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When the auspicious moment came the priest said, “Bring the bride.”
Bholi, clad in a red silken bridal dress, was led to the bride’s place near the sacred fire.
“Garland the bride,” one of his friends prompted Bishamber Nath.
The bridegroom lifted the garland of yellow marigolds. A woman slipped back the silken veil from the bride’s face. Bishamber took a quick glance. The garland remained poised in his hands. The bride slowly pulled down the veil over her face.
“Have you seen her?” said Bishamber to the friend next to him. “She has pock-marks on her face.”
“So what? You are not young either.”
“Maybe. But if I am to marry her, her father must give me five thousand rupees.”
Ramlal went and placed his turban — his honour — at Bishamber’s feet. “Do not humiliate me so. Take two thousand rupees.”
“No. Five thousand, or we go back. Keep your daughter.”
“Be a little considerate, please. If you go back, I can never show my face in the village.”
“Then out with five thousand.”
Tears streaming down his face, Ramlal went in, opened the safe and counted out the notes. He placed the bundle at the bridegroom’s feet.
On Bishamber’s greedy face appeared a triumphant smile. He had gambled and won. “Give me the garland,” he announced.
Explanation:
The most awaited Bholi's wedding day had come. On her wedding day, the priest asked to bring the bride. She was dressed in a red silk saree. Red silk was the most commonly used silk saree by most brides at their weddings. Bholi was then asked to sit near the bride's place. He was sitting near the sacred fire, and Bholi was asked to accompany him. While Bholi was sitting near the bridegroom, one of his friends asked him to put the garland on the bride.
As the bridegroom was about to put the garland around Bholi's neck, a woman standing nearby removed the silken cloth covering the bride's face. When the cloth was moved, the bridegroom took a quick glance. On seeing her face, the bridegroom stood still. He didn't put the garland around her neck. After seeing the bridegroom's expression, Bholi slowly pulled the veil over her face. She did it to hide her face.
The bridegroom then asked his friend nearby whether he had seen the bride's face. In addition, he asked him whether he noticed the scars on her face. After hearing that, the bridegroom's friend asked what's the problem. In addition, he said the Bishamber was not too young to comment on her face. After hearing that, he wouldn't accept things. Then he made a deal with Bholi's father to pay five thousand rupees if he wanted to marry his daughter.
Ramlal was so upset by the bridegroom's demand that he walked to him and kept his turban at his feet. He asked him to be kind and accept two thousand rupees as dowry rather than five thousand. Bishamber was adamant in his choice, telling the man that he may keep his daughter at home.
Ramlal then asked the bridegroom to stop doing this since it would hurt his pride in front of the entire village. However, Bishamber remained persistent in his demand for five thousand rupees. Ramlal entered the house, took five thousand rupees from the safe, and gave it to Bishamber. The bridegroom was now joyful since he had won the bet. After winning the bet, the bridegroom asked for the garland.
As the bridegroom was about to put the garland around Bholi's neck, a woman standing nearby removed the silken cloth covering the bride's face. When the cloth was moved, the bridegroom took a quick glance. On seeing her face, the bridegroom stood still. He didn't put the garland around her neck. After seeing the bridegroom's expression, Bholi slowly pulled the veil over her face. She did it to hide her face.
The bridegroom then asked his friend nearby whether he had seen the bride's face. In addition, he asked him whether he noticed the scars on her face. After hearing that, the bridegroom's friend asked what's the problem. In addition, he said the Bishamber was not too young to comment on her face. After hearing that, he wouldn't accept things. Then he made a deal with Bholi's father to pay five thousand rupees if he wanted to marry his daughter.
Ramlal was so upset by the bridegroom's demand that he walked to him and kept his turban at his feet. He asked him to be kind and accept two thousand rupees as dowry rather than five thousand. Bishamber was adamant in his choice, telling the man that he may keep his daughter at home.
Ramlal then asked the bridegroom to stop doing this since it would hurt his pride in front of the entire village. However, Bishamber remained persistent in his demand for five thousand rupees. Ramlal entered the house, took five thousand rupees from the safe, and gave it to Bishamber. The bridegroom was now joyful since he had won the bet. After winning the bet, the bridegroom asked for the garland.
Meanings of the difficult words:
S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Garland | A wreath of flowers and leaves, worn on the head or hung as a decoration |
2 | Triumphant | Having won a battle or contest; victorious |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). Bholi - K.A. Abbas (pp. 54-62). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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