Please do something.’

Annapurna said, ‘Didi, please be patient; his anger will evaporate in a few days.’

Rajlakshmi said, You don’t know him. He can go to any extent if he doesn’t get what he wants. You must do whatever you can and get him married to your niece.’

Annapurna said, ‘Didi, how can I do that? I have given my word to Behari.’

Rajlakshmi said, ‘That word can be taken back.’ She sent for Behari and said, ‘Son, I will find you a better match—you’ll have to let this girl go. She isn’t worthy of you.’

Behari said, ‘No, Mother, that’s not possible. It is all fixed.’

So Rajlakshmi went to Annapurna again and said, ‘I beg of you, Mejobou, please help me. If you tell Behari, he’ll do it.’

Annapurna said to Behari, ‘Son, I hate to say this to you and I don’t know how to say it. I would have been happiest if Asha were to marry you. But you know all that is happening—’

Behari said, ‘I understand, Aunty. I will do as you say. But never, ever again will you request me to marry anyone.’

Behari left. Annapurna’s eyes filled with tears. But she brushed them away for fear of bringing ill luck on Mahendra. She told herself again and again that whatever happened was for the best.

Thus the day of the wedding drew close, even as a silent, cruel battle of emotions raged between Rajlakshmi, Annapurna and Mahendra.The lights came on, the music played loudly and there was feasting and merry-making all around.

Asha stepped into her new home, decked in bridal finery, swathed in fetching shyness. Her gentle, trembling heart did not envision even a single thorn lining the fabric of her cosy haven. On the contrary, she was filled with joy that she was coming home to her aunt Annapurna, the closest thing to a mother that she had ever known.

After the wedding, Rajlakshmi called Mahendra and said, ‘I think Bouma should go and stay with her uncle for a while now.’

Mahendra asked, ‘Why, Mother?’

Rajlakshmi said, ‘Your exams are coming up and you may not be able to concentrate.’

Mahendra said, ‘I am not a child. I know how to look after myself.’

Rajlakshmi said, ‘May be. But it’s only a matter of another year.’

Mahendra said, ‘If she had her parents, I wouldn’t mind sending her to them. But I refuse to send her away to her uncle’s house.’

Rajlakshmi muttered to herself, ‘My, my, we are devoted, aren’t we? Mother-in-law has no say in the matter! Married for a day and already tied to her apron strings. In our days when our husbands married us, such shameless fawning was unheard of.’

Mahendra said confidently, ‘Don’t worry, Mother! My exams will be fine.’

4

RAJLAKSHMI BEGAN TO TEACH HER NEW DAUGHTER-IN-LAW THE household duties with untold enthusiasm. Asha’s days were spent in the store-room, kitchen and puja room. At night Rajlakshmi took her in to sleep in her own room, so that the young girl wouldn’t miss her relatives too much.

After much deliberation Annapurna decided to keep her distance from her niece.

Mahendra’s state was like that of the greedy child who watches the adult chewing the sugarcane stick dry, unable to do a thing about it. He could barely tolerate the vision of his newly wedded young wife being crushed under the wheels of household duties.

He went to Annapurna and said, ‘Aunty, I cannot stand the way mother is working the new bride half to death.’

Annapurna knew that Rajlakshmi was overdoing things. But she said, ‘Why Mahin, it’s a good thing to teach the bride some household chores. It’s better than her reading novels, sewing or sitting around doing nothing like these modern girls.’

Mahendra got worked up and said, ‘A modern girl will be a modern girl, be it good or bad. If my wife can read a novel and appreciate it like me, I don’t see what’s wrong with it.’

Rajlakshmi heard her son in Annapurna’s room, dropped whatever she was doing and rushed in. She asked sharply, ‘What are you two discussing?’

Excited beyond words, Mahendra replied, ‘Nothing, Mother, I just can’t stand by and watch my wife working like a slave.’

Rajlakshmi controlled the burning spikes that jabbed within and answered in her most acerbic voice, ‘And what, pray, should her ladyship do?’

Mahendra said, ‘I will teach her to read.’

Rajlakshmi left the room without a word and a moment later she returned, pulling Asha by the hand. ‘Here, take your bride and teach her to read.’

She then turned to Annapurna and bowed in mock obeisance, ‘Forgive me, Mejo-bou, I didn’t realize the true worth of your niece. I have stained her soft hands with turmeric in the kitchen; now you can wash them out carefully and hand her over to Mahin—she can put her feet up and study. I am always there to do the slave-work.’ Rajlakshmi stomped into her room, slammed the door shut and bolted it noisily. Annapurna sank to the floor under the weight of her misery.