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SNEHAL
Snehal opened her wardrobe; she glanced at her dresses, hung on a steel bar. A pale brown mixed white T-shirt and blue jeans caught her eye. She took out and put them on.
Standing in front of the large mirror, she combed her messy hair and tied it into a long entwined braid.
A new batch of C++ subject would begin this morning. Snehal didn’t want to be late and upset the new students.
She applied a red gloss on her lips and enhanced her eyes with mascara. When she rubbed the talcum powder on her face, the jasmine smell hit her nostrils.
Her elongated, oblong face looked beautiful. The prominent long nose and large black eyes stood out from the rest of her facial features. She tucked a small jasmine garland in her hair and then went to the living room.
The clatter of containers being opened filtered through the kitchen wall. Is the mother preparing breakfast? Eating breakfast would make her late.
She went to the kitchen and approached her mother. “Good morning, Mum.” She hugged her from behind.
Deepali closed the container. “I’ve put the idlis batter in the skillet. It will be ready in ten minutes.”
“No, Mum. I need to go now.” Snehal glanced at her watch. “I’m already late.”
Her mother turned around. “How can you teach without food in your stomach? Have something before you go.” She opened the refrigerator and took out a container. “Have some milk, at least.” She poured it in a glass and gave it to Snehal.
Snehal drank the milk in silence while her mother gazed at her.
Her mother took a deep breath. “What have you decided about Ranjit?”
Snehal stopped gulping the milk. She couldn’t control the itch in her throat. She coughed. She hadn’t expected her mother to bring up her marital matter. She handed the glass back with leftover milk in it.
“Please, Mum.” Snehal grabbed a paper napkin from the top of the refrigerator. She wiped her lips. “I haven’t thought about it. Give me some more time. She threw the hanky into a bin. “I need to go now.”
“You must make your decision soon, Snehal. Your father has been insisting I ask you.”
“I’ll tell you very soon.” She walked out of her home.
Mum spoiled my mood by asking about my decision. I don’t understand why dad is so stubborn. Is he under pressure from his friend?
She shivered in the cold breeze as it swept down upon her. She dusted off her scooter, pressed the ignition button, and headed down the main street.
An aged man, wearing a sweater and a wooden cap drove his scooter past her. A city bus carried the passengers and a few youngsters stood on its footboards, chitchatting. Snehal slowed her scooter to let the school children cross the road at zebra crossings.
At her institution, her glance shifted to one of the classrooms. A few students sat there, waiting for Snehal. She went to the receptionist and they exchanged greetings.
“I see only a few students.” Snehal sat on a chair. “You told me twenty-five candidates are registered. Where are the others? It’s quarter past nine.”
“They may arrive late, Madam,” the receptionist said.
“If they don’t turn up, call and remind them.”
“Sure, I will.”
Snehal went to her class and told about herself to the students. She told them to introduce themselves before she taught the class.
After she finished teaching, she asked why the remaining students haven’t turned up. The students said some would attend tomorrow and some had gone to other institutions because of the lesser course price.
Snehal adjourned the class and walked out. Her boss was seated in his office, talking over the phone. Snehal went and sat across from him.
Her boss smiled at her while he spoke and ended his call. He adjusted his light blue spectacles. A dimple formed in his fair cheek while he continued staring at Snehal. His pale yellow checkered shirt matched his wheat-colored complexion.
They both exchanged small talk before Snehal said, “Did you notice the number of students in the class?”
“Yes, I did.” He held a paperweight and moved it round in a circle. “I had anticipated this situation in the last semester.”
“What are we going to do about it?” Snehal leaned forward.
“We need to advertise and market so that students become aware of our institution.”
“We may have to distribute the pamphlets like we did last year,” Snehal added.
Her boss nodded.
Snehal received only forty percent of the fees collected as her payment. She had insisted her boss increase it by another ten to fifteen percent.
“What have you decided about my pay percentage?” Snehal licked her lips. She Smiled.
Her boss leaned back and clasped his hands. He shifted his gaze away from her.
“The business is getting competitive, Snehal. You already know students are interested in fewer fees.” He stared at Snehal seemingly not wanting to lose her. “I’ll definitely hike the pay percentage if we make more profits next year.”
“I hope you don’t disappoint me,” Snehal said.
“I will try not to.” He heaved a sigh of relief. “I have other plans to attract students.”
“Like what?”
“We need to undergo a teacher’s training program at Bangalore. We should upgrade our standards of teaching. Also, I need to introduce the high level packaged courses, like Java and .net.”
She smiled at her boss with admiration.
She arrived at her home. Her mother wore a dark green Mysore silk sari with a gold border. Her wide and fair forehead was adorned with a red vermilion. A gold chain on her neck glittered in the daylight streaming through the window.
Snehal told her mom she would eat something, and then went to her room. The dress she wore weighed heavily on her. She chose to wear a light night dress – white with blue mixed – and then freshened herself before she went to the dining room.
