Successful Revenge

Sundaraiah and Sangamma's son Narasimha(NS) graduated first-class with distinction from a government degree college around the mid-twentieth century. He was appointed a junior assistant in one of the state government offices in the state capital.

A government job holder was considered highly valued and respected during that period. He developed an egoistic attitude, which many in society accepted and respected. He covered his egoism with kind words toward others, which brought him closer to people.

*

He has been away from his parents and the village for his studies and job. He visited his parents during college term and summer holidays, but his visits were reduced due to his job.

His job, egoism, youth, and loneliness drove him to crave a life partner. He thought of a live-in partner till his marriage. He was searching for a girl who could be a stop-gap arrangement. 

Opposite his rented portion lived another family, a mother and her twenty-one-year-old daughter,  Shyamala(SM). Her father died five years ago.  They manage their home by sewing blouses and other women's clothing requirements at home.

NS observed daily at the sewing machine and smiled on his way to and from the office. She reciprocated the smile.

SM purchased dresses and sarees from the Sunday second-hand sales market for her and her mother. They had only two dresses, one on their body and another on the drying rope.

*

One day, SM's mother felt pain in her chest and fell in the bathroom. With great difficulty, SM helped her onto the cot.   There was no one to help her. She was weeping beside her mother, not knowing what to do. NS was on the way to the office. He saw SM weeping, inquired, and learned about her mother's fatal fall in the bathroom. He sensed it required immediate medical attention. He assured her to be brave and shifted her mother to a nearby hospital. He paid the necessary fees.

The doctors said it was a serious case and kept her in the ICU for treatment. SM was in the hospital 24/7, looking after her mother, and NS cared for their needs. NS paid the hospital expenditure on discharge. The patient was advised to rest in bed for one month. NS took care of all their requirements.

SM had no words to express her thanks to NS. He became her good friend, and her mother had no objection.

Despite SM and NS's care, SM's mother breathed her last, which was another shock to SM. NS helped her arrange the funeral, etc.  SM was alone. NS consoled her and helped her shift to a rented room beside his two-room rented portion, along with her sewing machine.  She continued her tailoring.

*

One day, when NS had a high fever, she wiped his body with a wet cloth, took him to the doctor, and monitored his health until it returned to normal. Then, he started attending to his job.

 When he was ill, she cooked for both of them in her room and ate in his room. After breakfast, he left for his job with his lunchbox.  They continued this way for about three months.

One night, as she was leaving, NS wanted to thank her and asked her to sit beside him on the cot. He shook her hand and said, "I am very grateful to you for caring for me during the high fever." Saying these words, he hugged and kissed her on her cheeks and forehead. He then rested his head on her thigh. She got emotional about his behaviour and looked into his eyes. Her cheeks flushed pink, revealing signs of shyness. He pulled her face onto his and locked it. They enjoyed that night. Thereafter, they started to live together.

*

He asked her to relocate all her belongings to his room, except for the tailoring machine and materials, where she continued her tailoring business.

 She improved her tailoring business and shared the home expenditures with NS. She started stitching her cotton kurtas and pyjamas. She wore a gold-plated chain, earrings, and glass bangles. Her braided hair fell on her back, adding to her beautiful structure.

*

NS's parents lived on small agricultural lands in a village. They were proud of their son and told everyone in the village. NS sent them money every month, and they were happy.

People approached NS’s parents with marriage proposals.  One such proposal was from NS's maternal uncle Ranga Rao (RR)  from a well-to-do agriculture family.

RR, NS, and his parents visited the girl "Manga Tayaru’s" (MT) place on an auspicious day and were happy with the girl and the family.  MT’s parents were happy with the boy.

The girl was of standard height, fair-skinned, with beautiful facial features and a well-proportioned body structure. She had a primary school education, which most suited NS.

 After a month, MT's and NS's parents met and discussed the possible auspicious marriage dates with a pundit. After six months, they fixed the best date for marriage.

*

NS came to the city after the visit to MT. SM eagerly awaited him, hugged him, and said, "I was worried about you. You went for a long time.   How about your parents? Are they in good health? Why did it take an extended visit?"

He could not talk about the marriage proposal.  NS in a subtle, low voice and tears in his eyes, said,   "My mother was ill and was admitted to the hospital. Now she is discharged but undergoing treatment at home."

 SM hugged him and said, “ Don’t worry, dear. She will be alright. Our prayers to God for her early recovery.”

*

 MT's parents believed NS and did not check his living conditions in the city.  

