3. Devyani won’t act against her father's wishes

CHAPTER 3

Devyani won’t act against her father's wishes

Standing in the garden, Mother asked her son, “How do you feel?”

Boy said happily, “I have never seen such a beautiful girl before. If you say yes, I am ready to marry her.”

“We have already seen 10 girls. Now that you have liked the girl, I will not say no. But I wonder what they will give.”

Boy’s uncle said, “Such a nice girl. Don’t put any obstacles now. Let us go and tell them that we have agreed for the match.”

The bridegroom party went inside and sat down on the chairs. Shastri, Laxmi and Shivayya looked at them questioningly wondering what they were going to say.

Mother said happily, “Shastriji, we like your girl very much. Let us look for a good day and fix the marriage date.”

Shastri’s face brightened. He looked at Laxmi’s face and then at Shivayya’s face.

“One minute. We will talk and come back.”

Shastri, Shivayya and Laxmi went to the balcony to discuss the matter.

Shastri said happily, “What do you think of the boy?”

Laxmi said coolly, “You tell us your views.”

Shastri was very confident. “Shivayya, you have brought such a nice match for my girl. The boy is M.A.Bed. Rs.10,000/- government salary.”

Shivayya and Laxmi were shocked. Both of them had hoped that Shastri will reject the boy since they were not at all impressed by the arrogance shown by them.

Shastri said, “Not only that, they have a house in the city. Devyani is very lucky.”

Laxmi was surprised and was in a comparison mood. “There is a big different between Amavasya and poornima. He is so black and Devyani is like full moon light.”

Shastri was not ready to agree. “God Narayana is also black. A lady wants security more than anything else.”

Shivayya looked at the sky helplessly.

Laxmi said seriously, “Yes. But what about Devyani? We should ask her.”

Swami was very confident about his daughter. “You may go and ask her. She will never say no to me.”

Devyani was in the room. Laxmi went into the room to ask her. Devyani was sitting on the bed. Laxmi went and sat near her. She patted her head. “What do you think about the boy?”

Devyani was shy. “Aunty, you and uncle should decide.”

Laxmi said, “You cannot compare amavasya with poornima. He is no match for you. See their arrogance. Seeing your father’s face, your uncle is quiet. Otherwise he would have sent them away.”

Devyani laughed. “So you do not like the match.”

Laxmi felt a bit angry. “I told your father. But he says that God Narayana himself is black. He seems to have agreed to the match.”

Devyani was shocked. Her smile disappeared. She became serious. “What did father say?”

Laxmi said angrily, “Your father is happy with the match. But we don’t like it. You must say no. “

Devyani felt helpless and distressed. “No aunty. I never go against his words. I cannot say no. It is his wish.”

Laxmi was shocked. She looked at her sadly. “It is your fate. What to do?”

She got up and went back to the balcony where Shivayya and Shastri were waiting.

Shastri looked at her confidently. “What did my daughter say?

Laxmi said, “Swami, she says she will not go against your words.”

Shastri smiled. “Did I not say so? She is my daughter.”

Laxmi was shocked. Shivayya was looking somewhere with a serious face. But they were helpless. Shastri was Devyani’s father after all. They went down.

2. Boy and family arrive

CHAPTER 2

Boy and family arrive

At 11:30, Shivayya came to Shastri’s house in a jeep. He entered the house. Shastri was reading a paper. Laxmi was helping Devyani get ready.

Shivayya looked at Shastri. “The boy’s father had phoned. They will be here soon.”

He looked at his worker. “You go to my house and bring some chairs.”

The man left.

Shastri said, “No need, Shivayya. I am a simple person and would like to remain so. These mats are enough.”

Shivayya knocked on the bedroom door. “Laxmi, is Devyani ready? They will be here soon.”

Laxmi opened the door. Shivayya saw the doll like Devyani and was very happy. “Our daughter is like a golden doll. The boy is very lucky.”

Shivayya looked at Laxmi. “Put a black dot on her face to ward off evil spirits.”

Devyani felt shy.

Suddenly a car came and stoped in front of the house. The bridegroom party got down. Shastri and Shivayya went to the gate and welcomed them.

There were mats spread on the veranda. Swami pointed to the mats. “Please sit down.”

But the boy’s mother did not sit. She looked around for chairs. But there were no chairs in Shastri’s house. Boy’s mother said, “Don’t you have any chairs?”

Swami’s face fell. “The chairs will arrive soon.”

Just then the workers brought chairs from Shivayya’s house. Everyone sat on the chairs but Shastri and Shivayya sat on mats.

Mother was surprised. “Why don’t sit on chairs?”

Shivayya smiled. “No. we are comfortable here only.”

Laxmi brought panka in a jug and started pouring into glasses. She offered it to the boy’s mother. Seeing it, she twisted her face. “What is this?”

Laxmi said, “This is panka. Lemon panka. It is good for the heat.”

