Free Dollar Bahu by Sudha Murty Page B

and scared. She requires company. I shall stay back.’
    ‘Jamuna is coming next month for her brother’s wedding. If you inform her of my condition, she will come immediately and look after me. You can go on the tour,’ said Gouramma shamelessly.
    Shamanna was embarrassed by his wife’s behaviour. In spite of Vinuta’s dutiful caring, Gouramma never acknowledged Vinuta.
    On learning the news, Surabhi phoned and talked to her mother. She did not bother to visit though.
    Chandru sent a cheque for three hundred dollars to cover the expenses and replied to Girish’s mail: ‘Anyone can help in the form of money. But one should not forget the presence and care of people around you. Amma, you are very lucky that you have someone who looks after you so well.’
    For Gouramma, these comments were like water off a duck’s back. The cheque meant more; it was, in fact, everything.



SEVENTEEN
    C handru came to Bangalore on a business visit. Surabhi and Suresh came from Hyderabad to meet him. Jamuna was pregnant. Gouramma was more concerned about the unborn baby than the grandchild growing up in front of her eyes.
    ‘How is Jamuna? What is the due date? Does she like pickles or sweets? Does she have nausea? Has she put on weight?’ She harried Chandru with a string of queries.
    Harsha had begun to walk and would run around the house. He was healthy and as sweet as his mother. Shamanna spent all his time looking after his grandson. Vinuta, on her part, had become thin and frail like a drooping flower. She looked depressed and went about the housework in a listless, machine-like manner.
    There was no communication any more between Gouramma and Vinuta, other than instructions concerning household chores. The initial bridge of affection and trust seemed to have rusted.
    Chandru had brought a lot of toys for Harsha but Vinuta pointed out, ‘You should not be spending so much money on Harsha. We cannot afford such expensive gifts in return.’ Chandru was stunned that Vinuta would make a comment like this. She was the one person he knew who had never bothered about status or money.
    ‘Vinuta, Harsha is the first grandchild of our family and he will always get the best,’ said Chandru, hoping that would put the matter to rest.

    Gouramma’s long-standing dream was about to come true. She had been expressing, for some time now, her wish to visit America in order to take care of her Dollar Bahu during her pregnancy and after the delivery. But Shamanna was equally insistent on not going. ‘I can’t stay away from Harsha for such a long time. You can go, and take your time to come back.’
    So it was decided that Gouramma would go to America on her own. She began her preparations. She would call Jamuna regularly to ask what she could bring. The atmosphere in the house became even more America centric. Everyone secretly awaited Gouramma’s departure.
    Gouramma prayed in different temples for the well-being and safe delivery of her Dollar Bahu’s baby. Surabhi bought an expensive sari for her dear sister-in-law. Gouramma also prepared lots of delicious eatables, masala powders, chutneys and pickles, which she packed in a separate bag.
    ‘Amma, please remember that you also have a son here. You can probably open a shop with the quantity and varieties you have prepared. How about leaving some for us?’ the normally docile Girish joked.
    ‘Girish, you are in India. You can go out and eat in any restaurant. Poor Jamuna, where can she go?’
    Vinuta watched in silence. She remembered how they had treated her when she was pregnant: no gifts, no sweets, not even a tender word. ‘If you want to buy anything or eat anything, you can go and eat outside with Girish,’ was what she had been told. When Harsha was born, Gouramma had sent one hundred rupees on the occasion of his naming ceremony. Vinuta felt all this was so unfair, especially when she had always done whatever Gouramma expected of her. But she said nothing.
    Jamuna’s mother