Karthika Jeyshtha was a beautiful young lady all of 19 years old. She lived with her parents and younger brother in Boston, USA. The family hailed from Southern part of india and had moved to the USA 10 years back, when Karthika’s dad had landed up with a job In Google LLC (www.google.com).
It was an extremely close-knit family. As in most Indian homes, Karthika’s mother was strict with both her kids, but Karthika’s dad would pamper them both crazy. Karthikas brother was in 10th grade and mother was a homemaker.
Karthika was a timid but studious child. Her best friend after her family was her books. Her dream was to become a cardiothoracic surgeon and help the unfortunate patients in third world countries, who lack the best medical care.
Karthika’s parents were proud of her and happy to see the diligent way with which she conducted her life. The icing on the cake was the recent scholarship she got to join Medicine at Boston University (Chobanian & Avedisian School of (Medicine) https://g.co/kgs/BPkFBa), the first institution in the world to formally educate female physicians.
Being in USA, Karthika’s parents ensured that the family is close to the Indian diaspora in Boston. The family would attend all the functions, Indian festivals and Indian big fat weddings. Karthika was never inclined to go to any such gatherings due to her timid and shy nature, but her mother insisted that Karthika should attend social occasions, mainly for two reasons; one to overcome her timid nature and the second is to have a connection and understanding of her roots. As mother was boss, karthika had no choice but to tune in to her mothers dictum. Whenever family had to attend one such gathering, Karthika dad, just to ease her out, would take her and her brother to the famous ‘four seas’ ice cream shop, in
Centerville, Massachusetts (https://www.fourseasicecream.com/). Here the three some would take the Hurricane challenge. Hurricane is a monster sundae, the famous offering of the ice cream shop. Two brownies, two bananas, and 16 scoops of ice cream make up this enormous sundae. In addition you will also have to relish on three toppings of your choice, four maraschino cherries, hot fudge, and a generous amount of whipped cream.
If the entire sundae is eaten in 30 minutes or less, one could get it for free and also take home a free t-shirt and a celebratory plaque. If one failed to finish the entire sundae, then you’ll have to pay $55 just for the thrill of taking up the challenge. Like many other people Karthika, could never complete the challenge as halfway through she was embarrassed and felt shy and hence gave it up. Where as kartikas brother and dad had won the challenge a few times.
On March 6th 2022, Kartika’s family had to attend a wedding of her cousin, who was her senior in the medical school. Her cousin was a bully. Kartika was never comfortable around her and hence was not in favour of attending the wedding, but because of her mother she had no option other than to join the family. The wedding was in Boston Marriott Burlington (https://blog.shaadishop.co/2020/07/28/boston-marriott-burlington/) Burlington, MA.
The venue of the wedding was near about 30 km from karthika’s home, the family decided that they will have to start early the next day, so that they can reach the venue by the time of ‘muhurtham’. Karthika’s dad was not able to join them, as he had a meeting to attend at 10:00 a.m, but promised to reach the venue post lunch.
A day before the wedding, Karthika had gone to her dad’s office and had told him that she was not feeling good about going to the wedding and she wanted to stay back home. Though her dad tried to talk it out with his wife, Karthika’s mom was not convinced and wanted Karthika to come for the wedding. That evening Karthika’s dad came home early and had taken her on a long drive to her favourite ‘four seas’ ice cream shop. While relishing her favourite flavours of ice-cream Karthika and her dad had a long ‘chit chat’ about nothing in particular but everything under the sun.
The father and daughter duo had met an old man in the ice cream shop, the old man had just won the hurricane sundae challenge, Karthika affectionately called him Baba. Karthika’s dad invited the old man home, Baba promised to visit them soon, Karthika could not stop her amusement and asked baba, imspite of his age, how could he gobble up the entire Hurricane Sundae, for which Baba replied that he won the hurricane sundae challenge because he had no fear of failure and was not conscious of people’s perception of him and had the conviction of not 1ppleaving anything midway. Then laughing aloud he told her that the most important reason for him to win the hurricane ssundee challenge was because he was Hungry and loved sundaes. All the three had a hearty laugh and also spent some quality time as they walked along the beach.
