Translated from the Hindi by Vandana R. Singh
Man and Woman1
For Vipin Babu, a woman was the only beautiful thing in this world. He was a poet and writing eulogies to the beauty and youth of women was the most pleasant theme of his poetry. He perceived women to be the epitome of kindness, sweetness and adornment in the world. A woman’s name only had to be mentioned for his eyes to twinkle, and his ears to stiffen as if a maven had heard the first strain of music. The moment he came of age, he started imagining the beauty who would be the queen of his heart. She would have the brightness of dawn, the delicacy of flowers, the gleam of gold, the grandeur of spring and the melody of a cuckoo. She should be an embodiment of all the metaphors of beauty preferred by poets. He was a devotee of that imaginary idol, praising her in his poems. He would discuss her in his friends circle and stay inebriated in her thoughts. The day was not far when his desires would become a reality, his hopes would be fulfilled. The final examination of his college education had ended and wedding proposals had begun to arrive.2
The wedding date was fixed. Vipin Babu insisted on seeing the girl. But when his uncle assured him that he had seen the girl and she was very beautiful, Vipin Babu agreed. The baraat left with much pomp and show, and the auspicious time for the nuptials arrived. When the bride, adorned with jewels, came to the mandap, Vipin stole a glance at her hands and feet. What beautiful fingers she had, as if they were the flames of many candles! Her graceful figure captivated his heart. Vipin was on cloud nine. The next day after the bride’s farewell, he was so impatient for a glimpse that the moment the palanquin bearers stopped during the journey to wash their hands and feet, he sneaked off to see her. She was peeping out of the palanquin, after having removed her veil. He caught sight of her, and a wave of hatred, anger and disappointment swept through his face. She was not the beautiful maiden that he had dreamt of for years. She was a broad-faced, flat-nosed, puffy-cheeked ugly creature. Although she had a fair complexion, there was a paleness about it instead of a rosy glow. A fair complexion can never compensate for the missing beautiful features. Vipin’s excitement went cold. Could she find no one other than me in the whole wide world to hang like a burden around my neck? He was very angry with his uncle who had endlessly praised her beauty. If only he could find him right now, he would teach him a lesson he would never forget.
When the palanquin bearers resumed the journey, Vipin started thinking, How will I ever talk to this woman? How will I spend my entire life with her? I feel repulsed just seeing her face. I never knew such ugly women existed in this world. What a disgusting face God has made, what terrible eyes. I could have tolerated everything . . . but that big mouth! O God, why did this calamity befall me?3
Vipin felt his life was like hell. He fought with his uncle. He wrote an obnoxious letter to his father-in-law, abused him, quarrelled with his parents, and even then when he failed to find peace, he started thinking of running away. He pitied Asha, thinking that it was not her fault, as she had not forced him to marry her. But this pity and sympathy failed to overcome the hatred that ran through his veins when he looked at her. She dressed herself in the best of her attires, and set her hair in different styles. She would adorn herself looking at a small mirror. But Vipin felt it was a futile attempt at preening. She heartily wished to keep him happy, and would look for reasons to serve him but Vipin would always try and run away from her. If they ran into each other by chance, he would utter such nasty words to her that she would run away from the spot with tears in her eyes.
The worst thing was that his character began to get warped. He deliberately tried to forget that he was married. Asha would not see him for days on end. She would hear his laughter from outside. She would peep through the window and find him embracing his friends and accompanying them for walks. She would sigh in isolation.
One day, during a meal, she said, ‘Now it is difficult to even catch a glimpse of you. Will you leave the house just because of me?’
Turning his face away Vipin replied, ‘I stay at home. These days I am looking for a job, that’s why I need to go to different places.’
‘Why don’t you consult a cosmetic surgeon to remake my face? I have heard these days there are doctors who can change and beautify faces.’
‘Why are you unnecessarily irritating me? Who told you to come here?’
Asha: ‘After all who will cure this hideousness?’
‘There is no remedy for this infirmity. When even God has failed, how can a man do this work?’
‘Think about it; you are punishing me for God’s mistake. Who in this whole world does not like a beautiful face? But have you ever seen a man who
