Surangi, The Child Bride

Part 48

Surangi's excitement knew no bounds. She had been waiting for some mail for weeks, her eager eyes surveying the desk in the drawing room for any evidence of a letter from Bombay. She was sure she would receive a reply, the clever little girl had written a note to Madhav with some queries- there was a Math problem and a reference to a legend from the Mahabharata. She had dared not include any personal questions as the note was a part of the letter being written by her mother-in-law to Madhav. As it was from their mother the letter was sure to be read by both Vidya and Madhav.

"Tapaal aley ka?" Surangi had enquired if the mail had been delivered, as soon as she returned from school, walking ahead of Waman. Yashoda and Sharayu could not help but smile. The child bride was too young to be romantically involved with her distant husband but it was easy to see that her bond with him was growing stronger. 

"A letter from Madhav was delivered today, but it is addressed to Vahini." Sharayu informed Surangi, trying to keep a poker face.

"But I had sent some queries regarding my school work. Is there any mention about them?" Surangi looked crestfallen. What if Madhav had not bothered to respond to her?

Both Sharayu and Yashoda burst out laughing to see the young girl's expression.

"Of course he has written about them! Don't forget that Madhav is a self-appointed guru to Waman and you, he cannot resist sharing knowledge. But you have to wait until after lunch to read his note!" Yashoda assured her.

Surangi somehow gulped her meal, scalding her fingers with the warm lentils and choking on her morsel a couple of times. She may as well be eating rocks for all she cared. All she could think of was Madhav's letter but was too polite to say it aloud.

"Vahini, looks like someone cannot wait to read the love letter from their beloved!" Sharayu laughed even as Yashoda scolded Surangi for rushing through her meal.

Surangi helped the women wind up the kitchen and even rocked the baby till he fell asleep in her arms. The moment Yashoda handed her the note from Madhav she clutched it and ran to her favourite spot in the backyard to ensure complete privacy. Her heart beat rapidly as she unfolded the note addressed to her.

"For Surangi,

Greetings from Bombay!

It is heartening to know that you are taking Math seriously. Keep up with the practice and feel free to ask about any more doubts and I will be happy to respond.

Mother had written that everyone is well and that my little cousin has been named Madhukar. As you may know, his name means a honeybee, although poets often use the name as an euphemism for a woman's lover."

Surangi blushed. Her husband was referring to a woman's lover. Like everyone else she too addressed the new baby as Madhu, short form of Madhukar. Each time she uttered the word it reminded her of Madhav. It was improper for a Hindu woman to address her husband by his name but she could not resist uttering Madhu aloud whenever she showered her affection on the baby. Once when she was holding Madhu close the supposedly hungry infant involuntarily tried to latch on to her non-existent breast through her bodice. She was both amused and embarrassed at the same time. She rushed him back to his mother Sharayu.

"But he is not even crying. How did you guess he was hungry?" Sharayu asked her.

"I just know by instinct!" She replied and ran off without  further explanation. 

Sweeping those thoughts aside she turned her attention back to the precious letter.

"If 4 men and 6 women finish a certain job in 8 days, and 3 men and 7 women can finish it in 10 days, how many days will 10 women take to finish the same job?