Before bidding adieu to Karthika and her dad, Baba told Karthika a basic tenet of life, that the most important gift that one can give oneself, is to be fearless and have an unflappable attitude of self worth under all circumstances. Baba also gifted Karthika the t-shirt and a celebratory plaque, which he had just won in the Hurricane Sundae challenge.
Karthika felt an instinct, connect with Baba and his words stayed with her. Karthika had noticed something very strange, when Baba bid them goodbye and drove away, Karthika and her dad could make out only two people’s footprints, but the threesome, Karthika, her dad and baba had just traversed the path. Though karthika’s dad had an explanation, that maybe the wind or the water had wiped the third person’s footprint away. Karthika was not convinced and it remained an open-ended question in her mind.
While returning back home, Karthika was more at ease and felt more confident. She slowly put her arms around her dad and gave a peck on his cheek and told ‘I love you dad’. The father smiled at her and kissed her on her forehead.
Karthika then leaned on to his shoulders and went to sleep.
Next day as planned, Karthika, her brother and mother drove to the wedding venue. At the entrance a bunch of traditionally dressed beautiful young girls sprinkled rose water and put a tilak of sandalwood paste. The bride’s father was in charge of welcoming the guests and he promptly directed Karthika and her mother to the room where bride was getting ready for the big event of her life and karthika’s
Brother joined the young boys crowd for a fun time.
The venue was astounding where everything exhibited grandeur, glitter and affluence. The venue, decorated with a floral theme, set the tone and tenor of extravagance, happiness and joy.
Roses, jasmine, marigolds, carnations, gerberas spaced out with imported flowers like hortensia, calla lilly bulbs,hypericu Berries, moth orchids,Cymbidiums orchids, Tulips, Fuji mums, lily of the inces to name a few, arranged in an entire floral wall or creatively interlaced with bouquets of flowers lapped in Italian ruscus and gypsophila added grandeur and life to the ceremony. Importantly detailing was kept in mind with nothing out of place and hence, the wedding venue
adorned merriment and harmonious spectacle.
Karthika loved the concept of marriage. as it is the coming together of not just two people, but also two different families. She hoped one day she would marry the man of her dreams and live the life of splendour and success.
Karthika was more at ease at the wedding venue, as Baba’s words of being fearless and having conviction about oneself was her ‘mind mantra’
for the moment. She also was more comfortable and confident talking with her cousin and her friends.
Everything was going perfect and all the guests had a great time, among others there was one lady guest who identified herself as the distant aunt of Karthika’s cousin, her name was shantamma. She was a lady with oomph! She was cut loose, when it came to talking about the first night and love making. She was detailing to karthika’s cousin about sex and the nitty gritty of the act. It seemed that this lady had an overdose of sexlife and loved the act. Karthika was not interested and felt uncomfortable in listening to shanthamma seductive speech and showed a slight displeasure and moved away from the crowd. Santhamma being a very egoistic female, took offence to karthika’s behaviour and felt insulted. She wanted to outrage Karthika’s dignity in some way. Shantama took out a kamasutra condom packet, which was readily available in her bag and dropped it in karthika’s handbag without anyone noticing her shameless act. When everyone assembled at the wedding hall, Shanthama asked Karthika for her handbag, Karthika never gave her handbag to anybody as it was a gift from her nanu (grandfather), when she joined the medical school. Her grandfather was a retired school headmaster and a hardcore educationalist and was thrilled about his granddaughter’s achievements, hence he brought her Louis Vuitton handbag (https://in.louisvuitton.com/eng-in/products/onthego-east-west-nvprod4450089v/M46653) the world’s top luxury handbag brand. Karthika Politely denied, giving her handbag to shanthamma, but when shanthamma ,insisted that she wanted to have a close look at the bag, everyone in the crowd, told Karthika that she should not act pricy as shanthamma wanted to just inspect the bag, as it was a Louis Vuitton bag. On seeing the commotion Karthika’s mother unaware of what was in store for her daughter, interferiored and ordered Karthika to give her bag to shanthamma. Karthika had to oblige. Shanthamma acted as though she was amused at holding the Louis Vuitton bag, she started inspecting the bag in and out, nephew minutes with an expression of complete disgust, shanthamma took out the packet of condom which she had intelligently placed in karthika’s handbag and yelled at karthika’s mother and told her that what kind of an upbringing was she giving to Karthika, as at the age of 19 she had turned a sex maniac and had condom, even when she had come for a wedding. Suddenly the entire crowd assembled in the wedding hall, started opinionating Kartthika’s character. Karthika’s mother was in tears and brother was completely dumbstruck, both of them were sure of Kartika’s character and completely convinced that she was not a person of that sort, but were not sure of how to handle the situation, as it was hundreds of guests pitched against three of them.
