Chapter 6
Another Suitable Match?
(August, 1980...)
Mohinder pressed the clutch with his crutch as he maneouvered to change the gear. If having only one leg meant he had to live his life resigned to a wheelchair, then he refused to live such a life. He could not succumb to his handicap, he had to rise above it. And looking at the lovely faces of the six beautiful women he had in his life always kept him on his toes, even if there were only five of those toes for him.
With his Rano's support and love, he had adopted the crutch he used for support into the leg that was missing. And made sure he lived his life to fullest so that his girls never felt the need to hold back from enjoying theirs.
They were travelling back to Amritsar but there was a slight change of plan that only him and Rano knew about. They were taking a detour towards Chandigarh.
Rano was on the edge last whole week. After she heard the news about a daughter of a relative getting married, who incidentally was a year younger than Sameera, she grew restless each day that passed. On her insistence, Mohinder had made a call to Tito Singh from the village post office as they had the only telephone in the whole village. They found that due to his own personal issues he had yet to speak back to the Khuranas. On finding out that they were in district of Hoshiarpur, he devised a plan of meeting them direct if Handas were willing, Chandigarh being just 3-4 hours away by car.
Rano's worried impatient and Tito's insistence prevailed and the Handas were now heading towards Chandigarh.
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(Khurana Kothi...)
"Sat Sri Akal Savitri jee."
"Sat Sri Akal Tito Singh, kiddan aana hoya? Maan layi koi rishta aaya hai?"
"Jee haan Savitri ji, infact the family has come with me too. It is the same family from Amritsar that I had called and informed you about. They were travelling to this part of Punjab so I thought that meeting face to face would be a better option. It would help you judge the fanily for yourself than rely just on my words."
"Hmm," Savitri contemplated, "seems right. But Sardar jee is not home yet. Do one thing, make them comfortable in the outhouse. They can rest and freshen up. I will ask Lachhi to take care of them. In the mean time I will send someone to bring Sardar jee back home."
"Changa jee."
"Tito ji, as you said the family has come, does that means the girl has come along too?"
"Hanji," he took out Sameera's photograph from his pouch, "Mohinder jee, his wife, three daughters and his son. This is the girl's photograph," he handed over the same to Savitri.
"Kee naam dasaya kudi da?"
"Sameera Handa."
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(Outhouse...)
"Everyone keeps ordering me the whole day. Lacchi do this. Lacchi do that. Mar gayi Lacchi!! Hayye, I have so much work pending and now I even have to look after these guests."
Lacchi entered the outhouse whining and cribbing and stopped dead in her tracks.
She saw three girls running around and laughing. One was of a small height, barely 5ft and dusky. The girl with the medium height was wheatish and fair. But the tallest of the three was an angel. She was as white as buttermilk. And her dupatta tied at her waist accentuated the slimness of her figure.
"Hayye, such a fairy for Chote sa'ab!! Mata rani, yeh rishta pakka kara dena."
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(Khurana Kothi...)
There weren't any two men as impressed with each other as Ajaipal Singh Khurana and Mohinder Lal Handa. It was a like call like scenario if it could be called that. The ex-army men recognized in each other kindred spirits. If Mohinder saw in Ajaipal a man of strict principles, then Ajaipal saw in Mohinder a man of his own convictions.
The family backgrounds were exchanged and details of their children discussed.
For Mohinder, nothing could be more ideal than this match. A son-in-law from Army was always a desire he nurtured in his heart. And such prestigious background was more than he expected.
"Acha jee," Tito Singh tentatively began, "so do we take the talks to the next level?"
Ajaipal knew that an answer was expected from him, but he wanted his wife to take the call. For he knew that any difference in their opinions would only mean disharmony in his son's life. "Savitri...?"
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Savitri took a deep breath. She liked the family a lot. Such humble people. Such brilliant status. Of course they were not as prestigious a family as the Khuranas, but a prosperously running factory of their own, eldest son-in-law in Govt deptt, another from a good business family, educated girls and everything in their manners and behavior indicated that good upbringing and high values have been imparted to their girls.
But!
Savitri did not find Sameera fitting the image of the girl she had imagined for her eldest son. Something did not feel right. The match did not feel right. She would make a wonderful daughter-in-law, a good wife. However, somehow she could not come to imagine that the groom for Sameera would be her Maan.
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(Outhouse...)
"Oh no! Kakku be careful..."
Sameera's warning came a little too late as Geet's foot got stuck against the foot of the sofa they were sitting on and the glass in her hand went crashing down.
Water spilled on her dress and shards of glass all around, Geet stood immobile with eyes tight shut. At hearing a collective sigh being let out around her, she opened each eye one by one and looked around like a doe caught in headlights.
"We are very sorry, really sorry..." Sameera began.
"Koi nahi didiji. Is Chhoti didi alright," Lachhi looked at Geet expectantly.
"Jee, I am fine," she replied with cheeks high on color, "sorry for all this..." Her tongue gave away looking at the mess she made.
"Hayye, main keha na koi gal nahi. [As I said earlier, its alright.] With so many people in this house and so many glasses breaking everyday, this one will go unnoticed. You don't worry didiji. Mata rani has blessed you with such pretty face. Don't spoil it with worry lines. Hayye, nazar na lage," Lacchi made the gesture to ward of evil eye frm Geet.
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(Khurana Kothi...)
Savitri looked around the silent room. She had tried her best to refuse the match with all due respect. But she understood it is a hard thing to hear.
"Mohinder jee, please do not feel that there has been some underlying malice behind this refusal. And be assured that I did not judge your daughter on looks. My Amrit is dark-skinned too. I would never do that to any other daughter what may happen to mine own."
