Anu's Decision - Writer Sujatha - Translated work

*** Disclaimer - I do not own this story or idea. My only contribution was to translate this work of Writer 'Sujatha' Rangarajan from Tamil to English with the least possible distraction from its original essence and style. I have always been fascinated by his body of work and wished non-Tamil readers also get to taste his fervor for story-telling and hence, this attempt. I hope you enjoy this read.

ANU’S DECISION

Written in Tamil by ‘Sujatha’ Rangarajan for his short stories collection
“Thoondil Kadhaigal”; first edition Dec 1989.

 

Anu went the old-school way of an arranged marriage with the guidance of her father, Somu. She was well-educated, beautiful and a talented orator in inter-collegiate competitions in Bangalore city. She was a trained classical dancer. She even got movie offers after her recital was featured in one of the youth programs on television, but Somu was not interested. He was inclined to marry Anu into a good, respectable family. He took it upon himself personally and advertised it in the newspaper matrimony section. There were many families showing interest but he filtered out and shortlisted to three prospective grooms. Through his own ‘PI’ work, he found that one of them had a family history of mental illness and another had lost his mother at a young age to unidentifiable medical reasons. The third and final prospect was Naga. Somu began his inquiries.

Naga was found to be the golden boy. Hailing from the Coimbatore region, he came from an affluent family and owned a rice mill, a chemical factory, and a farmhouse. He was also an investor in a computer-based tech company in Bangalore, which he frequented there. That was a plus for Naga in the eyes of Somu, a single father to a pampered daughter who can see them often. One more point in Naga's favor was that he was a teetotaler and had a soft, pleasing personality. All these findings paved the way for Naga and his family to make the customary visit to ‘See Anu’ formally before the ceremonial arrangements progressed. Naga was captivated by Anu at first sight. He immediately professed his interest in the marriage to both families. Naga was a good-looking man and Somu was happy with the match.

In lieu of making progress, Somu personally traveled to Coimbatore and Naga’s native village to enquire more about him. He was awed by the palatial ancestral home, the huge farm nearby, the very many household helpers who would never let Anu do even the most menial of tasks. He then set out on a mission to get as much information on Naga as possible. He spoke to the neighbors about the family, Naga’s old school headmaster regarding his character, the family doctor about his health issues, and even with the local sub-registrar with respect to any legal or familial problems involving Naga’s properties.

He got back to Bangalore and had a conversation with Anu.

“I did a complete background check on him, Anu. He seems to be a good guy but I will never force you into anything, my dear. Now, what do you say?”

“Life in a village would bore me to death, pa. Where can l watch movies? I am sure, there are no cinemas around”, she tried to find reasons.

“That house is a palace, Anu. He has a mini-theatre screen at home where you can watch videos. You will have a private car to go into the city if want to watch it in the cinemas. He lives in his city flat most of the days owing to his business which would be convenient for you. Even then, if you are convinced that this wouldn’t work, I will stop it right here and tell them NO”

“How would I know, pa? I met him for just fifteen minutes.”

“I can arrange for him to come again. You both can talk as much as you please. It is your happiness that is important to me. You know that, Anu”

“Alright, pa. Ask him to visit us.”

The next visit from Naga lasted longer. Anu took him to the terrace to have a detailed and more relaxed conversation.

“I asked my dad for this visit so that I get to know more about you. Tell me about your likes and dislikes.”

“There’s no like or dislike for me. I simply love to live. I can get used to your choices.”

Anu paused to think. “I heard that you are quite rich.”

“Yes. It is your choice of any country for the honeymoon; whatever you wish, that will be it.”

“Let us first decide about the wedding. Are you interested in marrying me?”

“Completely. I fell for you the first time I saw you. If you agree to this wedding, I will consider myself the luckiest man. I will always keep you happy. I would never lie to you at any cost and would never disrespect you. You will always be my equal in this marriage, I assure you.”

“Is it enough if I agree?”

