me and disconnected with me, how can I trust him again? What is the guarantee that he would not indulge in such behavior of infidelity? Once a major rift is caused between life partners, it will remain as a loophole, however best one may try to bridge the gap. When Priya is married, I will be left all alone. Mukund is a nice man and I know him since my college day. He has not changed much even after staying in the US for a long time. His yearning for a married life looks to be genuine. Having lived in the US he must have seen and enjoyed the material life of world-class, albeit marriage. So what is the harm in my marrying him?”