An Unexpected Relation

One wintry morn, a young man was riding beside a hamlet. He was fully trembling with a terrible cold. Jana, the young man, was going to his college on his bike. As he had an allergy to cold since birth, though he put on winter dress, the severity of the cold compelled him to rest in the hamlet for a while. So he made up his mind and straightly entered into a house of the hamlet.

That house belonged to a peasant family consisting of four members, namely Shangu father, Muni mother, 10-year-old son Nigam, and 18-year-old daughter Pritam. Jana met Shangu and said, "Please don't mind; I have developed an allergy to severe cold. So I want to take rest in your house for at least two hours, i.e., up to 8 a.m. when the sun will be brighter." Shangu replied, "Yes, son, you can rest. We are the village people, whereas you are the urban young man. Your style of living and our living style differ from each other. So you have to somewhat adjust." "Yes, uncle, I can. Thank you."

Then Pritam showed Jana the thatched house room where he had to rest. Pritam was very hospitable by nature. She offered Jana a cup of tea and five pieces of homemade cakes with a decent approach, "Sir, please take this snack. You will get some relaxation from the cold. You are trembling with cold. If you allow me, I can massage your feet and chest with boiled mustard oil and garlic mix."

Both were on the verge of youth. Generally, a romantic feeling was inevitable to take place in the psychological arena of both Jana and Pritam. Hence, by the instinct of nature, Jana could not say "No to Pritam" but rather told her, "Yes, Madam, you can do. Because my body is fully under allergic effect."

Pritam entered the kitchen and carried the pot of mixture. Gently, she sat on the cot beside Jana and requested him, "Please open your socks and dress. I will massage your body, Sir."

Jana was so emotional that he instantly did the needful as per Pritam's request. Pritam started massaging Jana's feet and chest and back. A wild sensation arose in the young bachelor's mind of Jana. He caught her hand and asked, "Would you tell your name and what you are doing now?"

"I am Pritam and a student of 2nd year arts in our hamlet college. I am daily plying to college by my bicycle as it is situated at a distance of only two kilometers from our house."

"May I ask you a question, Sir?" asked Pritam. "Yes, you may ask," Jana retorted. Then Pritam asked, "Why did you come to college by biking if you have an allergy to cold?" Jana answered, "Yes, I committed a blunder. My mother was advising me to go by bus. My college is about 20 kms away from my home. My father recently bought this motorcycle for me. I was riding only inside the town as per his advice. He also debarred me from biking to college because he knows very well about my allergic problem. But I was curious and ventured on riding to college." "Okay, Sir," Pritam replied.

After about 2 hours, Jana felt relaxed. The sun started spreading its rays warmer. Pritam's parents had left the house and were at their cropland by that time. Pritam and her younger brother bid goodbye to Jana. Then happily, Jana rode away to his college.

Day after day, month after month, and year after year passed away. Pritam got an automobile company job after completing her post-graduation with technology honors. In the meantime, Jana also secured a job at Indian Airlines as an officer after completing M.Com. Although both Jana and Pritam were employed, they kept up contact with each other over the phone and by mutual visits to each other's houses off and on.

Gradually, their parents realized the gravity of the situation with regard to matrimony. They knew very well that their children had not gone astray notwithstanding the modern polluted atmosphere. Their children achieved the marriageable age. They should have to be given in marriage. Therefore, the parents of Jana and Pritam held mutual discussions on their son and daughter. After marriage negotiation was over, the marriage date was fixed by the astrologer. Jana's father was a rich man in the town, and Pritam's father was a mediocre rustic peasant; nevertheless, Sitanath Babu, the father of Jana, had no stratification feeling.

The date of marriage was approaching nearer and nearer. Keeping in view the financial status of Shangu Babu, Sitanath Babu bore all the expenses for the marriage himself so as to perform the palanquined marriage with pomp and grandeur. However, the ceremony was an exceptional one whereby all the lookers-on and attendants were highly pleased. All praised Sitanath Babu for his nobility. It was also an ideal marriage as there was no amorous relation between Jana and Pritam before marriage, which was extremely appreciated by senior citizens of the town and hamlet.