Her mother brought a container full of hot idlis and served Snehal. “There is no reason for you to skip eating food.” The smell of hot idlis, spicy sambhar and coconut chutney wafted in the air.
“Mum, I told you already the new batch started today.”
“Why didn’t you wake up early then?”
Snehal didn’t like to argue. She remained silent.
“Your Dad doesn’t want you working there.” Her mother served her the idlis.
“What should I do then?” Snehal frowned.
“First, you get married and have your family. You can work or study later.”
“Who knows if my would-be husband and his parents will allow me to work?” Snehal cut the idlis and shoved it in her mouth.
Her mother remained silent.
“I would like to become independent, Mum.” She chewed her food. “And I would like to impart my gained knowledge to the younger generation.”
“I can understand your morals, but you should listen to your Dad.” Her mother propped her hands on the table. “Your earnings are also very low.”
Snehal needed to please her mother because she often took her father’s side. She needed to change the subject. “Mum, we’re going to a movie in the evening.” She shoved a spoonful of idlis in her mouth.
“I need to be at home.” Deepali sat on a chair in front of Snehal. “Your father may arrive early today.”
“Mum, I’ll convince Dad.” Snehal swallowed the idlis. “Don’t disappoint me.”
“Maybe, we watch on the weekend.” Her mother smiled. “We will take your father also.”
Snehal wasn’t interested in going to a movie. She wanted to change the subject.
Her mother’s intention was to help Snehal. But she feared Kailas.
Later in the evening when Snehal was reading a novel, her mother entered her room. “Snehal, your Dad wants to speak with you.”
Snehal’s heart raced. She needed to avoid him; he would ask about her interest in Ranjit and about her work.
“Mum, I’m busy now,” she said. “Can I talk to him later?”
“He has something important to discuss with you.” Her mother ran her hand over Snehal’s head. “Why don’t you see him for a minute?”
Snehal composed herself. Better she met her father now instead of tomorrow. She placed her book on the table and went out with her mother.
“Hi, Dad.” Snehal sat beside him.
They exchanged a few words before her father said, “What have you decided about Ranjit?”
Snehal choked. “Dad, I’m-” Snehal stumbled for words.
“Beta, you’ll never find such a husband like Ranjit,” Kailas said with his tone soft. “I don’t understand what is preventing you from accepting the alliance.”
Her mother sat on the smaller couch. “I too suggested she get married. She is quite reluctant.”
Damn it! Mom shouldn’t have supported her father. Snehal needed to act smart. If she denied her feelings, she would be forced to get married. How about I date Ranjit before we married?
“Dad, can I suggest something?”
Her father stared at her with a questioning look. Her mother too remained silent, seemingly eager to hear from Snehal.
“I’ll date Ranjit for six months before I gave you my opinion.” She heaved a sigh of relief.
“I don’t think Ranjit and his parents will agree.” Her father cocked his head.
“Why don’t you insist on postponing the engagement, and convey the matter to Ranjit’s parents?” Deepali said, looking at Kailas.
“That’s the only option we have now.” He fumbled.
Snehal’s cell phone rang. It was Priya.
“Hello, Priya.” She rose and went towards the main door.
“Hi, Snehal. What’s going?” Priya said.
“As usual, another day was crazy,” Snehal smiled.
“You told me your classes will begin today.”
“Yes, it was the first day.” Snehal went to the patio. “There weren’t enough students.”
“That’s what I wanted to know,” Priya said. “My brother too told me enrollment was down.”
Priya’s brother also worked at Snehal’s institution. She couldn’t meet him that morning because his class was scheduled in the evening. He was older than Snehal and handled C++ language.
Priya often talked about her brother when she spoke with Snehal. She was trying to bring Snehal closer to her brother for a possible alliance.
Snehal tried to dodge Priya’s motive and changed the subject. She didn’t want to get into a permanent relationship with her brother.
“What did you decide about your engagement?” Priya asked.
Snehal wanted to forget about the matter; Priya’s words choked her.
“Priya, I’m not interested in getting married. I feel it is too early. I need to stand on my own,” Snehal said. She looked at the entrance and checked to find out if her parents had overheard her conversation.
“If you are not interested, then don’t give in to your parent's pressure,” Priya said. “I like your attitude towards your life.”
“How is Deepak?” Snehal asked.
“He is doing well.”
They exchanged a few more words before ending their call.
When she went back to her living room, her father stared at her, his eyes red. Her mother was now seated beside him.
“Snehal,” her mother said. “I want you to stop going to work. I told you many times but you are so stubborn about it.”
Snehal clenched her fists and looked at her mother. She hadn’t expected her parents would confront her with another issue. A few minutes ago, they argued over her marital mater, and now they were arguing about her work. She needed to calm them instead of arguing over the matter.
“Dad, I’ll stop going after the current semester ends. My boss will not allow me to leave now. The classes have already begun.”
At last, her father smiled. “That’s my daughter.” He patted her back.
Snehal retreated to her room. She needed to act cautiously to prevent her parents from arranging her engagement.