The Suitable Boy--- ( Story of a "Kashmere  CarpetSeller’s Daughter—)

              This short story which I’m sharing with you was told to me by my grandmother long back—

                Once upon a time there lived a very rich, shrewd and cunning, business minded carpet seller in Kashmir. He had a very beautiful and talented daughter named Shehjar.  As she was the only daughter of her parents, both the parents were very possessive and cared too much for her. They brought her up in the most affectionate manner and looked after her with great care. They even gave her the best of the education. This girl was very good in singing too. When she came to marriageable age her parents sadly decided to get her married. They couldn’t bear the idea of parting away from their loving daughter. So eventually they decided to make their son in law “Ghar-Jamai” or the son in law staying with his in laws. Soon the news got spread all over the community and the carpet seller’s house was soon flooded with many proposals from the various suitors. Amongst hundreds of the suitors he finally short listed the two, one boy of his very own choice and the one carefully chosen by his vinegar tongued wife. So to make a finale selection he invited both of them separately for lunch.

           On the first day first suitor chosen by the carpet seller came for lunch. He gifted the girl’s father a costly silver vase.  He owned classy hotel and was as rich as the girl’s father. The girl’s father asked him,”My dear boy, have you heard about “Omar Khayyam.” Then the boy promptly answered,”Oh!  Well it’s good, not available easily but I’ve got a good stock of that. Since the tourist season has started, our hotel is overcrowded with them. It’ll be very much in demand now and I’m sure that it’ll be consumed very soon.” The girl’s father then served him the traditional Kashmiri lunch. He respectfully thanked him for his curtsey visit and the boy went off.

          Then next day the boy, who was very strongly recommended by the carpet seller’s vinegar tongued wife; arrived with his friend. This boy was the stinking rich guy and owned a very large business empire. He’s probably the richest guy of the town.  He’s accompanied by the friend who’s a “Mansubdar” (knight). This “Munsubdar” had carefully chosen his henchmen, to accompany him to protect his friend in case of the danger. The suitor gave the girl’s father a pretty Pashmina shawl. The girl’s father asked him the same question and the boy answered; of course very haughtily,” Omar Khayyam is the old thing now. I generally drink Scotch and prefer it than Rum. I’ve got the seller full with that and I’m keen on adding more and more expensive items. ” The boy’s friend the knight who’s listening to the conversation then intervened and said,” I ‘v also heard about “Omar khayyam”. I think he is the greatest poet. Indeed, it’ll be the great pleasure for me to read and discuss about “Omar Khayyam” and his immortal verses but unfortunately I’m so busy now days that I don’t find any time for this.” Then he smiled at the girl and presented her the bunch of red roses which he brought from his garden. The girl’s mother then served them the most delicious Kashmiri food.  All of them lunched together and the guests went off.

            Finally the carpet seller and his family sat together for the finale selection. The carpet seller announced that, ‘The first boy has interpreted the word “Omar khayyam” as the costly “blue cheese”. He’d stocked that well in advance, as the tourist season’s on. So he is the farsighted businessman who can preempt the things. So he certainly can be a good husband for his daughter.'

              Then he rejected the second boy because he’d very wrongly interpreted the word “Omar Khayyam” as the “red wine”. Surely that boy had the habit of drinking. As the girl’s father was a very religious person he didn’t approve of this habit. So certainly he wasn’t interested in marrying off his daughter to him. His vinegar tongued wife suddenly flared up. She just wanted to marry her daughter with that boy because he’s very rich. Both the parents were adamant and kept arguing for hours and hours. Eventually the carpet seller gave away and his haughty wife won the battle. They took the decision to marry off their daughter to that richest guy.  Eventually Shehjar’s marriage was fixed with the stinking rich business man.

         On the eve of the wedding day, when early in the morning mother came to wake Shehjar up, she couldn’t find her but she found a not beside her bed.  In that note their pretty daughter Shehjar had written,” Dear Parents, I thank you for bringing me up very affectionately and educating me. The education you gave to me, has turned a naïve girl like me into an independent, smart girl who can take care for herself and can take her own decisions.  I think like everyone I’ve a right to make myself happy. So I’ve made up my mind not to marry the boy you have chosen for me. I’ve listened to what my heart’s said and I’ve made my own choice. I am going to marry the Mansubdar (knight) friend who had accompanied him for the friendly protection. This Mansubdar has the quality which none of the suitor’s has got; that is “Honesty”. I’d judged this when he correctly understood the true meaning of “Omar khayyam” and confessed openly- frankly that he hasn’t read his book. He’s no airs or the pretensions. I sincerely think that he is the only suitable boy for me. And this “Munsubdar” was the one who cared only for me.  He liked me and expressed his love by giving me the best gift in the world, the bunch of red roses. This made me fall for him. So I have fallen for him, gone head over the heels. By the time you get this letter I’ve gone far-far away to get married with him. This is my own independent decision and I respect my decision. We both don’t expect anything but the blessings from you- -”

                    And the wails of carpet seller’s wife cracked and broke down the stone walls of their palatial house.