The Invincible Moonsheen
Part – 38
(Telugu Original “Venutiragani Vennela” by Dr K.Geeta)
English Translation: V.Vijaya Kumar
(The previous story briefed)
Sameera comes to meet her mother’s friend, Udayini, who runs a women’s aid organization “Sahaya” in America. Sameera gets a good impression of Udayini. Four months pregnant, Sameera tells her that she wants to get a divorce and the circumstances are conducive to it. Udayini asks her to listen to the story of “Tanmayi” and pursue her to make her own decision after listening to the story. Tanmayi and Shekhar, who met at a wedding ceremony, go to marry with the permission of their elders. After the marriage they started their new life in Visakhapatnam. A boy was born to the couple in a year of their marriage. Tanmay engages in her studies deeply and enjoys the friendship with her colleagues forgetting all about her household disturbances. Her parents came to stay with her for a month while Shekhar is away on his long-term camp.
***
Tanmayi got ready for her interview at six in the morning. She wore her favorite white Bengal cotton saree with a dark purple blouse that matched the hem. Her eyes were calm and fresh, as she had gone to bed early. She felt very modest. For the first time in her life, she was going for an interview.
She remembered Siddharth’s words: “When others ask questions, you should think they don’t know anything—that you’re answering small children. Only then will you teach lessons confidently.” She smiled slightly at his sense of humor.
Whether she got the job now or not was irrelevant. She was just going for the experience. If she got it despite lacking qualifications, it would be an injustice to the children she taught. If she was truly qualified, no one could stop her. That was it. She went upstairs for some fresh air.
In the east, the sun marched forward, its rays like brave soldiers overcoming the hardships of the night. There were no sounds like the chirping of birds from her village, nor the Psalms broadcast on the radio. At six, no people walked around. In the distance, a boy on a bicycle threw newspapers and left milk packets in bags tied to the gate. An occasional whistle sounded, suggesting everyone in the houses had woken and was preparing for school or work. A few people walked around, turning over papers with coffee cups. Large apartments stood alongside middle-class ones and nearby small living spaces.
The maid called from downstairs for coffee.
Jyoti, washing her face, asked in surprise, “What! You’re ready?”
“I want to go a little earlier, Mom. I’ll take the bus today,” Tanmayi said.
The maid looked at Tanmayi’s long, curly hair with awe. “What do you apply on your head, amma?”
Jyoti laughed. “When she was younger, her hair reached her knees.”
As Tanmayi walked out the door, she felt someone watching her. She turned back.
A man about her father’s age was looking at her from the rented porch. Seeing Tanmayi turn, he quietly buried his head in his newspaper. Tanmayi wrapped the pallu of her saree tighter and walked briskly. She was no child, oblivious to opportunistic male gazes.
“Phew… phew,” she muttered in disgust.
“Once your interview is over, we should leave by next evening,” her mother had said the night before.
God! Not in the evening. We should leave early in the morning, even if it’s on a passenger train, Tanmayi thought.
She reached the College Service Commission office an hour early. A few candidates were talking among themselves, complaining about interview injustices.
“No matter how well you answer, no matter how good you seem, you only get the job if you’re a minister’s candidate or offer a bribe.”
“My villager recently sold his farm for a grade 4 job. Even after paying bribes, he didn’t get it and lost the farm that supported his family.”
She walked, thinking, “So, can’t these government jobs go to people like me who rely on their own strength?”
Sitting in long rows on benches, some made acquaintances, some cracked jokes, some just sat sweating with anxiety.
Tanmayi closed her eyes and whispered, “Oh my anonymous friend! You’ve guided me so long. Tell me how to change my life’s course, and I will oblige.”
“Tanmayi!” She opened her eyes to the familiar voice. Prabhu stood there.
“Oh! Glad to see you!” she said, surprised.
She remembered meeting him at Andhra University; he’d completed his MCA and was job-hunting in Hyderabad.
Before he could speak, she asked, “Are you here for the interview?”
Nodding, he laughed, “Aha… ha… No! Just accompanying that guy!” He gestured towards someone. Sitting next to her, he added, “I wasn’t for government jobs. I’m a computer instructor at a private college.”
Tanmayi nodded absently.
“Let’s meet downstairs at the canteen after your interview,” he said, rising.
It’s good my interview is in the morning slot. I think everything else will be fine.