The marriage was lavishly celebrated at MT's place. In the mid-twentieth century, the couple was not expected to start a family life immediately after marriage. MT stayed at NS's parents' house, and NS visited her during weekends and holidays. NS made efforts to talk to MT. She was shy, mum and responded with low sounds. NS moved close to hug her; she did not say no. NS's mother gave them privacy during the day.

 NS continued with SM in the city. He was not taking her to hotels and parks on weekends.

*

After about six months, MT’s and NS’s parents planned for their family setup.

This made NS consider whether to 1.) Continue with both SM and MT or 2.) Desert SM when MT joined him in the city. He had to maintain two secrets: His marriage and his live-in. This proposition was difficult if SM and MT were in the same place.

He came to a solution. He requested his superiors transfer him to a district headquarters, and they agreed.

He told SM of his transfer. She wept and said, "Dear, I can't live without you. I will stay with you in the town and continue tailoring there." 

He hugged her and said, "See, dear, this transfer is for a short period. I will try to come back to the city. We will be together again. Don't weep; I will be visiting you every weekend."

 Despite his convincing words, she doubted his behavioural change and shifted her tailoring shop to the two-room house. He took all his articles to the town.

*

He rented a three-room house in town for the convenience of his and MT’s parents' visit. MT's parents came and set up the home with furniture, crockery, rice, pulses, etc., and left. NS started his family life with MT.

*

  SM waited for NS on Sundays and holidays in vain. She expected him day in and day out. Her belief was shattered. She couldn’t help because their living together was not in harmony with society, but based on mutual trust. Hence, she couldn't claim any rights.  She wept for trusting him.

*

 She thought it useless to repent for the past and developed the courage to start afresh. She wanted to be self-reliant and determined to show society her capabilities. She prayed to God to bless her fresh beginning.

 She improved her tailoring skills to establish herself as a popular tailor. She developed her skills in designing blouses, embroidering sarees, and stitching men's clothes. She employed men and women as tailoring assistants. She expanded the business to include separate men's and women's stitching services. She managed the money matters and purchases. She purchased a three-story building with a lift facility in the city's business area. The ground floor was reserved for ladies' tailoring; the first was for gentlemen, and the second was her residence.

During this period, she encountered a young officer, a direct appointee who would come to her for suit stitching. Her fair complexion, beautiful structure, and wealthy lifestyle attracted him. His handsome personality, behaviour, and respect for women attracted her. He proposed to her, and they were married.

*

NS was to meet his boss for some office work. He came to the city. As he was meeting the boss for the first time, he thought of greeting him with a bouquet and a sweet box a day before, in the evening at the boss’s house.

He handed the attendant a slip with his details and asked to be shown to the boss inside. He was asked to sit on a sofa. The attendant brought tea for him and informed him that the boss and his wife were preparing to go out, and the car was ready.

When he was taking tea, he smelled jasmine perfume, and then the madame came. He stood up as a mark of respect to the boss's wife and greeted her. He handed her the sweet box. She kept it on the tea table and did not ask him to sit, saying the boss was getting ready and would meet him within a few minutes. Then, she left inside. She recognised him and smiled at him sarcastically. He was standing. He did not recognise her as SM.

*

She transitioned from kurta pyjamas to pure silk sarees and designer sleeveless blouses. She wore a short necklace, a long five-stringed gold chain, hanging earrings, and bangles. She got her long hair cut to bobbed hair falling over her ears. She had transformed into a modern lady within two years since leaving NS.

 After she left, he was in a dilemma about the voice. It was a familiar voice, but he could not recall the name. After a while, he recognised the voice as SM's and was upset.

*

When his boss came, he gave him the bouquet. His boss asked NS to meet him in the office the next day.

He was utterly disturbed, comparing himself with SM. He thought he had made a mistake in leaving her, a beautiful, hardworking, caring and skilled lady. Had he continued, she would have helped him achieve success. He felt that craving for new physical desires had drowned him. His life would have been on a different platform had he continued with SM.

*

NS was in a rough half shirt, loose pants, and chappals. His status was lower than when he left her. She laughed in her heart of hearts. She thanked God for steering her away from him. She changed from purchasing dresses from the second-hand market to having specially designed pure silk sarees, gold necklaces, earrings, bangles, and an officer husband.

SM and her husband went down to the car, and NS followed them up to the vehicle. They sat in the back seat, and the driver was about to start the car. NS stood beside the vehicle with folded hands to wish his boss, but SM  received, sitting on his side, overwhelmed by his wishes, her eyes glowing with her egotistic smile, and for her successful achievement. She enjoyed the'Revenge'.

The vehicle left swiftly. 

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