Day Thirteen

Nancy took hold of her diary. If she doesn’t record anything today also, history would blame her tomorrow for that omission. It would be impossible to explain such a big gap. In fact, right from the time she woke up in the morning, she wanted to record in her diary the time spent by her every half an hour. There was enough to write too. Her visit to church along with her sister, blessings from Father Valiyedath, preparing the menu for the guests coming to ‘see’ her. Uncle and aunt had already invaded the house. The atmosphere turned expectant of something grand happening in the house.           

     Exactly at eleven, the prospective groom arrived accompanied by a dozen people. It was only then that she realized that an Ambassador car could accommodate so many people. She watched the car rising inch by inch through the window, as the passengers got out one by one. After discharging all its passengers, the car straightened yawning and stood tall. Nancy and Mary were struggling to identify the groom in the crowd.   

When aunt called, Mary went. Nancy was left alone. Her search now narrowed to two candidates. Maybe they are brothers. Both are equally good. They were wearing pants and full sleeve striped shirt. Complexion was not so good, closer to tan.  Crossing the courtyard, they climbed up the verandah. 

     Mary accompanied her aunt to the verandah to greet them. The elder of the two was staring at Mary. He would have mistaken her as the prospective bride! Mary had kept her body in shape that concealed her motherhood! The younger one whispered something in his ear. Maybe to have a good look at the bride. It was at that precise moment that Nelson ran up to the verandah and shouted, ‘Mom, hold me!’ Smile on the groom’s face faded and was replaced with a foolish laughter. He stared hard at his younger brother as if saying he would give him a befitting reward once they reach back home!

     Nancy who was enjoying all this could not control her laughter. It was only after the guests finished tea that she went to the verandah. She had earlier warned Mary not to send her to meet the guests carrying the tray with tea and snacks like a traditional bride as seen in films and TV serials. Despite insistence by uncle and aunt, Mary didn’t force her sister, apprehensive of the consequences; both for the guests and the hosts.

     ‘Now call the girl.’ Someone was saying. Nancy later knew that it was the groom’s elder sister. Nancy came out and stood on the verandah leaning against a pillar. She looked at the groom carefully. The groom could not stand the scrutiny, felt shy and looked down. Thanks to the good deeds in his past birth, the groom didn’t turn to ashes! Then started the cross examination. Advocate for the plaintiff was the elder sister.

 ‘What’s your name?’

‘Nancy. Didn’t uncle tell you?’

Taking care not to appear shaken, she asked in a steady tone, ‘Where are you working, Nancy?’

‘In Ernakulam.’

‘What is the job?’

‘Type-setting.’

‘Oh…. So, it’s a typing job! But your people had told us that you are working on computer?’ Sister smartly pointed this out to make clear that bride’s party cannot not fool her.

‘Type-setting is done on a computer.’ Nancy said calmly. Fearing that she may burst into laughter, she avoided Mary’s eyes. Once the bout of laughter is let loose, it becomes difficult for her to control.

‘What salary do you get?’

Before Nancy could reply, the groom said, ‘that’s okay, sister.’

He had not asked his sister to enquire about bride’s salary. He didn’t want his sister to know his wife’s salary. That could invite problems.

‘Can you sing?’ sister was continuing.

‘ummm… I used to sing with Brother Peter.’

‘Who is Peter?’ Groom asked anxiously. He imagined Nancy roaming around parks and beaches singing duet with another young man.

‘He is the man who sings in our church.’ Uncle added, ‘an old man.’

Groom felt relieved. He whispered something to his brother-n-law. Brother-in-law got up and walked over to the courtyard along with Nancy’s uncle. For no particular reason, bride’s sister continued looking at Nancy. Questions crying for answers were seen trapped in her eyes and facial muscles, struggling. Brother-in-law and uncle had almost reached the gate discussing.  Nancy returned to her room.

Within half an hour, the guests left. Everyone looked up at uncle askance.

‘Groom liked the girl.’ He said, ‘of course our daughter is without blemish.’

‘What did they say about other matters?’ Aunt was impatient to know.

‘Three lakh and forty sovereigns. I told them that her sister was given two lakh and twenty sovereigns. The house goes to Nancy. So, I offered them one lakh and twenty sovereigns. They said they would think over it.’

 ‘What is there to think about?’ aunt asked.  

‘The shop next to his is on sale. He wants to buy that. The current one is jointly owned by him and his brother. He needs cash for that.’

‘He wants our father’s hard-earned money to buy that shop, isn’t it? Does he not have a father?’ Nancy asked.

‘You keep quiet.’ Mary admonished her.

‘Ok… do you like him?’ asked aunt.

‘Well.’ Nancy said, ‘what I want to know is what asset has he got, except the cash and gold he expects from our father. If he is planning the game using our money, without any stake, that will not do.’

     Closing the diary Nancy smiled. She will have to wait till the first night to know what asset he has! Better not to expect much.

     Mary had fallen asleep tired advising her younger sister.