VIVAAH

PREFACE BY AMISH

           Close to the city of Paithan, in a small village called Sauviragram, which lay along the banks of the great river Godavari, lived a woman named Ilaa. Being cotton farmers, her family was well to do, but not among the richest in their area. It was the harvest season, and cotton had to be picked from the plants. The wholesalers and traders from Paithan would be arriving in just a few weeks, carrying gold and goods for barter. They would exchange what they carried for the cotton that the farmers grew. The bales of cotton had to be ready in time! Work was at its peak!

But Ilaa was not to be found in the fields. She wasn't working. Instead, she was sitting by the banks of the great river Godavari.

'I am sick of this!' she grunted loudly. The gentle and serene face of Ilaa had turned red in anger. Her eyes showed disgust.

'Who are they to decide my fate, my life?' She continued her grumble.

The scorching heat and her temper developed beads of sweat on her forehead. Ilaa damped them with a cloth as she gazed longingly at the great Godavari.

'I wish I could be free like you...making my own way, flowing at my own pace!' Ilaa sighed.

'Ilaa.....Ilaa...!!!' Someone was calling out her name.

Ilaa turned around and saw her younger step sister calling her out for working in the fields. Ilaa stood up and started walking. She paused a bit, turned around and looking at the great river averred,

'I will be like you!'

She walked along with her sister to their farm where her father and step mother were reaping the tender cotton buds. Ilaa joined them and neatly stacked the cotton forming large bales of it. Her father seemed a little low and sad. He had not forgotten the yesterday's incident. Everyone quietly worked in the farm. As the sun moved gradually towards the horizon, the family hurried their work. As the sun set, each family picked up a bale on their head and walked back to home. Ilaa had been observing her father since noon and finally spoke up,

'Baba, u need not be sad. I will get better marriage proposals. Let the monthly market get over, let our cotton earn the right price then we will think of my marriage.'

Her father looked up and then turned away his gaze, continuing his walk to home.

***

Later that night after dinner everyone lay in their bed mattresses. Yesterday's incident flashed in front of Ilaa's father, Sakharam...

He had been enthusiastic for the arrival of the guests. He had helped in cleaning the house, he had arranged for the best food he could afford for them and also got costly gifts as a symbol of affection after the bonds would be tied!

The guests hailed from a distant village, Shrimantwadi. Albeit the boy wasn't a good match to the beautiful Ilaa by looks, but he was from Shrimantwadi, and marrying a daughter in that village was a rare fortune for the families in Sauviragram. The family of boy was not wealthy like the other families of Shrimantwadi but they did have great demands for marriage. The boy-family wanted gold ornaments, a plot of land and all the marriage expense to be borne by Sakharam. When Ilaa heard about it she denied the proposal-

"I can't marry a guy who demands dowry from me!" she stated loudly before the guests.

Sakharam agreed with his daughter. But the step mother of Ilaa- Lakshmibai warned,

' It's a tradition Ilaa. We have to give them what they demand for. Saying no on such an auspicious day is a Bad omen!"

The guests look infuriated by Ilaa's demeanor, but soothed by Lakshmibai's interruption. Sakharam apologized for her behavior. Some elders from the boy-side felt insulted by Ilaa's words and decided to leave or increase the dowry for accepting Ilaa. While some passed comments about Ilaa and her future with husband. The whole function was ruined and the guests left Sakharam's home with a sour look on face. As the guests left Lakshmibai cursed Ilaa for her adamant behavior and disinterest in her marriage. The event was soon informed to whole village by some over conscious gossiping men, and the villagers insulted Sakharam further for not being able to control his daughter.

As the night fell, Sakharam drifted to sleep but Ilaa was still awake. She was unhappy, not by her broken marriage proposal but by the fact that her Dad was insulted by the comments and he had to apologize for something wrong done by others, by society!

Even though a young girl she was quite mature by the events that happened in her tender age. Her real mother had passed away a year after her birth. Sakharam loved his wife very much and as per her last wish, he had refused child marriage of Ilaa and faced wrath of many elders. To pacify them he agreed to their other demand of re-marrying another lady. Being a girl, Ilaa had to face many hardships and adding to her misery she had lost her beloved mother. Sakharam tried his best to take care of Ilaa and keep her happy. With passing years, Ilaa got bold enough to put her views firmly and humble enough not to hurt anyone dear to her. By God's grace she had a good and understanding father in this evil society. But, as many boys had been married at young age, it was getting difficult to get a good match for Ilaa. The few proposals she used to get would demand high dowry and that would make it impossible for Ilaa to agree for marriage.

