Female Issue

           

           The astrologer was on his profession of prediction in the morning. He had a horizontal trademark with replenished vermilion on his forehead. He had crimson scarp in his neck. While chanting mantras, he laid a carpet on the side-path to spread his cards on it very gingerly. It looked like a big show of cards to attract customers.

 

            After displaying his cards on the carpet, the astrologer sat in a dignified manner. He put the parrot cage beside him. The parrot was ready to have breakfast.

 

            The astrologer supplied two guava fruits to the parrot inside the cage. While the parrot was busy eating the fruits inside the cage, he also ate some guava fruits for breakfast. He was ready to tell the astrology and the palm-history of his customers.

 

            The people were going hither and thither in the street on their works. Some were looking at the astrologer in the usual manner. They found him reciting verses in Sanskrit. He felt comfortable in the cool shade of a tree. He looked at the people.

 

            Meanwhile a man along with his wife came rushing to the astrologer, The astrologer felt he was his first customer that day.

 

            "Swamy, astrologer...I’m Ganesh...This is my wife, Shruthi. I’m happy that she’s pregnant...She’s carrying my future hopes," said Ganesh.

 

            "Shreeghrameva suputrika praapti rastu," said Swamy, the astrologer.

 

            "We’ve not come for such blessings...," said Ganesh unhappily.

 

            "O, you want to have a son," said Swamy, the astrologer.

 

            "Yes, your words must come true. We dream of having a son," said Ganesh.

 

            "Let’s test your luck...Dear parrot will decide your fortune. Hello, parrot, talk about his future, opening the small door of the cage to let the parrot come out and pick up a card from the cards displayed," said Swamy.

 

            The parrot picked up a card, gave it to the astrologer and went inside the cage. The astrologer examined the card attentively. The couple was waiting to listen to his good words for joy with folded hands, closing the eyes in meditation.

 

            "Lord, Vemulawada Rajarajeshwara Swamy, bless us with a son...I name him after you, my Lord... Surely, I name him Umamaheshwar after your name...My father is a staunch devotee of yours. He named Ganesh after your son, Lord Ganesh," offering a five-hundred rupee note into the plate in Swamy's presence amidst the cards.

 

.           "I don't want to tell lies to please you, couple...Ganesh and Shruthi, you want me to tell the truth," Swamy said with the grim face.

 

            "We want you to tell you the truth," said the couple.

 

            "Listen, you’re blessed with a daughter with a bright future of her own, She’ll resemble Goddess Lakshmi...," said the astrologer.

 

            "Not a son...?" said they.

 

            "Not a son... only a daughter...with bright future... She’ll be brilliant... unrivalled in studies... The card clearly says so," said Swamy, the astrologer.

 

            The couple went home with all hopes that Lord Rajarajesharaswamy would bless them with a son in the next issue. They went home happily.

 

            As per the date for the delivery, Shruthi delivered a female baby. They named the baby Himaja after the name Lord Shiva's consort, Parvathi.

 

            The days fled for them to live happily, as they dreamed of being blessed with a son in the next issue, 

 

            Shruthi became pregnant again. The couple's happiness knew no bounds.

 

            Haritha, her neighbour congratulated Shruthi on the occasion. She expressed her heart-felt feelings,

 

            "I wish that you should be blessed with a son... I know that it’s your long-cherished wish.  It’s well and good when your wish is fulfilled. If at all you’re blessed with a daughter, I’m glad to adopt her. You know me have abortion three times... I’m ready to offer whatever you want..., You needn’t hesitate to express... I’m ready to adopt your daughter," said Haritha anxiously.

 

            The couple, Ganesh and Shruthi did not know what to express. They had tension but not happiness.

 

              On an auspicious day, the couple went to the astrologer, Swamy as the couple, husband and wife believed in what he had told them became true in their first issue.

 

            Swamy recognized the couple coming to him, smiling. They came to him with folded hands. He asked them to sit. They had a lot of anxiety in their faces this time.

  

            Swamy examined their fate regarding the next issue. His face was again serious without any smile. When the couple looked at his grim face, their hopes started to vanish slowly.

 

            Ganesh and Shruthi did not lose their hearts. They anxiously waited until the parrot picked up the card.

 

            Swamy, the astrologer let the parrot come out, opening the door of the cage. The parrot came out, picked up a card, gave it to him and went in. He examined the card with full attention and concentration.

 

            The couple was eagerly waiting to listen to the views, told by the astrologer. They had already offered five-hundred rupee note on the plate. They prayed to all gods and goddesses with folded hands.

 

            "I don't want to keep you in the dark...I tell you the truth...It’s as true as sunlight...as beautiful as the lotus. The baby to be born will be unrivalled among all competitors. The baby stands first at the national level and shines brightly at the international level...You as parents are lucky...You’ll be the happiest couple in the world... This time also...the baby isn’t a male...but a female...female issue...She’s an angel descending from heaven to earth through you, the luckiest couple of all...She’s all blessings and benedictions of Goddess Saraswathi," said Swamy, smiling heartily.  

 

            The couple went home. They, however, wished that they would be blessed with a son. They, at the same time, had the idea arising in their minds, hinting them to go for abortion.

 

            Ganesh looked at his daughter Himaja on one side and his mother with all love on the other ... His eyes welled with tears. He did not want his daughter to be away from him.

 

            His wife Shruthi also fixed her glances on her daughter Himaja and her lovely face and comely lisp. She remembered her mother at her sight. Tears started to flow down his cheeks.

