Translated from the Original Hindi by
Kanwar Dinesh Singh
With a horoscope in hand, he went out to meet Pandey ji. In the courtyard, the crow on the mango tree was cawing loudly. But he was firm on his decision. He didn’t want anyone interrupting him while going to auspicious work.
With swift steps, he walked into the foyer of that haveli near the pond in the middle of the village.
“I touch your feet, Pandey ji!”
“May you live long! How come you’re here today? You’d almost forgotten me!” Pandey ji sat on the bed.
“I didn’t forget you. I need your blessings, so I came running to you.”
“Are you planning some auspicious ceremony?”
“Yes, Pandey ji, I want my daughter’s janeu samskara (thread ceremony) to be performed by you.”
“Janeu samskara of a daughter! What are you saying? Are you crazy?”
“Is being a daughter an impediment in rituals, Pandey ji?” Pandey ji’s words distracted his mind. The crow’s cawing enhanced his restlessness.
“When there is no objection to performing samskaras of daughters in the Vedas, how does the question of impediments arise?” Seeing the only granddaughter playing on the other side of the foyer, Pandey ji felt an ache within.
“Today, sons and daughters are equated with education and enjoy equal rights from home to everywhere; so, even inside the house, all the rites should be equaled.”
He was resolute and stood firm on his decision. The crow had started cawing even more loudly.
Pandey ji kept silent for a long time.
“You’re right. Look, the crow is also voicing the good omen on the goolar tree. From now on, I take the responsibility of performing the janeu samskara of every daughter of the village. Show me the horoscope. Let me see which planets and constellations your daughter rules!” As soon as Pandey ji’s silence broke, the cawing of the crow gave relief to his mind.
-0- Kanwar Dinesh Singh, Poet, Storyteller, Critic and Translator (English/Hindi), Associate Professor of English & Editor: Hyphen
Email: kanwardineshsingh@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 94186 26090
