CHANGED IMPRESSIONS

The marriage function of my daughter, Jyothi is going on. I and Padma are on the dias performing the pre-marriage rituals. I had been very tense and nervous right from the day the match is fixed. As a father of the bride, I am worried whether the function will be over smoothly without any hiccups.

My brothers, Hari and Madhu, along with their wives and my son Kiran assured me of their help and support several times over previous two weeks or so. But I never could feel enough confident about their involvement and capability. In my opinion, they are all carefree and irresponsible fellows. I notice them roaming around most of their time with friends. My son, Kiran more so. Madhu and Hari are also the same type. But now that they are married, they slowed down a little, but only a little! Still not at all dependable with any responsibility. Being in the same city, we meet very frequently. In fact during any functions in their homes, they leave everything to Padma and me without bothering much. Of course I feel elated with the importance given to us. But sometimes I tend to feel they should get more involved at least in their matters instead of being lazy and take-it-easy types.

Our Kiran is a typical jolly and carefree boy. Padma often tries to pacify me saying that once he settles down, he will be more mature and responsible. But I have my own doubts. In fact I hold the same impression about his friends and the present younger generation in general. Padma on the other hand, feels I overreact.

But now, I am forced to change my opinion. Those three turned out to be excellent event managers. Card printing and distribution, shopping, packing and shifting to the marriage venue, all are over very smoothly and systematically with their help. Now while Hari and Sunitha are in the dining hall supervising the buffet, Madhu, Leela and Kiran are at the entrance receiving the guests. I relaxed for the first time and tried to concentrate on the rituals going on.

After a few minutes my eyes again wandered to the entrance of the hall. To my surprise, I found only Leela. No sight of either Madhu or Kiran! I frowned. Those useless fellows must be hanging around somewhere ignoring all my instructions to be there throughout. In fact I am not surprised much. It just proved my original impression about them once again. I am a fool to be impressed with them initially. But now I am worried more about the proper reception of guests.

I noticed two young men came and after wishing Leela, stood there receiving the guests. I looked at Padma and she mumbled they are friends of Kiran. So this idiot passed on his duty to them! Very clever! As if he is too busy, he needed assistants too! Alas, the marriage of my only daughter and the guests are being received and attended by some unrelated youth! They also must be wayward like my own son! How long will they remain here? I felt like screaming!

Then Kiran came running with his cellphone glued to his ear. He was talking animatedly with someone. Nodding at the reception party, obviously satisfied, he again disappeared. I was seething with anger. But the priest asked something and I had to force my attention back to the rituals.

After a while I noticed Leela also disappeared and two young women, probably the boys' wives or girlfriends took her place. I am becoming impatient at the goings on. But I had to control myself with great difficulty. The function is more important. I continued observing from the dias. It was like a game of musical chairs. The young men were replaced by another pair and the girls too. Kiran was giving flying visits now and then and gave satisfied nods. And disappear! Sunitha came for a brief period and left. No sign of either Madhu or Leela or Hari! I was puzzled and decided mentally to give them all a good dressing down at the immediate available opportunity which they will remember lifelong.

When we got a short respite in between, I ran down from the dias and approached the youth. They were scared at my sudden appearance and mumbled something to my queries about Madhu and Kiran. I ran to the dining hall where the buffet was almost concluding. Hari was not there. Only Sunitha was there grabbing some lunch hurriedly. I spotted Kiran at a distance but before I could catch hold of him, he ran out with his cellphone to the ear in a hurry. I was about to call him but someone came to tell me that I was required on the dias.

It was almost four O' clock in the afternoon by the time the function concluded. The groom's party left along with Jyothi. The trio did not even bid farewell to Jyothi! Most of our guests too took their leave and we relaxed in our room. But the behaviour of the trio was pricking me a lot. So I wanted to give them a piece of my mind and sent for them. Surprisingly none was available. "Must be making merry in some theater or mall" I said contemptuously. Padma put her hand on my arm and tried to calm me down.

Then Sunitha entered the room timidly. "Did you call me?" She asked.