 

            They both cried in a high pitch, saying, "This shouldn’t happen at any cost... No abortion...Never..."

 

            They felt sorry for having the thought. They hated to have that thought then and thereafter at any cost.

 

            Shruthi and Ganesh were speechless for a week. One day, they did not know what to do. Shruthi opened her mouth after the gap and said to her husband,

 

            "Let’s go to the priest we generally visit. We urge the priest to study our fate and predict what’ll happen to us in the future. Most of the parents have a son and a daughter... It may happen in our case also," said Shruthi.

 

            "Let’s go...Let’s listen to his views. There’s nothing wrong to have the second opinion," said Ganesh.

 

            They were at the priest's door. They told the priest about their stars, when asked. The priest only said,

 

            "If you perform yagam, there’ll be bright chances for you to be blessed with a son...You’ve to perform yagam...Get ready for that."

 

            The couple performed yagam with all devotion, spending much.

 

            The day came for Shruthi's delivery. Shruthi delivered a female baby against their long-cherished wish.

 

            Immediately Ganesh called the priest and asked him on the phone why he was blessed with a daughter even after performing yagam,

 

            The priest told them clearly that he and wife had not performed yagam with full devotion. As a result, they were blessed with a daughter.

 

            Her neighbour, Haritha, came and begged her to offer their baby to her. She was ready to fulfill the terms and conditions of the couple.

 

            "I offer a crore...ready to offer two crore rupees to you...You can offer your daughter to me," said the woman anxiously.

 

            The newborn baby was looking at her parents...She looked very cute and beautiful, and found its presence delightful to his whole family and relatives. They looked into her pretty eyes...The eyes were telling the tales of her bright future and her unbound love for them but not the tale of two crores, as an offer to her parents by Haritha   

 

            They seriously thought of their lovely younger daughter. They expressed their heart-felt feelings,

            

            "You’re love and affection, beauty and gaiety, peace and wealth... Your love is flawless. You’ll excel all boys in the world."

 

             The thoughts about many boys were coming to their minds, causing endless negative impressions.

 

            The elder daughter, Himaja kissed the baby, as it was cute. The baby in the swing looked at her in full grace.

 

            The parents looked at their lovely baby. It appeared to call them with love and affection. They embraced it one after the other. Their hearts were filled with joy.

 

            They celebrated the function of the naming ceremony of the baby, inviting all the guests nearby. They named the baby Divija as she appeared to have descended from heaven to earth for them as per the astrologer's prediction.

 

            Haritha with her husband Girish was present in the naming ceremony. She understood that the couple would not be ready to offer the baby to her even on her offering two crores...or even more to them. Her face was filled with anger when Ganesh and Shruthi were not ready to offer their daughter to her. They went home in furious looks, referring to the parents as the hosts.

 

            "I adopt a male baby...bringing it from an orphanage...  It’s a challenge. I prefer a male baby to a female baby. He excels your daughter in all respects."

 

            "All the best," said Ganesh and Shruthi.

 

            As per Haritha's words of challenge, she went to an orphanage and brought a male baby. She invited the couple Ganesh and Shruthi and all her guests to the adoption ceremony, celebrating it in a befitting manner.

 

            Haritha was posing before Ganesh and Shruthi as she had a male baby. She referred to the male baby,

 

            "You’re gold... You’re a diamond... None excels you...You’re my special...We call you Rana Pratap," said Haritha and Girish.

 

            All the guests called their adopted son Rana Pratap. All of them enjoyed the dinner arranged by them.

 

           "Hearty congratulations Haritha," said Ganesh and Shruthi.

 

            "If you’d offered your daughter, I wouldn’t have adopted this gem... the gem of gems," said Haritha and Girish smiled happily.

 

            Ganesh and Shruthi did not feel even a bit for the comment. They heartily congratulated Haritha and Girish on the occasion.

                         …                       …                      …                   …               …

 

            When years glided on the wheels of time, Divija grew to go to school at the tender age of three years. She was able to learn many things at the age, as she was very brilliant. Her student career was successful, as she stood first in every class.  She achieved the encomiums of her teachers at all levels.

 

            Success was her principle in life and so she had success at all levels in career. Divija completed her degree, securing distinction. She was the top in the university. In her young age, she did wonders by appearing for the IAS Examination.  

 

            Divija was the topper in the IAS Examination that year. She was the first woman candidate to appear for the examination. Later she faced the interview successfully. The centre appointed her Collector of a district, considering her brilliant career and extraordinary talents.  

 

            As Collector, she was for the welfare of women. There were no incidents of ragging, rapes, and humiliations to women. All women loved her in their hearts.

 

            Divija's elder sister Himaja was also successful in her studies. She completed her medicine. She served as a doctor. She won the respect of the people for her relentless service to the patients.

 

            Pratap, the adopted son of Haritha and Girish was not successful in his studies. He fell into the company of bad friends. He was involved in a case. His case was pending in the court of law. He went to the High Court for justice. When the court verdict did not come in his favor, he approached the Supreme Court. He was expecting the verdict in his favor as he spent a lot.    

 

            Years rolled by to see Divija serving the nation in different capacities. She won acclaim for her remarkable services. All the parties in the nation proposed Divija to be a Presidential candidate in the nation as she was a noncontroversial candidate like Abdul Kalam. She was unanimously elected President of the nation.

 

            Ganesh and Shruthi were happy for their achievements as parents. The parents won lifetime achievement awards for bringing up their daughters well. 

                                            

                    ENGLIT: An International English Literary Journal, VOL: III 2024