Chapter 25

Consequences

(I have great news for you, and something I need to be sternly yelled at)

His mouth was dry and hand shook as he held the phone

“You married again?” his father grunted

“Close”

“You found someone?”

“I have a child” he said

(I have great news for you, and something I need to be sternly yelled at)

His mouth was dry and hand shook as he held the phone

“You married again?” his father grunted

“Close”

“You found someone?”

“I have a child” he said

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He didn’t have the courage to say it out loud

Śīghradallē mātanāḍalu ondu kāraṇaviruttade

There will be a reason to talk soon he muttered nervously

He was 33, he even noticed a few grey hairs on his unshaven beard but he was still terrified of talking to Pa

“Oh OK… don’t say you are going to quit your job and move to States”

“Oh no… no… no never”

He said firmly

“Wow… Nīvu modalu iṣṭu khacitavāgiruvudannu nānu kēḷilla (I have never heard you be so sure before) his father chuckled

Nānu atyuttama śikṣakarinda mātra kaliyuttiddēne

(I am only learning from the best) he buttered up his Dad

“Amma and I want to come stay with you putta”

“That would be great

His heard thudded painfully, he imagined a scene where his Pa and Amma would pamper Jaidrith

How they would take him places and have him sleep in the same room, Pa would make newspaper  kites for him with old newspapers and jharoo sticks and thread. They could afford good kites but this was something he learned from Ajja.. he wanted to pass it on

That and playing mridangam

Aatreya was really good at it, but he refused to bring his to Wharton much to his Pa’s disappointment

Now he had a candidate for mridangam lessons also

The possibilities were a million

Aatreya didn’t really pay attention to what Pa was saying

“So I am thinking Amma can come to Mumbai on the 8th and be with you for a week”

“Channagidaare” “Pa that’s fine” he nodded letting his mind drift

“It will take her mind off the fact that Apurva and Mihir do not want child”

Aatreya’s attention was back, his cheeks flamed self consciously

“Just relax Pa”

“I know”

“I am happy you came back Aatreya… sihi huduga (sweet boy)”

Aatreya teared up

“Me too Pa”

“Don’t be too… umm… Adakkiruva pada yāvudu (what is the word again) odeda hridaya (broken hearted) over the marriage?”

“Illa Pa”

“

Nīvu khacita vāgiru virā” (Are u sure?)

“Haudu haudu” (yes yes)

“You sound nervous and excited”  Somesh Rao was perceptive

“I am fine” he giggled

“Good good putta” he yawned and chanted “Krishnaa”

“Good night Pa?”

“Good night, come home soon” he laughed knowing his son had just returned from Bangalore, and was getting ready to start work in Mumbai

“Haudu” Aatreya nodded

He read up on the terrace at night about custody battles and legalese about asserting parental rights

According to Paternity Act of 2012 “An unmarried woman who is unwilling to disclose the father of the child should bear all expenses of raising such a child, child is considered fatherless or stateless until identity is confirmed”

Goutam Kundu was one of the first cases in which the Supreme Court adjudicated on the legal 

validity  of mandatory blood tests in cases relating to paternity disputes.

Goutam Kundu was one of the first cases in which the Supreme Court adjudicated on the legal 

validity  of mandatory blood tests in cases relating to paternity disputes.

Gautam K was one of the first cases in which the Supreme Court adjudicated on the legal validity of mandatory blood tests in cases related to paternity issues

He was getting really nervous and agitated now, he chatted with Mendy until 3 AM  and decided to find a lawyer

He had one in the US, the gift of divorce… they had a prenup, she was extremely wealthy… by Indian standards she might have been a biliionaire her Dad… was

So she was being safe in keeping him out of it, she was witty and dramatic and believed healthy appetites were shameful

He was down by lawyer fee and not much else at the end of the day he thought

His mother had wept inconsolably that he was divorced and the “opportunity for a prosperous life was snatched away” much like how mothers of young women worried He didn’t know what to think

He had secretly laughed though about Pramila Rao’s naivete and her belief that he was incapable of making a life for himself

He wondered about Mrunalini’s parents

Where were they? Were they OK with the out of wedlock child? She must have amazing parents and a supportive family

He concluded… no idea about Mrunalini’s negative self image or complete lack of self esteem, Aatreya assumed Mrunalini never really suffered any real consequences for her actions