Tikkipala (39 page)

Sighing grumpily he put down his scalpel and faced her.

‘Are you listening?'

‘Yes,' but his eyes would not stop swivelling to his work. His fingers were itching with their desire to manipulate his fragment of art.

‘Just for a moment. Please,' she begged. ‘Leave that and come over here.'

Wiping his muddy hands on a piece of paper he came reluctantly and stood facing her. ‘What?'

But the words would not come out at first. Her throat seemed unable to make them for a while. At last she said, ‘Look out there,' and pointed to the window. The sun had set and bats were swooping. Cicadas clamoured. There was a great bright moon.

‘Is that what you want to talk to me about? The night sky? I'm in the middle of something.'

She caught him by the sleeve so that he could not escape. ‘Do you know about stars, Nirmal?' she asked and pointed. ‘Do you know the name of that one?'

‘No, no. Let me go.'

‘Go on. Have a guess.'

‘Venus probably. Or Mars. It could be Jupiter of course. Now can I go?'

‘You don't know anything about stars, do you? Those were planets,' Devi said.

‘What's the difference,' shrugged Nirmal. ‘They all shine just the same. Look, Devi, how long is this to go on?'

‘You haven't heard what I want of you,' said Devi.

‘Tell me then,' Nirmal said. ‘Get it out. Stop talking about stars and tell me what you want. If I can, I will do it for you.'

She bit her lip, still afraid. What would his reaction be? Disgust? She could already feel him leaping up, striding away from her, shutting himself inside some inner part of his studio.

‘I would like you to marry me,' she said. Feeling as though she had just pulled the trigger and let a bullet rip that could not be recalled, she waited.

There fell a long silence, then Nirmal burst out laughing. ‘It's a joke, isn't it?'

‘No,' said Devi.

‘But I thought you were never going to marry. You have always said it.' He felt so stunned that joyful thoughts were not yet coming.

‘I do now, though.' She sighed. ‘You said you would help me if you could and that is what I need. I am pregnant, you see.'

He winced away from her as though she had wounded him.

‘Well, you shouldn't have offered,' she said.

Nirmal was silent for so long that Devi feared he was never going to say anything to her again. Then at last he asked, ‘How could you do it?' He sounded aggrieved as though she had offended him. He did not ask her who the father was.

‘Don't take that tone,' she said sternly. ‘We aren't married yet.'

‘This is very odd,' Nirmal said. ‘Everything seems to be the wrong way round.'

‘Look, will you or won't you? Stop beating about the bush,' she commanded.

‘What will you do if I don't marry you?'

‘This is such a stupid conversation, Nirmal. What do you bloody think I'll do? I'll have a bloody baby.'

He waved his hands before his face, as though fanning her anger away, ‘I didn't mean that,' he said.

‘Oh, go away, Nirmal. I wish I had never asked you,' she sulked.

‘How many months is it?' asked Nirmal.

Devi, who knew to the day, closed her eyes and counted back. ‘Two,' she said.

‘You could find a doctor who would get rid of it then,' said Nirmal.

Devi shook her head. ‘I've thought of that, but no. I can't do that. I don't want to. I like this baby. I've already thought of a name for it, actually.'

‘What?'

‘Why should I tell you if you aren't going to marry me?'

‘Why don't you get the father to marry you? Why marry me? You obviously like the father more than me, considering what has taken place between him and you.' He sounded angry.

‘I just can't. That's all there is to it. And I'd rather be married to you, anyway.'

‘Why?'

‘Why would I rather be married to you, or why can't I marry the father?'

‘Both.'

‘Even if the father knew, there is nothing he can do. He is too young. His life hasn't begun yet. It was my fault and I can't saddle this on him. And I like you better, anyway.'

‘You should have thought of that before.'

‘I know I should. I just didn't.' Her tone was not as contrite as the words.

Nirmal searched back among the young men of the club, trying to think of who would fit this profile. And his mind fell on…no, no, thought Nirmal, it can't be. She would not do that with Maw. He only said, ‘We are not like the West and people will ostracise you.'

‘I could bear that,' said Devi. ‘I probably would hardly notice, because most of my life is spent on hillsides, but it would be hard on the child.'

