Right Stand

Shanti swung the satchel lightly and made the
instrument box which contained the protractor,
the divider and other assorted items that one needs
to draw geometrical figures, sing to her. The notes
it produced were the beats she needed to provide
the orchestra for the gentle notes produced by the
breeze that ran into a dancing cluster of bamboos.
"Hi! Shanti," she heard the shriek of brakes
biting into the tyres. She turned quickly and
noticed her cousin, Arumugham, tilting the bicycle
and gaining stability by simultaneously taking his
left foot off the pedal and planting it on the ground.
She acknowledged his call with a smile, her fair
cheeks turning pink, her lithe figure feeling
strangely electrified. Perhaps the heart had its
reasons.
She wanted to say—Glad to meet you! So your
course at the Military Academy is over! You are
now an officer in the Army! Congratulations!—but
the words died in her throat.
Not that she was short of words. In fact, in the
16 years that she had been on this planet, she had
spoken more than most girls of her age. The
children of the village looked upon her as a
fantastic story teller. Her teachers relied on her to
win laurels in elocution competitions. Hari Shastri,
the village priest, hailed her every time she came
to the temple and recited verses: "Vagdevi resides
on your tongue," he would say.
Yet, she was speechless in the presence of
Arumugham.
He was not a stranger to her. He was her
maternal uncle's son. Four years older to her. They
had grown up together. Played together. Fought
together.
All that ended once she attained the age of
maturity and the family dropped the hint that in
a few years she would marry Arumugham.
She liked the idea. Arumugham was tall, well-
built and had a native sense of humour. 'Not a bad
catch,' she told herself, when she heard of the
family's decision. But from that day, she became
tongue-tied whenever she ran into Arumugham.
"Shall I call you Mookambika?" Arumugham
teased her.
She took the rebuke in her stride. She could not
gather enough words to respond.
"Well, my dumb doll, get it into your head. In a
fortnight, you will have to speak to me. Ask me
why?"
Shanti raised her eyebrows, signalling that he
could give her the answer.
"Because, in a fortnight, we are to get married."
Arumugham swung off the cycle, rested the cycle
against the cluster of bamboos and started moving
closer to her.
She could not believe her ears. Nobody had told
her of the decision. She had heard the elders
whispering behind her back, but every time she
tried to find out, they told her, with that supercilious
look, "You will know, girl. Soon. Not now."
So that was the secret. They were conspiring
behind her back, deciding her life, without taking
her into confidence.
"That cheer s you, doesn't it, Shanti? "
Arumugham gently picked up her hand.
"No." She finally found her voice.
He dropped her hand, instantly. "I thought,
fool that I was, that you loved me too." He was
rattled.
"Who says I will not marry you?" Shanti now
found her voice.
"Ah, my sweet little girl. You gave me a fright.
You always manage to do that. Wait till I get my
chance." He came closer and stood before her.
"That remains to be seen. You will not get one
for another four years," Shanti bit her lip.
"Why?"
"Because I want to complete my studies. Because
Nl want to be capable of earning a living. Because you will be away, posted at non-family stations,
and I will have to manage on my own. I can give
you a hundred reasons to justify why I shall not
marry now. If you are in a hurry to get married,
forget me. Find another girl." Shanti was eloquent.
"But our elders think we are both old enough to
marry," Arumughan tried to bring her round.
"Go and tell them what I told you. Will you?
Otherwise I will fight my own battle. If that
happens, you will not have a face to show," she
warned.
"I shall speak to them. But I wonder whether
they will agree," Arumugham hedged.
"They will. They have no option. I am sure I can
make my parents understand. Hope you manage
your end equally well," Shanti started moving off.
Arumugham watched her till she vanished from
view. His face fell. With what hopes he had sought
out Shanti! How eager he had been to give her the
gift he had brought for her! She had dampened his
enthusiasm. He ground his teeth and pedalled
along the metalled road at breakneck speed.
After dinner, his parents moved to the central
hall. His father sat on a swing and enjoyed its
gentle movements. His mother sat on the floor,
stretched her legs, got hold of the paan (beetel leaf)
box and started preparing the paan she and her
husband usually enjoyed after dinner.
Arumugham came and sat by the side of his
father.
"Ah, Aaru, did you meet Shanti? Poor girl, she
doesn't know that her days of freedom are over,
that you have come to tie the mangalsutra on her
neck and take her away with you. We let her have
all the fun till you came on leave." The old man
had a big smile on his face.
"You should have taken her into confidence,"
Arumugham mumbled.
"We, the elders, decide what is good for you.
You are children. What do you know?" his father
was stern.
"But, Appa, Shanti doesn't want to marry now,"
Arumugham sighed.
"She thinks she is too young for marriage?"
his mother stopped rolling the paan leaf and gaped
at him.
"Anuria she says she wants to complete her
studies," he replied.
"I will talk to her, and to my sister," his father
bristled.
That was when they heard the rustle of feet.
All eyes turned to the sound. Moving across the
door were Shanti and her mother.
"Come, Thankachi. How are you, Shanti?"
Arumugham's father welcomed them, warmly.
Shanti bent and touched the old man's feet,
before turning to her aunt to do the'same.
"Anna, has Arumugham told you?" Shanti's
mother sat on the swing by her brother's side.
"Yes. That is the stupidest thing I have heard.
Remember, Thankachi, you were hardly twelve
when you got married. Are you not happy with
Mani? Such a nice man. Who chose him for you?
Our parents. I think choosing the bride or the
bridegroom is our right. Further, Shanti and
Arumugham are cousins. And they are made
for each other, muraipenn and muraipillai,"
Arumugham's father laid down his case.
"Mama!" Shanti was happy that Arumugham
had already talked to his parents about her view.
"Yes, my dear," the old man gave her the nod.
"I never question your rights or your decision..."
she paused.
"Do you not like Arumugham?" his mother
interuppted.
Shanti's face turned red. She bent her head,
stared at the floor for a few seconds before
regaining her courage. "Mami, you know the
answer," she hedged.
"Good," Mami purred.
"I talked to your son. We agreed we would wait
for four years before we marry," Shanti said.
"Is that so?" the old man shot the question at
Arumugham.
"Yes, Appa. I met her this evening when she was
returning from school. I told her of your decision.
She was shocked. She said she wants to complete
her studies , become a graduate at least,"
Arumugham pleaded her case.
"Why does she need all that education? It is enough she knows how to keep a happy home, cook
well, look after the children when they arrive..."
Arumugham's mother scowled.
"Amma. Days have changed. Appa was always
with you. I will be posted at non-family stations
often. Shanti will have to be on her own. She is
right, Amma, let her complete her graduation. Then
we will marry. Till then..."
"Till then?"
"Till then we remain engaged," Arumugham
said firmly.
Next day, when he ran into Shanti near the
cluster of bamboos she was bubbling with joy.
"I am proud of you. You stood by me, fought for
my right. You brought your parents round," her
eyes held a rare glow.
"Tamed them, girl! Four years hence, it will be
your turn," he joked.
"Who tames whom? The future will tell," Shanti
smiled.
"The future is not ours to see," Armugham gently
took her hand and placed in it the eardrops that
he had brought for her.