“The word “Yes” would suffice”

“Alright, then. “YES””.

The wedding was fixed on the first auspicious day of the following month. The party hall was packed with guests from all over the city and Naga’s guests alone were three coach buses full. The ceremony concluded happily and the newlyweds were sent off for their wedding night.

The next day, Anu and Naga visited the Air France office to enquire about visas and flights to Paris for their impending honeymoon the following week. Naga wanted to take Anu to Coimbatore before their trip so as to introduce her to his relatives who couldn’t make it to the wedding. Somu felt the typical father’s sentimental woes when Anu was packing.

“My son, she is my whole life. She is a motherless child. Please take care of her and never make her cry”, he said as he wiped his eyes.

Naga and Anu stayed in an upscale hotel in Coimbatore. He left her with the television and room service menu to take care of some business elsewhere. He also brought one of his housemaids to keep Anu company while he was gone. She was a young girl in her early twenties and she fought a staring contest with Anu until Naga returned in the evening.

“You just left me with this girl without any forethought. She looked at me for 10 hours straight like I was Exhibit A”, she rambled on while Naga remained quiet. That was strange, she thought. What was more unusual was that Naga had booked two adjacent rooms citing that he had to meet his business contacts in the other room to finish up his work in the city. That night, Anu was watching some documentary when Naga stepped out saying he’d return shortly. The television got boring and Anu stepped out into the balcony for some fresh air. That is when she heard a faint weeping sound from the adjacent room. She tried to peep into the other room’s balcony and what she saw shook her. A woman was lying prone on the bed and Naga was sitting beside her, pacifying her.

“Now, what has happened for you to cry so badly?”

“You must be joking. What has not happened?”

“I will tell her about you. Alright?”

“I don’t know how to come to terms with all this. How can I?”

“You’ll get used to it, don’t worry.”

“Does she know?”

“Not yet. I will tell her.”

Anu was unable to process whatever she overheard. All she felt was shock and the next minute, she entered the other room.

Somu was about to leave for his morning walk when Anu got down from the taxi. He couldn’t fathom what he was seeing.

“Anu, Is that you?”

“It’s me, pa”

“Where is Naga?”

“He did not come. I came alone.”

“Why?” he asked with a shaken voice.

“Let us not talk here.  Why don’t we go inside? Please pay the taxi driver. I don’t have my purse with me, pa.”

The taxi left and they went into the living room. The bottled-up anger, frustration, and embarrassment came flooding as tears and Anu cried loudly for a whole five minutes.

“Why, What happened, Anu?" He felt the tension in his pulse. "Please tell me.”

“Pa! Your son-in-law, my husband who you so happily married me off to, is already married to another woman.”

“What? Who told you?”

“He told me himself. I met that woman, too.”

“Bastard! My god!”

Anu cried again for a while. It took Somu a long while to get the entire story from her. Anu explained how Naga had brought the other woman to the hotel they were staying in and introduced her as his wife, with no remorse. Somu stood motionless in shock.

“That bastard! How did anyone not mention this to us?”

“I asked him the same question and guess what his reply was? We never asked, he said. This was all because I never had the thought of asking anyone if my future husband was already married. Can you imagine?”

“That maniacal bastard! What audacity!”

“He spoke without a conscience, pa. Even with a hint of a sarcastic grin.”

“What did you tell him after that?”

“What can I? I screamed in vain asking why he cheated me this way. He coolly asked me to turn a blind eye toward this incident and that he’ll ‘take care of me’ well as compensation.”

“He is an evil man. I cannot digest this.”

“I got goosebumps all over my body in embarrassment. I died a thousand deaths at that instant recounting how he had touched me, hugged me, and taken me in his arms while I was just being a second notch on his bedpost. That sinner! What dreams I had about my marriage! I feel like my skin is burned by acid. Why would this happen to me, pa?”

“Please, my dear. I am unable to bear this pain. How did you? What did you do?”