‘Yes,' agreed Nirmal.

‘So that's why I thought of asking you to marry me.'

‘I would have before. It's different now,' said Nirmal and felt a mixture and anger and regret start to douse his soul.

‘You have always said that your art is the most important thing and if we married you could go on living here and have somewhere comfortable to work.' She spoke calmly. ‘My father would have to let you stay if you are his son-in-law. He'd even give you an income. So we would all be better off all round.'

‘Well…' Nirmal did not want to be tempted.

‘I wouldn't ask much of you,' Devi persisted, seeing hope. ‘I mean you wouldn't have to make love to me or anything. Unless you wanted to, of course. Though I suppose, under the circumstances, that would probably never be the case.'

Nirmal stared at her and felt a kind of pain he had never experienced before. He wanted to say again, ‘How could you do it? I just don't know how you could do it,' but there seemed no point.

Devi frowned as though she had heard his unspoken question. ‘I don't know why it happened but it's done now and can't be undone.'

‘I suppose not,' said Nirmal.

‘It would solve a lot of problems for both of us if we got married, wouldn't it?' Devi said.

‘I suppose so,' sighed Nirmal. ‘My family keeps going on about finding a bride for me. It would put a stop to that. I should warn you, I am a bit messy, though.'

‘I know,' she said.

He looked at her scowlingly. ‘So are you.'

‘I'm not,' Devi cried, slightly outraged. ‘I am perfectly organised. Unlike you I know where everything is.'

‘Also,' said Nirmal, ‘I think you are an absolute bloody fool to get into this situation, but alright, let's go ahead with it.' He might have been talking about a shopping trip or a visit to the cinema.

‘It's all very well for you to talk like that,' cried Devi hotly. ‘You are just lucky to be a man so, no matter what happens, a thing like this can never happen to you.'

Ranee Sangita was furious when she heard that Devi was getting married. ‘You fool, I warned you never to marry. I was once married and it was dreadful.'

‘It is a crisis, Thakuma,' Devi said cautiously.

Sangita had her back turned to Devi and was crushing a pink crystal with a roller. She emphasised every word with the sharp sound of a scrunch. A little cloud of pink dust blew out at every crushing. ‘I listen to the radio, you know, and read the newspapers. I have been hearing of something called a ‘single mother'.'

‘So have I,' said Devi, suppressing a giggle.

‘It is those two sisters-in-law, I suppose, who have put you up to this,' muttered Sangita.

‘No, Thakuma. I have made the decision on my own. They don't know yet. I have told you first.'

Sangita, spilling pink powder, turned and wagged an accusatory ladle at Devi. ‘You are marrying this artist because you are in love with him? Is that it?'

Devi did not answer.

‘I used to be proud of you, Of course I shall not be attending your wedding, and I hope you will not be either,' said Sangita, then she turned back to her crushing.

The Raja was astonished. At first he tried to pretend pleasure, but dropped all pretence when he discovered who her husband was to be.

‘My dear girl, I cannot allow such a thing. How could you even think of marrying Nirmal, who is not only a jobless drunk, but also does nothing but mess around with vile bits of dog shit and mud. I will not allow it.'

‘You can't stop me, darling,' laughing Devi, catching him by the cheeks and kissing him. ‘I'm an adult and so is he.'

‘But why, Devi. I just don't understand. You always said you wanted to remain single all your life. Think about it. I refuse to arrange your wedding in a month. If, this time next year you still want it then, all right, and that's my last word on the subject.'

‘That will be too late, Dad,' said Devi gravely.

‘What is the sudden hurry?' Then, as though suddenly understanding, ‘My god… the bastard raped you… took advantage of my hospitality, came here bringing his stinking statue and then seduced you…' The Raja was making himself wild eyed with anger.

‘Keep calm, Dad. Nirmal is not the father.'

‘Who is then? Tell me who he is and I will have people sent out to murder the swine.'

‘Dad, Dad, Dad,' soothed Devi. ‘Just forget all that. But you can see there is a hurry now, can't you?'

