enclosed.
Dear Chandru,
It would have been great if you could have attended our simple wedding. Anyway, I have sent some photos. Vinu says she knows you and has conveyed her regards to you.
With affection,
Girish
Chandru looked at the photos. HIS Vinu, the same girl with the golden voice, had become his brother’s wife!
Something that he had never imagined was now a harsh reality. The spring goddess of Dharwad, the girl who had stolen his heart, the Jayanagar schoolteacher were all the same girl. What a coincidence! What irony!
The joy and excitement of that evening evaporated. For a minute, he was upset with himself: if he had not waited for the green card and had returned to India earlier, he could have married Vinuta. Then, he was jealous. Girish was neither handsome nor as well placed as he was, but had won a wife who was far superior to him in everything.
He looked at the photos once again. Vinuta looked radiant.
It took a few days for Chandru to accept what had happened and digest the reality of life.
TWELVE
T he house was bustling with activity and anticipation.
Chandru was due to come home after almost six years. Vinuta too shared the excitement. When she had set foot in Girish’s house after the wedding, she had learnt that Girish’s brother, who lived in the US, had been their tenant in Dharwad. That was when she had seen Chandru’s photos in her new home and recognized him. She then remembered his love for music and his diffidence in praising her openly. Providence had made him her brother-in-law, who deserved her respect and regard.
Now, as she decorated the house for his welcome, she wondered, would Chandru remember her as the girl from Dharwad, whose singing he had praised? Would he ask her to sing again? Gouramma, Girish and Surabhi got ready to go to the airport to receive Chandru. Shamanna was happy that his son was coming home after so long, but was not very keen on going to the airport. ‘Let me stay home and prepare to welcome him. Anyway, there will be no space for me on the way back. His luggage will need all the space,’ he joked.
Vinuta had told her mother-in-law earlier, ‘Amma, you go to the airport. Tell me what Chandru likes and I will get everything ready.’ Gouramma really liked Vinuta’s attitude: totally unselfish and willing to adjust to any situation. She went to the airport confident that Vinuta would take care of everything at home to welcome Chandru.
Gouramma’s eyes filled with tears, at the first sight of her son after six long years. Her heart swelled with pride, to see him healthier and altogether more handsome. Chandru walked up to his mother, dragging two huge suitcases, and bent down to touch her feet. It was a touching moment.
When they reached home, Chandru went straight to his father and bowed down to touch his father’s feet. He then saw Vinuta standing near the door.
‘How are you? Do you remember me?’ His voice had mellowed.
‘I am fine. How was your journey?’ Vinuta smiled amiably.
He saw that the teenage Vinu of Dharwad had now matured into a young woman. Her face glowed with the happiness and contentment in her soul. She probably got everything here that she had missed in Dharwad.
Even before he had a wash and could sit down, he saw his mother and sister struggling to open his suitcases. With a sigh, he opened it for them and unpacked everything: the digital camera and video, cosmetics, perfumes, walnuts, saffron, chocolates, handbags, chiffon saris . . . the whole lot of goodies that they had been hankering for.
Surabhi was engrossed in checking out her list. Handing over a bunch of hundred-dollar notes to Gouramma, Chandru said, ‘Amma, I could not do much shopping for everyone. Please buy whatever you feel is right.’ Gouramma took the money, speechless.
‘I have already eaten on the plane. I just want to rest for a while. Didn’t sleep at all on the flight,’ Chandru said, moving towards the stairs to the first
Dear Chandru,
It would have been great if you could have attended our simple wedding. Anyway, I have sent some photos. Vinu says she knows you and has conveyed her regards to you.
With affection,
Girish
Chandru looked at the photos. HIS Vinu, the same girl with the golden voice, had become his brother’s wife!
Something that he had never imagined was now a harsh reality. The spring goddess of Dharwad, the girl who had stolen his heart, the Jayanagar schoolteacher were all the same girl. What a coincidence! What irony!
The joy and excitement of that evening evaporated. For a minute, he was upset with himself: if he had not waited for the green card and had returned to India earlier, he could have married Vinuta. Then, he was jealous. Girish was neither handsome nor as well placed as he was, but had won a wife who was far superior to him in everything.
He looked at the photos once again. Vinuta looked radiant.
It took a few days for Chandru to accept what had happened and digest the reality of life.
TWELVE
T he house was bustling with activity and anticipation.
Chandru was due to come home after almost six years. Vinuta too shared the excitement. When she had set foot in Girish’s house after the wedding, she had learnt that Girish’s brother, who lived in the US, had been their tenant in Dharwad. That was when she had seen Chandru’s photos in her new home and recognized him. She then remembered his love for music and his diffidence in praising her openly. Providence had made him her brother-in-law, who deserved her respect and regard.
Now, as she decorated the house for his welcome, she wondered, would Chandru remember her as the girl from Dharwad, whose singing he had praised? Would he ask her to sing again? Gouramma, Girish and Surabhi got ready to go to the airport to receive Chandru. Shamanna was happy that his son was coming home after so long, but was not very keen on going to the airport. ‘Let me stay home and prepare to welcome him. Anyway, there will be no space for me on the way back. His luggage will need all the space,’ he joked.
Vinuta had told her mother-in-law earlier, ‘Amma, you go to the airport. Tell me what Chandru likes and I will get everything ready.’ Gouramma really liked Vinuta’s attitude: totally unselfish and willing to adjust to any situation. She went to the airport confident that Vinuta would take care of everything at home to welcome Chandru.
Gouramma’s eyes filled with tears, at the first sight of her son after six long years. Her heart swelled with pride, to see him healthier and altogether more handsome. Chandru walked up to his mother, dragging two huge suitcases, and bent down to touch her feet. It was a touching moment.
When they reached home, Chandru went straight to his father and bowed down to touch his father’s feet. He then saw Vinuta standing near the door.
‘How are you? Do you remember me?’ His voice had mellowed.
‘I am fine. How was your journey?’ Vinuta smiled amiably.
He saw that the teenage Vinu of Dharwad had now matured into a young woman. Her face glowed with the happiness and contentment in her soul. She probably got everything here that she had missed in Dharwad.
Even before he had a wash and could sit down, he saw his mother and sister struggling to open his suitcases. With a sigh, he opened it for them and unpacked everything: the digital camera and video, cosmetics, perfumes, walnuts, saffron, chocolates, handbags, chiffon saris . . . the whole lot of goodies that they had been hankering for.
Surabhi was engrossed in checking out her list. Handing over a bunch of hundred-dollar notes to Gouramma, Chandru said, ‘Amma, I could not do much shopping for everyone. Please buy whatever you feel is right.’ Gouramma took the money, speechless.
‘I have already eaten on the plane. I just want to rest for a while. Didn’t sleep at all on the flight,’ Chandru said, moving towards the stairs to the first
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