Sudha's POV:

I closed my eyes tightly waiting for rejection. I know I was rejected even before but now I will be openly rejected in front of these new people who seem to be more rich and powerful. I kept sobbing internally and waited for dadi to come. When they announced that he accepted the proposal I was taken aback. Never did I think I will be getting married after the numerous rejections and I already lost hope to get married. I kept a straight face only for dadi. I do not want to disappoint her by accepting the fate but it turned out that God had other plans for me.
I want to do something in life in which I do not have to feel inferior or inequal. I want to be a change. I got a chance through the stories I write to the local newspaper. When they selected my stories I got a small hope that maybe just maybe I could have a life without depending on others or atleast a less humiliating and insulting one.
But I couldn't go against papa. He is the one who wanted me to get married and settled. I do not want to disobey him by telling about my dreams and aspirations so I kept silent all these years waiting to get settled(as papa thinks).Now that he is trying so hard and finally someone accepted me I can assure he is at peace and relaxed a little.
" Ma what are you saying! " Papa said to dadi when she came with the man and dadi took him to a corner.
.......

" Son I know you want to get your both daughters to rich people so that you will get more respect and power. But you do know how many members have rejected sudha till now. You do not know what internal turmoil she is going through all these years. I want her to get married and be happy that's final " the old woman said with exhaustion.
" But ma how will she become a daughter in law to a farmer's family? She is daughter of a landlord. People will talk things if we do their marriage " Tyagaraj whispered irritated.
" Let them gossip I don't care " she said sighing.
" What? " He almost shouted.
" Keep your voice low. It is better for her to get married and stay as a married woman rather than being in this home as unmarried and getting taunted and humiliated everyday " she said with tears brimming her eyes.
" But ma... " He was saying when she showed he hand.
" No buts Tyagaraj. I spoke to the guy and he genuinely seems to be a good man and I don't want to lose a chance of getting her married to a good person waiting for a rich man. I just pray that they develop in future years and become stable and even rich too. So without any other arguments let's continue with the further marriage preparations " she said and went away from there to the hall where everyone were waiting for them.
Meanwhile Jhansi(sudha's step mother) provided them with snacks prepared by Sudha.
" Prithvi go and make dinner preparation for the guests. There shouldn't be any problem " he said to the man working and he nodded immediately.
Tyagaraj too concluded it's better to agree with her marriage and went to hall.
" Sorry for the delay zamindar Bhai I was little busy " Tyagaraj said and he smiled.
" Now I think I will call the pandit ji and ask for appropriate dates for engagement and marriage. What do you suggest? " He asked the zamindar and he agreed.
Pandit ji came and after checking the astrology of both the bride's and grooms he said.
" As per the astrology it's very clear that both the pairs are compatible with eachother and do not seem to have any problem ".
" That's a great news pandit ji. Then tell us the dates on which we can make engagement and marriage? " Dadi asked.
" Both the engagements and marriages can be done together. We can just change the timings. What do you say sir? " He asked Tyagaraj.
" That will be fine then. Tell us the dates we will make arrangements " he replied.
" Very well then. Engagement can be done within a week and marriage can be done the 12th of next month " he suggested and also told all the timings and went away from there.
During this time sudha was in her room immersed in her thoughts. She doesn't have any idea of what was going on out there. No one was there to inform about the arrangements.
Shyam was also sitting in a corner and listening to everyone. He was not really interested but in presence of zamindar sahab his ears perked for even a small information.
Prithvi and all the workers finished preparing the dinner to the guests so he went and informed his owner regarding the same.
" Now that everything is settled let's feed our guests " Tyagaraj said and everyone laughed. Everyone gathered at the backyard where all the preparations for eating were done. One by one all of them started eating talking among themselves but shyam was not eating.
" What happened beta? Why are you not eating? " Dadi asked him concerned.
" That... That my bullocks didn't eat anything since afternoon. Can you please tell me where can I get them fed? " He asked to which dadi's eyes filled with tears.
" Sure son. Come with me " she said and guided him and the bullocks to the place where there were many cows and buffaloes. She asked a worker to take care of his bullocks and took him to the dining area.
She served him food and he took it and started eating in a corner again. He is poor and moreover not equal to his owners so he was not allowed to sit with them to eat so he chose a place where there was no one.
When he was eating he saw a lady with her back standing near the trees. He observed but couldn't guess who it was. Suddenly she turned and his food stuck in his throat when he saw it is none other than sudha.
.......

Sudha was getting anxious and irritated sitting in her room without her dadi so she went out to take some fresh air. She thought everyone where eating in the backyard so she will be unnoticed. She was standing there for sometime when she felt someone looking at her. She immediately turned to see a man staring at her. She hurriedly put her pallu on her head and ran inside. She closed the door and sat there itself. In her condition it was difficult to run but that didn't stop her from getting away.
She was getting married very soon and she saw a man who was staring at her intensely. She felt disgusted although she found him attractive. She shook her head repeatedly and fell on the bed not wanting to think that awkward moment.
......