For days after the Raja went storming round the palace reciting the names of local young men. ‘I bet is was him, I saw him looking at her.' ‘It must have been Pratab. He
has always been a lustful little swine.' The name of Maw murmured on his mind for a moment but he dismissed it swiftly as being certainly unthinkable. The boy was too cool and controlled. And whatever his faults the Raja could not imagine treachery to be among them. Though if it
was
him, the Raja told himself, I would strangle the fellow with my bare hands.

Mala and Srila were delighted, even more so when they discovered who the bridegroom was. ‘We told you, Anoo. You should have more faith in us. From the start we said that if Nirmal was stood in Devi's way she would become attracted to him. Though we don't at all see any need for all this hurry. Have the wedding next year so that we have time to make all the arrangements.'

‘Devi has a European tour in two months,' lied the Raja.

‘Lecturing is man's work. Surely she will give all that up once she is a married. She will have to concentrate on her husband after the wedding and there will be no time for all these stones and crystals then,' cried the sisters.

‘She can't get out of this tour. It was arranged long ago. She has a contract,' said the Raja. ‘Also the couple hope for a Paris honeymoon and this will give them just such an opportunity.'

Later the sisters said to each other, ‘Isn't it amazing how Anoo, who was so hostile to Nirmal, even sacking him, should now be so eager to marry the boy to Devi. It must be that since living in the palace Nirmal has endeared himself to our brother-in-law.' Thus satisfied, they set to work to write out invitations, order the making of sweets, and rent the most glamorous sharmayana in town.

‘Isn't this just like the good old days,' they laughed to each other, as they dashed around Bidwar in their limousines, having blouses made, ordering saris, and designing wedding garlands.

A problem arose. The Raja's family wanted the wedding to take place in the Bidwar palace and Queenie wanted it at the club. The argument grew quite heated and, although two to one, Queenie being larger and grander managed to hold her own. It did not cross the minds of any of the three to ask Devi or Nirmal. Even the Raja was left out of this and though he sometimes tried to voice an opinion, it went unheard.

It turned out that the club was to be renovated and would not be available for a large wedding party in such a short time.

‘The Bidwar palace is out of the question,' said Queenie. ‘It is totally against all our family customs for the wedding ceremony to be performed in the house of the bride. It is she who goes to the groom's house and not vice versa.'

‘But in this case we must make a change from custom,' said Srila strongly. ‘For what other alternative is there, since the father of this boy does not own a large enough residence?'

‘A wedding hall?' suggested Srila.

Queenie was horrified. ‘That is a place for peasantry!'

They fell silent for a while. Mala suggested Bidwar's sole hotel. The suggestion was treated by the other two with the silence it deserved. The Bidwar Happy Home was a shabby place and only popular among impoverished foreign tourists.

‘Delhi?' But they only had two months and such weddings were arranged a year before. ‘We will be unlikely to find any kind of suitable venue in such a short time.'

‘It will have to be in the town palace then, there is nothing for it.' By now even Queenie had to agree.

‘I absolutely refuse to have a big wedding. You should have talked to me about it first,' raged Devi. ‘And Nirmal. How can you make all these arrangements without our agreement?'

The aunts were shocked and surprised by Devi's reaction and whispered to each other, ‘She looks very peaky. Perhaps she is ill, for although she had always been a reasonable and stubborn sort of girl, we have never known her to behave as badly as this.' Aunt Mala tried to explain, ‘My dear, you are only the bride and in our society you have no voice in the matter.'

‘Either a small and private wedding or I won't get married at all,' persisted Devi.

‘Where are you going to get married then?' demanded the aunts, losing patience.

Devi sighed. The aunts waited. Devi had sudden inspiration. ‘I know. The hill palace at Parwal.' For the first time she saw something good might come from this humiliating marriage. A wedding there would help not only the palace itself, for they would have to do it up and furnish it beautifully for such an event, but the thags, and even the high jungle people might all benefit. There were too many thags for her ever to be able to employ more than a small percentage. Many more would be needed to make wedding preparations. And when the guests came, she would be able to show them the insult that had been done to the tribal people of the trees. No one had ever seemed to understand that there was any problem.