After taking care of his snacks Ganesh decided to visit the Mahadev temple that was in one corner of the ground where the weekly bazaar was held. The Mahadev temple, though old was quite spacious. All around the temple there was a vast open area that had flower and fruit bearing trees. There was also a huge neem tree. In summer this neem tree came very handy because of its shade. And today being the market day with the blazing heat of summer; people had crowded under the tree. Some people, tired and exhausted, had stretched themselves out. Right opposite the entrance was a public well. Several people from the village used to draw water from it. While going into the temple Ganesh saw a paanwala, a vendor of betel-leaves. He paused at the stall and ordered him to prepare a Benarasi paan, betel-leaf made in Benarasi style. There was quite a crowd before the paanwala. Some had ordered beedis and others cigarettes. Some needed small packets of tobacco. After taking care of these customers, the vendor took up to make Ganesh’s Benarasi paan. Till then Ganesh waited there before him. Wondering what next to do, he looked around. Near the vendor of betel-leaves and beside the temple’s stone wall, a game of marbles played by children was in full swing. Ganesh walked towards them. While going he instructed the paanwala to call him when his Benarasi paan was ready.
There were four to five children who were plying marbles. One among them, carrying around 15 to 20 marbles, went to a stone-slab that was about 10 to 11 feet away. He stood near the slab and gently threw the marbles on the ground to roll towards the temple-wall. Near the wall a hollow pit that was a little larger than a marble was dug in the ground. As the marbles rolled towards the pit, the children playing the game watched with abated breath. Because, had even one marble rolled into the pit, the boy would have won the entire lot of marbles. Several marbles went past the pit but not a single one rolled inside. Then another boy pointed to the boy who had thrown the marbles one specific marble which he had to hit with his marble.
The boy took a marble in his hand and partly closing one eye aimed it at the marble he was asked to hit. He threw the marble he held at it and at once everyone cried out ‘Ballu … Ballu ..” The marble he had thrown had not hit the target, it had hit some other marble making the boy disappointed, as he has to pay the penalty.
Disappointed the boy plunged his hand in the pocket of his shorts and took out a whole lot of marbles. He counted three marbles and added them into the game. The next boy was now ready to continue the game.
Ganesh watched and enjoyed all this. He remembered his childhood days. When, as a child, he too used to similarly play marbles with neighbouring boys. Ganesh’s reverie was suddenly broken by a voice calling him. “Your paan is ready, Sir,” the vendor of betel-leaves had called out.
He took the paan from him, paid for it and stuffing the betel-leaf into his mouth he asked the vendor to give him a cigarette. Lighting the cigarette and chewing the betel-leaf and with a filled belly, Ganesh slowly walked into the temple. The temple had only two doors. After entering through the main door one came across a large hall. From the hall if one went towards the sanctum, there was nandi, the sacred bull, made in stone. The naughty village children climbed the bull’s back this way and that, and played to their hearts’ content. As there were only two doors to the temple there was enough privacy in the hall. In the privacy of the hall’s corner a game of cards was always on. On the weekly market days the players played the game enjoying the taste of hot chilly-bhujia made by Bandu Hotelwala. The game of cards was played in the temple hall every day. Ganesh was never much interested in playing cards. But when he had nothing else to do, he used to come to the temple from his office, stand aside and watch the game with interest. At times Ganesh was surprised to notice village boys playing the complex game of rummy with great ease. It indicated that even the village boys had intelligence like others but maybe they used it often for a wrong or a useless cause.
Ganesh was engrossed in watching the game of card when some one came running and said, “Hey come on. There is a calamity in the bazaar.”
The game of cards was given up half way. Everyone took back the money they had put on the game. One of them stuffed the playing cards in his pocket.
“What’s the matter?” someone asked in concern.
“Come quickly and see for yourself. Why do you waste your breath here? And who has the time..” He said and like a wind he had come and like a wind he went out of the temple.
All began to run after him. Ganesh also became curious.
What could have had happened?
He too went after them, not exactly running, but as fast as he could.
At one place in the bazaar a large crowd had gathered. Those playing cards in the temple had all reached it. Ganesh also pushed himself into the crowd and standing on his toes tried to see what the matter was. What Ganesh saw taking place in the centre of the crowd took his courage out. His legs began to give way and his face turned ashen. There, Madhurani was beating a villager with her Kolhapuri slipper. The man was trying to save himself from her blows by shielding with both hands.At the same time he also tried to hide the shame that he was being put to. The one who was receiving the beating seemed a friend of one of those who were playing cards in the temple. Because he stepped in and enquired, “What happened?”
