Across the Seven Seas: Saat Samundar Paar

By Kamlesh Chauhan

The novel tells us very poignantly the story of Sundari, an educated, intelligent, sensitive lady who has imbibed Indian cultural values to the grass roots and struggles in vain to live them in her life. The story begins with the growing up of a girl into a woman; her craving for love that proves to be a mirage for her as the story moves on. A saying goes that The drowning man catches at a straw. It fully applies to Sundari for every firm catch of her turns out to be a straw and she consistently suffers. The initial blow came when she was married off to the uncle of her lover who had a heart of pure gold. The uncle on the other hand is all guilt through and through. Life of Sundari starts going down the hill as all her hopes and dreams are belied despite her best efforts to make her married life a success and life turns into a mockery. The tragedy becomes all the more painful when her lover Akash again makes an entry into her cursed life. She is forced to ride two horses which she can hardly manage, to function as an ideal housewife and an ardent lover. The author introduces a few moments of transitory but suspenseful relief during which too the reader trembles and is afraid of the next blow that Sundari is bound to receive and he starts sharing the miserable life of Sundari with numerous disastrous compromises in the same way as Sanjay shares the pain of Dhritrashra in the Mahabharta.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456736972

Kamlesh Chauhan

Kamlesh Chauhan was born in most mystic Far East land India. She finished her post graduate degree in India. She has associate degree in Paralegal and Marketing While she was still a student, her parents arranged her marriage with an unknown Indian man who was living and working as Engineer in USA. She has blessed with two beautiful children a Boy called Ranjun Kalu Chauhan, Minu Kiren Chauhan. Membership: She used to run a non-profit organization called Jagriti (Awakening) for youth and women empowerment. She has written novels both in Hindi and English like Across The Seven Seas , Deception of The Seven Sacred Vows , Seven Stairways Part one and Part two . Her Novels are based on India, America, and Canada and UK life style She has been honored in India and in USA as Elite Award, Women of The year, Punjab Literature Academy. She is a multitalented woman who has done stage acting, Stage Script Writing, T.V. Serial in Hollywood. She born in India who has a dream unity, Friendship among two nations Her Birth land India as well Adopted land America.

Book preview

Across the Seven Seas

Saat Samundar Paar

Kamlesh Chauhan (Gauri)

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© 2011 Kamlesh Chauhan (Gauri). All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 6/30/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3697-2 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3698-9 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3699-6 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011902379

Printed in the United States of America

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Part One

India

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

United Kingdom

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Part 2

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Return to United Kingdom

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

United States of America

Chapter 27

United Kingdom

Chapter 28

United States of America

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Part One

India

Chapter 1

Fresh from her bath, Sundari drank in the image reflected in the tall, voluminous white ivory framed mirror. Following the leisurely long soak in the luke-warm scented water, forgetting the bitter past, she smiled with satisfaction, noticing even at this late stage, her astonishingly well proportioned, tall olive complexioned bravura body and its integral commanding authority that still retained its unique charm. The long dark hair hung round her long Greek goddess’ like neck and down the back. A coil of the still moist hair fell carelessly down the front kissing her firm ample bosom coyly. She was so absorbed in appreciating her assets that she missed the stray strands of grey hair at the temples. Her slender long hands defined by long artistic fingers too were an asset to her perfect figure. Her glance slid farther down scanning her belly button down to the vital pits and curves and finally lingering on her perfectly shaped thighs, the slender legs and the small feet. She blushed. She was beautiful and was proud of her beauty without being arrogant or haughty. In spite of her natural decency and modesty, she would tend to feel neglected and hurt if she was not noticed in a gathering.

Sundari, an intelligent woman in her mid thirties, could face the truth. In the self examination she noticed a little belatedly that on every inch of her beautiful body and in every line on her face was engraved her life’s tale, that like a mosaic formed a patron imparting a meaning to every moment lived by her, sad but beautiful, expressive of an artist’s imagination. The sad looks in her big dark eyes betrayed a tale of sorrows, of trials and tribulations, of lost dreams, of shocks and compromises she was obliged to make in her still young life. She heaved a sigh when she recalled the days when every glance whether of a male or a female turned in her direction wherever she happened to be.

