Sumitra adjusted her nurse’s uniform as she checked the blood pressure of Meena Mausi in the small primary health centre.
“Sumitra!” called out Kalyani from the adjoining room that was close to the door, “the syringes are in the medicine tray.”
The two women had become close friends while working as nurses at the health centre outside their villages. Both came from poor families. Their fathers worked in the factory situated on the outskirts of their villages.Their mothers took up odd jobs and contributed to the family kitty through knitting, embroidery and other odd jobs.
Sumitra and Kalyani would wait for each other and have lunch together as otherwise work and patients kept them occupied most of the day.
Kalyani rolled her eyes tiredly and sat beside Sumitra during lunch break. She peeped into Sumitra’s dabba as Sumitra opened the lid. Kalyani always found Sumitra’s mother’s food tasty. Kalyani said, ‘’your wedding is next month and you still look peaceful.”
Sumitra handed Kalyani a soft methi paratha and laughed softly. “Why should I be tense?’’
“Because weddings are frighteningly expensive”, Kalyani said
She looked exhausted these days with dark circles under her eyes.
“My father borrowed three lakhs,” she said quietly. “Hall booking, jewellery, catering, saris for myself and all relatives. And my sister’s college fees are still pending.”
Sumitra looked at her puzzled. “Did you not try explaining?”
Kalyani gave a bitter laugh. “To whom? My relatives, parents or the groom’s family? She stared outside the window where factory smoke rose from the chimney. “My parents worked their whole lives, still we have nothing.” Sumitra remained silent.
Meena Mausi’s husband Manish Kaka’s voice made them rush towards Mausi’s bed. She was vomiting blood. Sumitra helped her sit up and calmed Kaka. She checked Mausi’s pulse. “You should really take her to the town hospital,” she said carefully. “They have better facilities there.” Kaka lowered his eyes and whispered, “we do not have money right now.” Kalyani glanced at the aged couple sympathetically. Kaka said, “last year our only daughter got married. We took loans for jewellery and celebrations. We are still paying interest and are in debt.”
There was silence except for the sound of the rickety table fan in the corner of the room.
Sumitra’s thoughts drifted to the rule her village followed for generations. No family spent lavishly in Budhigramam. The money meant for weddings was to be used for educating the boys and girls till graduation. Girls became nurses, teachers, clerks. Boys learnt trade and prepared for government and bank exams. Every boy and girl was enrolled into the village school from the primary level. The village head believed that no family should suffer because of wedding debts. Sumitra herself could become a nurse as her father could educate her only because he never had to save for grand weddings.
In nearby villages, parents began saving for weddings from the day a daughter was born. In Budhigramam, they saved for education instead.
That evening as both the girls were walking along the narrow road towards the intersection beyond which they went in different directions towards their respective villages, Kalyani remarked, ‘’Sumitra, sometimes I envy your village.’’ Sumitra gently said, ‘then marry someone from Budhigramam.’’ Kalyani giggled and said ,”too late now’’, and thought about the circumstances that her parents were in although both their fathers worked in the same factory outside the villages. Because of her marriage expenses her younger sister’s education was suffering.
Kalyani looked at her friend and asked, “tell me, how do you celebrate weddings?’’
Sumitra replied, we exchange garlands, go around the fire while the priests chant the mantras. This is done in the temple premises in a new simple sari. There is no dowry, no jewellery, no community lunch and only ladoos are distributed to mark the happy beginning. We wear jewellery made from fresh flowers. The whole atmosphere has a fragrance of jasmines, roses, marigold and tuberoses. We believe that the fragrance of flowers carries happiness into married lives.
“’That is all? No one fears wedding loans in your village!!’’ Kalyani remarked in disbelief.
Sumitra replied, I am glad we believe in simplicity. My village believes in providing an opportunity to educate their children as educated children are a family’s real wealth.
Most homes in my village still have mud walls and tiled roofs. It keeps us cool in summers. Our lifestyle is very simple.
Kalyani walked silently for a few moments before asking, “Simplicity is alright but what if the couple do not get along after marriage?”
Sumitra thought for a moment. “Then they can decide to part ways peacefully,” she said softly.
Kalyani looked at her quietly.
“That is why education matters so much there,” Sumitra continued. “When a girl is educated and earns for herself she faces the future with more courage. She does not have to live in fear or helplessness.”
That night, Sumitra looked towards the isolated valley below where Budhigramam rested quietly between the hills. The older kids were doing group study under the yellow lights and the women were knitting sweaters seated in a group. Hers was a small and simple village where fathers slept peacefully at night. Nobody ever questioned the village rule because every family had seen what it protected them from.
