Page:Masani - Gandhi's story.pdf/21

Rh about Harishchandra. For days after that he acted each scene to himself over and over again. “I must try to be like Harishchandra and suffer endless hardships for truth,” he told himself.

Now Mohan came from an old-fashioned and orthodox family and, when he was only a child, his father married him to a girl of his own age. Her name was Kasturbai. She was a sweet and simple girl. Mohan liked getting married only because everybody made a fuss of him and there was feasting and fireworks, but later on when he grew older he was to realize what an evil custom such child marriages were. Mohan's elder brother and a cousin were married at the same time, as a marriage in a Hindu home costs a lot of money and it was cheaper to have three weddings together.

The marriage took place in Mohan's former home town, Porbandar, and the entire family had to go there some days ahead to make preparations. Kaba Gandhi, however, had important work and was delayed in Rajkot until three days before the marriage. In those days the journey from Rajkot to Porbandar took five days. Mohan's father had to do it in half the time in order to be on time for the wedding. He had therefore to drive very fast, and nearing Porbandar his coach toppled over and he was badly injured. But of course the wedding could not be put off and Kaba Gandhi had to attend it bandaged all over.