The Rebuttal

Gowri knew all her tastes; she was after-all little Ambujam’s best friend and confidant. She was there to share Ambujam’s first piece of chocolate ecstasy when she was five and see her dance around in her new yellow and gold skirt that Appa dear had bought for her ninth birthday. Ambujam adored Gowri and when in her company she felt neither pain nor fear.

Gowri loved her unconditionally for who she was and not once judged her. They were after-all born on the same day even though Gowri was older than Ambujam by a few hours. There was a certain unspoken bond between them that almost seemed pre-destined and karmic. Gowri was Ambujam’s guardian angel, big sister, mentor, friend, partner in crime all rolled into one. No wonder then that Ambujam would refuse to take any decision without Gowri’s consent.

Ambujam could hardly wait for the summers to come home from boarding school, so she and Gowri could eat ripe juicy mangoes together. They would play all day long in the hot dry heat escaping all the servants’ attempts at getting them indoors. Why, they even insisted on eating meals together, especially post Gowri’s accident after a meal outside one evening. Ambujam had almost banned her from venturing out after that, lest she lose her.

Gowri was even there to comfort little Ambujam the day they took her beloved Amma to the psychiatric ward for her first shock treatment. With Gowri as her security blanket, Ambujam sailed through the throes of growing up in a not so perfect house.

Years flew by and Ambujam had finished school waiting to take her next big step in life, whatever that was. Late at night Ambujam would lie on Gowri’s loving lap listening to Elvis crooning “Love Me Tender” and imagining a day when she would go to far-farland: she and her knight in shining armour riding into the moonlight to live happily ever after.

And then as if a dream come true, there was a request for Ambujam’s hand in marriage. Everything happened so fast or so it seemed and for the first time Ambujam, caught up in preparing to be seen by the groom, spent days away from Gowri: days spent learning to cook and keep house and sing. She missed Gowri very sorely but somehow it suddenly seemed impossible to match schedules and spend a few much needed minutes with her Gowri. After-all the marriage had been fixed without Gowri’s consent.

Hours of separation turned into days and a week had sailed by since Ambujam had spoken to Gowri. Thoughts were racing in her restless mind; would Gowri approve of the match and give her consent, should she proceed with this or break it off – how was she to know!

Gowri had grown rather depressed herself having been away from Ambujam. She seemed so agitated and had aged almost overnight. A deep melancholy had overcome her and the rumour was that she did not quite approve of the match. If only she could somehow get Ambujam’s attention and convey her instincts of impending doom! How could she live with herself if this went through?

On the wedding eve Ambujam was in the attic, packing up dried rice cakes as the sun cast its setting rays, when the word arrived. One of the new servants had forced Gowri to graze with the other cows out in the farms and she had not returned home with the herd! If only Ambujam had understood that this was Gowri’s way of rebutting the match, life may have been so different!

© May 6th 2009