The Elopement of Anasuya

“Anasuya has eloped, they say!”

“It seems so”

“whom could she find at this age? At forty!”

“Haven’t you heard of naughty forties!”

“She ran away with that tuition teacher”

“He is younger to her by four years, it seems!”

“Ayyo... how strange!? After all these years of waiting she chose to run away with him! More so, he doesn’t belong to their caste either!”

“Her old parents will croak in their sleep, I am sure. They’ll never recover from the shock”.

This was the reaction of one section when they heard the news. But a few others sympathised in their own way.

“How long do you expect her to remain a spinster?”

“She is a woman too like any body else”, isn’t she?”

“Her parents are addicted to her pay packet”

“It’s difficult to believe that love of parents too is tinged with selfishness”

“It’s good that she ventured out atleast at this stage of her life.”

The word spread through the village carrying both sides of the argument. A new gossip! Everybody expressed their opinion freely. Criticism, sympathy, envy, bitterness, hatred – all these perceptions were projected from different sections! The gossip gave them a vicarious pleasure. A few tried to divert the attention of people to conceal their own dark spots.
It was seven O’clock in the evening.      Anasuya was all alone at home, relaxing in an easy chair with a book in her hand. She could not concentrate on the lesson which she was to teach the next day.

The cool breeze through the window brought the fragrance of Night queen into the room. Anasuya felt titillated to hear the old melody - “Sivaranjani....Navaragini...” from the movie Toorpu - Padamara (East and West). The song which she had heard many times over, sounded strange and meaningful. Her heart beat adjusted to the rhythm of the song. “Can I ever have a lover like the hero? Lucky is his lady love! Can such a thing happen in real life? Will it be a part of my life? May not be in this birth....I’m already thirty five...hair graying at the temples with a wrinkle here and there...”

Anasuya slipped into the past. She was beautiful and already a head turner at the age of fourteen. She felt a queen in her class and was flooded with appreciative glances. Her fan following included both the sexes: Boys wrote love letters, proposing marriage. But Anasuya was determined to pursue higher studies and take up a career. She rejected all proposals and successfully put off her parents, efforts to search for a good match. Anasuya completed her post graduation and joined as a lecturer in a college.

Anasuya’s father looked upon this as a boon to his family of six children. He was able to make both ends meet with great difficulty. Anasuya’s salary made their life comfortable.

Young Anasuya’s sole endeavour was to steer clear of her admirers. She really looked mature and beautiful at that stage. She made an effort to keep off eve-teasers, road Romeos - the guys who followed her on scooters and cars. Though she was dressed in a simple cotton sari, she looked attractive even in the crowd.

In the meantime, her father retired from the petty job. He invested his retirement benefits in a small house in “Seethaphalmandi”. He did try a few alliances for Anasuya but to pool the dowry money was beyond him. Anasuya was not the type to fall in love and search her own partner. She focussed all her strength to help her parents and to cater to the needs of the family.

Anasuya had three sisters and two brothers. The eldest of the three fell in love with somebody and married him while still in her teens. The next one completed her degree, worked as a school teacher and married her colleague. The youngest one married their first cousin after completing her tenth standard. Anasuya’s brother got into a Bank after graduation and chose another Bank employee as his life’s partner. The youngest was still studying. Nobody in the family was bothered about Anasuya. They all eagerly waited for her pay. They were all very sure that she had shut her mind on marriage as she was in her forties.

That day, everybody left for Vijayawada to attend a family wedding. Anasuya could not make it as it was a working day. Her parents too did not insist that she should go with them. She felt lonely and dejected. The song from the radio stirred her thoughts again. “Samajavargamana...”! Anasuya never experienced courting or “Pellichoopulu”. But her mind was still craving for a companion. She needed a man. She dreamt of a male hug, a loving caress and a touch to sooth her burning desire. But was it possible? Was her dream going to come true? How could she quench her love, gushing like a sea in her bosom!