Fancy can’t cheat one for a long time, as the English poet Keats has put it. Sundari’s day dreaming was abruptly disturbed as if by the cold steel of a gun pressing against her temple. The mirror image faded and she moved to her living room. She was jolted back to the stark reality of being at the harsh fate’s mercy. A tear welling from deep down inside her forced itself down her cheek when the strands of the grey hair bluntly reminded her of the predicament she was in. The sprinkling of silver in her eyebrows and midnight circles beneath the eyes were knocking at her door much too early, much before their time. The relentlessly stalking of the middle age did not permit her to rejoice in the reverie of youthful days. The unremitting sufferings and quietly drying of the occasional floods of tears had left their permanent imprint on the broad intelligent forehead.

It made Sundari’s head ache to think how imperceptibly the shine had departed leaving dark shadows under the eyes. But the transitory moments of fleeting happiness had hardly left any mark on that autumn face. She futilely tied to relive the rare moments of the irretrievable happiness and closed her eyes with the hope of catching a few bits of the tender years when discrimination is an unwanted guest.

Lively and vibrant with a spring in her gate and a face shining with the youthful vigor, Sundari accompanied her maternal grand mother (Nani) to a wedding, one of the many in the family, she had attended. These marriages always presented a grand spectacle naturally attracting all relatives and friends who attended. They were occasions for celebration in the Indian panorama. Sundari’s magnetic personality attracted one and all without an exception. Clandestine whispers were generated when people saw her. Fingers were pointed at her and exclamations escaped from reluctant lips in appreciation of her beauty.

OhVenus!

Wow, what beauty!

"By God, an angel has descended from the heaven!’

Nay, she is Urvashi, the Apsara from god Indra’s heavenly court.

Such unsolicited acclamations were routine for Sundari and she felt immensely pleased in the secret recesses of the heart. She was convinced intuitively that she naturally deserved these adulations.

Shanti need not lose sleep over finding a match for this little fairy. Her self reclaimed beauty is sure to attract some Prince charming to come riding an expensive car to ask for her hand and take her far away from us.

These observances, freely flowing regularly from her near and dear ones gradually became a second nature to the child adding to the store of her cherished dreams which were to be a tapping well-spring of a deep pride throughout her later life. Now the delightful romantic and enchanting youth was taking over from the shy and charming pixy, with the dolls and games of girlhood being swept away in the new-found capability of reaching and stretching out to the world around. Youth came with laughter, naughtiness, hopes, dreams, and carefree days. Wherever she went, about her swirled a fragrance and a flutter which captured everybody’s fancy. All were captivated by this luminous incarnation of beauty with a hypnotic aura of poise and magic.

Shanti, her mother’s heart was ignorant of this charm and magic that had evolved without her knowledge and all others felt for her daughter. In tones subdued by the sounds of wedding celebration, she pointed a gnarled bony finger, worn and aged before its time to this child and whispered to her mother. I am fed up with her attitude of assuming airs so apparently. I have six other children to look after. We barely manage to live from hand to mouth. How can I fulfill her expensive incessant demands of attention?

She will be all right, after the brief period of self discovery which will come to an end soon enough. Why do you worry so pointlessly? And you must admit that God has bestowed her with a unique personality, far more gorgeous than of your other girls, Shanti’s mother calmly observed.

Her exquisiteness does not allow her to develop a balance in her thoughts. In her private musings she has filled her head with mindless delusions. Shanti worried.

Shanti’s mother spoke softly with deliberation and wisdom, Youth comes with a big bang and fades away in no time; the pain of growing up cannot be escaped, but will help her to gain poise in her life and will equip it to face the hardships, the ups and downs and machinations of fate. Allow her to be what she wants to be at the moment.

The calendar of life is not obliged to us. It follows its own course. The days flew by.

Sundari finished high school and was ready to enter college where she would attain the zenith of her youth. But the family’s modest income cast a shadow over these prospects, what with whatever little they had already earmarked for not one, but two marriages of her sisters.

Sundari and Shiksha were chatting in the common room of the college one day.