Shyam was awestruck by her simple yet elegant look. He was upset that he couldn't see her eyes but the moment her eyes laid on his, his world stopped. Her eyes were pulling him towards her as if wanting to drown in them.
" Beta do you need anything? " Dadi asked to which he shook his head repeatedly and washed his hands.
" Your bullocks will be fed do not worry about them " she said smiling to which he nodded.
" Dadi I need to ask you something " he said hesitatingly.
" What is it child? And you call me Nani as I am sudha's dadi " she said placing her hand on his shoulder making him relax.
" Who's Sudha? " He asked to which she gasped.
" Oh my God! You don't know the girl's name and you are ready to marry her? " She chuckled at the end.
" Umm.. I really don't know and I am sorry for it. Umm.. actually I want..to show her....photo to mom so ca...can you give me one? " He said stammering looking everywhere but her. She nodded understanding him and went inside the room where sudha was sitting. She directly went near the drawer and searched for an appropriate photo and found one which was taken last year during a festival. She nodded to herself and went away without paying attention to multiple questions throwed by Sudha.
" Here take this. And I hope to see your mother on the engagement " she said and handed it to him. He took a look at it and immediately kept it in his pocket.
Everyone finished eating and sat for a while to discuss about the engagement ceremony. After everything was discussed they bid goodbye to eachother and left to their village. Shyam also took off to home in his bullocks cart.
It was late night when he reached home. He saw her mother sleeping in an uncomfortable position in the room. He understood that she might be waiting for him. He didn't want to disturb her so he went to his room to sleep.
He was dead tired after a long journey but his heart skipped it's beat when he thought about the photo in his pocket. He removed it and saw how beautiful she looked in it. He kept looking at it for a long time then after placing it in the shelf he slept thinking about mom and her reaction towards her disability.
" Shyama get up son. It's already time " his mom said and he woke up with a jerk. He would always wake up before his mom and collect the milk from cows and deliver to the owners but today he got late. He soon did his morning chores and went to deliver the milk to the customers.
Shyam is a decent and simple guy. His work is to wake up early in the morning delivering the milk to the owners, bathing, breakfast and then farm work. Then in late evening selling the vegetables which he grows in the backyard of his home.
He loves farming so he chose to make a garden of vegetables in the backyard. Nearly five kinds of vegetables he grows along with tomato and also leafy vegetables. He would sell them in the market after farm work. In this way he would acquire little money. His mother cooks in home and goes to the zamindar sahab house to do the chores which includes cleaning, washing clothes, vessels, feeding their cattle and sometimes cooking too. She returns home in the afternoon, prepare lunch and take it to his son and again goes to work. In the evening she will accompany her son to sell vegetables.
As they were poor zamindar sahab uses them according to his wills. And moreover them being indebted to them added to their sorrows.

When he returned home after delivering the milk he sat down to have breakfast. He knew his mother wanted to know about yesterday events but he was not understanding how to tell her about the news of her being handicapped.
" You look worried shyama. Was everything fine yesterday? " She questioned and he got up and went to room. He took the photo from the shelf and showed it to her. Her eyes shone bright when she saw her and he started telling her about the the information he could about them. She listened everything intently and nodded.
" It means she is from a very rich family " she whispered.
" Probably the daughter of a landlord and also she is...she is... " He didn't understand how to tell her so he kept fidgetting with his words.
" Wat is it shyama? Are you hiding something which I should know? " She questioned looking straight into his eyes.
" Mom that..that she is....ha...handicapped " he said and heard her gasp.
" What? " She asked.
" Yes ma she is handicapped. But from what I heard from her grandmother she is very good and hardworking girl " he said not understanding how to justify.
" It clearly means that zamindar sahab played the trick well here " she said thinking deeply and he nodded.
" Shyama you don't have to commence the wedding if you are unwilling. I don't want you to suffer " placing her hand on his hand.
" No ma I agreed to marry her in front of everyone. Now I can't say no " he sighed.
" But...but people will talk. You do realise that right? " She said to him and he understood what she meant by it.
In this society people just need something to talk about and something like getting married to a handicapped will be the talk of the town. I do know the consequences but now that I promised I cannot back off.
" I know ma. But let's just hope everything will turn out positive and I cannot stop people from talking. So just leave it to them. Anyhow how long will they talk? " He said.
" You are right in a way. Let's just hope she adjusts here " she sighed and went on with her work and so did shyam.
He handled his mom but he knows there will be a problem now.

P.S: To clear a few things I am informing this. If you see sudha's or Shyam's POV written then it will be their version and if you see dotted lines(.....) then it means POV ended and it will be the author POV. Do not get confused.
So the marriage is fixed...
Next chapter will be the engagement...
Till then bye...