An uninvited guest (1045)

 

(A translation of a Tamil story of mine)

There was a big board decked with flowers at the  entrance announcing in bold letters “Sumathi weds Naveen”. The air-conditioned marriage hall was crowded with guests and  relatives. The air was filled with the aroma of  sandalwood and jasmine flowers despite the smoke emanating from the homakund. The nadaswaram  music  from the piper to the accompaniment of loud drums (melams)  added to the gaiety of the happy occasion. The priest was chanting the appropriate mantras with Naveen the bridegroom and Sumathi the bride doing his bidding closely watched by the parents of the to-be -married couple.

It was then that  a young man approached some relative standing at the entrance of the marriage hall  and told him that he wished to meet the bride’s father urgently. When told that he is busy at the mandap with marriage proceedings, the man replied that the matter  cannot brook  delay and urged the relative to fetch him immediately.

When the matter was conveyed to Mahalingam, the father of the bride and about the man’s insistence of urgency, he hurried to the entrance wondering who the man and what the urgency could be. When he saw the young man with an  unkempt beard and mustache and dressed  in faded jeans and striped T-shirt, there was an instant  frown on Mahalingam’s face.

“Who are you and what do you want? Have you not been told that I am busy with marriage proceedings? You are still pressurizing that the matter is urgent. What is it you wish to say? Spill it now,“ Mahalingam asked in an irritated tone.

“I am Mohan. It is a delicate and confidential matter that you may not like to be told in the presence of others. Let us go to the room there and talk,” he said with a  smug smile. Mahalingam could sense  an attempt to black mail and quietly took him to an empty room in the corner.

“Kindly listen to me patiently without getting flustered. Sumathi and I were college mates in the degree class. What started as friendship soon turned into love. After a trip to Mahabalipuram, we became intimate and started dating each other regularly. When we were nearing the end of final year, I suggested that we get married. She was hesitant and said her parents would never approve of the marriage and wanted  our relationship to be brought to an end. We were still carrying on till recently, when one day, she announced her marriage had been fixed and that we should stop seeing each other permanently.” Mohan said.

When there was a pause, Mahalingam replied, “ My daughter had never spoken about this matter and this is totally new to me. Do you have  any proof of this long love affair in the form of letters or photos?”

“Sumathi was always cautious and  neither wrote to me nor allowed me to take any picture of her or us together. I have no objection to confront her in your  and Naveen’s presence to bring out the truth,” he said cheekily and added, “On the last occasion we met, she begged me to allow the arranged  marriage to happen and that she would do anything possible to help me.I have been wanting to start a business and needed some money, a minimum of two lakhs rupees. She pleaded that she cannot afford more than a lakh. Being concerned about her wellbeing, I reluctantly settled for the reduced amount. But curiously she never turned up. I want this matter to be settled before the marriage. I will go away quietly without any scene, if you hand over the money,” he concluded in a determined manner.

Mahalingam looked at the defiance in his face and replied, “You wait here.I will come presently with the money after a word with her privately.”

After about 15 minutes, Mahalingam  took him to a room adjacent to the mandap,where Mohan was shocked to find the bridegroom Naveen seated by the side of Sumathi. Mahalingam started telling, “Sumathi, do you know this man? He tells me that he knows you well and that he was your classmate in  college. He tells me that you promised financial help of one lakh rupees.”

“Appa, I neither  knew him nor talked to him even once. Maybe he studied in the same college  but I am not aware of. I have however seen him loitering on a few occasions in the lounge at the ground floor of my office building when I wait for the lift, “Sumathi replied.

At that time a police inspector entered the room and stood in attention with a salute to Naveen and said, “Sir, I got the information that the Commissioner of Police is on his way  to the marriage hall.”

“Okay, can you in the meantime ask sub inspector Logu to come with two constables to take this man and interrogate him. The bride’s father will apprise him of the details. Let there be no scene here. He may be taken to the station and given the necessary treatment to ensure that he never ventures to give any trouble in future,” said Naveen IPS.

Mohan’s face turned  deathly pale and with folded hands  begged Mahalingam, ”Sorry Sir, I did not know that your son-in-law is a big police officer. Allow me to go away. I promise I will not trouble you anymore.”

When Mahalingam turned his face to the other side, a shaken Mohan who was held by the constables  looked to Sumathi and pleaded helplessly with her, “Please help me.I promise I will not meddle in your affairs anymore. I do not need any money. I am very much afraid that the police would beat me blue. Kindly ask them to let me go.” When Sumathi did not reply and looked at him with sneer, he started crying hoarsely inviting hard slaps from the police men.

When Naveen signaled with his hand to take him away, the two constables dragged him towards the jeep by the side entrance. Naveen along with Mahalingam rushed to the mandap to be ready to receive the Commissioner.

Sumathi  lingered behind for a moment to see  Mohan being  pushed into the jeep and as she walked back to the mandap  let out  a soft chuckle at the  satisfactory conclusion.