"He asked me," said Marni to her husband. "What did I do when I wandered through the dirty markets and slums area? And he thinks I'm scavenging trash."
"And, what are you doing there exactly, my wife?" asked Munra. "Why are you wandering around in those places?"
"I'm trying to find information according to what we talked about last night, my dear."
"Aah, okay," Munra nodded. "And, then?"
"Well, I'm telling the truth to that Juragan, my husband. And I did really hope he can help us."
"Everything?"
"Of course not with Aryan's true identity."
"Oh, Gods in Swargaloka… You just startled me by saying that."
"I'm sorry, my husband," Marni rubbed her husband's shoulder. "I didn't mean to give you a heart attack."
"It's okay, I'm fine. Just go on with what you're saying."
"At first," said Marni, "Juragan refused to find Aryan a teacher."
"Of course he did," said Munra. He took a deep breath. "He also refused me when I asked the same thing."
"Of course," Marni let out a short sigh. "The people in the market are the same. Also, those on the beach… all of them made fun of me. But I'm not surprised. After all, who is willing to teach a Candala child to learn how to read and write?"
Munra smiled faintly at his wife. There was a sense of pity from the look in his eyes towards Marni. He reached out his hand, caressed his wife's head and cheeks.
"No matter what happens," Munra said, "we will still find a teacher for Aryan. We definitely will."
Marni tried to smile and tried to look fine in front of her husband even though she was actually crying and screaming in her heart. Yes, about what she had done with the merchant in order to get a teacher for little Aryan.
Marni suppressed the sadness in her chest so that Munra wouldn't see it, not realizing the shameful thing she had done.
"Then," Munra asked his wife. "What did you say to that merchant, my wife, so that he would fulfill your request?"
"Hmm, but, promise me you won't be angry with me, my husband."
Munra smiled widely. "I won't, Marni. Why am I should be angry with you? You are the wife that I love so much. So just tell me, Marni, what is it?"
Marni smiled again to hide the tightness in her chest so that she wouldn't say the wrong thing to her husband.
"I told to Juragan that my husband would find some more fresh grass if he could find a Pandita to teach Aryan."
Munra laughed hearing what came from his wife's mouth, but he quickly stopped his laughter because he didn't want to disturb Aryan who was sleeping on the bamboo divan.
"You must be joking, right, my wife?" asked Munra. "There's no way a guy like him would want to be persuaded with fresh grass."
Yes, of course, that's not true, Marni thought. How could someone like Juragan want to do that just for the sake of fresh grass? In fact, being paid with a lot of coins, he is not necessarily willing.
However, Marni was forced to lie to her husband. She was forced to do that for the future of their adopted son. As long as Aryan can learn to read and write, then any bad thing will definitely be done by Marni.
"But I'm telling you the truth, honey," said Marni. "In fact, Juragan is willing to help find a Pandita, even if it's just a novice Pandita."
"Is that true?" Munra even widened his eyes.
Munra certainly could not believe his wife's words just like that. But, if it turns out to be true, isn't this very encouraging news? he thought.
"Yes," Marni nodded with teary eyes. "Next week, when he will sell his wares to the town, he promises to find a novice Pandita."
"Oh, Marni," Munra then hugged his wife. "O Gods and Goddesses in Swargaloka… thank you."
Munra kissed his wife's forehead again and again.
"It's okay, honey," Munra said. "It doesn't matter if he's a novice Pandita, or whatever… the most important thing is that he can teach Aryan."
Marni nodded again, and the tears rolled down her cheeks. In her husband's arms, Marni is not crying because of the emotion of happiness, but she is crying over what she has sacrificed and what she will sacrifice later to get all of that.
"It's okay, my dear," said Munra while stroking his wife's back. "Please don't cry. I know you have done a lot, and now, I will fulfill your words."
Munra smiled as he cupped his wife's cheek, he wiped the tears on his wife's cheeks, then he nodded.
"Starting tomorrow morning," Munra said confidently. "I will find tons of fresh grass for that merchant."
"But, my husband," said Marni after her crying stopped. "That means you will go to the forests far away from these Vashara."
"Yeah," Munra nodded. "Of course. Otherwise, I definitely won't get any good grass, just like before."
"Then how about Aryan, my dear?" asked Marni. "I'm afraid if you have to take Aryan with you. I…"
Munra rubbed his wife's cheek again with a smile and then shook his head.
"It won't happen," said Munra. "I've decided, I'll just let Aryan be with you at home. This way, I can be more relieved and feel free to look for grass to more distant places."
"Please don't push yourself, honey."
"No, Marni," Munra cupped his wife's cheek again. Look at her with warmth and affection. "You've done your part, and now it's my turn to fulfill the Juragan's request."
Marni bowed with her chest rumbling.
Munra pulled his wife into his arms.
"Come on, honey," said Munra. "It's late, it's time for us to sleep. Tomorrow morning, I have to leave earlier."
Marni nodded with a smile, then a kiss landed on her lips. A kiss from her husband's lips. She feels warmer and more passionate, also, more longer.
***
TO BE CONTINUED ...