Barrister Parvateesam

My astonishment knew no bounds. Could it be that my desire, my imagination, both so powerful, had managed to send a message not only to the king but also to the queen of my heart? It was something unbelievable, something almost impossible to accept. Yet, all this had truly happened before my very eyes—how could I possibly deny it? Perhaps human imagination and resolve possess such strength after all. Speechless, I gently took my beloved’s hand and drew her closer to me. The moment my touch reached her, every nerve in her body seemed to come alive. Her body grew warm. She stood still, as if a little afraid to come any closer. I pulled her just a bit nearer, brushed back the curls that danced across her face, and caressed her cheeks as I said:

“All these seven days, you were wishing I would come, weren’t you? You kept sending me silent messages, day and night! How strange it is. In this short span of time, though we are so far apart, we have become one. This feeling fills me with such wonder that I cannot even express it to you, my dearest,” I said, and with that, I embraced her tightly and kissed her even more deeply. In that moment, the two of us became one.

After a while, she gently freed her hands from mine, moved a little to the side, and said, “Did I really call you? Did my call truly reach you? I too am greatly surprised. Outwardly, I said nothing. I don’t even know what I wished for in my heart. Perhaps this outcome is because I chanted your name a hundred thousand times. With the power of that mantra, my lord has appeared before me in person,” she said, covering her face with her hands and leaning on my shoulder. I was at a loss for words. What an imagination! What a beautiful description! I wondered if my Saraswati would become a great poetess. At that moment, I even said aloud, “If you become a poetess, then I have no role in it. Every thought, every response comes to me only from you. The one who makes me speak is Ramabhadra—no, Parvateesam!”

She laughed and, like a dragonfly, flitted away to the other side. “It would be good if you bathed now—my father has to leave for court. My brother-in-law will be getting ready for the meal with the family. Let’s continue this conversation after lunch,” she said.

“Well then, Saraswati! My clothes and all are with Raju. I’ll go and fetch them,” I said.

“I didn’t want to trouble you again after you came here, so I had them brought here for you. No matter how shy you feel, it seems to be your custom, as a son-in-law visiting your in-laws’ house for the first time after marriage, to stay somewhere else in the town. No one here has ever heard of such a thing,” she said, noticing that I was getting up. As if she hadn’t seen me rise, she leapt away to the other side and ran off, while I stood there like a stone statue. Thinking, “What great fortune is mine!” I was overcome with joy and went off for my bath, unable to contain my happiness.

I have no idea how long I was there. I thought I’d been there for about ten minutes, perhaps. Suddenly, a man arrived from my house with a letter from my father, saying it had been fifteen days since I’d left home, and there had been no news of me. He asked me to write back, letting them know that I and everyone at my in-laws’ house were well. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that letter. “Has it really been fifteen days since I came here?” I wondered. I went and asked Saraswati.

“How long has it been since I arrived here?” I asked.

“How would I know that? Days? Maybe half an hour, maybe an hour, I suppose. But why are you suddenly wondering about this?” she replied.

“My father sent a man to remind me that it’s been fifteen days since I came here. Hearing that, my heart nearly stopped for a moment. Has it really been that long? Couldn’t you have told me at least?” I said.

“This is rich! How would I know the passage of time that you yourself are unaware of? Has it really been fifteen days? Your father—”

The lies wouldn’t stop. It must have been fifteen days, truly. Haven’t I been right here before your eyes all this time? How did fifteen days pass by, I wonder? “It must be some mistake,” she said, bursting into peals of laughter. Not knowing what else to do, I joined in her laughter.

For these fifteen days, except for spending an hour every evening with Raja, I sat at home the rest of the time. I didn’t go anywhere else. I didn’t talk to anyone. I didn’t read a single book. Yet, those fifteen days raced by as if they were fifteen minutes. What a strange thing! We weren’t cowards, nor did we behave in any improper or uncivilized way. My wife is a maiden, not someone else’s, after all! What did we talk about? We didn’t play hide and seek, chess, or even marbles or spinning tops. How did the time pass for us? I don’t even recall her speaking much. In fact, what did we even talk about? Yet, neither of us felt bored. Not a trace of irritation. We didn’t know what a headache was. With so few words, without noticing the passage of time or the weight of our bodies, how did we find such joy? Tell me, girl, can you explain how our time passed, how such rapture and delight came over us? Surely you haven’t learned any enchantment spells from those Ekoi people, have you? Whatever happened, happened. From now on, I’ll be careful. Put my