The Beauty

The brass nameplate with the name "Gokulam” engraved in it was glittering in the sunshine. A four-bedroom bungalow with a double garage and servant’s quarters is in the popular and expensive Cinnamon gardens area of Colombo city. The house is well protected by a tall wall all around the house with a sophisticated alarm system with glass pieces on top of the wall. It has a fabulous Rose and Orchid garden in a quarter of an acre of land. The flower gardens were admired by many business clients of the owner of the house Ganesh. The front wall facing the road is completely covered with white, pink, and yellow Bougen Villas. Anyone looking at the house from the outside will fall in love with it. Although the external appearance was not majestic when you enter the house you will see a different view. 

As a perfectionist, Ganesh paid more attention to the interior decoration of the house, the furniture arrangements and the wall paintings that decorates the walls of the main hall. He paid a large amount of money to purchase three oil paintings from an auction. The first oil painting titled " Black Beauty" is a picture of a Negro woman cuddling and breastfeeding her baby in African background. "The second oil painting titled "Nature's Beauty" is that of a Palmyrah tree in a lonely spot in a village side cemetery with two tall branches, wrapped around one another, depicting an unusual nature's love scene. The third which is titled "Old is Gold" is the picture of an old Tamil woman with wrinkles in her face and hanging ears pulled by a large golden ear stud. The woman is seated in a corner of the house-pounding beetle. Ganesh could talk for hours on these three paintings. He himself is an artist but never finds time to sit and do the real painting. His most important requirement was neatness and expecting everything to be at the correct place. The glass cabinet in a corner of the sitting room is full of curios such as dolls from different countries, statues made from ebony and other woods, and different types of crystal stones. As you open the patio door you enter into a Tropical garden with a beautiful pond full of Goldfish.

The appearance of each and every item in the house is a reflection of Ganesh's love for beauty. Ganesh started his carrier as a salesman in an Import company run by an Englishman during the mid-1940s. Through his hard work, he won the confidence of the owner Mr. Smith. At the age of 28 Ganesh was promoted to the position of Assistant Imports Manager and he mastered the trick of the trade and knew all the loopholes in customs procedure. After Independence, when Smith left the island, he handed over the full management of the Import Company to Ganesh. Soon he converted it into an Import and Export Company concentrating more on the exports of Tea, Rubber, desiccated coconut and spices. He changed the name from Smith & Co to Smith Ganesh & Co.

There were several marriage proposals for Ganesh when he was Assistant Manager Imports. He was not keen on getting dowry or either concerned about horoscope matching but was very particular about the beauty of the girl who is going to be his future partner. He had his own vision of the appearance of the girl he wanted as his partner. He wanted a fair, slim, tall, girl with perfect vital statistics, beautiful penetrating eyes and long hair with an attractive face to be admired by everyone. He would have seen several girls but discarded them saying things like not tall enough. Little on the fatter side, not fair complexion, and the eyes are small and so on. Even the marriage brokers were fed up in finding a partner for him. One day the famous broker Thurai managed to find a suitable girl for Ganesh. 

Thamby Ganesh. I have experience in arranging more than 100 marriages. It is a big challenge for my carrier to find a girl to meet your specifications, I knew that you are not keen on dowry, family background or even horoscope and but particular about the beauty of the girl. At last, I managed to get a proposal somewhat closer to your requirement. Would you like to see the girl’s photo?” Thurai was waiting for Ganesh's reply.

"Why not? Let me see the photograph first"

Thurai pulled out a colour photo from an envelope and gave it to him.

"Look at her eyes and the long hair. She is slim and tall as well," Thurai elaborated on the girl.

Ganesh took two minutes to view the photograph and said.

"Thurai, what is in the photo may not be the same as what we see in person. Some girls are highly photogenic"

"I agree. Why not we go and see the girl. The father is a Retired Principal of a college. The girl has passed her advanced level and is not working. She will make an ideal housewife for you. "

"OK Thurai. Fix a date and time with them. We will go and see her. There are no promises" Ganesh gave him the green signal.

That weekend when Ganesh saw the girl he was not very happy about her as she had a bit stammering and has a squint eye. Her forehead was broader than he expected. It was not visible in the photograph shown by Thurai. But Ganesh, the perfectionist observed it. Once he came out of the girl’s house he shouted at Thurai for wasting his valuable time. 

"In future please do not bring proposals like this. I have seen a dozen of girls. None of them is to my liking Tell the Principal that I am not interested in getting married now" he was very abrupt. 

