“Mukundo Babu?” Piyali stared at him in disbelief, “Ma had died because of pregnancy?” She had never been told that. She had been told that her mother died soon after her birth because of an infection. She didn’t know that they had known several weeks before her birth that saving her could mean losing her mother. Her mother had not given up on her baby though and convinced even her father to save the baby if it came to choosing between them.
“This isn’t fair, Mukundo,” Mr. Banerjee sounded defeated and weak all of a sudden.
“I had to Kaka. What is unfair is what you want her to do. Marriage is just a social ritual. It doesn’t change who we fundamentally are, and how we feel. Marriage cannot decide whether or not she should love her baby, Kaka. Please. You have always indulged me. I am sorry that for once it went wrong. But I promise that nothing will go wrong from here on. She will be happy, Kaka. And she will have her career.”
“And you?”
“I love her and I will love the baby.”
“Do I have a choice?”
Mukundo stayed silent. That question was not supposed to be answered.
“Fine then,” his voice was tired, “Figure out the wedding date and tell me what you want me to do.” He got up and went to another room to take rest.
Piyali burst into sobs as soon as he left.
“It’s all right,” Mukundo held and consoled her, “Everything is all right. Why are you crying? We knew he wouldn’t take it well, didn’t we? But we convinced him. And don’t worry Pihu Rani. Once the baby comes, he won’t be able to avoid its charms. That’s how we are. We indulge our grand children more than our children.”
“Ma died because of me?” she asked.
“She died because she loved her baby. Just like you do. Did you take your medicines?” he changed the subject.
“No.”
“And you haven’t slept well. Why don’t you eat something, take your medicine, and take some rest?”
“Are you leaving?” she looked scared at the thought.
“You have some work for me?”
“No. No. Just… If Baba asks something, I wouldn’t know what to say. But if you have work to do…”
“I have taken the day off. Don’t worry. I will be in the guest room. Will you make sure that you eat and take your medicines?”
She nodded.
—
Piyali tip-toed around the house for next few days, trying not to annoy her father in anyway. He had given in to the idea of the marriage, but was not happy with the situation. He would stay on till wedding, but wanted nothing to do with it. Mukundo tried to spend as much time with them as possible to keep things comfortable for Piyali while he also arranged for a simple wedding within a week.
The servants and neighbors didn’t know what the reason was for such a hurried wedding; and such a simple one too. Some were even surprised at the alliance, but others were not. “They have both become socialists,” Mr. Banerjee explained to the more curious ones, who wondered about a simple Arya Samaj wedding for two people coming from well-to-do family. He even managed to smile. But after the guests left, he announced his departure too.
“Already Kaka?” Mukundo tried to stop him, “You should…”
“’Land papers are signed’, Mukundo. I have a job to do there. I have barely managed for last ten days. And I think you know what you have gotten into…” He paused and his detached tone changed to that of genuine gratefulness when he spoke next, “Thank you. Thank you, son. You have saved my spoiled daughter’s life…”
“Kaka. There is something I haven’t told her. Not yet, but I must tell you…”
—
“Baba!” Mukundo had sent Piyali back to her room after guests departed to take rest. She sprang out of the bed when she saw her father there.
“I must leave now, Piya,” he said. Piyali noticed that he no longer sounded belligerent and was relieved about that.
“Why so soon, Baba?”
“I didn’t come here expecting to spend even this much time. My work is suffering. You are in good hands anyway,” he smiled slightly, “Keep him happy, Piya. Don’t let him regret this decision. There is nothing else I have to say.”
Her eyes became moist as she nodded.
Mukundo came to the room and said, “The car is ready, Kaka. I will drop you to airport.”
“No,” he insisted, “You stay with her, here. Driver will drop me.”
—
“So,” Mukundo turned towards Piyali after they had seen her father off and asked with a smile, “You want to stay here, or go to… the other home?”
“What… whatever you say, Mukundo Babu,” she replied nervously.
“Since when did you start stuttering with me, Pihu Rani? Is something bothering you?” he asked softly.
She shook her head and tried to smile.
“If you are nervous,” he said, “It’s okay. There have been a lot of upheavals in your life in a short time and then this marriage… It will take time to get adjusted to things. You should just know that there is nothing to be afraid of. I am there. And now, even Kaka is not angry.”
“You are a magician, aren’t you?”
“I wish! I would have waved my magic wand then, and rid you of all your anxieties, and bring a smile back to you lips.”
“I am fine, Mukundo Babu. Don’t worry so much about me that… Have you eaten?” she suddenly remembered to ask.
“I will.”
“Oh God!”
He had come to her room before the wedding rituals were to begin. It was scheduled for the late morning, but even that would have been too late.
“Here. Eat this,” he had also brought food for her, “You need to take your medicines…”
“But Promila Kaki has asked me to not eat until…”
“Which is why I have sneaked in here secretly like a teenager. The wedding, the rituals are a social formality Piyali,” he hadn’t noticed that she was startled when he said that, “We can’t compromise yours and baby’s health for that. Now please, eat it before anyone comes.”
But he hadn’t eaten anything himself yet.
“I will ask Promila Kaki to bring lunch…”
“Uh oh! Don’t go all being a wife on me Pihu Rani. That will be awkward. Go to your room, change into something comfortable. I will get lunch for both of us there and after that we will go to my house. Okay?”
She nodded wondering how exactly he would like her to behave with him. She couldn’t continue acting like a petulant child, could she?
That night he had given her the medicines and tucked her in bed. It was nothing like a wedding night. She could not ask him the questions that occupied her mind. If their physical relationship had to progress, now was the time. When pregnancy advanced, it will be awkward. But he wasn’t even alluding to it? What did he expect from this marriage? Would he just keep protecting her and expect nothing else? Or was it the consciousness that she was carrying another man’s child? He had said that she shouldn’t think like that. But if, as a man, he felt repulsed by that, she couldn’t blame him, could she?
—
To be continued