The “Tomboy” : Part 3
Story
By
Vikram Karve
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THE “TOMBOY” – PART 3
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My husband nods at her – and – he
goes into his room to dry up and change his wet clothes.
The girl – Tanya – she looks at
me – and she says to me: “Aunty – please make some Tea – Rohan tells me that
you make lovely “Masala Chai” – and – make something to eat also – I am feeling
hungry…”
I am aghast at her behaviour.
But – I don’t want to talk to
this impertinent girl – so – I go into the kitchen – and – start making Tea –
and – I take out the pan to make some Pohe…”
A few minutes later – my husband
comes into the kitchen and asks me: “Who is this girl…?
“She says that she is Rohan’s
fiancée – they are going to get married…” I say to my husband.
“What nonsense…!!!” my husband
exclaims in surprise, “have you to spoken to Rohan…?”
“I tried – his phone is switched
off – like he does at work – he should see my missed call and call back at
lunch time…” I say to my husband.
“What about the girl…? Why has
she some here…?” he asks me.
“You go out and tell her to get
out of the house…” I say to my husband.
“Let’s go out and speak to her –
let’s she what she has to say…?” my husband says.
I put 3 cups of tea and 3 plates
of Pohe on a tray.
My husband picks up the tray, carries
it out and places it on the table in front of the girl called “Tanya”.
I follow my husband and sit on a chair
in front of Tanya.
Tanya picks up a plate of Pohe – eats
a spoonful – and says to me: “It’s delicious – you are such a good cook – Rohan
always tells me you make such lovely food…”
I seethe with anger at her impudence
– how dare she make such condescending remarks…!!!
I can’t control myself any longer
– so – I shout at the girl.
“Do you think I am your
servant…?” I say angrily to her.
“No, Aunty…” she says, flummoxed,
“why do you think that…?”
“You don’t bother to come and
help me in the kitchen – you sit here like a “Maharani” – and – you comment
that the food is “good” – as if you are a customer in a restaurant…” I say to
her, indignantly.
“I am sorry, Aunty…” she says – I
can see tears forming in her eyes.
My husband interrupts.
“Tell me – why have you come here…?”
my husband asks her.
“I have come to take your
permission to get married to your son, Rohan…” the girl says.
“Well – Rohan hasn’t told us
anything about you – and – why hasn’t he come with you…?” my husband asks.
“He is afraid of you…” the girl
says to my husband.
“Afraid of me…?” my husband says,
surprised.
“Yes, Uncle – he ss terrified of you
– the way he painted the picture – as if you were an autocratic tyrant – even –
I felt scared…” the girl says to my husband.
I feel totally appalled – so – I say
to the girl: My husband – a tyrant…? What nonsense…!!! Would I have been living
with my him for 30 years if he were a tyrant…? Yes – he is strict and very
old-fashioned – but he is a good man…”
“I am sorry, Aunty…” the girl
says to me.
Then she looks at my husband and
says: “Rohan told me you both are conservative people. He said that you would
never agree to our marriage. So – he wanted us to elope and get married…”
“Elope…?” my husband says,
angrily.
“I think I mentioned it to Aunty…”
the girl says.
“Are you threatening to elope…?
Are you trying to blackmail us…?” my husband shouts at the girl, “go ahead and elope
– you are both adults – do as you please…”
“No. No. Uncle. I feel that
marriage must begin on a good note. I don’t want your ill feelings – I want
your blessings – so – I told him that I will marry him only if you give
permission…” the girl says to my husband.
“And – if we don’t agree…?” my
husband asks her.
“I will leave him and go away. I
have had no happy relationships in my life – this is the first one – and – I
want it to begin in a happy note – not on a bitter note by annoying you – I
want your love and blessings – not your hate and curses…”” the girls says to my
husband – and – she looks at me too.
I can see my husband softening.
I fear the worst.
This “tomboyish” uncultured girl called
“Tanya” – she is nowhere near the image of the ideal daughter-in-law that I
wanted. In fact – I had already started looking for prospective brides for my
son. And now – my dreams will be dashed – if my husband “melts”.
I decide to call a spade a spade –
and make things clear to this cheeky girl.
I look at the girl – and – I say
to her: “You – listen to me carefully. You have no manners, no culture, no
upbringing – you barge into our house unannounced and behave in a most rude
manner – we should have thrown you out – but – we are cultured people…”
“Yes, Aunty…” she says, looking contrite.
“What “Yes Aunty…” I say angrily,
“you want to marry our son – you want to be our daughter-in-law – you should
have shown us some respect – though we don’t expect you to touch our feet as is
the normal practice when one meets elders…”
“I am sorry, Aunty – I didn’t
know…” the girl says.
“It is not your fault – you have
not been raised properly…” I say to her.
“I am sorry, Aunty – I am very sorry
if I have behaved improperly…” she says, apologetically.
“That’s okay – but – it is not
proper for a girl to barge into her prospective in-laws house as ask them
permission to marry their son – you ask your parents to come over and talk to
us…” I say to her.
“I have no parents…” she says.
“What do you mean “you have no
parents”…?” I ask her.
“I am an orphan – I don’t have
any parents – both of them died in an accident when I was 6 years old – and I
was sent to a boarding school – my whole life I have lived in hostels – I have
never lived in a family – now – if you agree to our marriage – I will live with
you – and you will be my parents – my first and only parents – and I will learn
from you – manners, how to live in a family, culture, values – whatever you
want to teach me...” the girl says – and she breaks into tears.
On hearing her words – I am
filled with remorse and pity for this girl.
I walk towards her – I take her
in my arms.
She sobs – her wet nose touches
my neck.
I console her.
“Don’t cry, Tanya – we are your
parents from now on…” I say to her.
“Thank you, mother…” she says to
me.
Then she looks at my husband.
My husband says her: “Go and
freshen up – we are going out…”
“Going out…?” she asks, confused.
“Yes – we are going to the
Marriage Registrar’s Office…” he says to her.
“Marriage Registrar…?” she asks
him, looking confused.
My husband looks at her and smiles.
“Yes – let’s go to the Marriage
Registrar’s Office – we will come with you and submit the form together…” he
says to Tanya, “the notice for your intended marriage…”
My husband looks at me and says: “Come
on, get ready…”
Then – my husband looks at his
watch and remarks: “I think it’s almost lunch break for Rohan – his mobile
phone should be “on” now…”
“Yes, Uncle – I will check…”
Tanya says.
“You tell your fiancé Rohan take
the rest of the day off – we will pick him up from his office…” my husband roars,
“he has a lot of explaining to do…”
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VIKRAM KARVE
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