Venugopal entered into his room and latched the door. He knelt down in front of one of the four walls. Direction to a side to kneel down was not important. God should be everywhere!

Now he should pray. He could not pray louder, others will hear. He could not pray for more time, they will wait for him. His prayer should wake God at once like a wake-up alarm, and the God should do favour to him immediately. He had not made any arrangement for his prayer. But it is the need of the hour at any cost!

Now he was just thirty-two years old. He lost his father last year. His father Somasundaram passed away in an unexpected sudden accident. He was not a government employee; He was not a wealthy man; he was working as an amateur painter. His mother Meenatchi was just a home maker.

Venugopal’s sister Ranjitha was just four years younger to him. Hence, she was on her twenty-eight now. Only one sister, but was not able to settle in her life. She had completed post-graduation degree. She was working in a garment company nearby.

Venugopal started working in various companies, after his graduation and earned bread for his mother and sister. He was not able to save anything for her sister’s marriage. His father was a genuine worker and worked sincerely all the time. His income and Venugopal’s income did not make enough money for Ranjitha’s marriage. Three years they were trying to get a groom for her. All the grooms demanded more dowry. And they asked them to take charge of the wedding expanse too.

When years were passing by, Venugopal became nervous to face Ranjitha. But Ranjitha told him, that she would pass her entire life as spinster. Ranjitha used to pray well. Meenatchi too. But Venugopal was not like them. He was not used to pray often. His mother was still saying that ‘God will help’. Venugopal got frustrated once and shouted at his mother saying,

“Then call your God to come and marry her, without getting dowry.”

Meenatchi, Somasundaram and Ranjitha were stunned at his shout and his father just grinned. What else he could do?

On the same day, he asked Ranjitha in private, whether she had fallen in love with anybody? Her answer gave him a shock! She said ‘NO!’. But he did not express his disappointment to her on the spot.

His mother was praying to God, His father was praying to God and Ranjitha was also praying to God. The only one who was not praying to God was him.

To him, the ‘Good God’ should help good people. Ranjitha was a good girl, beautiful, brilliant and active. She might have got many proposals from guys around there, but she was holding her mind with family and prayers, thus she would have not fallen in love with anybody. But the ‘Good God’ did not help her to settle her life!

Venugopal often argued with his father and mother and even with Ranjitha, that, God should prove his presence only by helping those who pray to him. If that God, when not listening to the prayers, why should we pray then?

His mother and father would say to him, that, if he too pray, the God will listen to the prayer. Venugopal busted out laughing.

He asked, “Did God say that he would listen to Venugopal’s prayer only? If so, then, you three stop praying to God, and let me pray. If he hears my prayer, then I will accept your God.”

His father got angry at once and shouted at him, “If you don’t want to pray to God, go to hell! But don’t kindle our God. He is always good and he does everything in favour of us. Move out of my sight!”

Now Venugopal recalled everything that happened in the past. Last week Manikandan's uncle told him on the road, that a groom of about thirty years, wants to meet Ranjitha.

He said, “Mr. Rajasekar works in a transport company as an assistant manager and earns handsome money. He has got an offer to go abroad soon, and wants to get married. He wants to fly with the new bride, and settle there. In a second circle he is a relative to me too. He may expect some gold and some cash, I will reduce to a minimum as what you have in your hands, and the marriage expense will be on their side.” He added that the groom wants to meet Ranjitha on that Saturday evening.

He accepted and went to his office, and unexpectedly Mr. Sathasivam approached him, and took him to the canteen and said, “Dear Venu, you know that I am a widower with two little kids. You know my wife passed away due to her illness. I tried a lot to save her but I couldn’t. Six months have gone and I am fed-up with my children and the office works. I am not able to concentrate on my works as well as the children. You have lost your father and you are struggling to get a groom for your sister, don’t misunderstand me, if you wish, I will marry your sister without any dowry at all. Let me take all the expanses for the marriage. What do you say?”

Venugopal was not able to answer him ‘no’, because, if he loses this offer, Ranjitha will be a spinster forever. If Rajasekar rejected Ranjitha, there would be no other option than Mr.Sathasivam. Venugopal gave a blurred look at him. Mr.Sathasivam continued, “Ok, then, Let me come your home on this Saturday to meet your sister!”

“No, not on Saturday… sir” yelled Venugopal.

“Then?”

“Come on Sunday sir… evening… please!”

He closed his eyes and took a long breath. He started talking to the God, “Oh my God, first of all I apologise for whatever I had said about you. I mocked you, I kindled you and I did not believe in you so far. Now I have totally changed. I believe in you that this groom will accept my sister without any demand, if you wish. This is the lost chance to my sister to get a right groom. If she misses this groom, her life will be in tragedy. I know you will fix this groom for her. I will do whatever you want me to do hereafter. It’s my request my God, please fix this groom for Ranjitha. Please, please, please, please…”

How long he had been begging ‘please’ to God, he did not know, when he got up from his knelt position and opened the door, his mother asked him, “When did you come back Venu, I was looking at the front door, I didn’t see you coming in?”

Venugopal did not understand what she was asking, and before he asked questions to clear his doubt, Ranjitha came running to him and hugged him with smile and tears, saying, “Thanks, anna, for you had fixed this marriage at last.”

“I… I fixed? The marriage?”

“You accepted for all their demands, and assured them that you will bear the marriage expanses too…”

“What? Did I?...”

His mother came in between them and said, “Venu, why are you sweating now? On seeing the groom, you were impressed much and you were very happy, till they moved out. Tell me, how will you manage all the expanses? Even when Manikandan sir reduced their gold demand, you increased five sovereign extra that made them very happy.”

Venugopal’s confusion went on a high pitch. ‘What had happened here? The groom’s family had come and met Ranjitha and went out. I hadn’t seen that groom’s face, but they are saying that I was there! That means? That means? That means?’

Venugopal sat on a chair and closed his eyes to say ‘thanks’ to God!

.    .    .