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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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