“What CAN I do? I left there without another word. I drew whatever cash I could from my wallet, walked thoughtlessly, and took the next available train. I am not even sure how I got here.”

“Did he just let you go on your own like that?”

“He tried to convince me to stay, said we can talk it out calmly and that he would bring you out there for some discussion. But, not once did he say he was sorry or that he made a mistake. Not once. That other woman was only blaming me as to why no one in my family enquired about all these happenings before the wedding took place. Can you believe this woman? I feel disgusted and I can taste the bile in my mouth. Every time I close my eyes, there are flashes of him touching me. Would any amount of scrubbing be ever enough? What happened, pa? How did you not know about this? Didn’t you go to his village to enquire about him? My life is ruined in the blink of an eye. What am I to do now?”

Somu was flabbergasted. “How did I miss this? I ran a complete background check.”

“And yet, you missed the most important thing.”

“So, did he lie about everything? The property, his business?”

“Who knows? It doesn’t even matter now. I feel used and discarded. Good lord! Such sugar-coated words he spoke! Honeymoon, Paris, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea! Wasteful words.”

Somu swallowed the choke in his throat and spoke. “Anu, I am very sorry ma. I am speechless.”

“How on earth did you miss it?”

“It exasperates me. I went everywhere in person and spoke to everyone myself. Did everyone lie?”

“But what did you ask? You asked if he was a successful businessman, if he smoked cigarettes and if he had any health problems. You never asked if he was married, did you?”

“No”

“That is what he said too. That you didn’t ask if he was married. If you had asked, everyone would have told you, he said. Polygamy was common in his family, he said. I feel violated.”

“Hiding the truth is also a lie, Anu.”

“Whatever! I need a shower. No. A bath. I need to soak and scrub off his touch and scent and everything possible off of me. Eww!” Anu shuddered and started walking away without an ounce of spirit left in her.

Somu was as ignorant as the next man as to how to pacify a broken daughter. He did it all wrong again.

“Anu, forget this wedding ever happened. It was a nightmare. I will find a good man this time and…” 

“Let me stop you right there, pa. This one experience is enough for a lifetime. I hate men. I feel rage at every one of them. And right now, that includes you as well.” Turning on her heel, she left him and locked herself in her room.

 

Somu sat stunned for a long length of time. Wrath engulfed every cell in his body. He was furious with Naga and decided that he should be punished. The gradient of his rage extended to that headmaster, the doctor, the neighbor, and the sub-registrar as well but he quickly realized they cannot be blamed for his own lackluster investigative skills. The only real culprit here was Naga.

Somu decided in his mind that he would travel to Coimbatore the next day and that was when a shimmering town car approached and halted in front of his porch. Naga disembarked dressed in a traditional golden shirt and festive dhoti. Along came a lackey with an assorted fruit basket and a glossy tin full of premium nuts and confections. Naga bent down to touch Somu’s feet and he jerked away, flinching.

“Did your daughter come here? She left without a word and I was worried. I wanted to check on her personally. Where is she?”

“Stop! You have no right to talk this way.” Somu barked at him.

“I do. She is my wife.”

“Not in a million years would I have chosen you, had I known you were already married.”

“I assumed that you knew. I am sorry, uncle. I missed mentioning it to you.”

“Rascal! Is this a joke to you?”

“It is not a big deal, uncle. Calm down. I am sure you are aware that it was common in our epics and scriptures too. Marrying two women is quite customary in my family.”

Somu struck at Naga’s cheek with force. Naga was stunned and he involuntarily stroked the place that burned.

“Uncle, I have my limits. You are an elderly person and I expect you to act that way. I will let it slide this time and next time, I will not.”

“Get out of my house.”

“I will. But before that, I will say what I came here for. I am divorcing my first wife. Papers have been signed. She settled for a house and a farm as an alimony payment. So, I will be legally free in a month’s time. I wanted to inform you and Anu. Nothing has been lost. I am still the same man who you once liked and approved of. I will be making regular visits to Bangalore for business. You both take some time and come to a favorable decision. I will be ready to take Anu home anytime. Or, if you would like to drag me out to the court, that is fine by me as well. As you now know, I already have a family lawyer. I will take my leave now.”

