Surangi, The Child Bride

Part 24

Madhav's family was now Surangi's own. Fortunately the grown ups acknowledged her need for affection without smothering her with their love and overprotectiveness. She was encouraged to resume her routine as soon as she got back from her father's. In some matters being a child has an edge over being an adult, and Surangi's attention was soon diverted by the birth of another calf. The Oaks owed both cows and buffaloes and it was stressful for the adults and exciting for the children when a birth was imminent. 

When the expectant mother was close to birth she was watched over carefully to look for any signs of distress. Lack of professional veterinary care was compensated for by relying upon those with years of experience in assisting with calving. Uterine inertia, where the muscles of the mother's womb do not contract adequately to push the calf out or a calf presenting posteriorly invariably required attention for the safety of the calf as well as for the mother. Calves that were stuck had to be pulled out carefully by expert hands to increase their chances of survival. As soon as the calf emerged instinct drove the mother, who could be lying on her side for the birth, to stand up and lick it clean and encourage it to get up. It was vital that a calf stood up soon after birth and began nursing within a couple of hours of being born.

Young children were kept away from the area lest they found the natural process of calving disturbing. The afterbirth was disposed off and the shed was cleaned. Because they are protective not all bovine mothers tolerate intruders near their newborn. To keep the cow and the calf stress-free the farmhand needs to wait until the calf has suckled before milking the mother. A pudding, locally known as kharwas, would made with colostrum, milk, jaggery and crushed cardamom. This treat can only be had for a two to three days after the calf is born as the colostrum is soon replaced by the flow of regular milk. The honeycomb like chewy texture of the caramelly kharwas makes it a favourite treat for all ages, specially for the kids.

The safe delivery of the second female calf of the year dispelled all gloomy thoughts. Surangi loved being around the playful calf who liked to prance around whenever it was let loose. She had dark expressive eyes with a kohl-like line around them and she would thrust her wet muzzle toward Surangi whenever the girl fussed over her. "A healthy calf is active and wants to play!" Aaji would say to the children. Calves were dear to her and she often visited the shed to keep a watchful eye on them as well as their mothers. "This Diwali will be the first in this house for Surangi as well as the calves born this year. Surangi, you have to be there when the mother and calf are worshipped during Vasu Baras." Aaji reminded the child bride about the ritual that marked the advent of the festival of a thousand lamps.

"Thank you for the kharwas, Turangi!" Nitu, a little girl in her school was delighted to share a few morsels of the pudding from Surangi's lunchbox. "You are welcome, and my name is Surangi, not Turangi. Turangi means a mare, a female horse!" Surangi smiled indulgently at the Nitu. Chandri had told the girls in school about the new arrival in the Oak household. Nitu had formed an unusual friendship with Surangi when  she offered her bits of sugarcane stalk from her farm on their first day at school. 

"Arey Nitu, you may even call her Rangu if you wish! That sounds nice too!" The mocking voice belonged to Balu, a known lout. He was older than Madhav,  having failed a few school years. Madhav topped every school year consistently and that had won him both admiration as well as envy. "Because of guys like that Maadhya our parents give us grief over grades!" Balu would tell his bunch of no-good friends, who had as much reason to agree with him. Balu had no way to match Madhav in academics but had recently discovered the boy's soft underbelly, Madhav's child bride Surangi.

"What did you just call her?" Balu had not expected Madhav to be summoned to the scene so quickly by the vigilant Waman,  who told on Balu immediately making Madhav rush to the spot. "It is the short form for her name. Where is the need for such a fuss?" Balu bared his teeth. Both boys knew that this was war. Rangu was the name of an irresistible courtesan in the taluka town. It was demeaning to address a girl by her name and Madhav knew Balu had done that to spite him.

"Listen Balu, I know you don't understand the concept of a level playing field, but if you approach my wife again, if you so much as come near her again you shall be sorry!" Madhav's voice was menacing enough to make Surangi nervous. "Relax boy! Not as if I touched her, at least not yet!" Balu had said enough. Madhav let fly and the two boys were a maze of arms and legs until their friends pulled them apart. "Why don't you keep her locked up at home if she is that precious to you?" Balu smirked at Madhav, while still being restrained.

"Learn to mind your own business and try to pass this year if you are man enough!" Madhav retorted. That day as they headed home Surangi tried to dissipate the tension. "He did not do anything, you may have overreacted!" She whispered to her husband.

"Don't speak if you don't understand anything! I don't want you to have to do anything with that miserable excuse of a boy or any of his friends. Am I making myself clear?" He snapped at Surangi. How would she know what was going on inside his head, how would she? That scoundrel was the kind who could pull her into the bushes and try to take her innocence just to get back at Madhav. He had to protect her from Balu and any other low life within a mile of her! Madhav had reason to be agitated, before Surangi came into his life he was invincible, now her dignity was at stake because of a boy with antisocial leanings.