As the marriages approached the activity in the house got a momentum. Some of the relatives and guests started coming and moved about on some mysterious errands without bothering about others. In India mostly people seem to be extremely busy without any genuine business and it was exactly what was happening here. Sundari and Shiksha were one day chatting in the common room in the college and naturally the approaching marriages was the topic of their discussion. It was perhaps Shiksha who made a reference to dowry.

I will not burden my parents by making them to have to pay a dowry. Sundari told Shiksha.

How will you manage to do that? Shiksha asked. She went on, I like the system of dowry as at least we can get from our parents what we would need to set up a new home. No help in this regard is assured from the in-laws Shiksha winked at Sundari.

It is very easy for you to say so but what about the poor, middle class families; what about those whose land has been snatched away from them? Sundari sighed.

Shiksha was not convinced. She said a bit sarcastically, Do you realize that some time you just blabber and I can’t comprehend you? She teased Sundari raising her hand and snapping her fingers in a gesture of disapproval.

No one can understand me. Sundari futilely tried to laugh the matter away.

Sundari, didn’t you say that you and your dad are very close to each other? I am sure at least he understands you and will certainly give a huge dowry in the marriage of his darling child.

Silly, I am my dad’s girl no doubt. He never lets my mom even to scold me. He wouldn’t even let me clean dishes and I am his pampered little princess for ever but I can discuss anything with him like a good friend, even this matter of dowry. Sundari smiled with great pride

Yes, I agree with you here. Your dad is really great. He is a fine-looking man and betrays his Royal ancestry. Your last name is derived from aristocratic and noble ancestors. By the way do you have any idea what happened to your clan? I understand they had mineral mine holdings. How did they lose them? Shiksha inquired

I have heard that their land was taken away by the British government. After freedom the Indian government abolished Kingship. My grandfather was good looking, a spendthrift and a good chess player. Subsequently he became a hardened gambler. He lost everything in gambling and then his family had to shift to some modest quarters.

What about your mother? She also has spectacular beauty and every one of her gestures betrays a good upbringing?

My maternal grandfather’s family was rich. When he saw my father, he could not resist his charm and etiquette, and he married my mother to my dad with the intention that one day he would make my father rich. He gave everything as dowry in my mother’s marriage .With this generosity and affection; my father wanted nothing more in the material world.

And then? Shiksha’s curiosity was growing.

Well, my father had a large family. Both of my uncles, sick of my Dada’s lifestyle, moved away to Delhi, They were frustrated at the way Dada ji had lost substantially in gambling. My father was of a kind and forgiving nature. He never uttered a word to my dada ji in this regard.

Did your dada also take away your mom’s dowry?

No, he left it somehow and mom helped my father in marrying away all his sisters with her parental money and jewellery but then unluckily…. Her sad voice trailed off.

Then what…?

My Nana ji’s home was looted by robbers, desperate, evil, brigands, who…foully murdered my Nana ji. Sundari began to cry.

My goodness, your parents were really great. And you, my dear saheli (chum) Sundari; you can put your family back onto the track now by working hard and earning.

I will keep doing everything in this regard till the last breath. I will take my family out of the pit of penury and into that of abundance they so richly deserve, as you pointed out. All right, Shiksha, listen! I have to go home now to give my sister a helping hand in the arrangement of her wedding day. Her day will come soon and many qualified bachelors will queue up to ask for her hand in marriage. (Many suitors will queue up at her door.) Sundari giggled.

The marriage is to take place the coming week and the relatives are already coming. Shiksha asked.

Oh yes! My dad’s sister and my cousins are already here.

Would you mind telling me about the time and the date of Sangeet? (Ladies sing in chorus as part of celebrations in India.)

It is today, dear. Oh! Shiksha left.