Madhurani was in full fury and was agitated. In that excitement she also hit with her slipper the person who had tried to intervene.
“They say that no one should intervene in a quarrel between a husband-wife and a quarrel taking place on the street … It is so true,” an elderly onlooker said to the person standing by him.
“Madhubai..” he tried to say something.
“Madhubai… why don’t you tell us what happened exactly?” the person who had intervened and received beatings asked with concern.
“May his corpse rot … What does he think of himself … while going through the crowd he pinched me… let the beast go home and pinch his sisters and mother …”
The person who had intervened did not know what to say, he muttered, “Where did he pinch you, Madhubai?”
“Now, shall I open up myself and show you … And what is this Madhubai..Madhubai.. Am I looking like a dancer in a tamasha?”
“No..its not like that ..Madhu..Tai..” he muttered.
“The word Tai seemed to have forcefully come out of him.
Ganesh had never before seen such a demonic version of Madhurani. Whatever dreams he had weaved about Madhurani got completely shattered at this violent sight. He looked as if he had lost his nerves.
Complete novel - Honey - A story of a feminine power
Re: Complete novel - Honey - A story of a feminine power
For the following four-five days Ganesh never went to Madhurani’s shop. He did not have the courage to do so. Once or twice he had caught Madhurani’s eyes through the window. That was all. He found her looking at him with wide eyes. At times he would make out in her eyes the anger for not knowing why he was behaving thus. At other times, he sensed her loneliness. While on still other occasions he saw her silently appealing “If I have done anything wrong, please forgive me.” At times he felt amazed how Madhurani could convey so much through her eyes. Or was it his own convenient interpretation.
A commotion was heard outside so Ganesh looked out of the window.
“Hey Pandya .. come here, quick… It seems a ‘Guessing’ has been found,” a boy cried out and ran towards the village stream.
A couple of more young men ran after him. And the people sitting on the stone slab became uneasy and started looking here and there.
Ganesh saw Madhurani. Sitting at her cash counter she was talking to a boy. That boy, pointing his hand towards the stream, was hurriedly trying to tell her something. Then, that boy, too, ran towards the stream. Just then Ganesh and Madhurani’s eyes met. She gave him a dazzling smile. A smile had also started breaking on Ganesh’s face. But just then he remembered Madhurani’s furious outburst in the bazaar. He quickly moved away from the window.
The evening’s horizon was tinged in red. Just near the stream at the boundary of the village there was a field of sugarcane. Ganesh noticed that at one place people had crowded. Ganesh hurried towards the crowd. There were many more villagers scurrying towards the crowd. Ganesh increased his pace. It was fast getting dark as such some were carrying lanterns. When Ganesh reached near the crowd, suddenly everyone fell silent. Some began to look sharply at him and others at the centre of the crowd. At the centre of the crowd, the dumb young man and the dumb young woman were standing with bent heads. Just then Ganesh saw that someone hurriedly pushed himself through the crowd and began to beat the dumb woman.
“Bitch .. you chose our house to take birth..” he began to mercilessly beat the dumb woman. It was difficult to make out if she were screaming or crying. And no one was bothered about it. At this juncture the dumb youth screamed in rage and fell on the man. A few strong boys held him rooted.
“You have now no face left to show in the village. .. Now I am going to beat you until death .. It would be nice if you die while receiving my beatings… Instead of roaming in the village with your sin, it would be better for me to go to jail.”
Now Ganesh began to get an inkling of the whole issue. The dumb man and the dumb woman would have carried on their affair in the sugarcane field. And the person who was beating her must be her father. The dumb woman’s father went on abusing and cursing while his hands and feet were engaged in beating her. Initially Ganesh felt that what her father was doing was right. In fact, with every beating he was sensing a vicious pleasure.
Truly she had left no honour for her father to show his face in the society.
Had I been in her father’s place I would have strangled her.
The dumb one seemed quite capable of having an affair.
When she could not get any one, she chose the dumb youth..
Now her father would find it difficult to get her married.
Well, an old man, or a drunkard would possibly marry her and take huge amount towards dowry.
For some time Ganesh felt as if he were the dumb woman’s father.
But soon the happening began to irk him. He began to feel that what was taking place was not quite correct. Ganesh began to look at them from human angle.
Poor girl, might have fallen in love with the dumb youth.
Perhaps he too must be in love.
Why should only normal people love?
Is there anywhere written that dumb people should not fall in love?
