Free A Fine Family: A Novel by Gurcharan Das

personally.
    No one, however, anticipated the nuisance that this harmless idea of Big Uncle’s would create, as every school boy who passed by felt compelled to practice his newly learned skill loud enough to warm the heart of any fourth class school master. Bauji contained his anger, and calmly told Big Uncle that if he did not remove the letterbox in the next hour, he would receive a sharply diminished monthly allowance. He again reminded his son that he was more than convinced that the nurse must have accidentally switched him at the hospital when he was born.
    Bauji eventually won over Bhabo’s agreement to the marriage. He consoled her, ‘You should be happy Bhabo, Tara won’t have to work any more.’ He knew this would make an impression, because Tara’s working continued to be a liability in the eyes of Bhabo’s social set. Bhabo’s friends never failed to chide her about it.
    A couple of days later Bauji sent a confirmation in the traditional form to the bridegroom’s family. It consisted of trays of fruit and dry fruit—almonds, cashew nuts, raisins, dates, sweet lime, apples, bananas and pomegranate.
    To everyone’s surprise Bauji received a letter from Seva Ram informing him that he would be stopping in Lyallpur for a day on an inspection tour of the canal. He wrote that he would be accompanied by his English boss and an overseer, and he would stay at the Canal Rest House of the Irrigation Department. The news created a sensation in the house not only because it was somewhat irregular for a future son-in-law to visit like this, but also because everyone wanted to meet Seva Ram and see what he was like. Chachi insisted that she be invited ‘to meet the boy’. There was also the possibility that Seva Ram might bring the English boss, and they wondered how they were to treat him. Big Uncle said that they should leave the Englishman to him and he had already planned the English clothes he would wear for the occasion and what he would talk about. Karan thought it unpatriotic to play host to an Englishman in the midst of the Quit India Movement. Bauji put these speculations to rest, saying that it was highly unlikely that an Englishman would visit the Indian section of town during these troubled times. He promptly replied to Seva Ram inviting him to stay at Kacheri Bazaar and bring his colleagues to tea.
    In all the excitement no one bothered about Tara. She was nervous and afraid at the prospect of seeing her future husband. Bhabo made it clear to her that it would be inappropriate for her to meet him, let alone talk to him. She would have to be content with seeing him from the upstairs terrace. Bhabo was already upset by the strange way the marriage was being arranged and she did not want a scandal if it got known that her daughter had been seen with the boy before marriage. She could not understand why the boy’s parents were not in the picture.
    On the day Seva Ram was expected, Big Uncle brought advance information to Kacheri Bazaar that the Irrigation Department party had been seen going towards the canal headworks. Big Uncle made it his business to know what was happening in town. He had been loafing around the Clock Tower on his bicycle and one of the shopkeepers had casually mentioned that the Englishman’s car was noticed speeding in the direction of the canal. Thus everyone was ready when the Irrigation party arrived. Tea had been elaborately laid out and Bauji, Chachi, Bhabo were dressed and waiting. Even though it was the hot season, Bhabo and Chachi had worn silk. Big Uncle had stationed himself at the gate and he let the visitors in.
    A six-foot Englishman entered, followed by a very short Seva Ram and the Overseer. All three men wore sola topees which they took off as soon as they came in.
    ‘Well, well! Come in, come in,’ said Chachi.
    ‘Welcome!’ said Bauji, getting up and going towards them. ‘Do sit down.’
    As they sat down they were offered tea. But they were hot and thirsty