Chapter 2

Marriages are such joyful occasions’ in India. Although rich in ritual and customs’ with roots in antiquity, all is festivity and is made anew within the self-contained world of the wedding: new paints, new furniture, and new clothes. It was month of January, and in spite of the air’s chill, Shanti had managed to stage the event on the open Veranda. Everyone living in the vicinity had come to join in this musical night. Sundari dancing and singing kept the neighbors enthralled till midnight. The guests were all eyes as they watched the perfect curves, titillating gestures and bewitching eyes of Sundari who seemed to be determined to cast her spell one and all. This night she looked so tempting that even God must have patted Himself on the back for this unique creation. Her attractiveness was noticed and praised even by her sisters’ bridegrooms, and the brides couldn’t help envying her. Sundari and Shiksha were busy making titillating jokes with the bridegrooms and the other young men who had come as a part of the marriage party. Finally the moment of her sisters’ departure to their parents-in-law came and in due course the brides were gone forever bidding goodbye to the parental home and family. Almost all eyes were moist when the girls with their eyes betraying some unknown fear they could face in the new homes left.

For the first time Sundari realized that she was the only one to help her parents. Two younger brothers were in grammar school and the youngest sister was still a suckling kid.

"Mom, sisters are gone to their husband’s homes and I have to study for my final exam which is almost round the corner.

Sundari my darling beti (daughter), I understand the situations without you’re mentioning it. You have lost considerable time being involved with the work concerning the marriages at the loss of your studies. I share your concern.

Well, anyway, I will have to study hard to make up for the lost time. I am sure to succeed and then I would like to apply for a job in some private school to supplement our resources.

We don’t want you to look for any job. Our society will look down upon us if we let you earn money and to take care of the loan we took for your two sisters’ wedding and the dowry. Her mother sadly observed.

Mom, don’t be sad. Let people say whatever they please. I am resolved to help my parents and let my brother sister go to college for higher education. Sundari laid her hand on Shanti’s shoulder

May God grant your prayers and give you strength to succeed in your efforts my dear child!" Shanti hugged Sundari

The winds of change often begin to blow without warning. The hour of vagary came upon Sundari too one genial day in a park, deceptive in its peaceful slumber. She was happily dancing with her friends and was sure that every bird, bee and butterfly alighting softly upon her and upon those lesser luminaries, the flowers, indeed each denizen of nature, was mesmerized by her allure, and was asking for her royal nod to stay in her proximity till infinity. Preoccupied with this assured adoration she hadn’t noticed that she was being watched keenly by someone standing a little away and trying to look unconcerned with this display of carefree youthful preoccupation. Sundari felt that though akin to once unassailable iron, she was helplessly being pulled by the unseen but magnificently strong beams of the magnet, the watcher. From a recess of her heart music sprang up and she started humming a love tune to attract his attention and found her being maneuvered to be within his field of vision, lest he should leave without even acknowledging her presence. But the young gentleman had scrupulously managed to show his indifference to her and had already left. Sundari could just see the bike taking him away into the unknown.

This brief encounter had taken its toll. Sundari stood dazed. This was for the first time that someone had ignored her so obviously. A mixed feeling of indignation, humiliation and curiosity to know more about the mysterious young man who dared to challenge her hitherto unchallenged presence assailed her. Then, with softness but with a little sarcasm one of her entourage jerked her out of the trance, Hullo! Where are you? Who has caught your attention? Who was it that has stolen our friend so audaciously and taken her so far away from us and even from herself?

What are you talking about? Stupid, I was just making the most of the sweet aroma of that rose bud. Sundari disengaged herself from the troop and moved a little distance away to one side. She was again lost in her thoughts about the proud young man who dared ignore her.

If you keep on staring at that bud of yours, the sun will go down, and we will be at the mercy of the approaching darkness and you can be sure that our mothers will ensure that we do not enjoy this liberty in the near future. Shiksha said fretfully.

Sundari spent the night rolling in her bed without sleep with a crescent moon and twinkling heavens. The soft glow of starlight had transformed her body into an insensitive clod of earth. She couldn’t even take for a moment her mind off the experience she had had in the park. She would talk to herself oblivious of the surrounding.

Why didn’t he care even to look at me and did not feel the least of my charms? Sundari murmured. But he must have contrived to see me somehow and felt attracted to me. The gentleman must have been too shy to do so openly. She reasoned. She had somehow convinced herself that he was a shy gentleman. Logic is seldom useful or helpful in such matters of the heart. Sundari was in the most romantic period of her life. How could he turn away from such pure and unsullied beauty as mine?

