FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

The Price Of A Soul (By : Khooshie L. Punjabi) (The characters in this story are entirely imaginary and do not refer to any living person — The Author) Knowing full well my aversion to private tuitions. Professor Hussain should never have saddled this on to me. But because he has a heart entirely of gold, he expects at least a little angelism from everyone, even from me. Therefore, irritated as I was. it was not possible for me to refuse coaching up Madhurika in World History and English, for an hour a day. Sometimes it would take much more than an hour because she was always so tired and sleepy. However, it was plain that she was trying her best. It seemed to be a case of "the spirit is willing but the flesh " One Saturday afternoon she was really tired. Nothing seemed to enter her head. But as my M.A. examination was still miles away and her First Year examination would be over in a short while. 1 persevered. I tried to explain why the Roman Empire was no more, but to uo purpose. Madhurika had frankly gone to sleep, with her head resting against the library bookshelf. She was just a plain looking Gujerati girl about 19. Two plaits of thick black hair reached almost to her knees. And here I was in the dusty and dirty overcrowded library of my •Alma Mater-, foolishly gaz ng at Madhurika while she slept like an exhausted child. And then she awcke with a start and apologised profusely. After a little while she asked, "Will you stand me some tea, please." I must have hesitated, because at once she added.^ "I'll giv< you the money tomorrow." It seems Professor Hussa n had told her hew extremely poor I was. and how I had to give three tuitions to wooden-headed daughters (w<«seemed to be my destiny!) of the idle rfcto. in order to exist. n ika and I went to an Irani Restaurant and had an anna worth of potato wafers and a 'single' cup of tea each. After wh ch she brightened up a little, and for the first time in my life, I went and sat on the Marine Drive with a girl! She told me she was the only hild in the family. She was born at Jaumpur, the capital of Jaumpur State. Her father who was in charge cf the local primary school earned a meagre sum of eighteen rupees per month. He was an angel, but her mother — . Ever since her childhood Madhurika had been pampered and petted by her father. It was always she who garlanded the 'honourable' visitors to the school. She was taught to sing the "Vande Mataram", and to recite, parrotwise. "God Save the King". When a little older, she would sing folklore songs and dance selfimprovised versions of rustic movements. And when the Raja's wife presented him, after much laboui. with a son and heir for which a "garbha" was held, Madhurika danced and sang for it. The Raja was so delighted witn her that she was given a State scholarship to go to a High School at Baroda. And after she had passed her Matriculation, the Raja ordered that she go to Bombay and join the Presidency College. Her fees would be paid. Her books would be supplied. And for her maintenance, she would receive thirty rupees every month. Bapuji had wanted her to sta^ in the University Settlement, but her mother — . And so she had to stay with her mother's sister, whose husband worked as an accountant in some big goldsmith's shop. They lived in a small tenement, in a lans off Kalbadevi Read. Madhurika gave the thirty rupees, as they arrived every month to her aunt. She was given two annas every day for her tram fare. (it seemed much "Will you stand me some tea, please?" said she, "I'll give you the money tomorrow." 60