STORY-LOVE AND MARRIAGE

SURVEYOR

After completing my course for Engineering , I decided to join the survey department, under the Central Government, because of my romantic itch for climbing hills. One has to walk on foot most of the time, because all are hilly areas. My parents wanted me to marry and settle near the town, where we lived, but I resisted it  with all my skill of persuasion.

“Let me be free for some time. I like to travel through the mountains, up to the Himalayas. Please Mamma .” As the only son, she was always kind to me.

I was asked to join at Karwr. The office was just a tent; my boss was a Maharastrian , middle aged and bald headed. But he was kind and jolly. I wrote a letter to my father, giving my address. Once in a week, the peon carried letters to the post office and brought our dak, mostly Government letters.

After a fortnight, I received a reply. When I opened the envelop, there was a letter from my classmate, Neenu also. Father was happy to know that I am well. He wrote that, they did no need my salary, so I need not bother to send M.O. Neenu’s letter was ling and endearing. She congratulated me for getting such adventurous work:”Can I come there for one or two months? It will be nice to take bath in the mountain rivers, so pure and cool! Please send me a telegram; have any telegraphic address of the office?”

I  showed it to my boss. “So you are in love and she likes to come here?”

“If you permit , it will be a good idea. She can work in the office; she is an Engineer like me.” So I sent a telegram and she came by train to Karwar. I took our jeep and went to bring her.

She beamed with joy:”How nice to see you!”. She stretched her hand and I shook it vigorously. All the way she was talking and her arm was round my neck. Often she kissed me, as I was driving and the driver was not there. I wondered: Do I really love her? Till now, there was no such talk.

The days ran fast. Every evening I could not come back. But on Sundays, we went strolling and took bath in the river or some pool of water. She used to remove her blouse, not minding my greedy eyes. She would tell me to smear her back with soap. It was so smooth and pleasant!

When the time came for her departure, she became said:”You must write to me, do not delay. Promise me.” I too felt sad, when the train moved away.

One day, my boss took me to Gokarnam temple. We took bath in the sea. There is a warning board that the sea here s dangerous and swimming must be avoided, as many have lost their lives. We took care to remain near the shore. The Shiva temple is dirty. A dog was sleeping on the floor of the outer hall. There were cobwebs in that hall. After doing pooja, I was taken to a house, where we were received courteously. It seems they were related to my boss. After break fast, a young girl, decorated with good sari and gold ornaments, came with tea tray ad we all took one cup. When she came before me, she smiled. She is very fair, with a long plait of hair, woven into pig tail. They said I may talk to her; we were taken to a separate room. All ladies were watching. I asked her:”What is your name?” She nodded in the negative.”I do not know English”, she said in Marathi.

After that, my boss asked me:”Did you like the girl?” I said that my father may be approached. He wrote a letter to my father, explaning that I liked a girl, whose photo is enclosed. “She is the only daughter of a big estate of arecanut trees. The estate will be given to your son, after marriage” He asked for my father’s address and sent it to my father. Who came to Karwar, as soon as the letter was received there. He told me:”That girl who had come here, is already married, in spite of her objections. Can we fix this proposal?” I nodded my head in the positive sense