Thurai was disappointed. After that incident, Thurai decided for himself not to look for any proposals for Ganesh.

Two months later Thurai came to know that Ganesh got married to a girl who was doing modelling for an advertising company. Ganesh saw the photograph of the girl in a paper and approached the girl through the Advertising Company manager. She was young and the difference in age between Ganesh and the girl was nine years. Suneeta is half Tamil half Sinhalese. The father was a Tamil and the mother a Sinhalese. Suneeta's parents, especially the father Mahendran, were very happy when Ganesh wanted to marry her daughter, as the future son-in-law is a Tamil. Suneeta's mother had no say.

Ganesh had a quiet wedding in a hotel. He invited only his close friends. Since Ganesh lost both his parents and had no brothers or sisters he was not keen on inviting his relations. Asoka was his good friend from his school days. Although Asoka's parents were Sinhalese they treated Ganesh as one of their family members. Asoka looked after the hotel arrangement for the wedding and the honeymoon trip to Seyschells. Asoka was Ganesh's personal Manager and was responsible for all administration of the business.

At the start, the couple had a very happy married life. After two years of married life, Suneeta gave birth to a baby girl. Ganesh expected his daughter to be pretty as his wife but he was very disappointed when he saw the baby for the first time.  The baby was much darker in complexion than the parents with a prominent squint eye. Suneeta was very fair in complexion and so was Ganesh. He was shocked. "Is it retribution?" He thought to himself. "Oh no. It cannot be like that", he consoled himself. The doctors could not explain as to why she is darker than the parents but advised Ganesh that as the baby grows the squint may disappear but he should consult an eye specialist and take early treatment. 

There was a big change in Ganesh's married life after Menaka was born. There were frequent arguments between husband and wife. When Meneka was three years old Ganesh had a turning point in his family life. He never expected that Asoka would cheat him. One day Suneeta eloped with Asoka. She had suffered a lot during the last three years of married life with Ganesh after childbirth. Ganesh was not aware of the love affair between Asoka and Suneeta. He trusted his friend more than Suneeta, and never suspected him of any illegal affair with his wife. But when he saw the small note left behind by his wife in his bedroom once he returned from a Business trip, he was furious.

"Ganesh, I had a miserable married life during the last three years after Meneka was born. You married me for my beauty and nothing else. You expected me to give birth to a beautiful baby. But Meneka disappointed you. Your anger slowly turned towards me. If not for Asoka's support at the time of distress and worries I would have committed suicide. I have decided to leave you and live with Asoka. I have confidence that he will look after me well. I feel sorry to leave my child. The only request from me is please do not ill-treat my child just because I left you and she is not pretty, as you wanted to be. Beauty is not everything in life. " 

Sunneta

That letter brought another change in Ganesh's life. The innocent smile of three-year-old Meneka made him speechless. He grabbed her and carried her to the garden. Why should I punish my daughter for that woman's action? Meneka is my blood. I will make sure that she is brought up in the proper way and leads a happy married life". Ganesh was determined, carried the baby and kissed her. Ganesh was comforted by Meneka's embrace.

Ganesh got the help of his aunt to bring up Meneka. Meneka became the favourite of the father and Ganesh loved her so much to the extent that he is prepared to do anything for her. After Asoka's betrayed him he never wanted to trust anyone. One day Ganesh had a severe heart attack in the office after negotiating a deal with a client. He was rushed to the hospital. He was in the hospital for a week. The doctor advised him to for a complete check-up. When he returned home Meneka was there giving orders about his diet:

"Daddy look. You are going to eat what I give you. I want you to live longer. I want to you attend a meditation class run by the Hindu cultural centre. It will help you to ease your stress. I will take care of some of your responsibilities. Don’t worry about the business. I have done a degree in Business Administration. That will help me. If I need advice I will come to you" Meneka gave strict orders to the father. Ganesh shook his head in agreement. He also decided that it is high time that he should pursue the marriage proposal for his daughter brought by one of his clients in Kandy. The boy works as a Marketing Director for a Company and is a qualified graduate in Marketing and Management. 

 When the Telephone bell rang, Menka went and answered the phone.

"This is Mr Ganesh's Residence. May I know who is calling please?" she was very polite in answering the phone.

The person at the other end gave his name as Muthu.

"Appah, one Muthu wants to talk to you…" Meneka brought the cordless phone to the farther.

