Creator has a great sense of humor. Just like we like to add all different tasting ingredients in our food to match the taste bud of different moods, God I guess created different human beings with different character, different nature and different looks, and tried to create families with so many variations where all the family members had to adjust themselves to each other yet live in harmony.
Vijay and Ratnakumari had wonderful children the eldest Satyamurthy was a brilliant gold medalist in metallurgy from Banaras Hindu University. The second son Surisastry became a geologist from all India school of mines. Third son Chandrasekhar was an excellent singer. Although he qualified as an mechanical engineer but his heart was set on singing and radio programs. Fourth son Krishnamurthy was a quiet serene character good looking boy. He excelled in his academics. Fourth boy Sriniwast was handsome energetic inquisitive brilliant boy. Sixth child Shesharatna was a stunning looking girl, very talented professional singer, winner of many awards for singing and violin recitals.
Last boy Harnath was a mild natured simple frail looking boy who wrote many papers in physics and won many awards.
Far away in Orissa state lived Satya and Padma. They had an eldest son followed by five daughters and the last one a boy again. Eldest son Achyutam was a pampered spoilt son. He had to lift a finger and exhibit a wish and it would be fulfilled. After all he was the first born and that too a son who would carry the family name forward. He was the apple of the eye for the mother and the grandmother Lavanya. He lived in the company of rich spoilt princes and rich sons of rich families. His habits were also accordingly spoilt extravagant spend thrift. According to him money was meant to be squandered and not saved for a rainy day. He took a lot of pleasure in bullying his sisters to prove his authority, when courage had to be shown he believed in having a chicken heart. One day he went out hunting with four of his prince friends. They erected a machan, (a deck) on a tree branch. Tied a goat under the tree, waiting on the deck with guns to hunt the tiger when it came for the goat as a delicious dinner. Just when the tiger came a snake also decided to visit Achyutam.
Achyutam was so afraid he jumped down the deck right next to the tiger. Luckily the tiger was so engrossed in his meal of the goat that he did not notice this unwelcome guest right next to him. Achyutam led a a very colorful life, he had no time to pursue his studies very seriously. Achyutam also had some days where his authority was questioned. One day he took liberty of hitting the frail Rukmini, who fainted with one whack from the strong hands of her brother. Unfortunately Satya was at home at that time. Any other time this whole episode would have been hushed up. On This occasion this tale reached Satya’s ears with all the extra spices added by all the children in the house. Satya was aroused to the zenith of anger at Achyutam. Achyutam realized he was in a bad spot and needs to do something fast to save his skin. He ran out faster than the wind out of the house into the garden but there was not enough time to open the gates and run out. He decided it was safer to climb a coconut tree and hide. Satya could not find him in the garden so he gave up his pursuit and decided to attend to the victimized Rukmini.
Other children could not let this golden opportunity of seeing that bully of a brother being punished. Each one of them had been bullied by him on some occasion or the other. How could they let this golden opportunity slip out of their hand? Each child decided to become Sherlock Holmes and solve the mystery of missing Achyutam. Finally they all spotted him on top of the coconut tree clinging to it like monkey protecting himself from a pack of children who looked like a pack of killer wolves.
Second daughter was a very beautiful girl named Sundari to match her looks. She had a very sad life. Third child Kameswari was tall slim beautiful rebellious girl, who refused to follow the orthodox way of life her mother lived. She became a state hockey player.
Fourth child Rukmini was again a very talented, frail sickly girl; she lived in her own world. She believed in being pampered by her father who doted on her. When Rukmini like all her elder sisters reached teenage had to be married too. Her grandmother Lavanya decided to go to their home town and look for a suitable match for Rukmini.
She finally found the right family of Vijay and Ratnakumari who had a treasure house of talented educated good looking sons. Finally she zeroed on to their second son, who was handsome with a charismatic personality.
Vijay decided to check on the girl so he came on a surprise visit along with a common friend to see the girl, if she was suitable or not his second son Surisastry. When he came to see Rukmini she was going through laundry accounts. This impressed Vijay, who thought a girl who can take care of laundry accounts was capable of taking care of his son. On their return both the friends were discussing the girl. A learned Pandit overheard their conversation came up to them and told them that this marriage will take place no matter what within a week. Sure enough marriage preparations started in full swing, but Satya was not so sure about this marriage, he fought tooth and nail against it with his mother. This was a real verbal clash of the Titans. Even though Satya was a very powerful official in the British government. People who worked under him and the Raja of the state were at their best behavior, manners, words and work ethics in front of him. Even Achyutam lived like a kitten in front of him. Lavanya after all was his mother. Satya had no option but to bow down to her dictates. The other reason was he found Suri Sastry very balanced handsome boy of eighteen. Finally Satya had no reason to decline the alliance and the marriage did take place.
Rukmini’s fears were of different nature. She was worried, she was only thirteen years old ,God forbid if in due course she grew taller than her husband like her sister Kameswari, how would she face the world. Surisastry finished his studies in Due course and became qualified Geologist, got a wonderful job in a reputed central govt. dept. sadly his work place always was in the thick jungles, infested with lions ,tigers and other wild animals. His living quarters were always tents.
Now Surisastry was in a good position to live with his wife Rukmini, who had also grownup. When he came to claim his wife, there was a stiff resistance from the father in law Satya. How could he send his darling daughter Rukmini, who grew up in luxury into jungles to live wild animals as escorts, and tent as living quarters? Surisastry was also strong willed person; he loved his wife and had been dreaming of living with her ever since he was married at the age of eighteen. This unwelcome resistance was not acceptable to him. He used all his charms to persuade his powerful father in law, reasoned with him, when all his persuasion failed he took to his last resort and threatened to go to court to claim his wife. Now Satya had no other option but to relent to his charming son in laws wishes.
Surisastry and Rukmini thus started their married life in the jungles, in the midst of nature, living in tents. Life was wonderful; nature helped them live in peace. Surisastry was busy looking for minerals and Rukmini kept herself busy growing vegetables in her garden, cooking fresh vegetables for her husband. Once in a way they would go to city watch movies.