It never occurred to her that she had not weighed the possibility of his or her not having seen each other clearly and her feeling of hurt in being ignored by a man was the main cause of her restlessness rather than her love for him. Still who, at her age, has the time for such useless logic? Her mind continued like a disobedient and adamant child.

Oh embodiment of my dreams, where are you? Only if I knew your whereabouts, I would fly to you; into your arms. But alas, dreams and reality seldom run parallel. The truth was that she didn’t know where he was and nobody was in the least bothered whether she slept or not.

Sundari called for a Rickshaw to take her to college. As she was coming out of the street, she saw some stranger who reminded her of the young man whom she seen in the park long ago, when she was dancing with her friends but her voice failed her. In the brief second before Sundari could say anything, the stranger was gone. As her still dazed eyes glanced up and down the path, she noticed her elder sister Sunaina getting off a bus.

Sundari, are you going to college? What are you looking for? Sunaina noticed a lost look on Sundari’s face.

Sister, why are you alone? Where is Jija ji? Sundari asked without answering Sunaina. She was happy yet surprised to see her sister come so unexpectedly without any notice.

Sunaiana’s face dropped and she could not say anything.

You didn’t call us or send us a telegram that you were coming. Sundari said hugging Sunaina

You go and take your exam. We shall talk about it when you come back after your examination. She said, putting Sundari off.

On return from college, Sundari came to Sunaina and asked her about her parents-in-law and her life in general. Then she asked her why she had come alone so unexpectedly. Sunaina shared her sadness with her. Sunaiana’s husband had lied about his being a graduate whereas he was only a high school drop out. Sunaiana’s parents-in-law wanted Sunaina to get money from her parents to enable them to repay their business loan. Sunaina had abandoned her husband’s home due to such demands of her in-laws. She had done so reluctantly, knowing well that this would affect her parents’ happiness. The demon of dowry has ruined so many families in India; crushed so many rosy dreams of young girls and in many cased taken the toll of their entire families. Sundari was shaken to the roots. She saw the naked face of Indian hypocrisy and her conscience revolted. She would, if she could, take revenge on her sister’s in-laws and would think twice before she decided to marry. But she was helpless as Sunaina and her family was.

An embittered Shanti was doing her best to soothe Sunaiana’s hurt. Sundari one day asked Sunaina Why does Jija ji care so much for dowry? It is 21st century. But in what period of time is he living?

Sundari, he has been brain washed by his parents and is hardly capable of taking his own decisions. He even beat me occasionally and his mother tried to kill me. Sunaina was in tears.

Didi, I will never tolerate such behavior; I will hit back if my husband ever raised his hand at me Sundari said angrily.

I am expecting. A few days back I wrote him a letter and he didn’t bother to reply me. Sunaina cried again.

It was beyond Sundari’s comprehension how a man could beat his pretty wife who was educated and wise. Sunaina was the one who had always encouraged Sundari to finish college and start giving tuitions at home. She was close to her elder sister. So she asked Sunaina, Didi your beauty and intelligence alone should have been a reward enough for good husband. Your husband is just a common human being not a superman. You could have won him over with tact and love.

I hope you will share such wisdom with your husband when your time comes. Sunaina retorted annoyed by the advice of this chip of a girl much younger than her and was hurt. She was choked with tears

Sundari realized she had made a mistake in making this observation. She should have known better. A year ago her cousin had faced the same predicament. This cousin too had deserted her husband and his family and was now envious of Sundari. She was always mocking at her mother about Sundari being arrogant and hot headed.

Mom, I have been offered a position as a stewardess by Air India. Sundari told her mother with trepidation and steeling herself for the expected negative and even explosive response. It came swiftly not from her mother but from her cousin, Ugh! I am sure you know the job is no more than a waitress’ a dishwasher’s or a food and drink bearer’s. I wonder why aunt Shanti should allow you to apply for such a menial job which will earn our family a bad name." The cousin unsuccessfully tried to conceal her jealousy.