“I remember drinking it when I was young. But if I drink it now, I will get allergy.”

Shivayya was shocked. Laxmi went in and brought water.

Mother looked at the water with disgust and said proudly, “We drink only mineral water. We knew it will not be available here. So we have brought it with us.”

She removed a bottle of mineral water from her bag.

Laxmi felt disgraced. The boy’s mother drank the water. “In our house we always have a stock of coco cola for the heat.”

Shivayya said immediately, “No problem. Coco cola is available in our village too.”

He looked at one worker. “Bring 2 crates of coco cola from the shop.”

Immediately the workers brought one dozen bottles. They opened the bottles and gave to the guests.

Shivayya was very angry to see the arrogance shown by the boy’s mother. He looked at the boy. He was very black.

Laxmi brought Devyani, who gave sweets and fried stuff to everyone. Everyone looked at her in awe. She was so beautiful. Then she sat down with her face down.

Boy’s mother asked, “What is your name? What are your qualifications?”

Laxmi said, “Her name is Devyani.”

Shastri said, “She has passed 10^th in 1^st class. But I decided not to put her in college.”

Boy asked Devyani, “Which programs do you watch on TV?”

Devyani looked at him was a shock.

Shastri said politely, “We don’t have TV in our house.”

Hearing this, Laxmi said anxiously, “She comes to our house to watch TV.”

Mother said seriously, “You people are only answering all our questions. Let the girl talk.”

She looked at Devyani and asked, “In our house we watch only English channels. Do you know English, my dear?”

Devyani was silent.

Boy said, “My mother has forgotten Telugu. She always speaks in English. That’s why she is asking.”

Laxmi became serious. She said in English, “Languages are created for the sake of conversation. Each language has its own importance. We must love and respect our mother tongue.”

The boy was shocked. “You speak so well in English.”

 Shivayya said proudly, “Yes. My wife is a gold medalist in M.A. But I am only 10^th. Ours is love marriage.”

Boy laughed, “You are made for each other.”

He looked at Devyani. “Like us.”

Shivayya bit his teeth. He took the jug of panka and drank it all. Boy’s mother was surprised. She pointed to coco cola bottle. “Don’t you drink this?”

Shivayya said, “I am an earthly person. I like this only.”

Mother said, “We will go out now and talk about the alliance.”

The bride groom party went out. Devyani went into the bedroom.

1. Attachment between Shivayya and Devyani

BACKGROUND: Shastri was staying with his daughter Devyai in a village. His friend Shivayya was a very important man in the village. Shivayya and his wife Laxmi did not have any children. Hence they loved Devyani as their own daughter. Devyani was grown up and a boy and his family were coming to see her for marriage.

CHAPTER 1

Attachment between Shivayya and Devyani

Shivayya and Laxmi went to Shastri’s house. Shastri’s daughter Devyani was putting rangoli in front of her house. She smiled.

Shivayya patted her head. “Already your face is shining brightly due to the marriage plans.”

Devyani was shy.

Shivayya looked at the rangoli. “This rangoli is special. You have put a welcome board for the guests.”

Devyani smiled. “Nothing like that. This is a common rangoli.”

Laxmi gave a packet to Devyani and entered the house. “Devyani, your uncle has brought sweets and fried stuff to give to the guests.”

Shivayya said, “You don’t need to prepare anything. After all you don’t have a mother to help you. That is why we brought these things.”

Devyani smiled with gratefulness. “Thanks. But for you I will prepare your favorite puliogare. You must have lunch here today.”

Shivayya laughed. “You know my tastes very well. But now you just give me a cup of coffee.”

They went in. Swami was getting ready to go to the temple. He welcomed them and pointed to a mat. They sat down.

Shivayya said, “Swami, the boy and his relatives will come at 12 o’clock. “

“All your good will, Shivayya.”

“No. It is all due to god’s grace. Even though we are childless, we don’t feel the loss anymore due to the presence of Devyani. She is like our own daughter.”

Shastri smiled happily. “That is the bondage.”

Devyani brought coffee for Shivayya. He sipped the coffee. “Did you like the saris we sent you?”

Devyani smiled. “Yes I liked all the 6 saris.”

“All dresses look good on you. Laxmi, you help the girl get ready. I will come at 11:30.”

Laxmi nodded. “I will get her head bath and then dress her up to look like a bride.”

CONCEPT OF NOVEL DEVYANI

                                                   CONCEPT

This is a sentimental story of Devyani and Shivayya. Shivayya has no children and he loves the girl like his own daughter. He is a true leader, who fights for truth and is ready to give his life for the poor. Read the book to see how the girl finally becomes a film star and Shivayya becomes the CM. 

A leader, who is ready to sacrifice everything for the common man.

 A leader who gives new life to the people.

A leader who gives tit for tat to the rowdy leaders.

A leader who gives life to truth.

  

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All characters in this book exist only in the imagination of the author, and have no connection whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

All Rights Reserved. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the writer.

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