“Get lost!” yelled Somu.

Anu came down the stairs a few seconds after he left. “Who was it?”

“That rascal.”

She looked at the fruit basket. “Throw this out, pa. How dare he comes here! What did he say?”

“He blabbed about divorcing his first wife. I was annoyed halfway through his talking. Anu, I am extremely sorry dear. I don’t know how to set right this wrong I have committed. How will I earn your forgiveness?”

“Forget it, pa. Just let me be. That is enough for me.”

“Why don’t you visit Ammu aunty for a while? Lovedale will be a good distraction for you.”

“I am not interested, pa. I want to be here with you. I don’t want to let you be by yourself now.”

“I am sorry, Anu. I really am.”

“Me too, pa.”

Anu tried to get back to normal. In the days following, she swallowed her sorrows and went into the city to meet her friend in Max Mueller Bhavan to have a chat. She and Somu deadpanned in front of the television and watched Walt Disney, and Chaplin movies on VCR tapes without sharing a laugh or faking a smile. They went for morning walks together. They never spoke a word about the wedding or Naga.

Somu put on a deceptive front for Anu but deep down inside his gut was a boiling frenzy of hatred and shame that pushed him to make a decision; a decision as clear as crystal and as firm as a rock. He wanted Naga dead. He cleared his head and started his preparations. All his actions were sharp and controlled. He inspected some rope at the Bamboo bazaar, scouted for some weapons in an old wrought-iron shop in Sivaji Nagar, and concluded that such methods would be futile when it came to a strong and well-built man like Naga. He inquired about the capacity of K.R. Sagar dam, the strength of water currents in Tunghabadra and Jog falls. He also considered burying Naga in the Eucalyptus woods outside the city. He finally concluded that all of his ideas were amateurish. And while wondering what he could do about his plan, call it unbelievable coincidence or divine intervention, the key to his situational lock fell on his lap.

Elsewhere, at the same moment, an Airforce wing commander from Agra had given his personal firearm to his cousin for the annual license renewal. That cousin had taken the help of his friend in Bangalore, who happened to be Somu’s neighbor, to get the revolver repaired by a gunsmith in that very same neighborhood. Gunsmith did his job and the revolver’s rightful owner was expected from Agra to collect it back in a couple of days. Now, what were the chances for the neighbor to travel to Goa on that exact same day and request Somu to hand over the revolver to the Airforce officer? We’d have thought “None”. But fate had other plans. Somu, now had a small, handy revolver, a round of ammunition, and a user’s manual at his disposal. He took this chance happening to be god’s blessing.

He secured his door carefully and read the manual completely. He learned how to use it, load it, clean it, fire it, and its range of fire for ‘instant death’. He felt as though the shiny bullets called upon him. Somu sweated in his palms but that did not alter his decision. Ensuring the door is locked, he picked up his phone and dialed.

“Naga, Somu here. Your father-in-law.”

“Hello, uncle. Glad you called. Did you get a chance to think about what I said?”

“I called to speak about it only. Will you be able to come to Bangalore for a day?”

“Definitely. I was waiting for your call.” Naga replied enthusiastically.

“Don’t tell anyone about your visit. Let it be between us for a while.”

“Why, uncle?”

“Let it be a surprise for Anu. Tell me your convenient date and I will arrange for your stay at Woodlands.”

“Convenience is up to you. I am available even tomorrow.”

“How about Wednesday?”

“Sounds good.”

“Can you bring some cash?”

“Sure. How much would suffice?”

“I leave that to you. It is to buy a gift for Anu. This is also a surprise.”

“Money is never an issue as long as I get to have Anu back. I realize I made a mistake by not mentioning it to you earlier.”

“No use talking about that now, anyway.”

“Let us talk on Wednesday.”

