When I visited my old friend, A young woman, almost a girl, with a boy of about six years came to visit him. It seemed to be a courtsey call and the boy touched my friend’s feet. He gave him a hundred rupee note. When they departed, my friend explained:
“She is my sister’s dayghter, now a widow. Her husband was a clerk in Police
I had gone to visit my friend. When we were talking, a young woman, almost a girl, came with her son, about six years old. It was a courtsey call, and before departing, the boy touched my friend’s feet. He gave him a hundred rupee note. After their departure, he explained:
“She is my sister’s daughter, now a widow. Her husband was in the Police department, and now working in the same post. Her only problem is accommodation, because she was transferred to Trichur near your house. Can you accommodate her?”
“Of course I should be happy; but you know I am a bachelor. The house is in a dilapidated condition. If she can adjust, it is O.K. for me. “
Saumya came with her son. She did all kitchen work and my maid did the cleaning work. I used to take the boy on my cycle as the bus point was four miles away. I found the girl hard working and interested in gardening. As we became closer, she said:
“You have this big estate and you do not care for it?”
“I am only interested in my press. On Sundays I like to read. If you like it, I shall employ labourers to work in the estate.”
Within six months, the whole estate was transormed from a wild forest, into plantation. Hundreds of coconut trees and banana trees were planted, in addition to appale trees etc.
A friend who visited me on a Sunday cried out in surprise “What a change, my dear friend!”
Just then, Saumya appeared with and greeted the newcomer.
“Sau, bring tea. This is my old friend”
“Are you married?”
“Oh, no. She is a widow staying with me”
“How old are you?”
“Nearer to forty”
“Have you ever loved any one?”
“In the college; it was juvenile fancy. We never met again. I suppose she is in the US”
“Then seriously think of marrying this widow”
“I may welcome it, but will she agree? She is only twentyfive”
Months passed, without any change in our attitude. She looked after me like a dutiful wife, but never showed any signs of intimacy, let alone love.
One day I saw a stranger talking to Sau, when I returned home.
She looked elderly and could not believe my eyes when I recognised my old friend Sunanda. Greu streaks appeared in her black curly hair. She looked more beautiful than in her youth. She ran to me and embraced me tightly, ignoring the presence of Sau.
It took some minutes for me to regain my composure.
“I have been trying to get your address, in vain. I recollected your description of your village home and came here, as soon as I landed in India. I am an architect and have made a rough sketch of the plan to rebuild this house. Do not protest. It will be with my money.”
The next months were busy. I introduced some builders to my friend and work started.
Sau became pensive
“What is wrong with you?”, I asked.
“Your friend is like a white woman and very beautiful. Why don’t you marry her?”
I laughed. “It was like juvenile fancy. She may be married already”
It seems she talked to my friend, because afterwards she told me:
“You men fail to notice signs of affection. Saumya loves you deeply. Shall I talk to her?”
“I am too old for her”
“Bullshit. You are her only hope. Othrs may not agree to marry a widow with a child, unless she is very rich. Don’t you care for her?”
So it was decided and I felt relieved. At heart, I loved her from the very beginning…
y
“She is my sister’s dayghter, now a widow. Her husband was a clerk in Police
I had gone to visit my friend. When we were talking, a young woman, almost a girl, came with her son, about six years old. It was a courtsey call, and before departing, the boy touched my friend’s feet. He gave him a hundred rupee note. After their departure, he explained:
“She is my sister’s daughter, now a widow. Her husband was in the Police department, and now working in the same post. Her only problem is accommodation, because she was transferred to Trichur near your house. Can you accommodate her?”
“Of course I should be happy; but you know I am a bachelor. The house is in a dilapidated condition. If she can adjust, it is O.K. for me. “
Saumya came with her son. She did all kitchen work and my maid did the cleaning work. I used to take the boy on my cycle as the bus point was four miles away. I found the girl hard working and interested in gardening. As we became closer, she said:
“You have this big estate and you do not care for it?”
“I am only interested in my press. On Sundays I like to read. If you like it, I shall employ labourers to work in the estate.”
Within six months, the whole estate was transormed from a wild forest, into plantation. Hundreds of coconut trees and banana trees were planted, in addition to appale trees etc.
A friend who visited me on a Sunday cried out in surprise “What a change, my dear friend!”
Just then, Saumya appeared with and greeted the newcomer.
“Sau, bring tea. This is my old friend”
“Are you married?”
“Oh, no. She is a widow staying with me”
“How old are you?”
“Nearer to forty”
“Have you ever loved any one?”
“In the college; it was juvenile fancy. We never met again. I suppose she is in the US”
“Then seriously think of marrying this widow”
“I may welcome it, but will she agree? She is only twentyfive”
Months passed, without any change in our attitude. She looked after me like a dutiful wife, but never showed any signs of intimacy, let alone love.
One day I saw a stranger talking to Sau, when I returned home.
She looked elderly and could not believe my eyes when I recognised my old friend Sunanda. Greu streaks appeared in her black curly hair. She looked more beautiful than in her youth. She ran to me and embraced me tightly, ignoring the presence of Sau.
It took some minutes for me to regain my composure.
“I have been trying to get your address, in vain. I recollected your description of your village home and came here, as soon as I landed in India. I am an architect and have made a rough sketch of the plan to rebuild this house. Do not protest. It will be with my money.”
The next months were busy. I introduced some builders to my friend and work started.
Sau became pensive
“What is wrong with you?”, I asked.
“Your friend is like a white woman and very beautiful. Why don’t you marry her?”
I laughed. “It was like juvenile fancy. She may be married already”
It seems she talked to my friend, because afterwards she told me:
“You men fail to notice signs of affection. Saumya loves you deeply. Shall I talk to her?”
“I am too old for her”
“Bullshit. You are her only hope. Othrs may not agree to marry a widow with a child, unless she is very rich. Don’t you care for her?”
So it was decided and I felt relieved. At heart, I loved her from the very beginning…
y
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