They too, are like all others.
They too, have feelings like all others.
They too, have needs like all others…
Only thing was that they were dumb.
But they were dumb not by choice.
It was their fate. Suddenly Ganesh felt inspired. He was unable to tolerate the beating by the dumb woman’s father and he was also unable to see her suffer at his hands.
The dumb woman’s screams and the dumb youth’s sharp angry snarls began to get on his nerves.
“Stop, what are you doing?..You’ll kill the poor one?”
One loud voice rang out. The dumb woman’s father was startled. For a few moments everyone fell silent. Ganesh could not believe that the voice was his own. The woman’s father took no heed of Ganesh and once began to beat her.
“Why do you beat her so much… the poor girl may die…”
“Poor girl?” her father paused and looking at Ganesh said in a mocking tone.
The father once again began to beat her.
Now Ganesh stepped forward to intervene..
“Ganeshrao .. don’t interfere in this matter … you’ll be put to loss …”
“You do your work silently … don’t interfere in the affairs of the village..”
“This you not your taluka. … such things may be happening there … but we don’t allow them here.”
“Such thing never happens in our village … this could be the first time …”
“When I was small, Patil’s daughter was entrapped with a cobbler’s son…. Patil cut her into pieces and fed the dogs…” one old man reminisced.
“The British police had then come to the village… to conduct an enquiry”
Ganesh looked at the old man as though to silently ask, “Then? What happened thereafter?”
“The police asked one and all … but they could not even establish that the Patil had a daughter… forget about the killing…”
Ganesh looked at the old man in amazement.
Could this really have happened?
“But Grandpa, its an old story … today the world has made rapid progress…” Ganesh tried to convince the old man.
“The world might have made rapid progress, but does it mean that people should climb on each other?” a man wearing a slanting cap said.
Even in that serious atmosphere quite a few chuckles arose. Those laughing mockingly were mainly the young men.”
The dumb woman’s father was further incensed. In a fit of fury he lifted with both hands a stone that was lying nearby. The stone was quite big and heavy; As such he was finding it difficult to lift it. Now the dumb woman’s father lifted the stone above his head and was about to cruelly smash it on the dumb woman’s head when
A commotion was heard outside so Ganesh looked out of the window.
“Hey Pandya .. come here, quick… It seems a ‘Guessing’ has been found,” a boy cried out and ran towards the village stream.
A couple of more young men ran after him. And the people sitting on the stone slab became uneasy and started looking here and there.
Ganesh saw Madhurani. Sitting at her cash counter she was talking to a boy. That boy, pointing his hand towards the stream, was hurriedly trying to tell her something. Then, that boy, too, ran towards the stream. Just then Ganesh and Madhurani’s eyes met. She gave him a dazzling smile. A smile had also started breaking on Ganesh’s face. But just then he remembered Madhurani’s furious outburst in the bazaar. He quickly moved away from the window.
The evening’s horizon was tinged in red. Just near the stream at the boundary of the village there was a field of sugarcane. Ganesh noticed that at one place people had crowded. Ganesh hurried towards the crowd. There were many more villagers scurrying towards the crowd. Ganesh increased his pace. It was fast getting dark as such some were carrying lanterns. When Ganesh reached near the crowd, suddenly everyone fell silent. Some began to look sharply at him and others at the centre of the crowd. At the centre of the crowd, the dumb young man and the dumb young woman were standing with bent heads. Just then Ganesh saw that someone hurriedly pushed himself through the crowd and began to beat the dumb woman.
“Bitch .. you chose our house to take birth..” he began to mercilessly beat the dumb woman. It was difficult to make out if she were screaming or crying. And no one was bothered about it. At this juncture the dumb youth screamed in rage and fell on the man. A few strong boys held him rooted.
“You have now no face left to show in the village. .. Now I am going to beat you until death .. It would be nice if you die while receiving my beatings… Instead of roaming in the village with your sin, it would be better for me to go to jail.”
Now Ganesh began to get an inkling of the whole issue. The dumb man and the dumb woman would have carried on their affair in the sugarcane field. And the person who was beating her must be her father. The dumb woman’s father went on abusing and cursing while his hands and feet were engaged in beating her. Initially Ganesh felt that what her father was doing was right. In fact, with every beating he was sensing a vicious pleasure.
Truly she had left no honour for her father to show his face in the society.
Had I been in her father’s place I would have strangled her.
The dumb one seemed quite capable of having an affair.
When she could not get any one, she chose the dumb youth..
