Give a Character sketch of Viswa from novel grandmother's tale by R.K. Narayan.
Answers
My own way. Might be a little longer than the on one on Goodreads.)
Child marriage is still happening in many parts of India as we read and review books like this. R. K. Narayan’s great-grandmother is one such bride. One evening as she is playing with the kids her age in the street she is called home by her mother. Bala (a South Indian girl of age about 10) is told that her marriage has been set with Vishwa (a boy of about 12, still in school). Thus begins Bala’s journey into becoming a woman. Bala and Vishwa are married on an auspicious day and both have no idea what is happening except that now they are husband and wife. Soon, when Bala attains maturity one more ceremony will be held after which she can go to live with Vishwa, until then she is to live with her parents.
However, the young and hot-blooded Vishwa can hardly keep his distance from her. He keeps trying to find a way to converse with his docile bride. One day he sees Bala in her backyard and he tries to have conversation with her, which Bala promptly ignores by asking him to come through the front door if he wants to talk. But young love can only be contained so far. Conversations begins over the wall of Bala’s backyard between the two.
One day, Vishwa comes over the wall just like he always did and informs Bala that he will be going away. ‘Where?’ a very worried Bala asks him. Before he rushes off he only tells her that he is joining the pilgrimage party which is staying across the river and a place’s name where they are going.
Soon, the village comes to know about Vishwa’s disappearance and gossips start about Bala’s fate. Bala continues living her life, like a normal married woman once she attains maturity but oh the village has eyes. Everyone starts different rumors about Vishwa’s apparent death and how Bala’s behavior as a married woman is not honorable. Hence the temple priest goes to Bala’s home to talk with her mother. It only increases Bala’s anger and she packs her bags. She runs out of her home telling her mother that she will find Vishwa and show these people.
Now you know why Bala crossed the village boarders. So does she find Vishwa? Does Vishwa want her anymore? How does her circumstances change her into a woman that she never thought she can be?