Hotel Highway Very Most Famous by Sudha Challa

Author:Sudha Challa [Challa, Sudha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781665707862
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Published: 2021-11-05T04:00:00+00:00

SHANTA

Shanta, who had been busy lighting lamps around the Hanuman idol in the restaurant approached Radha, a radiant smile upon her face. She was a very beautiful woman, tall, lean, with an effulgent personality, thick dark hair flowing down to her hips, and this afternoon she was resplendent in a red silk saree, the vermillion dot upon her forehead, larger than on most days, a tuberose garland around her neck, jasmines adorning her hair. Her face was iridescent, her large eyes bright and Kohl lined, her perfect lips enhanced by the red lipstick she wore. She does look like a goddess, thought Radha. At the time of the furor over the Hotel’s name, when Kamalnath put up the statue of Lord Hanuman in the restaurant, Shanta began to light little oil lamps around the deity and decorate the deity with strings of jasmines and other flowers grown around her home.

Shanta’s father had been one of the first priests to serve in the Hanuman temple. She was the youngest of five siblings: three brothers and two sisters. The oldest, Shanta’s sister, had married when Shanta was still very young, the three brothers marrying later and finding jobs in the city. None of the brothers had shown any interest in the priesthood, deeply disappointing Shanta’s father. What really caused her father’s heartbreak though, was Shanta returning home after she had been ill -treated in her husband’s house. Her three miscarriages and her own depression following these had all led to her being subjected to mental and physical abuse and treated as an outcast by her husband’s family. Her husband was making plans to marry again, so she had returned to her parents’ house. Her father had been ailing for some time, unable to carry on his priestly duties. Shanta took it upon herself to care for her parents, taking them to the doctors when necessary. The three brothers did not contribute to the care of the parents and stayed away, afraid to get involved. Shanta’s sister had died several years ago and was survived by her son and daughter. Both Shanta’s parents died within seven years of her return. They left their house for her, aware that it was her only refuge. There was a small extension of the house that could be rented, and Shanta lived off the rent.

Kamalnath, who had previously shunned Shanta as a potential threat to his business, fearing that the presence of a woman who behaved strangely would keep the customers away, had a transformation which was in no small part attributable to his own experience of being the object of ridicule due to the restaurant’s idiosyncratic name. Shanta could come and eat in the restaurant for free anytime she wanted, Kamalnath declared, and she could mingle with the patrons if she so desired.

Around this time, a rumour began as a small whisper that Shanta was a reincarnation of Anjana Devi, the mother of Lord Hanuman. Over time, the whisper turned into a full-throated cry that metamorphosed into a certainty.

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