Part II

As the years passed, Venkats performed SS's marriage to Kanakam's distant relative's daughter, Bhavani, who was from the remote village of Motaparthy. Bhavani was two years younger than SS. In those days, it was a practice for child marriages. The parents on both sides decided on the marriage without the consent of the bride and the bridegroom.

At the engagement function, they exchanged wedding cards written by the pundit. Both parties discussed all the formalities of marriage on that day. They also discuss the possible number of people attending the marriage from the groom's side and the necessary travel arrangements (Bullock Carts) from the nearest bus stand.

The written wedding cards by the pundit serve as the authority of acceptance by both parties and can be made public. Manual printing presses were unavailable. Villages had no post offices. All communication was through messengers. They did not know cycles or motorised transport, so the messengers had to walk. Handwritten invitations were sent with messengers. The near and dear were informed personally.

The bride and groom could see each other at the marriage pandal. Due to age and social restrictions, the bride was shy and avoided glancing at the groom.

*

Bhavani's father was an older adult with twenty acres of wetland in the village. The village had no school, so a pundit taught Bhavani at home until puberty. He taught Telugu, including reading, writing, and basic mathematics. In addition, he taught stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and sang in Telugu folk songs. He made her memorise and recite the Bhagavad Gita Sanskrit shlokas with the correct pronunciation and meaning.   He taught her to recite all the poems of Sumathi and Vemana shatakams (One Hundred Poems each) by heart. These two books contain poems explaining one's duties to society and offering insights into understanding people's behaviour, morals, and ethics.

In those years, there were no printed books. Everyone had to memorise and recite. They remembered all the songs and shlokas. Few, such as the village Patwari and Patel, wrote government records. Others communicated orally.

Bhavani assisted Kanakam with household chores and managing the shop. She managed the accounts and handled the shop's daily material requirements. She and SS worked hard to develop the shop, and the locals praised the young couple.

SS and Bhavani started their family life in Vishnupura.

*

During this period, Bhavani became pregnant and went to Motaparthy for delivery. They had a son.

The child's function was lavishly celebrated by maternal grandparents, who invited SS's adoptive parents and all near and dear.

*

Bhavani had no formal education but was well-versed in dealing with people, society, and money. Born to parents of sound financial and social status in a remote village, she married an unknown person, SS. With marriage, a woman has to build her home, care for her husband and raise children. Caring for the house and the husband are societal responsibilities, and raising children is God-given.

*

  As Venkats grew old, they arranged for Kumar's marriage to Kamala, Venkat's sister's daughter. Kumar and Kamala were both thirteen.

Kamala's parents knew that SS was an adopted son.   They told Venkat and Kanakam that SS, being an adopted one, had no rights to Venkat's property. They demanded that the grocery shop and house be given to Kumar, as he had no education. Venkat had agreed to this condition.

SS learned for the first time that he was adopted, which was shocking news for him and  Bhavani. 

*

Kanakam had a special affection for Kamala. Kamala studied up to fourth class in Vishnupura and was proud of her education. Kanakam asked Kamala to look after the shop. Kumar and Kamala started a family soon after their marriage.

*

Kumar started treating SS as an outsider. He and his wife did not permit Bhavani to enter the shop, and they began to hate them, cutting off all communication with them. They thought they were the righteous owners of the shop and house.

From a better social background, Bhavani objected to Kumar's behaviour and complained to Kanakam to put him right. Kanakam kept silent. With Venkat and Kanakam's silence, Kumar and Kamala exited, assumed headship of the house, and told the SSs to leave immediately.  

Bhavani told Kumar, "SS had every right or more than Kumar's being the elder one, before Kumar was born and having contributed to the development of the shop and the family, helping financially with all his salary, and that Kumar should understand."

 Kanakam supported Kumar and Kamala.

*

In the Nizam State, a government job was considered a respectable social status. Kumar, who was uneducated, had an inferiority complex. He thought that if the SSs left the house, he alone could be the shop and house owner.

Kumar and Kamala discussed these issues openly with SS and Bhavani without Kanakam or Venkat's opposition. Bhavani, who comes from a respectable family, was hurt by Kumar and Kamala's behaviour. Bhavani tolerated it for a year and discussed it with her husband.

SS was disturbed by this development. He thought of his hard work and the salary he had invested in developing this house, only to see his efforts go to waste and bring him insults. SS wept silently before Bhavani, lamenting his fate and his inefficiency.

Bhavani, a girl with a good heart and from a good family, was facing these problems because of her marriage to SS. Bhavani consoled him, saying that God helps those who help others.

*

 SS discussed the home developments with his colleagues and friends. Instead of facing insults, they suggested a transfer to lead a peaceful life. SS started his trials for a transfer with higher officials.

That was when the government opened new primary schools with a single teacher in villages to provide education to children in rural areas. The higher officials accepted his request and posted him in Mangalampalli. SS and Bhavani were happy with this transfer.

Kanakam, who adopted the infant, SS, when they had no children,  wanted him to leave the house with the birth of the biological child. Kumar and Kamala were happy that the SSs had left them forever.

SSs left Vishnupura without taking any belongings and started their life from scratch in Mangalampalli.

*

For SS, this was a significant change of phase in life when he looked back from his birth in Polakalapalli Village to shifting to Vishnupura, his education, job, and development of a shop, the birth of Kumar, his marriage with Bhavani and Kumar's marriage, their hatred, and his transfer to Mangalampally.

Things drastically changed for him during these years. He cared for his adoptive parents and strived to develop their house and shop, and he cared for his brother in their childhood. But once he learned that he was an adopted one, that changed his relationship with his parents and brother. Presently, he has neither biological nor adoptive parents nor siblings from either side to support him.

It was difficult for SS to swallow this sudden change. Until yesterday, they were all near and dear, and today, he finds himself thrown out and alone in the world. Now, he has to start anew to build a social life for himself, his wife and his child.

The biological parents are the link to society. They are the strength behind every person born, providing development, growth, and social support.

Without the support of biological parents, an individual's life takes unexpected turns.

The premature death of any of them has a long-lasting effect on all stages of one's life.

(Note: This is an imaginary story of a person born at the beginning of the twentieth century. This will take you to the lifestyles and facilities available during that period.)

To be continued in Part III