Yes, I see no reason why I should let you go to work outside the house. You need to help Sunaina with the tuition work right here at home. Shanti felt the surge of rising anger. But mom, tuitions alone won’t do. We need sufficient money to run the home and to meet other essentialities. I will earn more as a stewardess than a mere tutor slogging along with unreceptive kids. Besides, I hope to earn enough and you will not have to worry for arranging my dowry. I am sure to save enough if at any stage I feel inclined to get married.

Sundari, you seem to be a denizen of Utopia. Why don’t you see that when your jija’s family asked for me to bring money from my parents, I left them? I had asked them to allow me go out for job but they didn’t agree. But the situation here is not that bad. Why are you insisting on going to such extremes for no reason at all? Where is the compulsion to do that job? Sunaina said.

Didi, I am proud of you that you didn’t bow to the unjust demand of your in-laws for money which was almost blackmail. How long can a woman drag on with such an unsavory existence? As for me, though I said that I would save for my dowry, I was half lying. In fact I don’t want to marry at all. I see no logic in expecting girls to have to marry. Well, I would like you to answer me this? Sundari argued.

Do you imply that you will never marry and can live as a spinster the whole life? You blockhead, girls should marry when they have their assets to flaunt and they are advertising themselves, spreading fragrance and are sending out an aura in a way that no young son of Adam could pass by without noticing them and keeping his mouth from watering. Do you know that to a young man the ripe body of a beautiful woman is like a luscious ripe fruit that must be tasted and eaten bit by bit relishing every morsel? Even a not so good looking young woman would send signals to a male body inviting him for the things she would like him to do to her. Such is the chemistry of youth and the clever plan of nature. The bees hover over juicy flowers only as long as there is juice to offer. But the flower is not going to stay for ever. It must fade. And the bees would move away to fertile grounds. Without this scheme the whole divine project of perpetuation of the species would come crashing down. Who are you to defy this? Can you imagine of a world without men or women or a single sex world? It would be a world of absolute boredom and hardly worth living in. The creator must have been a clever player who made sex the most pleasurable experience for all organisms including the intellectual giant, man. Like a momentary gust of wind, youth is here now and gone the next moment. If allowed to go, it leaves a heap of regrets and fading dreams. So you would be well advised to make your kill while there is still time. My fate is an exception to the general rule. Not all have my fate. Don’t be discouraged in doing what has to be done at the right time. The saying goes ‘Make hay while the sun shines.’ Keep your eyes open and when the right type of an eligible male comes your way, don’t lose the chance. Besides, our father is known for his respectability in the elite society and it will bring him great shame if you were to end being an old spinster. It is great embarrassment and humiliation for Indian parents if a daughter remains unmarried. Sunaina delivered a long discourse much to the chagrin of Sundari.

Yes, I agree with Sunaina. Marriage at the right time is advisable, dear. Her mother observed.

You may be right but what do you think about Sunaiana’s married life? What did anybody gain by letting her marry? She is going to have a baby and her husband has not only abandoned her but also not shown any interest in her and his own coming baby. If that is how women are to suffer, why should I give the right to a man to use my body and then discard me with a flimsy excuse? Sunaiana’s husband has also been making public the letters written by his wife to him proposing reconciliation.

Sundari! Sunaina raised her voice indignantly.

I am sorry Didi, I am really sorry; I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Sundari hugged Sunaina in an attempt to mollify her.

Shanti and Sunaina grew concerned about Sundari’s independence of thinking and unusual individuality. Nonetheless Sunaina felt proud of Sundari’s courage in rejecting the dowry system. Sunaina felt convinced that Sundari would not meekly submit to the injustice of the in-laws or the society at large. Her cousin’s strong words kept Sunaina from bowing before her greedy –in-laws. Sunaiana’s cousin made her write strongly worded letters to her in-laws about the callous treatment of her when she was living with them and those letters had been circulated by her in-laws to all relatives of Shanti to malign the family.

As a consequence of this discussion Sundari didn’t accept the job offered by the Airline. She started helping Sunaina in running the private coaching centre for the students who needed help in their home work. They earned adequately and soon the work was thriving. However as is natural in such situations, it was not palatable to the envious neighbors and they lost no opportunity in making remarks, God! How long will these girls stay at their parent’s homes when they should be at their in-laws? One would say.