Somu hung up and thought for a moment. There won’t be any talking. He'd go to the room, shoot him point-blank… No! take the money first and then shoot him. Somu planned to leave some currency notes lying around the body and devoid Naga of his watch, jewelry, and wallet to make it look like a robbery gone wrong. But, for all that to happen, Somu has to have his alibi prepared. He was contemplating hard and then heard Anu’s voice.

“Why do you seem disturbed, pa?”

“Nothing, dear. I am as usual.”

“I have never seen you chew your nails. It is like you are expecting something to happen.”

“Am I?”

“Appa, please forget all that has happened.”

“I have, dear.”

“No, you have not. You wake up past midnight and write something in your diary. What is it, pa?”

“It is nothing, dear.”

“Like you said, that wedding was just a nightmare, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“You are not planning anything untoward, right?”

“Untoward?”

“Tell me you are not overthinking this.”

Somu felt his heart pulsating. He wondered how intuitive his daughter was about him. He cleared his straying line of thought and replied,

“No, dear.”

“You can tell me whatever worries you. You are the most important person to me, pa. Are you traveling?”

“How do you know that?”

“I noticed your air ticket.”

Somu avoided meeting Anu’s eyes. He could sense her suspicion but he could never disclose his plan to her. That was simply not an option.

Somu’s flight to Chennai was on Tuesday night at half-past eight. He readied himself around Six in the evening and geared up to say his goodbye to Anu. He could feel her anxiety.

“Anu, don’t be anxious. Whatever I do, I do for your good future. Forget that bastard. One day, he won’t be around anymore. God will answer our prayers.”

“Appa, why is this sudden travel plan to Chennai?”

“One of our properties there is on lease. It needs some attention.”

“Which property? I didn’t know we had one in Chennai.”

“I have told you, Anu. It is a granite warehouse. It is making good returns.”

Anu stared into his eyes for a couple of moments. “You are not lying to me, right?”

“No, dear. Never.”

“Shall I drop you off at the airport?”

“Sure.”

By 7 P.M, upon reaching the airport, the flight that is arriving from Ahmedabad for a stop-over was found to be on time.

“Why don’t you start back, Anu? You will face traffic otherwise.”

“It is alright, pa. I have no other work, anyway.”

“Are you staying to check if I really board the plane?”

“Not at all. It’s just...something feels wrong.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. I have never seen you this tensed.”

“I look tense?”

“Yes, pa. You are hiding something from me.”

“No, Anu. It’s all for your good.”

“Are you going to arrange another wedding for me? Please tell me if you are.”

“Is this what you worried you? No, dear. Once bitten, twice shy. Until you find someone on your own, or even if you decide against getting married, I will accept your decision, be it whatever.”

“What package is this?”. Anu grabbed the manila envelope from Somu’s hands. It was Somu’s deliverance.

“This is nothing. Not mine. It needs to be handed over to the bookshop owner over there.”, Somu pointed behind Anu. Somu walked and found Shankar with a smile on his lips.

“Hello, Shankar. How are you? I need a favor. Can you hold this package for me until tomorrow morning? I will collect it from whoever is at the counter when I arrive.”

“Definitely, sir. I will inform whoever takes my place too. How do you do? I don’t see you often these days.”             

“Thank you, Shankar. Not much business outside the city these days.”

Somu prided himself on his fool-proof plan as he walked back to Anu. The weapon will stay in the airport without scrutiny and he can get away without a shadow of a doubt. Anu stayed until Somu cleared the security turnstile and left home still finding her father’s activities weird.

As soon as he landed in Chennai, Somu went straightaway to the information desk and checked if there was a reservation for a ‘Balan’ on the early morning flight to Bangalore. Upon confirmation, he went to his hotel room adjacent to the airport. There was no sleep on his agenda. Among his very many thoughts, there was also a businessman’s regret for spending nine hundred rupees per night on this useless room. He switched on the television and decided to get the maximum return on his investment even though he had no inclination to watch. He stood in front of the life-size mirror and prepared himself for his mission. He pointed his shaky index finger at his reflection, aimed with one eye closed, and triggered the make-believe pistol at himself. “Bang. Bang.” He then talked to himself.

