At the Eleventh Hour

It was a full moon night. The healing light of the moon was diminishing the darkness of the tired looking earth whose inhabitants were willingly surrendering themselves before the intoxicant charms of sleep. Since, last fortnight, the moon had been appearing and enlarging gradually to throw its irresistible charm to appease its lover, the earth. And today it had cast its full spell on its beholder to make it surrender. It was Veer’s and Lakshana’s daily routine to adore the beauty of the moon and the twinkling stars from their bedroom.They used to be spellbound by their heavenly beauty. This would usually lead to a change in their demeanour as they were moonstruck.Today also, the moon light bathed the couple’s bedroom which was facing the east on the first floor of their newly constructed house. Both looked solemn and one could easily profess on seeing them that they were made for each other.They were indeed a matchless couple. “Why don’t you understand, Veer? There is no other way,” said the sweet, innocent and fair complexioned Lakshana to her unwilling husband.Her almond shaped eyes, sharp nose and moon like full face fascinated everyone. It glowed constantly. “No. I can’t, it’s impossible.I told you earlier also,” replied Veer, who was nearing his forties. His broad forehead with pondering eyes and his well-shaped moustaches made him look attractive and smart. She came closer to him and said, “I know. But don’t be rigid. This will be in everybody’s favour. Lakshana tried to convince him. “Whatever happens, I don’t care. How can I think of life without you?” She smiled on hearing the last sentence and took his hand in her own and looked straight into his eyes which were trying to avoid the eye contact with her. She continued, “I am not leaving you.” “I know that. But, it is impossible,”said the husband and tried to turn his face to the other side. But she stopped him and made him look at her. “Veer, you also know that mummy and papa won’t agree. They are also right. It has been nearly ten years to our marriage.” “Then what? I can wait for another ten.” “Look here, Veer. You are not trying to understand the situation. Your parents want a “vaaris (heir) at any cost. And I have not been able to give them,” replied the sad looking wife to her husband. “I don’t care. I can spend life without children.” “And if they pressurise you for a divorce, then?” “Impossible!” said the determined husband as she looked into his wife’s eyes.Lakshana could easily read his eyes. They matched his words. “It’s better to adopt a child from an orphanage,” suggested Veer. “Your parents are totally against this. They want a baby from you and me and not from an unknown blood.” There was silence for a little while and then she softly said, “I have a plan.” Veer was surprised and gazed at her as if trying to read her eyes. “What plan?” “I’m thinking,” saying this, she hesitated to speak further. The husband looked at her with curiosity and interrupted her before she could reveal her mind. He said, “Look here, don’t tell me for a second marriage as my parents are saying these days.” She became speechless and was stunned as if he had spoken her mind. But she did not give up. “I have something more in my mind. . .. Suppose you marry my younger sister, Lovanaya?” suggested Lakshana as if she was trying to cut the Gorlian knot. There was ominous silence in the room as it is before the coming of the storm in the silent sea.Veer was taken aback with what she had suggested. For a moment he did not have words to speak. He got up and sat on his bed. “Have you gone crazy?”He exclaimed with disbelief and then added, “You are not in your senses!” And then he started laughing at his wife’s hollow advice and said, “Go to sleep,go to sleep. You are not feeling well. Good night,”saying this he tried to pull the bedsheet over himself. But his better half had not given up. How could she, it was against her nature. Mountains melt and Troys are lost, if a woman wants. Lakshana knew this fact. “Look here, Veer, I am serious and I have resolved to bring my sister here. There is no other way.” The husband tried to ignore her. “I’ll talk to you in the morning. Now, go to sleep.” “No! Today you have to decide. And I have told you about my final decision.” “What compelled you to talk like this?” he asked here in disbelief. “A few days back. I went to aunt Kaushalaya’s house,who lives in our neighbourhood.” “I know.” “She told me that my mother-in-law could go to any extent for a ‘Vaaris’. They could even go to an extent of divorce.” “Oh! It’s all crap. When I’m here with you, who are they to take decision of my life.” “Today, I received a call from my mother.” “Is she fine?” “Yes, but she was worried about me and informed that she had received a message from the man who arranged our marriage that your mother would not wait any more and they would surely marry you off within next six months, whether divorce was there or not.” “Really?” “Yes! That’s why I am saying.” There was no more conversation between them which compelled both the husband and the wife to brood over the matter seriously. Although, he knew that whatever his wife had said was absolutely right. There was no doubt in that. His parents and even his sister had been persuading him a lot for the second marriage, if not a divorce. But, how could he think of getting married again. He really loved his wife and re-marrying would mean betraying her. “I will never be able to face her again in my life,” he said to himself. “Look here, Lakshana, I have never thought of Lovanya from that angle. It would be a very awkward situation for me to live in.” “But, there is no other way,” said Lakshana helplessly. She became quiet and put her head on his hairy chest. “I’ll talk to mummy and papa about Lovanaya, tomorrow.” “Will they agree?” “They will have to.” “If they don’t . . .?” “I can only think of Lovanaya for you and no other girl. It would be easy for me to spend life with her than any other girl.” “You are sacrificing yourself.” “It is better to share you with my sister then to lose you forever.” “But, the law also does not permit,” said her husband trying to dissuade her. “When my consent is there, no law can challenge. Only don’t leave me! I can’t think of life without you!” “Me too!” Tears rolled down from her cheeks and fell on his chest. Veer could feel the warmth of her tears which had made his chest wet. She had surrendered like that mango tree which, unfortunately, could not bear fruit for its owner. But at least, its branches could be used to perform a hawan (a holy fire) to purify the surroundings. The purefragrance of the hawan appeals the senses and the mind. After the full vigour of the white flames, the intensity of the heat subsides and gradually bring with it soothing peace and contentment. Consequently, once again, a new life begins full of optimism to face the latent obstacles. Next morning, when Veer had left for his job, Lakshana made up her mind to speak to her mother-in-law. She knew it would be very difficult to convince her for Lovanaya. She was looking for the right moment to break the ice. Many doubts raised their ugly heads in the mind of this unfortunate daughter-in-law. She felt very ungraceful to talk to her mother-in-law about the second marriage of her own husband. Have we ever seen any sheep pleading the butcher to cut her into pieces?