Now her father would find it difficult to get her married.
Well, an old man, or a drunkard would possibly marry her and take huge amount towards dowry.
For some time Ganesh felt as if he were the dumb woman’s father.
But soon the happening began to irk him. He began to feel that what was taking place was not quite correct. Ganesh began to look at them from human angle.
Poor girl, might have fallen in love with the dumb youth.
Perhaps he too must be in love.
Why should only normal people love?
Is there anywhere written that dumb people should not fall in love?
They too, are like all others.
They too, have feelings like all others.
They too, have needs like all others…
Only thing was that they were dumb.
But they were dumb not by choice.
It was their fate. Suddenly Ganesh felt inspired. He was unable to tolerate the beating by the dumb woman’s father and he was also unable to see her suffer at his hands.
The dumb woman’s screams and the dumb youth’s sharp angry snarls began to get on his nerves.
“Stop, what are you doing?..You’ll kill the poor one?”
One loud voice rang out. The dumb woman’s father was startled. For a few moments everyone fell silent. Ganesh could not believe that the voice was his own. The woman’s father took no heed of Ganesh and once began to beat her.
“Why do you beat her so much… the poor girl may die…”
“Poor girl?” her father paused and looking at Ganesh said in a mocking tone.
The father once again began to beat her.
Now Ganesh stepped forward to intervene..
“Ganeshrao .. don’t interfere in this matter … you’ll be put to loss …”
“You do your work silently … don’t interfere in the affairs of the village..”
“This you not your taluka. … such things may be happening there … but we don’t allow them here.”
“Such thing never happens in our village … this could be the first time …”
“When I was small, Patil’s daughter was entrapped with a cobbler’s son…. Patil cut her into pieces and fed the dogs…” one old man reminisced.
“The British police had then come to the village… to conduct an enquiry”
Ganesh looked at the old man as though to silently ask, “Then? What happened thereafter?”
“The police asked one and all … but they could not even establish that the Patil had a daughter… forget about the killing…”
Ganesh looked at the old man in amazement.
Could this really have happened?
“But Grandpa, its an old story … today the world has made rapid progress…” Ganesh tried to convince the old man.
“The world might have made rapid progress, but does it mean that people should climb on each other?” a man wearing a slanting cap said.
Even in that serious atmosphere quite a few chuckles arose. Those laughing mockingly were mainly the young men.”
The dumb woman’s father was further incensed. In a fit of fury he lifted with both hands a stone that was lying nearby. The stone was quite big and heavy; As such he was finding it difficult to lift it. Now the dumb woman’s father lifted the stone above his head and was about to cruelly smash it on the dumb woman’s head when
Re: Complete novel - Honey - A story of a feminine power
Now the dumb woman’s father lifted the stone high above his head and was about to cruelly smash it on the dumb woman’s head when ..
“Wait,” a deep voice boomed.
Every one froze and began to turn and look back. The dumb woman’s father obediently threw the stone aside. Ganesh turned and looked back. The village Sarpanch was standing there. Earlier, Ganesh had seen the calm and benign face of the Sarpanch. But today, for the first time, he was seeing the Sarpanch’s skill to face such a volatile and complex situation,
“Raghuji .. what if she is your daughter .. it does not give you the right to take law in your hand,” Sarpanch went near the dumb girl and said. Standing beside her he threw a determined glance over the crowd as if he was saying it to the entire village.
When so many people are standing here, how could such beastly thing take place? ..
Have all of you lost your sense?..
I can understand the girl’s father…
He was under the influence of devil’s rage.
But what about you?
As Sarpanch asked each one no one dared to meet his stare that pierced through their minds and bodies. They all hung their heads.
“Is the dumb youth’s father here?” Sarpanch asked the crowd.
The crowd became restive. A few young men were holding the dumb youth captive. From somewhere amidst the crowd a villager, scared and frightened, hesitatingly came forward.
“Come forward …here…,” Sarpanch asked him to come forward and stand to one side.
“And dumb woman’s father…Raghu ..come here…stand next to him..” Sarpanch instructed the dumb woman’s father.
He came and stood beside the dumb youth’s father. Dumb woman’s father was all cowed and subdued. He looked at the dumb youth’s father. But the dumb youth’s father didn’t even show the courtesy of acknowledging his presence. He stood in arrogance and totally uncaring.
“Hey, set the dumb youth free,” Sarpanch ordered.
The young men who were holding the dumb youth captive set him free.
“Now make the dumb youth stand here …next to his father,” Sarpanch told one of the young men.