Karthika was completely appalled at the situation and did not understand what exactly conspired, it took her few minutes to gauge the gravity of the situation, once fully aware of what was going on around her, she went few steps back, took a moment of silence, remembered her dad and Babas wise words of being fearless and having unwavering faith in oneself, Karthika roared out as a lioness. grabbed the packet of condom and her precious handbag from shanthamma’s hands and declared to everybody present there, that even if she was using the condom it was nobody’s business to question her, only her parents and immediate family had the right to judge her and her character. She further added if she wants to dig deep into the issue, she can ask for a CCTV footage, but for her it was not necessity to prove her innocence
to the guests assembled in the hall. She made it a point to put it across that her academic achievements were far superior and could not be possible if she was a sex maniac and even if she was, she was clever enough to keep the packet of condom in secrecy and not a dumbo to make a public display of her sexual needs and desires. Karthika further thundered, that by instinct she knew who had put the condom packet in her handbag and why, but did not want to go any further on it as another woman’s dignity and respect would be hurt and her upbringing would not allow her to take that extreme step.
The sheer convection with which Karthika spoke, left the horde of guests bowing their heads in shame. Surprisingly, the just married couple cheered and clapped for Karthika’s gallantry, the bride hugged Karthika and told her how proud she was of her little cousin. Karthika’s mother and brother hugged her tight, karthika’s mother was so proud of the way her daughter handled the situation, she told her thank you ‘kanna’ and gave a peck on her cheek. Karthika’s dad had come to the venue, when Karthika was roaring in her defence. Her dad was so amazed to see Karthika’s newself, overpowering with self confidence. He stood still, enjoying his little princesses’ word of wisdom to all. When Karthika saw her dad, she ran up to him and hugged him tight. Her brother and mother followed her. Tears of gratification flowed down karthika’s cheeks, her dad wiped her tears and told her that she was just perfect. The bride’s mom and dad came to Karthik’s dad and apologised for the furor. The family was about to leave, when Karthika gave a look of revulsion to shanthamma, everyone’s eyes in the wedding hall followed karthika’s gaze and rested on shanthamma. By the awkward and chagrin look on shanthamma’s face, it was evident who was the culprit. But no one told her anything, as Karthika had made her point loud and clear.
While returning back home, karthika and her family decided to go to her favourite ‘four seas’ ice cream shop. This time to her family’s complete disbelief, Karthika won the Hurricane Sundae challenge. Karthika’s dad wanted to share his happiness with Baba, as he understood that the makeover of his little one, was much to do with Baba’s encouraging words. He tried his best to reach out to him, but could not. Though Karthika was disappointed she knew one day, she will meet Baba and gift him the
t-shirt and a celebratory plaque, which she had won in Hurricane Sundae challenge.
Disclaimer : all characters and incidents in the story are purely imaginative and has no resemblance with any person living or dead. The story was penned with the aim to communicate a basic tenet of life, that under any circumstance it is important to have fearless and unwavering faith in oneself.