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October 1942
F I L M I N D I A
(Can. from page 61 ) her lap. And after a very long interval, she said, "Yes there is. He has offered alternative terms."
And then I left her home. Next day instead of going to college she came to my room. She sat down while I prepared some tea.
"What should I do?"
I said that was for her to decide.
"He is offering to pay one hundred and fifty rupees every month. And uncle w.ll be spared if either of the proposals is accepted."
"Auntie says I could send fifty home, give fifty to her and keep the remaining fifty for myself.
"What would you do?"
"You mean what I did do?''
"You see, Madhu, when I had passed my Inter, I was suddenly told there was no more money. My father had left a good bit for me, but as T was young, his brother wa3 in charge. And one day he went and got himself declared insolven*.
"He had surreptitiously kept back most of h's property. I could have sued him, but in our world Justice is only for those who can afford it. And knowing that there is One who knows all, I dropped it.
"I was thinking of giving up college. But I met a very lonesome rich woman. And she saw me through the next two years. Just before my B.A. results were out, she died."
"Why d'd you do that?"
"So that my soul should survive! There are those who would barter itheir souls so thm their bodies may thrive. I chose to vend the body so ithat my soul should survive!
"I could have married her. But su'h a marriage would have shackled my soul in chains. It would then surely have withered away."
« » *
Next day I saw Madhu at the ,:ollege. Her eyes were red with much weeping and her little shoul
ders stooped with misery. And she said she had decided that her soul should survive!
That evening we sat on the Marine Drive while the sun was about to complete his daily journey.
Madhu said, "May I ask something of you?"
I said, "Please do."
"I would feel happy if first it was you."
And her little hand edged towards mine till I clasped it. Her eyes looked earthward.
« * *
It was arranged that she receive the money from next month, but the Sethji should wait till after her exams, late in March.
And so on the 7th of March, which happened to be Madhu's birthday, she and 1 went to Matheran. In the train Madhu sang a folklore song, softly.
"What does the song mean. Madhu?"
It was a song of thanks. A girl would sing it ;f she was getting a
good husband. "When I was a child," said Madhu. "I had performed "Murakat'."
"What is 'Murakat'?"
"Unmarried girls do fast and 'Puja' to Goddess Parvati, for five days in the month of 'Ashad', every year for five years. On the first day we would plant some wheat in a little earthen pot. And on the fifth night we would be awake '.he whole night. And at dawn we would go to the village lake and submerge th's wheat.
"We were told that if we did this. Parvati would grant us good husbands."
"Did she? '
"I don't know."
And then the little train at last chugged her way into the quaint station of Matheran. A coolie carrying our suitcase, we walked over to the Bombay Hotel. We bathed and dressed and sent for our dinner in our room.
After it was over we sat silently. Occasionally we would hear the bells which the wayfarers wore to