"What a coincidence. Just now I thought about him" Ganesh was surprised to receive the call from Muthu. He took the phone from Menkea.

"Hello, Muthu long life for you. Just now I was thinking about you. How are you?"

"I am fine Ganesh. I heard from your manager about your health problem. I am sorry I could not come and see you in the hospital. How are you now? "Muthu asked at the other end with concern.

"I am feeling OK. I have to do a series of tests and an Echocardiogram"

"Take it easy and relax. Now you have to think seriously about the marriage of your daughter"

"Yes. I too thought about it. I should find her a good partner before anything happens to me"

"Don’t be silly. You will be longer. Give up your fatty foods. Did you think about the boy I spoke to you to a month ago? He is a very good boy and a good partner for your daughter. He will be of help in looking after your business. "

"Muthu. Thanks for the interest you are taking. Give me the details about the boy. I will inquire about him and call you back within a few days"

"The Boy's father was working as an Estate Superintendent in Talawakkele. Ten years ago he died in a car accident; Boy's mother only brought him up. They are not particular about dowry or caste much. They need a well-educated girl. The boy's mother is a nice lady." Muthu gave more details about the boy.

After verifying details about the boy and comparing the horoscopes, Ganesh informed his aunty and Meneka about the proposal. Meneka was reluctant to get married but later Ganesh was able to convince her. The aunty too advised her to get married because of Ganesh's health condition.

It was a Sunday evening when a Pugeot 504 car stopped at the portico of Ganesh's house.  Ganesh walked towards the main door and opened it for the important visitors he was expecting. Two elderly ladies in Kanchipuram sarees got down from the back seat. The driver was a young fair person in a batik shirt. 

"Muthu uncle I will park the car in aside and come," he told Muthu who was getting down from the front seat.

"No need Ranjith. Park the car here. Mr Ganesh wants to mind it.."

"Ganesh too supported Muthu's statement by saying. " It is OK thamby. No problem in parking it here."

As the visitors were getting in, Muthu introduced first his wife who was in Red saree, followed by Ranjith's mother in white saree and then Ranjith.

Ranjith's mother is tall and slim like her son. 

"Welcome all to "Gokulam. I was worried when you all were getting late. It must have been a long drive from Kandy" Ganesh took the visitors to the main hall.

“There was an accident at Warkapola junction. Traffic was diverted, that delayed us by an hour” Muthu gave the reason for the delay

As Ranjith was walking to the main hall he stopped for a while and admired the paintings in the wall. 

"Oh. Fantastic paintings. They are really pretty with appropriate titles. Where did you buy them?" Ranjith admired.

"Many people admired these three paintings. I bought them at an auction. Many were bidding for them. I was licky", Ganesh replied

"Ganesh introduced his aunty to the visitors. She had a deep look at Ranjith and decided to herself 

"Looks as if it is a good match for Meneka," she thought to herself.

"After exchanging formalities, Ganesh asked his aunty to inform Meneka about the arrival of the visitors and to bring some coffee for them.

In a few minutes, Meneka walked into the hall with coffee and some short eats in a tray. She was wearing a beautiful bottle of green Sharva Kameesh with a mustard color shower 

"Meet my one and only loving daughter Meneka.." Ganesh introduced Meneka to the visitors.

He specifically introduced Ranjith and his mother as Meneka has met Muthu uncle before on business.

She said "Vannakam" and sat by the side of the father so that she could watch the body language of Ranjith. 

After a few minutes of silence, Muthu started the conversation by talking about the drive from Kandy to Colombo. He did mention that Ranjith's father Thiagrajah was a good friend of his, and he and his family spend the summer holidays in his friend's bungalow, which is on a top of a hill in a two hundred acre Tea estate in Talawakkele. Early morning they could see Adam's peak very clearly and it is a treat to watch that scene

The conversation between Ranjith and Meneka circled around Meneka's degree subjects, Paintings, Ranjiths' job, Trinity College where he had his education and his hobbies etc. Meneka was surprised to hear that Ranjith captained the college Rugger team. Ganesh was very excited to hear that Ranjith too liked Paintings and Gardening like him. Ganesh was very pleased to see that Ranjith was admiring the three wall paintings and the tropical plants in his house. Ranjith was feeling very uneasy when talking to Meneka although she was more relaxed. Ranjith's mother spoke a few words. She said that her husband was the favourite student of his father in college. The visitors left after an hour. Before leaving Muthu took Ganesh to aside and said"

"Ganesh I will give you a call tomorrow about the decision of the boy and the mother"

Ganesh shook his head in agreement.

