The Sleeveless Blouse

Murali lived with his aged parents and wife Ambika in Madanpur village 50kms off Mysore.

Murali was a farmer. After the birth of his two sons and an ever expanding family, he found it difficult to make ends meet. He had to find a way out.

So Murali finally decided to go to Mysore, where he managed to get employed as a gardener in Mr. Rao's huge mansion.

Mr. Raja Rao was an industrialist, his wife Radhika was a socialite, both of them were down to earth and very good people. Murali tended the sprawling lawns and the entire landscape around the mansion. Soon the Rao's found him indispensible and were extremely happy with their new found gardener.

The Rao's socialized a lot and most of their parties were in their own sprawling lawns. Murali was a handy and ready help at all their parties and was liked for his mannerisms and ever smiling personality by one and all.

Murali too looked forward to these parties. He looked forward to watching his Radhika madam who invariably dressed impeccably in chiffon sarees and sleeveless blouses. Her fair arms and the chiffon sarees made her look beautiful always. Murali had no bad intentions.

Watching her reminded him of his wife whom he had left behind. He would always imagine how his wife would look in these chiffon silk sarees and matching sleeveless blouses.

The fact, as Murali very well knew, was that Ambika was no match for Radhika madam. Yet with her dusky looks, lustrous hair and radiant eyes she was very attractive in a rustic way.

Every month, Murali visited Madanpur to be with his family. One such month when Diwali was fast approaching, Radhika madam asked him what gift she could give his wife and whether he had anything particular on his mind.

Murali thought for awhile and then asked for any of her old used chiffon sari for his wife.

Next day, Radhika madam gave him a nicely packed brand new blue chiffon saree patterned with red and white roses. She also packed a lot of sweets for his family.

Once at home, Murali gave the packages to his wife and said "Wear this Ambika and please put a sleeveless blouse to go with it"

"What?? Are you insane? With my in laws here and that too in this village, with this attire, I will be an outcast" she complained. The issue was thus left at that.

Years passed. Murali's parents passed away and hence he brought his wife and sons, Rajesh and Ramu to Mysore. They stayed at the outhouse near the Raos elegant mansion. It was a peaceful existence for him.

One evening, Murali once again suggested Ambika to wear the chiffon sari with a sleeveless blouse. Now that she was in the city she should have no objection to it. He even suggested her to have a good look at Radhika madam and how she dressed at one of the social parties.

Ambika although a village belle, was quite headstrong and refused to oblige. This soon became a bone of contention between them. This brought up arguments and soon Ambika and Murali had their innumerable differences cropping up all the time.

Murali's sons now grown up, were living and working in Bangalore. With so much tension at every juncture staying with her husband, Ambika went to stay with her sons. Both Murali and Ambika had their uncompromising egos and started living separately.

Murali turned 75, he was still with the Rao's who literally treated him like a family member by now. All these years, he refused to be with his sons just because Ambika was staying with them.

His elder son Ramu once called him and told him to come to Madanpur, as it was his and Ambika's 50th wedding anniversary. It was an important event for the entire family and they wanted him to be there.

Murali after much thought decided to join in and reached Madanpur at 5 in the evening. There stood an incredibly beautiful house his sons had built. He was quite surprised and happy. He was keen to meet his wife who was not to be seen anywhere. His ego did not allow him to ask for her.

The whole house was lit with innumerable lamps and decorative lights. The entire verandah was filled with marigold flowers. After freshening himself, his sons dressed him up with a traditional silk kurta and dhoti, and then made him sit in a very well decked chair.

Amidst loud chiming of bells and the loud laughter of women entered Ambika in all her elegance that Murali always desired, with a jasmine garland and a radiant smile, wearing the blue chiffon saree with a matching sleeveless blouse presented to her 40 years back.