STORY-RAILWAY ACCOUNTANT

I got appointment as Accountant in Western Railway Divisional office. The office is near the Chambal river and I has happy to roam about, watching the river near the bridge. Alone and unattached, I was hardly twenty five and enjoyed the freedom of living on my salary, part of which I used to send to my mother at home in Kerala , where she has to look after my ailing father and marriageable sister, who, for want of dowry remained unmarried . We did not have any property. My education was financed by my uncle, who may be having plans to dump his daughter on my shoulders. I didn’t like her.

There is a Hanuman temple, on the bank of the river. My colleague took me there, about two miles away from our office. The way was along the jungle. I enjoyed the sight of bush, it reminded me of my home state.
The temple is very small. Only on Tuesdays, auspicious for Hanuman, people visited the place. I prayed and offered to donate a bell, if my wish for a love marriage, is fulfilled!
I think it is cinema that made us yearn for love; My uncle will laugh, if I said I did not love his daughter. He would say:”I have not heard of any one in my  family having loved any girl. Marriage is arranged by the parents. I married when I was hardly twenty.” He doesn’t like arguments; so I keep mum.
I lived in the railway colony, sharing a quarter with another, as  paying guest.
For our free pass, we have to go to the Personnel branch. When I first, went there,  the pass issuing clerk, a lady, enquired about my whereabouts. She must be about thirty, dark skinned but lively, with a ready smile, showing white teeth. Her dimples added to her charm.At about eleven she took me to the tea shop near the railway station, where we took hot samosa and tea. This became a routine and our friendship thickened.
She would tell about a clerk in her own office,who took a pass every four months, but never used.
“See the fellow in black shirt. I asked him why he is wasting my time. He replied that his mother may die any moment. He wants to board the train,as soon as he gets the phone call to come home!”  We both laughed, her dimples calling my heart, but she is a Christian. She told me she cannot give dowry and so remained single. I wished she were a Hindu.
“What is wrong with inter-caste marriage?”‘ she would ask. I had no reply. I thought Christians did not take bath, as we Hindus did. I have seen them living in rows, waiting for fish cart to appear. I did not like non-veg food.
When I told all these things, she laughed aloud, attracting attention of all.
“What is the matter madam, let us also here the joke.”
“He says Christians do not take bath.”
“Call him to your house; he can verify!”
That evening she took me home; it was an old house hired by her father who was a railway TTE, for just Rs. thirteen, some half a century ago. Some ten houses were in a row, the rooms were  one behind the other, last being the bath room. “Look closely, if you like, you may refresh yourself; soap, bath towel all are here. Do not forget to close the door, or else, people can see from the street”. She left and I turned on the shower.
I was introduced to her mother. She is a retired professor, very weak, but does all cooking. A servant comes for cleaning.
That night I stayed there in the extra bed room. We planned our future. I shall stay with her and save money. We applied for all advances and withdrew money from the Providend Fund. Then when sufficient money was available, we took passes and left for Keralam. Ma had arranged  my sister’s wedding.
After all formalities were completed,  she prostrated in front of Ma and sought her blessings.
“God bless my daughter,” she said. On our return, we brought my brother along with us.
Our marriage was registered during X mas.