The Father of Varsha, Chhotelal Verma, and a cousin brother are already present on the railway station. He has booked two vans for the Patel family to travel to Village. Then went to Grandpa Patel and touched his and then Grandma"s feet to get their blessings.Grandma laughed and said while patting the hand of the father of Varsha "You are Chhote? You have become so good and your father always talks about how well you are taking care of the family."
"Uncle and aunt are just saying. Every son does that for his father and mother. Everyone in the village is excited to meet you and your family." He looked once toward other family members and smiled at Akash who just gave him an indifferent look and then continued "I have prepared some vans to take us to the village. Please follow me." Father of Varsha laughed and said. Then he picked the suitcases from the hands of Grandpa and Grandma, Cousin brother of Varsha also took some luggage and they walked toward the exit of the railway station and everyone followed them.
Two vans with Patel family drove from Singrauli railway station to Khirwa village. Journey hardly took 15 minutes. When they entered the village, Grandpa asked to stop the van before they reached home.
Father of Varsha asked "Uncle! Is something there, you need to do here?"
Grandpa said "I have come to the village after so many years. House is hardly one kilometer from here. Let us go by walk and say hi to some people on the way. Akash and his uncle will be with us. Send other people home with the boy."
Father of Varsha understood the meaning of grandfather and he sent everyone in the van to home with the cousin brother of Varsha. Grandpa Patel walked ahead with the Father of Varsha, Chhotelal. Akash and his uncle followed them.
They walked on the footpath of village and villagers watched them curiously. Many villagers already knew that some city people are coming for the engagement of Varsha.
One persona asked the father of Varsha "Her Chhote! Are they the guests who were supposed to come to your family for your daughter?" From this person, Akash knew that the person who is escorting them is the father of the girl and for the first time he looked at the person properly, yet he did not feel anything special about him. He felt annoyed thinking that he really does not know about that girl"s family. "What a funny marriage arrangement" He thought ridiculing himself.
"Yes, brother! they are the Patel uncle from the city. Their family has already reached home. We are just walking by." father of Varsha replied.
That person just pa.s.sed by waving the hand and shouted "I will visit sometime at your home. Keep sweets ready."
"Everyone is so friendly. It really feels so cheery in the village." Grandpa laughed and said.
Group kept walking and Grandpa saw one of his acquaintance and shouted "Hey brother Veere! How are you?"
Elderly brother Veere who was going somewhere with a hatchet and hamper looked to who was shouting and seeing the person exclaimed "Ha ha. I have heard from Ramlal, you guys are coming. I am going to farm now but will come to Ramlal"s house in the afternoon."
"Sure sure. Finish work and come soon. We will wait for you." Grandpa shouted while laughing and that elderly person walked away toward his farm while waving his hand.
Many village people saw this group walking on the path of the village. Villagers are either working in farms nearby, going to farm or sitting outside their homes doing some chit-chat when they saw this group. They talked with each other about this group.
"Who are these people? Are you sure they are not standing for election?"
"Why do you say so?"
"Because, they are rich people as I can see by their clothes, but walking by foot and giving respect to village elders and saying Hi to people."
"No, he is Heeralal Patel and their family left village about 30 years back and now he is here to marry his grandson Akash with Varsha, granddaughter of Ramlal Verma."
"Ha ha ha. I thought he is some politician and being too respectful to scam some votes from us."
Even some women in the village looked curiously at the group. Some women even started jesting seeing the new people and after knowing who they are.
"He he. Isn"t that cute boy going to marry our Varsha?" One woman smiled and asked while pointing at Akash who is walking a few steps behind his grandfather.
Grandfather Patel heard and laughed and said "Yes, he is my grandson Akash. He is engaged to Varsha."
Another woman who is in the mid-thirties, giggled and called Akash and said "Hey pretty boy! why don"t you marry me instead? I will leave my man if you agree."
Akash looked at that woman with dreadful expression. His uncle laughed seeing his expression.
Grandfather laughed and said "We are sorry. You are really too good for my grandson." Everyone present including that woman laughed.
Some boys who are standing in the alley or walking by looked at Akash with a smile. Some of them have gazes of envy and hate as well. Akash smiled mockingly at them. "Why don"t you take away my luck and that girl as well? You envy me and I envy you." He felt funny in his heart while thinking this.
Grandfather met village chief and a few other elders of the village who also joined the group and walked with them toward the house of Varsha. Everyone is planning to meet and greet the Verma family and have their chit chat there.
Finally, Akash reached the House of Varsha, after almost 1 hour of by foot journey of annoyance, embarra.s.sment, and irritation. Somehow he was able to keep the look on his face calm.