The young man held the dumb youth by his arm and made him stand beside his father.
“Now, bring your daughter and make her stand next to you,” the Sarpanch instructed the dumb woman’s father. The woman’s father slowly walked to the girl. She was still lying on the ground and, hiding her face, was weeping ceaselessly. Her father stood beside her. He hesitated for a few moments. He did not know with what authority he could now make her get up. He stooped and lifted her holding her arm. She got up moaning and weeping. For a moment her eyes met those of her father and moved to the core she fell into her father’s arms and began to cry in vigorous spasms. The father’s eyes too welled with tears. Unknowingly his hand began to gently pat her back to console her. Seeing this Ganesh got a lump in his throat.
“Bring her here,” the Sarpanch, in order to wind up the scene, instructed once again.
Raghu stepped away from his dumb daughter and holding her by shoulders brought her to the front. He stood at his earlier place and made the dumb daughter stand next to him on the left. The dumb girl hung her head and stood silently. The poor girl, she did not have the courage to face such a big crowd.
It was for the first time that Ganesh saw the dumb girl from such close quarters. She was extremely pretty. She was fair. Her build was slender and shapely. In all this beauty there was only one flaw, she was dumb. If some one did not know that she was dumb, he would have easily fallen in love with her at the first sight.
“Now, all of you listen to me…” the Sarpanch said.
The father of the dumb girl began to look eagerly at the Sarpanch. The dumb youth’s father also reluctantly looked at him. The poor dumb girl still stood silent, with her head hung in shame. And the dumb youth some times glared at the Sarpanch and then looked at the dumb girl. While looking at the dumb girl, his eyes revealed the concern and compassion he felt for her. Poor young man, he seemed to be really in love with her. Though he was dumb, he was eloquently expressing his love for her, perhaps he could not have expressed with such intensity had he been able to talk. Even then, no one other than her could have understood the depth of his silent sentiments.
“Do you wish to keep up your honour?” the Sarpanch threw a question at the people.
Only the father of dumb girl looked at him helplessly. Dumb youth’s father was avoiding all eyes.
“Does your village love its honour?” Sarpanch asked in a deep voice looking at the dumb youth’s father.
Dumb youth’s father somehow managed to meet the Sarpanch’s gaze.
“In that case, listen. I am announcing here the decision of the Panch”
All strained their ears to hear what the Sarpanch had to say.
“Get these two married on the earliest auspicious day.”
All looked at the Sarpanch with great disbelief.
“Why did we not think of this?” ..they must have perhaps thought. All people seemed to agree to this proposal.
“What Raghu, do you agree to this?” Sarpanch asked the dumb girl’s father. “Yes, Sir .. If the boy’s father accepts my daughter he will be doing me a great favour,” the dumb girl’s father said happily spreading his shoulder-cloth in anticipation of receiving the favour. The dumb youth’s father did not react. He seemed to have fallen into thinking.
“What Pandurang, is this agreeable to you?” the Sarpanch asked the dumb youth’s father.
“Yes Sir ,.. as you wish,” the groom’s father replied with some apprehension.
All people beamed happy smiles. Ganesh was looking at the Sarpanch with great appreciation. This indeed was real leadership.
Truly, Sarpanch, I accept your talent.
Sarpanch had instantly given a generally acceptable solution and solved the problem,
“What are you all gaping at each other .. Come start your work.. we should get them married as soon as possible, “Sarpanch said happily and began to trace quick steps towards the village.
All people also began to happily go after him towards the village.
Some over enthusiastic youth began to raise slogans in happiness and excitement.
“Sarpanch:
“Zindabad”
“Sarpanch:
“Zindabad”
“Wait,” a deep voice boomed.
Every one froze and began to turn and look back. The dumb woman’s father obediently threw the stone aside. Ganesh turned and looked back. The village Sarpanch was standing there. Earlier, Ganesh had seen the calm and benign face of the Sarpanch. But today, for the first time, he was seeing the Sarpanch’s skill to face such a volatile and complex situation,
“Raghuji .. what if she is your daughter .. it does not give you the right to take law in your hand,” Sarpanch went near the dumb girl and said. Standing beside her he threw a determined glance over the crowd as if he was saying it to the entire village.
When so many people are standing here, how could such beastly thing take place? ..
Have all of you lost your sense?..
I can understand the girl’s father…
He was under the influence of devil’s rage.
But what about you?
As Sarpanch asked each one no one dared to meet his stare that pierced through their minds and bodies. They all hung their heads.