“Well, my name is called after two candidates. I’ll come as soon as I can,” she said.
When her name was announced, the slight anxiety vanished, replaced by calm.
She greeted the panel humbly as she entered the room. Two members in the center nodded, seeming impressed. Four gray-haired interviewers nearing retirement sat behind a table slightly to their left. A blackboard with colored chalks stood to one side.
One asked, “Your name?”
Hearing the answer, he said, “Umm… good name.”
Others fired questions rapidly about her village and university. Tanmayi felt elated and answered well.
Answering questions on her M.A. subjects, she realized not all were pre-prepared. Siddhartha’s words flashed in her mind, yet she answered without hesitation.
An older board member stood, sipped coffee, and said, “Now, an analytical question.”
Tanmayi listened intently and answered methodically.
The panel listened with interest, nodding in satisfaction. Tanmayi felt joy as she covered grammar, Sanskrit, ancient literature, modern literature, linguistics, recent trends, and finally, poetry.
“I will recite the poem not with tune, but by explanatory method.” She recited stanza by stanza with meaningful expression.
They stared in amazement.
“Okay,” they said, handing back her file. “Fine. You may go now.”
Satisfied smiles were visible on the panel. Tanmayi felt immense satisfaction.
Outside, her mind eased. The interview had gone a hundred times better than expected.
“Now I stop worrying about whether I’ll get the job. This experience is enough.”
She told Prabhu this in the canteen.
“You seem very happy! Yet you have the determination to achieve what you want. It’s rare for such different qualities to coexist,” he said admiringly.
“Leave it! Tell me about you,” said Tanmayi.
“What? Ummm…I worried about getting a seat while studying, then a job after graduation. And now…” He shook his head. “Sorry… I don’t want to displease you with my troubles.” He smiled.
Smiling softly, she said, “What you’re saying isn’t painful at all.”
Noticing a momentary sadness on her face, he frowned anxiously. “Are you… in trouble?”
Tanmayi shook her head.
“When I saw you at university, I thought you were troubled, but I didn’t have the courage to ask. Tell me now. Even if I can’t solve it, I can understand. Only if you want to.”
“There’s nothing major to hide. After breaking up with him, my problems decreased… umm… It’s fine… but I’ll tell you in detail later, Prabhu!” She got up to wash her hands.
“I’m sorry, Tanmayi,” he said.
“No need. I’m comfortable now,” she replied.
Outside, to lighten the mood, he asked, “Would you like to see Birla Mandir?”
Tanmayi looked surprised. How did he know I’ve always wanted to see it?
Prabhu smiled. “If you haven’t seen it, it’s a good place to visit.”
He explained about Hyderabad as they walked to the city bus stand.
“When I first came, it was confusing—not knowing where to go or which buses to catch. Now it’s easy. I explore on Sundays. Anything is easier if you plan on paper.”
“I also plan on paper, Prabhu,” she said.
He looked at her appreciatively. “There are so many historical places here. How long are you staying?”
Hearing her answer, he said, “Tomorrow? Can’t you stay two more days?”
Tanmayi laughed. He didn’t even know I was here until this morning.
They reached the bus stop. Boarding crowded Hyderabad buses was difficult.
Tanmayi couldn’t get in the front door of the moving bus. Prabhu, already on from the back, offered his hand. Though casual, he held it a moment longer, a sign of interest clearly reflecting in his eyes. Tanmayi lowered her gaze silently and moved towards the women’s seats.
She didn’t look back until Birla Mandir, yet felt Prabhu watching her.
She barely recalled speaking to Prabhu during intermediate college. But whenever she saw him, immense joy lit his face.
She’d never made many friends as a child, alone except for Vanaja. Her youth was spent in fantasies and dreams with Shekhar. Meeting Prabhu at university, she took him casually. Now it seemed clear he’d admired her since their studies. He never said it then. He didn’t say it now. But it was understood.
Suddenly, she remembered Karuna and sorrow filled her.
Enough of the bitter experiences, she told herself. I need to tell him firmly that I don’t want any such relationships.
*****
(Continued next month)
A post graduate in English literature and language and in Economics. A few of my translations were published. I translated the poems of Dr. Andesri , Denchanala, Ayila Saida Chary and Urmila from Telugu to English. I write articles and reviews to magazines and news papers. To the field of poetry I am rather a new face.