I looked at her searchingly. She avoided my stare. "In fact I called those three idiots. Where are they, do you have any idea? May I be enlightened about their whereabouts?" I could not hide my contempt. She raised her head and about to say something but kept quiet. I am convinced that she was trying to cover them up. I am too tired to stretch things further. "Just tell those fellows to be courteous enough to meet me when and if they come back." I yawned and closed my eyes.

"Don't be so rude" She almost shouted. "Don't say such inauspicious words, for God's sake. Let us wish they will come back, especially Madhu!" She started crying.

Both Padma and I startled at her outburst. I sat up and stared at her. "What? What do you mean?" I almost shrieked. My heart was beating fast. Padma made her sit down and drew her close, wiping her tears.

"Yes, don't blame those poor souls. You can't imagine what they are going through all the time! If only you knew what happened.." She started narrating....

The function just started. Madhu, Leela and Kiran are receiving the guests botn from the bride's as well as the groom's side. Some very close people are keen to watch the marriage rituals but many are interested in completing the lunch first. Accordingly Kiran is directing them to the dining hall.

Suddenly an elderly lady approached Kiran. "Look, young man, my husband is a hypertension patient. We misplaced his medicines in the hurry. Can you get them urgently, please?" She gave him a slip of paper with the names of the required medicines.

Kiran was about to go but Madhu took it from his hands. "I will get them, Kiran. You remain here. It is essential that you should be here."

But almost half an hour had passed. He didn't come back. Meanwhile the lady came and told him in a happy tone that she found the drugs in one of the bags. She left, apologising profusely.

Kiran and Leela were worried when they could not get any response from Madhu's mobile. Hari was also informed and all of them were panicked. But they did not make it known to anybody else as they did not want to spoil the function.

Suddenly Kiran's mobile rang. It was from Madhu. But an unknown man spoke. It seemed Madhu met with an accident and the man saw him on the road unconscious and brought him to an hospital. He got Kiran's number from the missed calls list on Madhu's mobile and wanted to inform him.

Kiran did not know what to do in his initial shock. Later he recovered and told only Hari as he did not want to scare Leela without knowing the full details. Hari immediately rushed to the hospital. Kiran called some of his close friends and requested them to help Leela and Sunitha who were left alone. He himself started shuttling between the function area and dining area supervising both and in between inquiring from Hari the position at the hospital too. Madhu was seriously injured and said to be in a critical condition. Then Kiran ensured that Leela had some food and sent her to the hospital along with a couple of his friends. All the while he managed here without arousing any suspicion in anybody. Like a pendulum he ran about hiding his own anxiety and tension from others.

Sunitha wiped her eyes.

"He didn't tell even me the whole story until the function is almost over excepting that Hari had gone on some errand and I did not have a clue to the actual happenings. Only after I finished my lunch, he told me briefly and he also left for the hospital. He managed so well and he has some very good friends who immediately came to do his bidding. I really wonder whether it is the same Kiran, whom we always treat as an irresponsible, childish and playful boy!"

Padma and I listened dumbstruck. I did not know what to say! How I cursed them all, and Kiran in particular! What tension the poor boy must be suffering all the while! He, who is just out of his teens! Still he managed so well orchestrating everyone! My heart felt heavy.

Padma recovered first and asked in a quivering tone, "How is Madhu now?"

Sunitha is still gloomy. "Not yet regained consciousness. That's why Kiran also ran there."

We immediately rushed to the hospital.

By that time Madhu was declared to be out of danger to the relief of all of us. When I saw Kiran there, he appeared to be haggard and tired. "Kiran, did you eat anything?" I enquired fondly. He gave me a surprised look. I gave him a big hug.

"Well done, my boy! I am proud of you." I said with all my heart.

It took almost one week for Madhu to recover completely and get discharged. All the time, Kiran and Hari were constantly on their toes while Sunitha helped Padma at home. After everything returned to normal, I told Padma, "I have been under wrong notions all these years, Padma. Our young man proved his worth, though in a tragic circumstance." She nodded.