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.