Episode 3: The Shock
Early in the morning, as soon as the young master reached the village, the marriage rituals started and took place in a very simple way. The young girl’s eyes watered, remembering her brother’s words: “Ammu, don’t worry that we lost our mother and father ! My little sister ! I will marry you to a lovable person who will love you more than me!” When the knot was tied around her neck, she recalled these words !
On the wedding night, the young girl sat alone on the floor near the cot in the room, looking at her brother’s photo and saying, “Brother! Don’t worry! I will settle down all the money we borrowed and will come to you soon !!!” She rapidly kept her brother’s photo inside her clothes and stood up as a sort of respect as soon as she heard the young master’s—her husband’s—footsteps towards the door.
He slowly opened the door and came near her; she bowed her head down. He insisted she sit on the mattress and he, too, sat. With his hands, he raised her chin to see her face and asked, “How should I call you? What is your name?” She replied, “Everyone used to call me Milkman’s sister!” He asked, “Okay, but what is your actual name?” She replied, “I don’t know but my brother used to call me Ammu!” He asked, “Then may I even call you like that ?” She nodded her head slowly.
He said, “Okay, Ammu, tell me about yourself.” She said, “About me …?”and her silence filled the room !!! Master added, “Anything about you like:Your family – Your likes – Your dislikes – everything. Ammu replied,“My mother and father died when I was eight months old and from then my brother grew me up! When I was eight years old, my brother was diagnosed with tuberculosis and from then I used to sell milk, as we had two cows, do household work in many houses, cook in temples, go for building works and work in crop fields and used to do all sorts of work ! Even though I couldn’t save my brother, he passed away yesterday and I became an orphan !!!”,with watery eyes !!!
Interrupting, the master said, “Ammu, you’re not an orphan anymore! I’m there for you, as your shadow, lifelong!!! ” holding her shoulders. Ammu, looking into the master’s eyes, suddenly asked, “When will you marry again? Now itself or after I die?”, with a low crembling voice and moisty eyes. The master was extremely shocked and taken aback by her question and leaving her shoulders, asked, “What are you saying? Another marriage?- With frozen words – “You will die ?” asked shockingly… “
(Continues)
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