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Devadasi
Chapter Listing
Chapter XXI
It was a period of supreme happiness for Meena. She had everything she wanted,
love and affection, security and respectability, and the pleasurable
anticipation of a child. In such events she forgot about her dancing. She was
reinstated in the old house that Udayar had rented for her. But in view of her
condition, her mother came to stay and look after her. Meena had long since
forgiven her for lying about Udayar's visit and Muthu had reluctantly decided
to accept a life of domesticity for her daughter, though she still spoke of the
life of excitement and fame that Meena had missed. Even Udayar put up with the
circumstances.
Udayar too was happy at the turn of events. He couId now settle down and attend
to his affairs with greater energy and enthusiasm. Ganapathy put it ' The master
has grown an inch taller since his return.'
'You know Meena,' Udayar said one day. You are as useful to me as Ganapathy.'
That was about the best compliment he could pay.
' Next you will be telling me that I am as useful as your favourite horse '
Meena said, ' Surely there are some things for which I am more useful than
Ganapathy, though not just at present.'
' I mean in your knowledge and judgement of people.' Udayar amplified his
original remarks. ' At least twice, you have stopped me from lending to people
who turned out to be rogues. More and more people are coming to me now that they
know I am here.'
' I am glad I am useful to you in more ways than one ' she said.
' And the additional expenditure of maintaining you isn't very much,' he
continued, ' You don't demand things from me and you are always happy, whether I
give you anything or not.'
' You have given me something I value most ' she remarked coyly. ' What does
anything else matter ? '
' You know I have recently bought the corner farm,' he said, ' It is a good
fertile piece of land and the well has plently of water for irrigation. I am
having it registered in your name.'
'What ', she exclaimed in surprise, ' What would I do with a farm ? '
' What does anyone do with a farm ? ' he shot back ' Cultivate it, of course !
I will put a good tenant there and see that he pays his rent regularly, to you.
You will have an income of nearly five hundred rupees a year.'
She did not know what to say. To a devadaasi her wealth was always her looks and
her dancing. If she aspired for any other wealth it was always money or
jewellery. In an emergency, jewellery could be converted into money, and there
were always emergencies in the life of a devadaasi. But ownership of land meant
a stability and permanence which a deva daasi generally despised. It was the
first step, Meena told herself, towards a staid and respectable even a dull way
of life. She accepted the gift with mixed feelings in spite of infinite
gratefulness to Udayar for having thought about it.
' If anything should happen to me, what will be your fate ? ' Udayar asked and
proceeded to answer it himself. ' And what will be the fate of our child? You
cannot claim any share of my property and that uncle of mine will see to it that
you starve. You will have to go back to your dancing and end up like your
mother. But now, no matter what happens, you will have a steady income that no
one can touch.'
Meena could only shed tears of joy, not only because of his love, but for his
foresight and consideration. But Muthu, when she heard about it was somewhat
scornful.
' Of what use is a farm to a devadaasi ? ' she demanded, ' It is like having a
male child. Since you have known him, he hasn't bought you a decent Banares
sari or a gold necklace. Why don't you ask him for something like that ? '
' But don't you see mother, with what he has given me I can buy myself a gold
necklace every year if I wanted to.'
' I only hope that he doesn't expect you to pay for all the household expenses
from now on.'
' At least, he has given me independence,' said Meena. ' It shows he trusts me
and I must be worthy of that trust, It also means that from now on I must stop
thinking of myself as a deva daasi.'
' Why shouldn't he trust you ? ' Muthu demanded. ' You have been like a dutiful
wife to him and not like a tantalising mistress. But if he thinks you are going
to live like a widow and not wear any make up he is mistaken. You will follow
the custom of a deva daasi.'
' Don't worry, nothing will happen to him.'
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