Mahashweta by Sudha Murty Read Free Book Online

didn’t you go to Halebeedu?’
    ‘What are you talking about?’ Kamala looked puzzled.
    ‘I thought the college had taken the girls from your class on a study tour.’
    ‘The college hasn’t organized any such trip for us. Now that we’re in the middle of our seminars, no one can go anywhere.’
    Anupama was nonplussed. She realized that something was wrong, but did not want to divulge any family secrets to an outsider.
    Kamala, however, persisted, ‘Who told you about the trip?’
    ‘I can’t remember. I guess I was confused and got everything mixed up.’
    ‘Where is Girija?’
    Anupama stammered, ‘Oh, she is not well, so she stayed at home.’
    ‘Is that why she didn’t come to college yesterday?’
    ‘Yes!’ Anupama was now desperate to escape from Kamala’s clutches. ‘Oh, it is getting late; I must go now,’ she mumbled.
    ‘What’s the hurry? Anyway, Anand is not here. Stay for some more time. It seems the school for the physically handicapped is organizing a fund-raising programme this year, too!’
    ‘Is that so?’ Anupama had lost contact with the world outside Lakshmi Nivas since her marriage.
    ‘Aren’t you acting in their play?’
    ‘Which play?’
    ‘Chand
Bibi.
Now that you’re at home, I thought you’d go for the rehearsals. I’m surprised you don’t even know about this.’
    Sundaramma, who had overheard their conversation, exclaimed, ‘It’s out of the question. Radhakka will never allow her daughter-in-law to act. Imagine girls from decent families going on stage! Things cannot go on as they did before the marriage. Radhakka will have a heart attack if her daughter-in-law carries on like that!’
    Anupama left with a sinking heart. So that was their opinion of such a beautiful art! It meant that, henceforth, she could never act or sing. Her only purpose was to be adorned and exhibited as an acquisition, a reflection of their status in society. She had never expected to live this kind of a life.
    Her only ray of hope was that an educated person like Anand would not hold such views. After all, had he not been charmed by her play?
    She was confident that he would never let her down.

    When Anupama reached home, she found that Girija had returned from her tour. She was describing to her mother the beauty of the Belur and Halebeedu temples. Anupama behaved as though nothing had happened, and did not breathe a word of what she had heard to anyone.
    As the days went by, Anupama began to get bored and depressed. She did not feel at home in her in-laws’ house, and suspected that she would always feel like a stranger there. The only comfort she derived was from Anand’s calls and letters. They were as welcome as rain during the hot summer, as refreshing as an oasis in the desert. In his letters, he described the beautiful places that he had seen, and also his loneliness and how he yearned to see her.
If
only
I
had
wings,
I’d
fly
away
to
him,
thought Anupama.
    One day, Anupama was in her room, reading Anand’s last letter over and over again, when Girija walked into the room in a towering rage.
    ‘Anupama, who told you to gossip about me?’
    Taken aback, Anupama asked, ‘What did I do?’
    ‘It seems you checked with Kamala about the tour.’
    ‘No. I never asked her anything. We were just having a casual conversation. You’re mistaken if you think I was trying to pry.’
    ‘No. I’m not mistaken. You had doubts about me, so you asked Kamala.’
    ‘I really do not know whether you went on the tour or not. Only you know about that. But Girija, as your sister-in-law and as someone older than you, can I tell you something?’
    Girija did not answer.
    ‘You have not chosen the right path, and your behaviour does not befit the family you come from. That’s all I want to say.’
    ‘Oh, stop preaching. Only avva has the right to advise me. Who are you to tell me anything? You have enacted so many love scenes on the stage. Was that all right?’
    ‘They were only plays,