“Is it possible to identify the weapon from a fired bullet? I don’t have to worry even if they do. I was in Chennai. How could I have killed in Bangalore? Right? Sigh. What if they find out it was me? I will happily go to prison knowing that the rascal who conned my dearest daughter is not breathing on the same planet anymore. Then, why am I hiding evidence and creating an alibi? It is a game of luck. If I don’t get caught, it will be good. But If I did, that will be fine too. There is no perfect crime. It will be a matter of time until I am found. It could be a day, a week, a year, or maybe never but I have made my peace with it. Anu will be avenged. Justice will prevail and I will be an instrument for that to happen. Just like this revolver, I will be a tool.”

He jerked awake the next morning, unable to recollect how he dozed off. He put on his jogging attire, left the room key with the reception, and took a taxi to the airport without completing his hotel check-out. His plan was to return back to Chennai by 11 A.M. At five minutes to Six, his Boeing plane took off. He ensured that there were no familiar faces around him. Using the Daily Times to cover his face, he sat in what seemed like the longest flight of his life. From the moment of touch down at 6.40 A.M, he moved with calculated force like a trained agent. He exited the door, walked with unwavering eyes to the bookstore, collected his package from Shankar with a smile, and went straight to the Auto Rickshaw stand.

“Woodlands, please.”

The driver didn’t give Somu a glance and that pleased him. The warmth of his pashmina shawl also provided him stealth. He arrived at Woodlands and asked for Naga from the receptionist. The young man seemed distracted by the noisy, fat computer in front of him and did not lookup.

“Yes, sir. He is here in the room. 417. The elevator is to your right.”

When the elevator arrived empty, Somu thanked his gods for bringing him unnoticed from Chennai to Bangalore. He walked the corridor with caution. When he saw a bell boy coming toward him, he silently bent down to tie his imaginary shoelaces. Once out of his sight, he walked firmly and rang the doorbell of 417.

“Who is it?”

“It's me, Somu.”

“Just a minute, uncle.”

Seconds rolled and Somu could hear his blood gushing in his ears. He counted back from 5 to 1 for calming himself. The door opened suddenly. Naga stood in a silk pajama and matching nightshirt.

“Hello, uncle. When did you come? Please come in.”

Somu entered. “Just now. Thanks.”

“Please have a seat. Here, let me take your parcel.”

“No. There is no need for that.”

“Come on, uncle. Relax. There is a surprise waiting for you.”

“Is it? There is a surprise waiting for you as well.” Somu pulled out the revolver and positioned it right on top of Naga’s chest. Unflinchingly.

“Look at me! You bastard. How dare you con my daughter? What did you tell me? Two wives are a common occurrence in our scriptures, is it?”

Naga felt the gravity of the whole scene happening in front of him, his eyes widened and his pupils dilated with the sudden rush of adrenaline.

“Wait a minute, uncle. Wait a minute. You’ve got it all wrong. My god, please! Anu!!”

Anu? Somu had a moment of panic on hearing his daughter’s name.

The ensuite bathroom door opened and Anu emerged out of it. Somu took a step back. Anu screamed from her gut.

“Appa, drop the gun. What is happening here?”

The shrill of her voice momentarily distracted Somu and Naga used that split second to grab the revolver from Somu’s hand.

“Give that back. I want it now. I am here to kill you. I will kill the bastard who ruined my daughter’s life.”

“That bastard has really become your son-in-law now.”

“What? Come again?”

“Anu, tell your dad.”

Anu moved closer to Somu. “Don’t kill him, pa. Don’t kill my husband. Please! I have accepted him.”

Somu gasped in shock. “Why, dear? Why?”

“If I didn’t, you would have killed him and got caught, pa.”

 

 

 THE END