The atmosphere at home was not very healthy from the time his marriage was being worked out, Bal’s father, Gangadhar Pant had been sick and bedridden. The marriage itself was a sick man’s wish. Bal’s satisfactory progress towards the adulthood gave immense relief to the sick man. The son was studying diligently and becoming politically wise. Gangadhar Pant knew that his end was near. But now he was satisfied that he would leave behind the son, who would probably make his name live longer.
And one day, Gangadhar Pant breathed his last.
Bal Gangadhar was still in his teens. Father’s death was a shock even though it was not totally unexpected. Bal broke down and wept bitterly. The caretaker aunt and the sisters wailed and remained inconsolable for weeks. The family had no adult male to take charge and bear the burden of the household. The neighbours and relatives converged on the family to commiserate.
Tapi and her family also come to share the grief. Tapi’s dream of walking into her husband’s house as an educated young lady was cut short. She had just began to read and write. Last time she entered into that house there was laughter in the air and it was festively decorated.
This time the mood was just the opposite. Smell of death hung in the air. There were gloomy and grief stricken faces all around. The women had their eyes red from weeping continuously.
The sisters of Bal Gangadhar were in bad shape. There were dark bands around their eyes. Every now and then they would break down and bitterly weep.
It was very unsettling for Tapi. To her great relief the elders of her family ware doing all the talk of condolence. She was not required to speak.
Tapi was deeply saddened to see Bal Gangadhar who looked a picture of grief.
The caretaker aunt requested to the father of Tapi to leave the bride behind to live with them although she was merely 11 years old. She reasoned that, the family was too grief stricken that needed someone to cheer it up and Bal Gangadhar was a broken boy who badly needed some one around to kindle hope in him to bring him back to normal life. Bal’s sisters also wanted Tapi to stay with them.
The father of the bride had to yield after all, since the marriage his daughter belonged to the Pant family for all practical purposes. And the bereaved family badly needed her as he could see their miserable state.
It was a very difficult transition for Tapi to change over from a carefree hop-scotching girl to nurse maid of the family suffering from deep grief. She was only 11 years old. The situation would rob her of her entire teenage life. Now she was supposed to act like a mature woman and prove to be a soothing balm to heal wounds of the family left behind by the death of Gangadhar Pant.
The only redeeming factor would be the company of the sisters of Bal Gangadhar with whom she could steal back some of the teenage pleasures of frivolity.
Her presence did prove a miracle for Bal Gangadhar. His spirit got lifted and the signs of life revived in him. The jingle-bell laughter of Tapi would tickle him. Bal gradually made it back to normal state and got busy in this school books.
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