Who knows what they are up to? I doubt that they do any fruitful work. The other one would observe within the hearing of Shanti.

For God’s sake have mercy on us. All of you have daughters. You should feel ashamed in thinking ill of others. Why do you always have an evil eye on my daughters? What if they are working at home? We never come begging at your door and you don’t have to pay our bills. Shanti would contemptuously dismiss her neighbors.

Sundari didn’t find the neighbors’ and the relatives’ remarks and taunts worth paying attention to and just ignored them. Her motive was to make the family financially secure and both sisters did their best to do this. Gradually things improved. Both the brothers were already in college. Sundari had received her Bachelor’s Degree in Arts. Luck seemed to smile on her as the teachers of her college advised her to join Master’s Degree course free of cost. Sundari joined MA classes and was very busy. The coaching work at home kept her away from social life. She dint have time even to give a short rub on her head. One day finding an opportunity, she went to see a movie with her friends without taking permission of her parents.

Chapter 3

The Movie Hall was almost full. But the chair beside Sundari’s was vacant and on the next to this, someone whom she didn’t know was sitting. So she put her books on the vacant chair. At the end of the movie she hastily collected her books and left. But in doing this one of the books was left there. The next morning as soon as she reached the college she was called to the visitors’ room. It puzzled her little as she had just arrived. What could have gone wrong, she wondered. She hoped everything at home was ok."

Miss Sundari, here is someone looking for you. Saying this, Principal left the room.

So your name is Sundari. The young man observed scrutinizing her face. It is a beautiful name. Anyway, I came here just to return this book you left in the Cinema hall yesterday. Your name and roll number were written on the cover, you see. Here is your book. Handing the book over to her, the stranger left at once even before she could thank him.

The brief encounter was being watched by Sundari’s colleagues standing a little distance away. A handsome young man in the college was news. They at once came to Sundari and surrounded her giggling. Won’t you tell us who the Handsome Prince was, Miss Sundari? Why didn’t you introduce him to us? Are we so awful that you were afraid lest we should steal him from you? They did their best to pull her leg. But Sundari ignored all of them and went to her class. Shiksha was Sundari’s best friend. She was a smart girl, with attractive looks and intelligent face. She preferred wearing fashionable clothes on all occasions. She was very close to Sundari and never kept any secrets from her. When Sundari was gone, she felt hurt when Sundari ignored her too with the other friends. Sundari could have detained her to share information about the incident. After college when both were cycling back home Shiksha asked Sundari politely, Who was this Rajkumar Devi ji?

Which Rajkumar are you talking about, Shiksha? Why would a Prince come in poor peoples’ life? They are an object of contempt for the rich. Their lives have been pawned away, Shiksha. Sundari didn’t want to elucidate and bade Shiksha good bye to go home.

Shiksha was expecting some more information and was naturally disappointed with Sundari’s oblique reply. On her way home, she recalled her first meeting with Mahesh, Sundari’s cousin, at the marriage of Sundari’s sister. They were playing and teasing each other. Marriages are fun to attend when the youth are free to mingle with each other and no one raises an eyebrow at whosoever meets or eyes persons of their choice. While appreciating eyes were focused on Sundari, it was Shiksha whom Mahesh believed to be the most beautiful woman around. After initial flirting and exchanging advances, they were initiated in the love game. The first meeting was followed by more contacts and exchange of love letters between them. Sundari was the go-between to carry Shiksha’s letters to Mahesh and vice versa. With this intimacy and informality of relationship, Sundari’s cool response to Shiksha regarding the young man’s visit to the college was not consistent. Hence Shiksha couldn’t compromise with Sundari’s behavior. There was nothing wrong in my curiosity to know who he was. What happens to Sundari sometime is puzzling. I share with her every secret of my life but Sundari is keeping even such a minor thing to herself. I am going to ask her again. Shiksha decided and reached home with these thoughts on her mind.

The next morning as Shiksha reached college, she found Sundari sitting alone near the common room lawn. Shiksha quietly approached Sundari from behind and covered