Mohinder looked at Savitri with gratitude but his eyes were still clouded with worry. He had been very keen on this match after meeting the Khurana elders. He had for the first time, genuinely looked forward to this match. Rano sat quiet with her eyes downcast.
"Lo jee, koi gal nahi," Tito's voice shattered the melancholic mood, unmindful of the agony of the Handas or the embarrasment of Khuranas, "if you did not like Sameera, then how about Meera?"
Shock prevailed through the room as they heard Tito's suggestion.
"Tito ji..."
"One minute Mohinder," he sat back and spoke to Mohinder softly, "can you deny that such a match, such a household will be hard to come by again. Didn't you like Maan the moment you saw his photograph. And didn't you confide in me how much you would like a son-in-law from Army..."
"Haanji, par..."
"Par-var chaddo tussi. Isn't Meera of marriageable age too? Atleast talk about this option, engagement can be thought of and don't get her married till you find a match for Sameera. This match is too good to be given up."
Mohinder resigned to Tito's Singh logic and gave him permission to proceed.
Savitri looked at Tito Singh expectantly as he told her about Meera. Two years younger to Sameera, final year student, she was spoken of as a sweet and docile child. Tito Singh also mentioned as an added measure about her being fairer and taller than Sameera. For no matter how noble one is in their intentions, lure of a good looking bahu is hard to resist.
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(Khurana Kothi...)
Ajaipal came back to their drawing room after they bid farewell to the Handa couple, who went towards the outhouse to start back their journey home. He was not surprised at Savitri's decision, for he had read her expressions the moment she laid eyes on Sameera's photograph. What he did not anticipate was the humbleness and modesty with which Mohinder Lal accepted the option of discussing the match of Maan and Meera. And despite the awkwardness of the situation, Ajaipal was glad that he did.
He was for the first time in his life in awe of another man. Despite the handicap that could have plagued Mohinder Lal for life, the man made a mark in the society. He treasured his children despite their gender. He placed importance on values and not value on importance. And any daughter of such a man would be a perfect match for his Maan.
Savitri had been keen to catch a glimpse of Meera. But that was where Ajaipal drew the line. The Handas had travelled all the way to Chandigarh to pay them a visit. And as per discussed today, they will return the favor by visiting them in Amritsar on the day that had been decided upon. Even if the alliance does not materialize, at least the Handas shall be comfortable and at advantage at their own home.
But Ajaipal hoped that in the city of Shri Harminder Sahib, Babaji would be kind on both the families.
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"Lachhi!!"
"Aayi Chaiyyiji..."
"Lacchi, tell me...did you see the Handa girls?"
"Haanji Chaiyyiji," Lacchi spoke in excitement, "there was one who wasn't very pretty, thorri kaali jehi si and short in height. Another was pretty, moderate height. But there was one who was an absolute beauty. Fairest and tallest of the three. Mata rani has blessed the girl in every feature of hers. She was the one you are considering for Chhote Sa'ab, haina? Hayye, kya rishta hai..."
"Chup kar Lacchi, apna kam kar," Savitri rebuked the girl.
But her words kept ringing in her ears. Fairest. Tallest. An absolute beauty. Is this the Meera Tito Singh was praising?
Going to Amritsar became all the more important now.
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(One week Later...)
(Handa Haveli...)
This was not fair.
She knew that in their society a girl always took secondary status to a boy. She knew that the interests of a boy would always be placed above those of a girl. She knew it was a hard place to live in, despite leading a sheltered existence under her papaji's love and care all her life. But Geet still could not clamp down the indignant bile that rose within her for the Khuranas.
She did not know what exactly happened between the elders. But she had seen enough before to assume that this time too her Di must have been rejected for her dusky looks. Well it was their loss. What all those families did not realize that with her dusky looks, sharp eyes and her intelligence, Sameera Di was the real beauty of the family. Jee haan, her Di is the only one among the five of them to have taken science stream for studies.
They rejected her Sammy Di without even making an attempt to know her. And now wanted to come and see Meera Di for their son. Humphh!! Nawabzada!! What does he think of himself?! Sarru kahin ka. Khud di shakal dekhi hai? Ekdum danav vargi. [Has he seen his own face? Just like an ogre.]
Even if they do consent for Meera Di, will such a sarru keep her Meera Di happy?
"Absolutely not fair!!" Geet grumbled.
"Life is not fair Kakku," Sameera came upon her little sister who sat grumbling and talking to herself on the parapet of their roof. "You are thinking about the Khuranas, right?"
"Di, woh..."
"It's alright kakku. Don't feel embarrased. I understand what you must be feeling right now. It's your love for me, nothing else."
"Di," Geet looked at her sister hesitantly, "can I ask you a question?"
"Bol kakke patake..."
"Don't you feel angry at these things?"
Sameera took a deep breath. She wondered how much she should tell kakku before replying, "Initially I would always get preturbed. To the extent where I started blaming myself for our parents' wories. But then Nandini Di helped me. She made me realize that our life partner is already selected by Babaji. He only makes us go through these ordeals so that we can value the one who finally comes along to share our lives with," she smiled mischievously at Geet, "and one day when your actual-jiju-to-be will come in my life, I will laugh and tell him about all the fools who lost their chance with me and let him know how fortunate he is that I remained single till he came along."
Geet laughed at her Di's reply as she imagined the scene. For a moment she forgot all about the Khuranas and their sarru son.
As Geet calmed down, Sameera spoke again, "Kakku, there are many things that are beyond our control, beyond our understanding. But you trust Papaji, haina?" Geet nodded her assent. "Bas then have faith in his decisions. He will never make a wrong decision when it comes to us."
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Edited by jazzerette - 13 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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