Tuesday 27 May 2014

A bubble bursts...(now edited)

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"Shanthi Villa?" the auto (tuk tuk) driver was obviously surprised. His shocked expression frightened me. Why? I asked hesitantly. "No, nothing," he said. "It's just that the house is  deserted  and  I haven't seen or taken anybody there so far."

"Yes, it's 16 years since I was last here.  My mom lives there." I said."Was bedridden from an accident. Now that I can travel I've come  here at last."

 "Good of you to remember your mother," he said.

"Isn't it natural?" I asked. "Anybody else,maybe as you say.But how can one forget one's mother?"

"That's what you and I think. But  not everybody thinks so, Sir" he said. He looked around 30. Too young to be so philosophical, I thought.

"You seem to have experienced it personally," I said. He nodded.
"You've roused my curiosity. Mind sharing it? I asked.

He sighed and started,"I was working on a farm and learned everything about it. Then one day my owner called me and said,"You've done a great job, Chandru. I can't find another as dedicated as you. My daughter who is abroad is calling me to settle down with her. I'm also getting old. I can trust only you to love the farm and look after it as your child,just as I did all these years."
Thus saying, he wrote it all on my name and left. You won't find such a good man as my master, Sir. So I did just as he said and developed it well.

 Then my eldest brother comes to me. "Chandru," he says. "Only you can help me. I can't live without Meera. She haunts me day and night. But you know my income. How will her father, a central government employee give her to me as long as this automobile shop doesn't even provide enough for me?"

 "But I don't have enough in hand, Maruthu. How can I help you?" I ask.
"You have a large farm to support you, mother and your family," he says again and again. Finally I mortgage a portion of the farm and give him the money. He starts a cloth shop and it picks up by and by.

He was just talking of returning the money to me when Logesh, our second brother says that a friend had promised him a government job. But he needed cash immediately for the 'under the table' and 'over the table' business. So Maruthu and I pool up enough cash to take a new loan and we give it to Logesh. Within a year he gets married and then slowly both my brothers disappear without a trace....just like that.

He shook his head and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. A fully loaded lorry passed by, almost grazing against our rickshaw. The auto swayed but Chandru steered it back deftly.
"I'm not in a hurry. Maybe we should stop  here for a while," I suggested.  But he shook his head and continued...

"Eventually the farm goes out of my hand and my mother, wife and 3 month old baby move out into the street.

We were passing by the bridge of a four way. He slowed down. "See this nook between the bridge and the street? I tied a sheet here at this very place for privacy and we lived here - my old mother, my wife, my child and I. Believe it?" He looked  majestic and  lost in thoughts. I tried to imagine him in this place but couldn't. He didn't fit in.

"My mother couldn't bear it. My brothers should have kept her at least. She became mentally affected. My wife gave me the last of  her jewels . I mortgaged them to treat my mother. She's better now but has to take tablets all her life.

"When I was at the hospital I met an old classmate of mine. He's a doctor now. I was embarrassed to see him  right then...tried to escape, but he saw me and waved,hastening towards me.He hugged me and said, "Chandru, I miss you, da. You always had that zeal for life. I remember you whenever life gets tough."

 I couldn't control myself  and the tears started flowing. Shouldn't have done it at that time and place but I just couldn't stop. Only then I realised that I had so much tension in me. Told him my story and he got me this auto - just like that, without any fuss.

"I know you and your principles," he says. "Look after your mother for me. I've eaten so many meals made by her : the unforgettable Susheela Aunty. Take my children to and from school everyday. That'll be your way of paying me back."
 He didn't listen to any explanation. The world has this kind of people too.

We reached Shanthi Vilas, my destination. But by then I remembered something else.
" Susheela Aunty - was your father's name Murugan, by any chance?"
"Yes, of course. But.. but how do you know?"he asked.

" My father's name was Ganeshan. I vaguely remember mother saying that your dad had some misunderstanding with grandfather and got separated. She used to worry about you people." I said.
"So?"
"So welcome home my dear cousin," I say and grab his arms.
                                                                                     
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Thursday 15 May 2014

The Ring

The mother's last wish -

"Come here Ritu," my friend's mother called me to her bedside. "I could not go out and find such a student as Sandosham would have wanted. As you are involved in Social service with village students, you'll be in a position to find a suitable one as he would have liked." Thus saying she placed a small box in my hand and closed her eyes. Her daughter Jackie had just gone abroad after the delivery of her second child and wouldn't be able to come back immediately for  her mother's funeral. So I   humbly free digital photos..net 
 accepted the mother's last wish.

Ten years ago -
I can still see it in my mind's eye. The front door is opened and I step in. The curtain is open and in the inner room is a young man. My friend's mom gives him a small jewellery box.
"Gowri left for her husband's village in a hurry. So she couldn't give it to you herself - told me to give it to you."
He opens it and starts sobbing. The scene looks somewhat private, something emotional. So I think of coming later and try to excuse myself. But my friend and her mother stop me. "Stay," they say. "We are unable to comfort him. See if you can help."

"This is Sandosham, our old neighbour,"  Jackie, my classmate says. "He was an Engineering student. Brilliant. All rounder : if he imagined something, he'd do it. On his farm or at home with his mother. If he thought a gadget would help to make things easier, he'd think about it and within two or three days he'd create one in full working condition. This is the only time he's failed to get what he wanted.

It started when another neighbour's kitten fell into their well. It's owner, a girl cried for help. Sandosh who was passing that way jumped in and rescued the little one.The girl, Gowri was awed by the fact that such a brilliant guy could be so humble and helpful, not hesitant to dirty his clothes or even risk his life.

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When she finished her +2 she consulted him regarding what course she should choose later. And after opting for BSc Physics she'd  ask him for ideas relating to project work and exhibition. Then she did her BEd but in the midst of it her father fell ill and had to be admitted in hospital. With money needed there, she was not able to pay her fees. She stayed at home, looking after her dad. Meanwhile Sandosh heard of it and arranged for the money.

Give and take -
"Pay me back whenever you're able to, if you're so particular," he said.
Once when some rowdies were chasing  Kousalya his younger sister one evening, Gowri picked up a thick stick and gave one of them such a whack that the others ran away. Then Sandosh suddenly lay down with jaundice. Gowri knew just which herbs could bring about a fast recovery. This way with give and take from both sides, the bond between these two grew.


Then Gowri's father got well and came back from the hospital. He disapproved of the relationship right away as Sandosham was of a lower caste. All Sandosh's good qualities did not matter in his eyes. He called a worthless relative of his, arranged for some garlands and asked Gowri to marry him at a nearby temple immediately. When she refused, he picked up his gun and turned towards the door. She hurriedly did as she was told. (In those days children didn't go to police stations and complaints against parents weren't entertained).

The next day she hurriedly told Sandosh what had happened. "My father would do what he had threatened to do,"she said. "How could I let anyone die?" and bursting  into tears, she turned and went away.

" She was referring to me. I've never seen such a noble human as Gowri," Sandosham said, neither among men or among women.
Promise me one thing, Auntie,"he said suddenly to Jackie's mother, wiping his tears.
"Of course son," she said.
"Keep this ring for me and use it to help any needy student, please. I can't bear to see it any more" he said.

That was ten years ago. And this was the ring that was passed on to me now. It seemed heavy because of the responsibility, the sacrifices involved. I sighed, prayed for wisdom and turned  towards my house.