With a mighty effort Ramesh freed himself from the tangle of his thoughts and set about engaging Kamala in conversation. He started asking her about her studies in the school. He enquiered about what she had been learning at school for which she explained all that she learnt and launched forth on an account of the other girls, of the teachers, and of the school routine. Ramesh became absent-minded again,but murmured assent now and then. Kamala observing his mood said; "you're not listening to me at all ! Aren't you well ? What's is the matter ?" Kamala bent on entertaining him with her newly-acquired learning.
Jogendra and Akshay appeared at anxiously waiting Annada Babu.
"Well dad," began Jogen,,"I could never have believed that you would let Ramesh go so far. I shouldn't have introduced him to you if I had foreseen what would happen."
"You've often told me yourself how pleased you would be if Ramesh married Hemamalini. I don't see how there can be any 'still' about it ! One had either to let go on or stop it ; there's no middle course," added Annada Babu.
Akshay now broke in with a smirk, "There are some things that go forward of their own momentum ; one doesn't need to push them. They go on swelling till they're ready to burst. Still, it's no good crying over spilt milk. We had better decide now what to do next."
Jogendra explained about what information he could gather with the help of Akshay saying that they saw Ramesh in the bosom of his family and made his wife's acquaintance and it was to be married that he went home. On hearing that strange news Annada Babu expressed his surprise, " I thought his father's death had knocked that on the head." Jogendra could convince him that Ramesh was married before his father died.
Annada Babu was quite dumbfounded; "In that case he can't marry our Hem. But preparations for the wedding are almost complete. We wrote to every one saying that it could take place this Sunday and had been put off to the following Sunday. I suppose we'll have to write now and say that it's off altogether ?",he asked.
Jogendra came forward with an idea to avoid the predicament. He proposed Akshay in the place of Ramesh and carry through the ceremony next Sunday as planned.
Annada Babu was aghast with the unexpected turning point and started saying; " I pity at Ramesh for it's only yesterday we settled that he should go and practise at Etawah after the marriage, and look what has happened since ! Moreover you'll need to get Hem's consent."
"Well, you needn't trouble about Ramesh any more. Let him go and practise at Etawah if he likes. I had better call in Hem at once. There isn't much time to lose," expressed Jogendra.
He went out and returned in a minute or two with Hemamalini. Akshay took cover behind a bookcase in the corner.
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