***

The week passed in great toiling at fields and the cotton bales were ready for the monthly market. The tradesmen from Paithan arrived at Sauviragram as early as possible to pick up the best quality of goods. Sakharam had managed to acquire a good spot in the market place to sell their cotton. Ilaa waited at the market along with her father for the whole day, trying to get the best deal they could crack. But despite the good quality of cotton, they were not able to make any fortune on first day. Only the best cotton was sold and that too not at a great price as expected by farmers.

"It's the third day Baba, I hope at least today we would be able to sell our cotton!" said impatient Ilaa.

"Yes Beta, even I hope for that. Lord Vitthal knows what is in our fate!" Sakharam stirred some hope in her.

The father and daughter were desperately trying to attract the tradesmen to buy their cotton but all in vain. Till noon, they were quite exhausted and gave up any hopes for the day. Almost all the cotton farmers had sold their cotton and left the market. The evening breeze was blowing gently. Sakharam had been out in market for a while and Ilaa was busy with tiding up their stall when a young man approached them.

"Namaste, I am Haridas Patil from Paithan. Can I have a look at your cotton?" he inquired.

"Namaste Sir, it is one of the best qualities in our Paithan. Please feel free to check it out." Ilaa replied.

Haridas checked the fluffy cotton and keenly observed the neatly piled up tones of cotton. The contented look on his face showed he was interested in making the deal.

"Well, I think you have good quality of cotton. Can I talk with the owner?" he asked.

"Thank you Sir! You can surely speak up Sir; I'm the owner of this cotton." Ilaa answered.

Haridas raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"How can you be the owner? You are a girl!" Haridas said instantly.

"Sir, does being a girl makes any difference in my ownership of this cotton? My Baba went out just now. He is the actual owner of our cotton but in his absence, I'm the owner of this cotton!" Ilaa said confidently with a hint of irritation at the cliché.

Soon then Sakharam returned at their stall.

"Namaste Sir, myself Sakharam. Would you like to buy our cotton?" Sakharam asked promptly.

"Namaste. Yes I liked the quality of your cotton and would surely like to buy it. In exchange I can give u the wheat and barley I have. Is that OK with you?" Haridas proposed.

"Sir, actually it would be a bit less. You see the cotton is of good quality and its only means of our living. It would be great favor if you would think about the deal again. I have my daughter to marry yet. Please Sir." Sakharam begged.

Haridas looked at Ilaa and smiled. He thought for a moment and agreed for a better deal with Sakharam. He agreed to lend a few more things he had in exchange for the cotton.

Sakharam and Ilaa looked happy at finally being able to sell their cotton at t he rate they wished to.

***

The next day everyone at Ilaa's house were bit relaxed and there wasn't any hustle-bustle. Early in the morning a motor-car came and halted before their aangan, and yesterday's Haridas stepped out of it along with an elderly man. On seeing him, Sakharam felt numb. He wondered whether they have returned to complain about the cotton?!!

"Namaste Sakharam, I'm Mohandas Patil from Paithan. I came to know about your young beautiful daughter. My son saw her yesterday and would like to marry her. I hope you don't have any objection to this. And we won't take any dowry from you." The elderly man said.

"My son said she is a firm and confident woman unlike others and he thinks if she is well taught she can help us in our family business also." He continued.

Sakharam's eyes welled up. He joined his palms and bowed before Mohandas. Ilaa, who was standing nearby was overwhelmed with joy. She quickly ran away inside her house blushing.

***

Few days later as Ilaa was sitting beside the great Godavari accompanied by her childhood friend, she looked happy.

"It all happened so suddenly. It is great news that you have finally got the guy you dreamt of. But what if you had not found anyone?" the friend asked.

"See, I had always hoped in Lord Vitthal. I wanted my husband to love me and marry me for who I am not for the money or land my Baba would give. I wanted to be free to choose my kind of person. And the society is wrong, not us. Do we girls demand money for marrying the boys? Then why should we waste our money for anyone?" Ilaa answered calmly.

The friend looked satisfied with Ilaa's answer. They both turned their heads towards the river and gazed at the great Godavari!

"Finally I have become like you!" Ilaa whispered.