Anasuya went in time. Mohan was her student. He came for tuition along with her brother. Initially, he was timid and docile. But he warmed up to her in no time, became chatty and friendly. He used to stare at her and Anasuya felt disturbed about him. His mischievous looks touched her innermost cords. Ahasuya could not reciprocate though she would understand his intention’s. Her parents’ encouraged Mohan because besides paying fee, he used to assist them.

Mohan completed Engineering and got a job in Bombay. The day he left he gave Anasuya an expensive silk saree and a pearl set as a gift. He begged her to wear them as an indirect proposal. He tried to cajole her and humoured her but Anasuya was reticent. Mohan felt disappointed and left the place abruptly bidding good bye and trying to hide his disappointment. It was more than six months Anasuya experienced a longing and an ache.

She looked at the clock. It was eight in the night. Anasuya did not feel like having dinner. She wanted to go and sit in a theatre and it was then she heard a gentle knock on the door. Mohan entered with a smile and said “Madam, how are you?” Anasuya was more than surprised. She could not meet his eyes and looked down to hide her embarrassment.

Mohan drew a chair close to her.

“I came from Bombay this morning”, he spoke in a low, husky voice.

Anasuya listened.

“No body at home? Where have they gone? Are you all alone?”.

“They all went to attend a wedding”

“Come on”, Let’s go out and have dinner, and go for a movie” Mohan hustled her.

Anasuya ran into her room, with her heart pounding. She freshened up and wore the sari which Mohan presented her and also the pearls set. When she came out she could not look straight into his eyes which stared at her adoringly.

Both of them took an auto and went to a nearby restaurant From there they sat in a theatre. They did not bother about the movie. Mohan enjoyed watching the show holding her hands. Anasuya enjoyed his proximity. His mild perfume, caressing touch made her feel erotic. They looked into each other’s eyes dotingly. After sometime, Mohan suggested that they go home. She agreed and followed him. He hired a rickshaw and they sat together. The uneveness of the road literally made them hug each other.

Anasuya opened the door and stepped in with a heavy heart. He held her close, taking her weight on him. She wanted to change her dress, but the appeal in Mohan’s eyes was irrestible and she threw herself at him. His warm hug turned into a hot embrace and she gave in. Ansuya gobbled up every move as if she was ravenoulsy hungry. The totally alien experience transported her to another world. It was a heaven, an exclusive abode for love, oblivious of surroundings.

Mohan sat on the edge of the cot, still holding her in his arms.

“Madam, you should come with me!”

“Where to”?

“To Bombay”

“Why”

“I can’t live without you. We will get married.”

“Nobody will ever approve of our wedding”, Her voice was hesitant, filled with fear and apprehension.

“Who approves of our union now? Tell me. Didn’t we enjoy this? It is an entirely a personal matter. I’m aware that neither your parents will nor my mother will approve. “What does it matter?” Mohan spoke convincingly.

Anasuya was thrilled at his proposal. She never thought of her job, father, family or any other thing. Here is her man ready to take her with him and offer pleasure. Immense pleasure, heavenly bliss! Anasuya decided that she was going to be with him and not lose the opportunity. They slept holding on to one another. Their union had a sanguine effect and resulted in mountainous contentment.

            Suprabhatham at a distance came as a wake up call. Anasuya left a note to her parents about her decision. They had their bath and the morning cup of coffee. Anasuya came out opening the door and looked around. Her neighbour was collecting the milk sachet. She left the key with her, with a request to give it to her parents.

She followed Mohan holding her suitcase. Mohan held her hand and walked towards the rising sun. The entire neighbourhood watched the strange lovers!

“Anasuya is going away!”

“Look there with him...”

“How strange!”

“He doesn’t even belong their caste!’

“How can she do it at the age of forty?”

“Yes, this is Kalikalam”

But nothing came in their way. Love knows no caste, colour or creed. Love is continuous flow. They walked hand in hand confidently away from the crowd, far away where they could not hear the comment that – “Anasuya has eloped”.

Translated from Original in Telugu by D. Bhargavi Rao