After visitors left, Ganesh went and sat on his favourite sofa near the fish tank. Although he was looking at the movement of the goldfish, all his thoughts were on the proposal.

“Will it go through? Ranjith is a fair handsome tall boy who loves painting and gardening like me. His talk gives me the impression that like me he is a lover of beauty in life and a perfectionist. Will he agree to marry a daughter with a squint eye and much darker in complexion than him. I am prepared to give him whatever dowry he wants.” These questions were flashing in his mind. He was worried. He is not prepared to face a disappointment when it comes to his daughter's future.

The next day he received a call from Muthu.

"Ganesh, I spoke to Ranjith and his mother. They need some time to think over it. I will follow it up with them and come back to you" Muthu kept Ganesh updated about the proposal.

A week passed after Ranjith's visit. Ganesh was worried. Meneka was not at home. Ganesh's aunty brought a cup of coffee for him.

Ganesh started the conversation with her.

"Aunty, after they have visited us a week has passed. I have not heard any thing from them. Do you think that Ranjith is not satisfied with Meneka's beauty"?

"Don’t be silly Ganesh. You always think about beauty. Your love for beauty ruined your life. What are you thinking with a negative mind? As per my opinion, Ranjith’s mother looks like a very nice and balanced lady"

"Why do you say so?"

"She was quiet. She was observing your behaviour and listening to your talk carefully"

“Why should she observe me? She sdid not talk much with Meneka. Does that mean that she did not like her?” Ganesh was in doubt

“Ganesh, you always suspect people. Ranjith is the bridegroom to be. He and Menaka had long discussion. I am confident that they will agree” aunty consoled him. 

The doorbell rang. Ganesh’s went and open the door to see the postman standing at the entrance with a registered letter"

"Ammah there is a registered letter for Mr Ganesh" the postman showed the letter. Ganesh’s aunty signed in the form and collected the letter. She looked at the postmark.

"Ganesh it is a letter from Kandy. May be from Muthu "

 She gave the letter to Ganesh and sat in the. 

“Yes aunty. I am sure that this letter is about Meneka’s proposal”

 The letter was addressed to him. He opened it and started reading to himself

 

Dear Mr Ganesh.

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me rather than from your friend Muthu. I am Ranjith's mother, the girl who was proposed to you thirty years ago by marriage broker Thurai. My father was a retired Principal of a college in Kandy. Thurai warned us before you came to see me that you were looking for a beautiful girl and have seen many and was not satisfied. We thought you will be happy with my appearance as I was Tall. But later after seeing me you have told that Thurai that I have a squint eye and stammering and complexion is not what you expected. My father was disappointed about your remark. Later I came to know from Thurai that you married a beautiful model girl and you had an unhappy married life. 

Mr Ganesh beauty is not every thing in life. You are in a materialistic world. The beauty is not permanent in life. It gradually disappears with age, but good thoughts and behavior of a person with a kind hart to respect other people’s feelings is more valuable than beauty. I heard from Muthu why your wife left you and was living with your friend. When Muthu brought the proposal of your daughter and gave full description about your daughter I thought about all what you did for our family. After deep consideration I decided that my son and myself should come and see your daughter.

I was shocked to see you as an old man with worries in your face. Your conversation was not aggressive as before. I also heard that you had a hart attack a month ago and is more worried about your only daughter. 

After you saw me and left, there were many proposals for me. None of them went through. Luckily my father's old college student met me at the College Exhibition with my father and was interested in marrying me. We had a happy married life. He was a simple and humble man with good hart to help others. Unfortunately I lost him in an accident when Ranjith was eighteen. 

When I asked Ranjith whether he liked your daughter you know the reply he gave?

" Ammah, I don’t want history to repeat. Past is past. I know that you were hurt when Mr Ganesh made that remark about you. I am not going to be another Ganesh"

I am proud about my son. He is like his father. We both have decided that Meneka is a good match for my son. I am sure that she too will like my son. Any way, please get her consent before we proceed further. 

One last request Mr Ganesh. Please give both of us a promise that Meneka is not aware of our past. Let that incident be between you Ranjith and me

Thanking you

Abirami Thiagarajah

Ganesh was shivering as he was reading the letter. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Drops of it fell on the letter and smudged it the way his mind was smudged. He was ashamed to think about his younger days and his behaviour.