“Is the dumb youth’s father here?” Sarpanch asked the crowd.
The crowd became restive. A few young men were holding the dumb youth captive. From somewhere amidst the crowd a villager, scared and frightened, hesitatingly came forward.
“Come forward …here…,” Sarpanch asked him to come forward and stand to one side.
“And dumb woman’s father…Raghu ..come here…stand next to him..” Sarpanch instructed the dumb woman’s father.
He came and stood beside the dumb youth’s father. Dumb woman’s father was all cowed and subdued. He looked at the dumb youth’s father. But the dumb youth’s father didn’t even show the courtesy of acknowledging his presence. He stood in arrogance and totally uncaring.
“Hey, set the dumb youth free,” Sarpanch ordered.
The young men who were holding the dumb youth captive set him free.
“Now make the dumb youth stand here …next to his father,” Sarpanch told one of the young men.
The young man held the dumb youth by his arm and made him stand beside his father.
“Now, bring your daughter and make her stand next to you,” the Sarpanch instructed the dumb woman’s father. The woman’s father slowly walked to the girl. She was still lying on the ground and, hiding her face, was weeping ceaselessly. Her father stood beside her. He hesitated for a few moments. He did not know with what authority he could now make her get up. He stooped and lifted her holding her arm. She got up moaning and weeping. For a moment her eyes met those of her father and moved to the core she fell into her father’s arms and began to cry in vigorous spasms. The father’s eyes too welled with tears. Unknowingly his hand began to gently pat her back to console her. Seeing this Ganesh got a lump in his throat.
“Bring her here,” the Sarpanch, in order to wind up the scene, instructed once again.
Raghu stepped away from his dumb daughter and holding her by shoulders brought her to the front. He stood at his earlier place and made the dumb daughter stand next to him on the left. The dumb girl hung her head and stood silently. The poor girl, she did not have the courage to face such a big crowd.
It was for the first time that Ganesh saw the dumb girl from such close quarters. She was extremely pretty. She was fair. Her build was slender and shapely. In all this beauty there was only one flaw, she was dumb. If some one did not know that she was dumb, he would have easily fallen in love with her at the first sight.
“Now, all of you listen to me…” the Sarpanch said.
The father of the dumb girl began to look eagerly at the Sarpanch. The dumb youth’s father also reluctantly looked at him. The poor dumb girl still stood silent, with her head hung in shame. And the dumb youth some times glared at the Sarpanch and then looked at the dumb girl. While looking at the dumb girl, his eyes revealed the concern and compassion he felt for her. Poor young man, he seemed to be really in love with her. Though he was dumb, he was eloquently expressing his love for her, perhaps he could not have expressed with such intensity had he been able to talk. Even then, no one other than her could have understood the depth of his silent sentiments.
“Do you wish to keep up your honour?” the Sarpanch threw a question at the people.
Only the father of dumb girl looked at him helplessly. Dumb youth’s father was avoiding all eyes.
“Does your village love its honour?” Sarpanch asked in a deep voice looking at the dumb youth’s father.
Dumb youth’s father somehow managed to meet the Sarpanch’s gaze.
“In that case, listen. I am announcing here the decision of the Panch”
All strained their ears to hear what the Sarpanch had to say.
“Get these two married on the earliest auspicious day.”
All looked at the Sarpanch with great disbelief.
“Why did we not think of this?” ..they must have perhaps thought. All people seemed to agree to this proposal.
“What Raghu, do you agree to this?” Sarpanch asked the dumb girl’s father. “Yes, Sir .. If the boy’s father accepts my daughter he will be doing me a great favour,” the dumb girl’s father said happily spreading his shoulder-cloth in anticipation of receiving the favour. The dumb youth’s father did not react. He seemed to have fallen into thinking.
“What Pandurang, is this agreeable to you?” the Sarpanch asked the dumb youth’s father.
“Yes Sir ,.. as you wish,” the groom’s father replied with some apprehension.
All people beamed happy smiles. Ganesh was looking at the Sarpanch with great appreciation. This indeed was real leadership.
Truly, Sarpanch, I accept your talent.
Sarpanch had instantly given a generally acceptable solution and solved the problem,
“What are you all gaping at each other .. Come start your work.. we should get them married as soon as possible, “Sarpanch said happily and began to trace quick steps towards the village.
All people also began to happily go after him towards the village.
Some over enthusiastic youth began to raise slogans in happiness and excitement.
“Sarpanch:
“Zindabad”
“Sarpanch:
“Zindabad”