Flight and Return

Last post for this week re the Savithri story. In today's post, Savithri leaves behind her childhood.

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Savithri’s school years were uneventful. Though her high spirits found acceptance with the students, it did not always please her teachers. In her studies she remained above average, whatever that may mean. But she excelled in sports and brought the school many trophies from the annual inter-school sports meets. If nothing else, this met with her teachers’ approval. When she reached her final year, thoughts of her future entered her mind and she fixed on continuing her studies in a college. But there was no college in Mannargudi and the nearest college was in a town 25 miles away. Her mother was against it, Manu was indifferent. Savithri of course had her way. She joined the college. As there were only half a dozen girls in the college, there was no separate women's hostel. She and three girls rented a house.

Savithri had a chance to establish her reputation during the first week of the college itself. Four boys used to sit at a particular spot through which the girls had to pass on their way to the college and tease the girls. When Savithri noticed this, she decided to put an end to it. One day when the girls passed by, the boys cat-called as usual. Out flung cowdung balls from the hands of the girls. The boys were thrown into confusion and so precoccupied with removing the dung from their person, they forgot to retaliate. In addition, they became a subject for jest on the part of the other students. The matter was thus satisfactorily resolved.

Four years of Savithri’s life passed with the usual round of studies and adventures. One incident stood out for her boldness. One day a girl complained that a middle aged lecturer passed lewd remarks whenever he saw her. Savithri felt this needed immediate action. Savithri went to the lecturer and coquettishly said that the girls liked him and his lectures and they would like to invite him for tea at their house. The lecturer was delighted and arrived in his best dress at the girls' house. Savithri cordially received him and seated him in the hall. She offered him tea and eatables. Just when he was eating, the rest of the girls entered the room, poured a few pails of rubbish on his head and sang, “Venkiah has become young and needs a bride! Any takers, Any takers?!” Venkiah became a laughing stock even for the faculty.

Savithri’s last university examinations were approaching and she was deep in preparation. One morning she got a telegram. Manu had died in his sleep the previous night. Manu was in his late forties and did not have any known health problems, the news was therefore more shocking. Savithri was a lark since her birth, always flying and singing. She had no knowledge of the harder and darker side of life . She felt that she should be near her mother immediately and hastened to Mannargudi.