Short Story- Array Accross the Caste

Across the Castes

She was a clerk with me. We both were recruited in the same selection batch and we both were posted in one branch. We had got one table. On this side I was sitting and the other side of the table was allotted to her.

Within a few days we established intimacy. We started sharing and exchanging items of lunch and as and when a guest came, we used to order three cups of tea. If in her absence a guest of her came, I used to accommodate him or her and similarly she had been accommodating my guests.

Within a year or so we established love and affections and actually we were known as lover and beloved in the office. Even our officers were having this knowledge and they are were tolerating the things because all these relations had got their own limitations. She was belonging to a group called Dalits and I belonged to the categories of Jats and therefore, as far traditions in this area were concerned matrimonial alliances were at least prohibited. But love does not recognize such limitations and barriers, I offered me as her companion for life and accepting this offer, she suggested that I should meet her parents. She was of the opinion that her parents would not accept because they were from Dalits and I belonged to a known superior class.

I approached the head clerk of my office. He knew our relations and on listening me fully he too expressed his opinion that I should consult my own parents before launching on this episode. He was of the opinion that people from Jat community would not agree that their son should bring a women from the so called Dalits. But when he pressed him hard, he agreed to accompany me to the parents of the girl.

We were welcomed in the house and we were offered tea and some eatables. Then he started the subject for which he had come to their house.

“This is Malkiat Singh. He is a clerk in my office. He was recruited on the same date when your daughter Usha was recruited. Both are working in the same branch. Both have got very good relations. I have got no complaint from their side. Both have learnt much work and both are very efficient.

Both have got very good reports from the officer in -charge. This Malkiat Singh belongs to Jat family. But still he wants to marry your daughter. I know the caste barriers. But since this boy has got no objection, I think you may agree to this proposal. A women has got no religion and no caste. In most of the cases she acquires the religion and caste of her husband. I hope you would consider this point and shall be communicating your decision to me. Then I shall talk to the parents of this Malkit Singh who are resident of Bathinda.” He finished his talk without any interruption. Father and mother of Usha were listening to him. The father kept silence. But the mother said,

“Usha has told me the things in advance. We have considered this point. We had also discussed this point with our nears and dears.”

“Then I thank you have decided to have Malkiat Singh as your son in-law?”

The mother again said,

“No not at all. We had been with this point for a week and the maternal uncle of Usha is of the opinion that we should not give our daughter in a family of Jats. They would never accept this relation. As and when our daughter commits a mistake, the ladies of the house shall say….Neech Ghar Di Kurri toan assi ki umid kar sakde ha… and our daughter would not tolerate all this. We are from dalit classes. We should remain in our own classes. She would never be allowed to develop her personality in that house. She would remain there as a slave. At least we would not send our daughter to live in Hell for the remaining part of her life.”

We came back. This question has always been with me and is still unsolved though I had been trying to have a suitable answer during the last twenty years. This question is still unsolved in my brain.

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