Our Mindset Episode 44
The Marathi school went up to fifth grade. I explained my situation to the teacher and requested that Pravin be allowed to sit in as well. There was only a thirteen-month difference between us. All three children from the neighboring house studied there, so Pravin agreed to attend. Since the kids were going to school, my husband said, “You can now walk to the village. I’ll only drop you if you have some urgent work.” I couldn’t go with the girl from the farm because she arrived at three in the afternoon, and by then, my school would be over.
When I visited Tejaswini, she told me, “Vayni, don’t go to class today. A garment factory has started in the village, and they are recruiting women. They will provide free training for two or three months, and then the full-scale factory will begin. They will also offer a monthly salary. Let’s enroll both of us.” She then took me there.
A large hall housed one instructor and four women trainers. Many women had gathered to register. I gave my farm address and thought, “At least I’ll learn tailoring, even if it’s just for stitching blouses at home. And if I work here, I’ll get a monthly salary.” The thought made me happy. I decided to attend the garment factory daily and stopped going to the tailoring class.
Excitedly, I told my husband, “I’m going to work at the garment factory. If I get a good salary, we can settle here permanently.” I had studied up to the seventh grade, but I always wanted to do something. A fixed schedule was given. I thought, “Why buy a sewing machine at home now? Instead, I can use the money my mother gave me to buy a ladies’ bicycle. That way, I can commute to the village daily.” I already knew how to ride a bicycle. I had learned on my father’s 24-inch cycle, falling multiple times but eventually mastering it. When I was in fifth grade, my father had even bought me a ladies’ bicycle.
I told Tejaswini, “Check if anyone in the village has an old ladies’ bicycle for sale. I want to buy one.” She replied, “My friend has one. She got married, and I was planning to take it, but you can have it.”
The next morning, after dropping the kids at school, I went to Tejaswini’s house. She took me somewhere, but I didn’t know whose place we were visiting. I had just gone with her to see the bicycle. It was parked outside under a tree. While Tejaswini went inside, I examined the bicycle. Just then, a voice called out, “Do you want to buy this bicycle?”
I replied, “Yes,” and turned to look. It was Vasant Potaraj. I had known him since childhood—he often visited my uncle. He smiled at me and said, “If you had come to my house, I would have given you a scooter instead of a bicycle. Did your parents think so little of me that they refused my proposal and gave you to that man instead? Your uncle barely has enough to eat, and in the end, he brought you to our village as a tenant.”
His wife intervened, “Don’t speak to her like that. It’s not her fault. She was just a child back then.” She then said to me, “Sit down, I’ll make some tea for you. Don’t take his words to heart.”
I had only heard from my parents that this family had once come with a marriage proposal for me. He then asked, “Did you bring money?”
“No,” I said. “I just came to check the bicycle.”
“Take it,” he said. “Pay me later when you have the money. And tell your parents what I said. They ruined your future. They should have at least chosen a husband worthy of you.”
His wife added, “Take it. No one is using it anyway; it just sits there.”