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Authors: Shobhan Bantwal
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can force me back. You won’t be able to stop them.”
“I won’t let them harm you, Megha,” he assured her. “I went there to save you tonight. After I returned home from dinner at your house earlier, I just couldn’t relax. At first I tried to tell myself that my imagination was running wild. Since I thought it was divorce that Amma was planning, I decided I’d let it take its course, because it would be the best thing for everyone, especially you. But then, those printouts I had seen in her bag kept bothering me. The possibilities were ghastly. I couldn’t let them come true, so I came to look for you.”
“Even if it meant antagonizing your family?” When Kiran nodded, she said, “But I still don’t understand. You’re one of them, Kiran.”
“Being one of them doesn’t mean I support them in everything. I happen to believe in things like decency and integrity, you know.”
“Oh.” Megha looked away, apparently not quite convinced.
“Listen, Megha, I just thought of something. Part of my future plans is to quit my job and move to Mumbai to take over my father’s branch office. I’ve already purchased a flat there in preparation for my move. Maybe you can stay in the flat for a while?”
“I can’t stay—”
“You’ll be safe there. Mumbai’s a huge city and it’s easy to remain anonymous there. When the police give up their hunt, Suresh and Amma will file for divorce on grounds of desertion. They’re desperate to find Suresh another wife. I believe they’ll welcome this opportunity.”
She shook her head, still looking troubled. “You can’t do this. What about your parents?”
“In time we’ll let them know—when things settle down—when your divorce is under way.”
“No, Kiran. The idea of a runaway wife, their nephew’s wife, seeking shelter in your home will destroy them. Divorce in itself is enough to upset them.”
Kiran snorted with typical male indifference to convention. “This is the twenty-first century, Megha. Look around you. Divorce is not all that rare these days.”
A wry smile touched the edge of Megha’s mouth. “That may be true, but the injured party’s cousin sheltering the offending party is unheard of. You and I still live in Palgaum. We were born in an orthodox Brahmin caste and culture mired in a swamp that goes back a thousand years. The world goes around, but our traditions remain static. Don’t you see that? Besides, it’s not my divorce I’m worried about. It’s your reputation that concerns me more.”
“You have a way with words, you know that?” Kiran said, trying to help ease her anguish. “I’ve noticed it—the way you express yourself is so colorful, interesting. And you can quote poetry learned in high school as if you read it only hours ago.”
“That’s what my English professor often told me.” Her answering smile was wistful. “I’ve always loved writing and reading.”
“I’m not surprised. Some day you’ll have to show me what you write. But right now you need to get some rest. You’ve had a traumatic night.”
He noticed the doubts cloud her face once again and realized all this was too much for her to absorb at present. She was still in shock. After some rest she would be able to think rationally. Tomorrow he’d explain his plans to her in detail and then she’d see some sense, recognize the logic in his thinking.
But first she needed to get cleaned up. She was clearly embarrassed about her appearance. He noticed how she was trying to hide the dirt on her sari and tuck her hands and feet out of sight. And those scratches on her arms and face combined with her heartbreaking tears were tempting him to rush over to Amma’s house and strangle the fat old bitch with his bare hands. He had never been particularly fond of his aunt, but now he detested her. He wasn’t a violent man by nature, nor was he vindictive, but if Amma and Suresh had succeeded in their evil plans for Megha, he would have made sure
“I won’t let them harm you, Megha,” he assured her. “I went there to save you tonight. After I returned home from dinner at your house earlier, I just couldn’t relax. At first I tried to tell myself that my imagination was running wild. Since I thought it was divorce that Amma was planning, I decided I’d let it take its course, because it would be the best thing for everyone, especially you. But then, those printouts I had seen in her bag kept bothering me. The possibilities were ghastly. I couldn’t let them come true, so I came to look for you.”
“Even if it meant antagonizing your family?” When Kiran nodded, she said, “But I still don’t understand. You’re one of them, Kiran.”
“Being one of them doesn’t mean I support them in everything. I happen to believe in things like decency and integrity, you know.”
“Oh.” Megha looked away, apparently not quite convinced.
“Listen, Megha, I just thought of something. Part of my future plans is to quit my job and move to Mumbai to take over my father’s branch office. I’ve already purchased a flat there in preparation for my move. Maybe you can stay in the flat for a while?”
“I can’t stay—”
“You’ll be safe there. Mumbai’s a huge city and it’s easy to remain anonymous there. When the police give up their hunt, Suresh and Amma will file for divorce on grounds of desertion. They’re desperate to find Suresh another wife. I believe they’ll welcome this opportunity.”
She shook her head, still looking troubled. “You can’t do this. What about your parents?”
“In time we’ll let them know—when things settle down—when your divorce is under way.”
“No, Kiran. The idea of a runaway wife, their nephew’s wife, seeking shelter in your home will destroy them. Divorce in itself is enough to upset them.”
Kiran snorted with typical male indifference to convention. “This is the twenty-first century, Megha. Look around you. Divorce is not all that rare these days.”
A wry smile touched the edge of Megha’s mouth. “That may be true, but the injured party’s cousin sheltering the offending party is unheard of. You and I still live in Palgaum. We were born in an orthodox Brahmin caste and culture mired in a swamp that goes back a thousand years. The world goes around, but our traditions remain static. Don’t you see that? Besides, it’s not my divorce I’m worried about. It’s your reputation that concerns me more.”
“You have a way with words, you know that?” Kiran said, trying to help ease her anguish. “I’ve noticed it—the way you express yourself is so colorful, interesting. And you can quote poetry learned in high school as if you read it only hours ago.”
“That’s what my English professor often told me.” Her answering smile was wistful. “I’ve always loved writing and reading.”
“I’m not surprised. Some day you’ll have to show me what you write. But right now you need to get some rest. You’ve had a traumatic night.”
He noticed the doubts cloud her face once again and realized all this was too much for her to absorb at present. She was still in shock. After some rest she would be able to think rationally. Tomorrow he’d explain his plans to her in detail and then she’d see some sense, recognize the logic in his thinking.
But first she needed to get cleaned up. She was clearly embarrassed about her appearance. He noticed how she was trying to hide the dirt on her sari and tuck her hands and feet out of sight. And those scratches on her arms and face combined with her heartbreaking tears were tempting him to rush over to Amma’s house and strangle the fat old bitch with his bare hands. He had never been particularly fond of his aunt, but now he detested her. He wasn’t a violent man by nature, nor was he vindictive, but if Amma and Suresh had succeeded in their evil plans for Megha, he would have made sure
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