A Marriage is Arranged continues.....


I left home for the purpose of entering on the life of a student noviciate, but was soon persuaded to return by my sisters’ (uncle’s
daughters) importunities. It was a solemn farce. I still remember one thing about it. My mother, by way of offerings (Shagun) got a
lot of presents and cash and pocketed them all. She knew little arithmetic and asked me to do the counting. As a recompense for my services I helped myself to a little money to spend on my own. She never found out!

On my first visit to Delhi I witnessed an amusing incident. We were staying in a hotel and used to sleep in the open on the hotel
roof. A family of Peshawaris was also staying in the same hotel and sleeping close by. A pedlar came in the morning. Soap was one of the articles he was peddling. The Peshawari gentleman asked the price of a cake. The pedlar asked for 14 annas and the Peshawari
offered one anna. After an hour of hard bargaining the pedlar agreed to sell it for an anna! The Peshawaria, however, now refused
to buy it, saying that even in one anna there must be lurking a huge profit somewhere! I tried my best to persuade him to buy it on the ground that the fellow had been there for one hour and he was entitled to sell one cake of soap at least! This had no effect on this resident of the Pathan country. So the pedlar departed without doing any business! Delhi pedlars and hawkers—and even some shop-keepers—indulge in such questionable methods of
trading even now!

I accompanied my father on several other trips during this period. The first interesting trip was to Satkulara in Chamba State, near the Chauri pass, over 9,000 ft. above the sea level. Father
was always looking for water springs with digestive qualities, because, though dyspeptic he still loved rich food! Mother was one of the finest cooks I have ever come across.

to be continued.....