House of Cards Read Online Free Page B

House of Cards
Book: House of Cards Read Online Free
Author: Sudha Murty
Pages:
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fun of his profession.He thought, ‘She is a careless young girl who is exercising her power because she is from a well-to-do family. I don’t want to get into it. I have come here for a specific purpose—to deliver a package, inquire about Champa Bai and report back to my professor. That’s what I’ll do and then leave quickly.’
    A few minutes later, they were passing the Hanuman temple. Mridula was walking ahead of Sanjay. She was worried about what Sanjay would say to her father while Sanjay was wondering why this girl was going in the same direction as him.
    At last, they reached Bheemanna’s house. Bheemanna was sitting in the veranda. Sanjay asked, ‘Who is Mr Bheemanna?’
    Bheemanna got up and said, ‘I am.’
    ‘I want to meet Champa Bai Kamitkar.’
    ‘Oh, she has gone to Naragund.’
    ‘I am Sanjay Rao, a doctor from Bombay. My professor Dr Jog sent me here to deliver a package.’
    Bheemanna was interested in the new visitor. He said enthusiastically, ‘Why are you standing outside? Come here and sit down. Don’t feel shy. Champa Bai will be back in an hour. You can wait here.’
    Then Bheemanna looked at his daughter. ‘Why are you standing there like a stranger? See, a doctor has come home. How was the wedding?’
    Before Mridula could answer, Bheemanna continued, ‘Sanjay Rao, Mridula is my daughter. She had gone to her friend’s wedding in Hubli. Surekha and she were classmates and I have known Surekha’s father for a long time. Mridula, please make two cups of strong tea for us.’
    Mridula went inside and, within a few minutes, brought out two cups of tea. She was smiling. Sanjay took the tea and gave the package to Bheemanna. He said, ‘I think I will go back now. My train is tonight. Kindly give this to Champa Bai.’
    ‘No, you can’t go like this. You must eat dinner with us. I’ll make sure that you reach the railway station on time. Youare Chandrakant’s student and he’s my good friend. How can I send his assistant back without a meal? What will he think? What will our Champa Bai think?’
    Sanjay felt uncomfortable. He said, ‘No, I will go back. I can’t spend so much time here.’
    ‘You won’t get bored in our village. You must see the Hanuman temple, the big lake and our medicinal garden. Time will fly. Mridula, please get dinner ready. Sanjay and I are going for a stroll in the village and we’ll come back soon.’
    Bheemanna made his way out, knowing that Sanjay had no choice but to follow him. Sanjay had never met such an open, straightforward and friendly man and didn’t know how to react. Luckily for Sanjay, Bheemanna started chatting about Mridula. ‘Our Mridula is intelligent. We stay in this remote village and are finding it difficult to find an educated groom for her. My immediate circle consists only of farmers.’
    ‘You can take Dr Jog’s help.’
    ‘Yes, you’re right, but it has been more than ten years since Chandrakant came here and Mridula prefers a boy from Karnataka. We have searched for boys, but some of them felt that Mridula is neither a doctor nor an engineer. Some she herself did not like. Our Mridula says, “I don’t mind marrying a man with less money. I can also work. But the boy should be good-natured.” She thinks differently from us.’
    Suddenly, Sanjay remembered Budansabi and asked, ‘Does Mridula know anything about medicine?’
    ‘Yes, she has had medical training. We don’t have a hospital here. So she gives tetvac injections, helps in vaccination camps and takes care of people. She gives excellent first aid too and is of great help to the village women.’
    By this time, they were back in front of Bheemanna’s house and found that Champa Bai had returned. Sanjay talked to her and gave her the package. He looked for Mridula but did not see her anywhere. He couldn’t believe that less than twenty-four hours ago, he had met a beautiful girl who had enchanted him thus.
    After Sanjay returned from Hubli, he daydreamed

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