part-3
Ashu squirmed as he saw Kajri dressed in a bright yellow synthetic saree...she was true to her class wasn't she...obviously he can't expect her to be dressed in pastel chiffons and pearls...
Ashu walked to the living room...he was surprised at being called...what work did this guy have with him...did he have some neurological disease and wanted a consultation away from the hospital...
Ashu was surprised when Lallan walked to him, patted his shoulder, smiled at him and left...
Was he called just for that? strange man ...he remarked to himself.
once Lallan's entourage had left, Alok smiled at Ashutosh...
"Ashu...have a look...this is Radhika ...Lallanji's daughter"
Ashutosh looked at the photo curiously...a 16 something child woman was dressed in a rich silk saree...
"But why are you showing it to me Baba"
"...Because..you will be marrying her"
Ashu couldn't believe his ears...he was aghast
"You are hallucinating Baba"
"No my son...it is true...though it is too good to be true...Lallanji has selected you for his daughter"
"Baba...what is wrong with you...there is no way I am marrying this child"
"She will be 18 this month...that is the legal age for marriage for girls in India..if you are unaware of the fact"
"I know that...but 18 is too young for marriage...she isn't even a graduate"
"Her greatest qualification is that she is Lallanji's daughter"
"But I can't marry her..."
"Nobody asked for your permission Ashutosh...neither did Lallanji ask nor am I asking. What Lallanji wants he gets. You should be thankful that he has chosen you to be his son in law..he is going to get his daughter married this year...whether it is to you or to someone else...so stop thinking about her and think about your interests...Your life will be transformed if you marry into his family...you will have power if you associate yourself with him...and if you reject this proposal...do you think that you can survive in Lucknow after antagonising Lallanji? "
"Baba, I am not an object that he can appropriate for himself...I will move away from this place...far from people like Lallan...and far from KGH where I have to bow down to some fools who have managed to be at the helm of affairs...far away from Lucknow"
"You are a fool Ashutosh...you are a blinking idiot...you needn't go away from Lucknow, it is the place to be. You are having problems in KGH? you will encounter the same problem even if you escape to Mumbai...there is only one solution for this problem...Radhika- marry her ...and nobody at KGH will dare mess with you...you will hold sway there my son."
Ashutosh suddenly began to see logic in his Dad's words. Even if he escapes from Lucknow, what will he gain? nothing much...but his Dad's career will be destroyed...and if he stays in Lucknow and obliges Lallan..there are rich dividends to be reaped.
// It would be a marriage of convenience...but then why should I be so moralistic about it...one must be practical in life...after all I wouldn't be the first man planning to marry a rich man's daughter in pursuit of wealth and power...many have done that before...and when it is acceptable for women to marry for money then why should it be any different for men?
It is not as if I have ensnared the girl, on the contrary her dad came with the alliance...why should I say no and kick away a lifetime of comforts?
Expediency? which marriage doesn't have elements of that? Why should I judge myself ? I will treat her well...better than any rat that her Dad will find for her in event of my refusal...Besides that girl isn't so bad to look at...she is fair, has reasonably good facial features...the rest of her body was shrouded in a saree...but what was hidden might not be too bad either...
She was undereducated and unsophisticated for sure...but wasn't it a small price to pay for the benefits she would bring along?... besides, she is still young...I can groom her to a passable standard. Of course, I won't be able to parade her in front of the friends I have made in London...that is no big deal. She will be an asset in Lucknow...most of the men I know here have such unassuming wives...it has worked fine for them...and it will work out fine for me too//
Lallan's house
Lallan had just received a call from Alok Tripathi..he smiled...and then called his aide Pandey and asked him to make some arrangements.
Lallan Trivedi walked into the dining area and shouted- Sumitra...Kaushalya
Two women responded to his call in no time.
"The jeweller will come to our house in the evening...I may not be there at home. You two will assist Radhika in ordering jewellery of her choice. Just ensure that each piece is heavy and befitting our status. I want my bitiya to be covered from head to toe in gold..."
"Kuch gehne abhi banvathe hai...aur kuch baad mein.. " Sumitra dared to speak.
"Phir wohi bakwas...maine tumse tumhari rai nahin mangi...jitna kaha hai utna karo...iss mahine ke 30 tareekh ko bitiya ka byah hai"
Sumitra was shell shocked...so was Kaushalya...though the relationship between the co-wives weren't cordial, Kaushalya loved Sumitra's kids as she didn't have any of her own.
"Parr bitiya abhi padh rahi hai" Sumitra spoke with a tad more courage
"Padh likh ke kya collector banegi?
Kaushalya spoke now "Ladka kya karta hai ji?"
Lallan was more tolerant of his elder wife...hence he mellowed down
"Advocate Tripathi ka beta hai...doctor hai...vilayat mein padha hai..dekhne mein bhi accha hai"
Kaushalya was satisfied...though worry still marred Sumitra's face
"Aap chinta mat kijiye ji...ek hi ladki hai hamari...mein khud gehne chunungi...apki status ka dhyan rahungi..."...Sumitra glared at Kaushalya for saying this.
"Accha...Radhika bitiya se bol dena...do hafton mein woh Missus Dr.Ashutosh Tripathi banne wali hai...//he laughed aloud...proud of what he had done for his daughter// Abhi jata hoon...dahej ka intezaam karne"
Kaushalya walked towards Radhika's room leaving behind a pensive Sumitra.
Vanshaj
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
