Dollar Bahu by Sudha Murty Read Free Book Online Page A

that should not be a problem. If I can’t come, they will visit us.’
    Chandru had seen some of his friends’ wives going into depression due to loneliness, particularly in the smaller towns in the US. He wanted a bold girl who could face life and enjoy it there. He was not particularly keen on marrying a working girl, although it would be the girl’s decision whether to work there or not. He was aware that he had no family support there, as he had in India. So he wanted to be absolutely sure and he wanted the girl he married to know exactly what the situation was.
    As far as Jamuna was concerned, his mother had done the preliminary enquiries. She looked satisfactory and was quite clear-headed and outgoing. Chandru gave the green signal after some thought.

    It had been almost ten days since Chandru’s return to India. The long stay away from India made him feel quite disoriented. The country had changed so much, he thought. Swelling crowds, dustier, dirtier streets, hectic construction activity all round, there was hardly a vacant site in the neighbourhood. Pollution in the air, in the water, in the food was taking its toll on him. As a result, he suffered from an upset stomach and constant pain. A college friend, Ravichandra, had become a doctor and had a clinic near his house. Chandru went to consult him. Ravi was very happy to see him. While examining Chandru he casually asked him what he was doing.
    ‘Chandru, your stomach has become very sensitive. You must have eaten enough home food to make up the deficit of all these years in just one visit. Your stomach cannot handle all that spicy and rich stuff your mother is serving you.’
    Ravi wrote out a prescription and jokingly said, ‘Chandru, a software engineer’s life is any day better than a doctor’s. To finally become specialists we spend ten years or more after pre-university. Whereas software engineers spend four years studying and earn more than a doctor earns. And that is particularly true since you are in America. Your dollar salary, when multiplied forty-three times in India, is a huge amount of money.’
    ‘I agree. The market is like that. But it is not easy in America either. Anyway, what is your fee?’ Chandru cut short the conversation.
    ‘How can I take money from you? You are a friend.’
    But Chandru insisted, and reluctantly Ravi said, ‘Three hundred rupees.’
    Chandru paid it and came home. The next day, when asking Girish to encash some traveller’s cheques, Chandru casually said, ‘It seems India has become very expensive. I didn’t know doctors charge so much these days. I feel like Rip Van Winkle.’
    Girish was surprised. ‘Why, what happened?’
    ‘Ravi took three hundred rupees from me as consultation fees.’
    ‘What! Ravi normally charges hundred and fifty rupees. Two days ago I had taken a colleague of mine to him.’
    Without waiting for Chandru’s reaction, Girish rushed off to his bank.
    It was Chandru’s first taste of the double-fare formula.



THIRTEEN
    C handru’s wedding with Jamuna was set for the following week. The house was bursting with a new energy. Chandru hired a taxi for easy mobility in the days leading up to the wedding.
    He gave his mother four thousand dollars for wedding expenses. Gouramma had never seen that kind of money in all her life. She was effervescent with joy. She explained her plans to Chandru. ‘Jamuna is from a rich family. We should give her nice saris and jewels for the wedding. Otherwise they will look down upon us.’
    ‘Amma, don’t buy too many saris for Jamuna. In America, she will rarely get a chance to wear them. I would suggest that the three of you buy yourselves expensive saris that will be done due justice during festivals and functions.’
    Gouramma, Surabhi and Chandru went sari shopping. As usual, Vinuta was left to take care of the preparations at home. In the sari shop, Surabhi was enjoying herself, asking the salesman to pull out saris of unusual combinations