Starting Life Afresh

Shankar did his B.Tech from a rural Engineering college in first class with distinction. He came from a middle-class family. After completing his B.Tech, he joined as a lecturer at a Private Polytechnic in the city.

Sangeetha completed her B.Tech from a city college and passed in first class. She came from a well-to-do family. Her father was a businessman in the city. She was their only daughter. She joined as a lecturer at the same Polytechnic.

Sangeetha and Shankar worked in the same department. She was one-year junior to him. They handled different theory subjects to teach but the laboratory class was together. Each laboratory will have two faculty to explain to the students. She was not good at conducting lab experiments. He gave her a book of experiments to study. She kept it with her.

There used to be one laboratory class per week for every thirty students, ten groups each of three students. The laboratory class was for three periods. Each batch has to do one new experiment.

At the beginning of the semester,  the faculty explained the procedure for conducting experiments. The students study and copy the required process from the laboratory manual. They show the faculty member the experiment’s methodology. Collect the necessary components from the laboratory assistant after recording them in the register to start the experiment.

After taking all the precautions for experimenting as given in the manual, the students start the experiment, record the observations and show them to the faculty in charge. The faculty members will go around the experiment tables and check the connections, if students face any difficulty they will help.

Sangeetha and Shankar used to help the students together. Later they would discuss students’ mistakes and their effect on the experiment set-up. While explaining, sometimes Shankar would touch Sangeetha’s hands unknowingly.  Slowly, they developed closeness and exchanged their ideas freely.

Sangeetha was impressed with Shankar’s behaviour.

Shankar planned to go to the USA for higher studies. He contacted an educational consultant for admission to the best university in the USA. The consultant arranged an online interview. He got admission to his chosen university.

Shankar told Sangeetha of his plans to study in the USA. Sangeetha’s father was interested in Sangeetha doing MS in the USA. After discussing with her father, Sangeetha approached the consultant. The consultant arranged admission in the same course to the same university in the USA as that of Shankar. Shankar and Sangeetha were happy with the admission.

Sangeetha’s parents were happy about her admission to MS in the USA. They proudly informed their relations and friends.

Sangeetha did not inform her parents of the admission of Shankar to the same course and university and, similarly, Shankar to their parents.

Shankar and Sangeetha planned together for their travel arrangements from Mumbai. They planned their travel to Mumbai by two airlines at the home airport. Their familiar friends are not informed. They boarded the same flight at Mumbai airport. They opted for side-by-side seats on the flight at the time of taking the boarding pass. They started travelling together in life from that flight.

After they arrived in the USA, they took a rented single-bedroom portion with the help of Indian students known to Shankar in the university and started cooking and attending classes. Sangeetha’s mother had packed some vessels and pickles for easy cooking use in the USA. As everything went according to their plans, they started living together in a new environment, a new place in the USA.

Shankar, an academically brilliant student, got an assistantship from the university, which helped them financially without much dependence on their parents from India. They both enjoyed living together, studying, visiting places, and visiting beaches.

They completed their masters with first-class marks. Sangeetha’s parents wanted her to return. Shankar was reluctant.

Sangeetha said, “Dear Shankar, now that we are living together without a formal marriage, we will go to India, get married with the consent of our parents, and lead a happy married life.”

Shankar had doubts about accepting Sangeetha’s parent’s agreement to their marriage. He conveyed the same to Sangeetha, but Sangeetha was confident of convincing her parents. Shankar agreed to return to India.

The Polytechnic where they were working earlier welcomed them and offered them jobs. 

Sangeetha’s parents were in search of a match for her. They settled on one boy from a business and wealthy family. The boy was an MTech in India and looked after the family business.

While the discussions were going on, Sangeetha dared to inform her parents of her love for Shankar. 

Sangeetha’s father was furious and said, “I am dead against such love marriages. You can’t marry him. I sent you to the USA for higher studies and not for a love affair. Just keep quiet and marry the boy we selected.”

Sangeetha’s mother also supported her husband. They both were firm on the chosen boy. Sangeetha got psychologically upset with their decision.

Sangeetha informed Shankar, “Dear, my parents are not agreeing to my marriage with you. I suggest leaving for Chennai, where some of your friends are there. We get married in Chennai and leave for the USA and settle.”

In a calming tone, Shankar said, “Dear Sangeetha, let us not make decisions in an emotional state. Think of your parents, particularly your father’s reaction. Nowadays, newspapers and TV news are about love marriages, their problems and their parent’s reactions. We shall not face such a situation. Our marriage should last long forever. So, let us wait, convince our parents, and get married.”

Sangeetha was adamant and said, “No, I will not hear any argument further. I can’t wait any longer. Let us make it quick.”

She continued, “I have booked flight tickets to Chennai for both of us. We both go to Chennai, get married, and settle in the USA.”  She then switched off the phone as if her word was final.

Shankar had no choice but to in two minds.

On the specified day, Sangeetha left home as if going to work. But she went to the airport. She messaged Shankar to come to the airport as per the plan. She waited at the airport for Shankar. His ticket was with her only, so she did not enter the airport.

She rang up Shankar’s mobile but there was no response. His phone was switched off. She then messaged him on WhatsApp. All her efforts to contact him had gone to waste. The flight left.

She was distressed and did not know what to do next. She waited for some more time and went back home.

In the meantime, the Head of the Department from the Polytechnic telephoned Sangeetha’s father, “Sir, Sangeetha Madam did not report for duty today, nor any information. Can I talk to her?”

Sangeetha’s father asked the Head, “Is Shankar attending today?”

Head: “No, as both these people are absent, we are finding it difficult to arrange classes.”

Sangeetha’s father guessed something fishy and informed his wife. They decided to wait before contacting Sangeetha’s friends. They were not interested in making it public.

 After a long wait, Sangeetha returned home. Sangeetha’s parents did not enquire where she had gone. They took Sangeetha inside.

Sangeetha’s mother hugged her and said, “Do not believe in Shankar. He is a cheat. Do not worry. We are with you. You have more life to live. The boy you will marry is a good person, understands you and your life will be happy, and you have a perfect future awaiting you.”

Sangeetha kept quiet and went into her room.

Afterwards, Sangeetha’s parents fixed a date for marriage with the boy they had chosen. The wedding went on well. Everyone felt happy.

One day, when Sangeetha was searching the book rack, she found the book presented to her by Shankar. It was written on the page next to the cover: “With Love, from Shankar”. She tore that page off, made it into pieces and threw it into the dustbin. She opened the book and found a leafy creeper encircling one another.

When Shankar gave her the book, the leaves were green, fresh, bright, full of energy and bonded with each other like them. Today, they became dry, with no life in them, and creepers got separated. When she touched the leaves, they broke into pieces like her mind and like her old remembrances. She crushed the leaves and creepers into powder form with all the force she could and threw the powder into the dustbin like her thoughts. She cleaned the pages like her mind and kept the book in the old book rack.

That night, Sangeetha’s husband gave fresh, bright, beautiful, and fragrant roses. Sangeetha felt relieved of all her thoughts and worries and started life afresh.

PRABHAKAR MUSIPATLA

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