Thursday, March 30, 2017

Turning the world into a joyful place

 Shanmugam sat on the step of the temple tank seeking peace for his troubled mind. He had no job and was eating for the last few days  the prasad whenever given in the temple. Despite the cool breeze from across the tank, he was restless and sweating. The noise of vendors, the chatter of devotees and the laughter of playful children around a carousal irked him. He was also feeling hungry but had no money.
He was startled when he felt a soft touch on his back and turned to see a girl of five years sobbing inconsolably. She could not tell where her parents were or where her house was. He could sense people were looking uneasily at him talking  with a well-dressed girl but he had no mind to leave the girl stranded and vulnerable. 
Before considering the option of leaving her at police outpost, he searched the pocket of the girl and luckily found a slip with address. The girl in the meanwhile tugged his shirt and showed the balloon vendor with colourful balloons. He searched his pockets to find no money to his dismay and then unrolled the sleeves of his torn shirt and found a crumpled five-rupee note to his joy. The girl started smiling in glee as she held the big pink balloon in her tiny hand.
Though the house was near, he thought it prudent, to take the child by auto to avoid skeptical glances. The driver after initial hesitation agreed when Shanmugam explained. The girl speedily ran into the arms of her anxious grandmother screaming “patti” and turned to say Ta-Ta with a beaming smile to Shanmugam who was watching her along with the driver from the gate. Evidently the parents were still tracing the child as they were not seen.
He had forgotten for a moment the auto driver looking at the happy reunion of the girl with her family and turned to see the  driver waiting patiently. Shanmugam quietly unwrapped his only earthly possession and gave the wrist watch to the driver. The driver looked with disbelief at the man and declining the watch said “Get in.I have been watching you from the temple area and it is rare to see kind hearted people like you. I noticed you did not also ask the old woman any money for the efforts you had taken. Come on, you look hungry and let us have some tiffin in a hotel. Keep the watch with you. By the way, can you drive an auto? Otherwise, I can teach you in a week.”
Shanmugam suddenly felt his heart light with no worries and the world a joyful place to live in. 

Friday, March 24, 2017

Murari’s revenge

Murari walked the long stretch from the desolate railway station to his village. It was sweltering hot with not a blade of grass moving. He could see no cattle grazing or birds flying. Perspiring heavily, he took the water bottle from his bag only to find it empty. He threw it away and looked around in frustration. He knew from the familiar scene he was almost near the village that he had left five years back in anger and humiliation. The anger had not died down but still simmering inside waiting for the revenge to soften it. He could gather the guts to avenge only now. He sat on the bench of a tea stall on the outskirts of the village to have tea before proceeding further
As he entered the village, he started trudging with a deliberate limp to mask his identity towards his old house to find the hedge between his house and the adjacent Bola’s house had been removed and the whole space enclosed by a common boundary wall. His house, a small tiled structure in the vast ground that was adequate for his wife and two boys stood undemolished but the cattle shed had been expanded with many cattle in it.
Trouble started when Bola cast his covetous eyes on his land. He wanted it to make one large ground along with his to start an akhada. He tempted him with a good price but when Murari declined telling that it was a family property coming from several generations, Bola started threatening him. He was a wicked man with several criminal cases of intimidation, assault, cheating, rape and land grabbing against him. He had managed to stay out of law enforcement due to his clout with local MP as his sidekick. He became insistent that Murari part with the property and when rebuffed he warned that his family would pay one day for his adamancy. Murari ignored the veiled threat
Till one day, he came to rue for not judging correctly the extent of Bola’s greed and cruelty. He returned home one evening from the fair in the adjacent village to find to his great horror his children lying outside the house shot dead and wife lying dead semi naked inside the house with deep cuts by knife across her face and several places on her body indicating much resistance before being violated.
Shocked he ran to Bola’s house screaming incoherently and mad in rage at the enormity of the crime. He saw several of Bola’s henchmen in the compound. Bola came out instantly and denied any knowledge of the gruesome killing or having heard any noise and commiserated with Murari at the tragedy. Murari could see through the smirk on his face his false pretensions and knew who the culprit was. He swore to himself in the name of his honour that he would avenge one day the death of his family.
Five long grueling years had passed by and he was at last back at the village with revenge still gnawing his heart. He saw someone sitting inside the porch in Bola’s house with his face partially covered by a pink towel and the eyes with sun glasses. Murari involuntarily felt for the country weapon on his side and moved closer with confidence towards the gate to get a clearer view of the man. Murari was sure that his own beard, his limp and unkempt hair would not give him away. He had also grown thinner in these five years.
 “Hey, who are you and why are you standing there? What do you want? shouted the man from the porch. Murari could recognize the gruff voice with no difficulty.
“I am looking for one Murari who used to live here. He is a distant relative of mine,” replied Murari.
“Öh, oh. Don’t you know that he left this place year back along with family after selling his house? He was not making much money from agriculture and went in search of better prospects. Poor man, he was a good person,” said the man from the porch.
“Any idea where they have gone?” asked Murari
“No, he did not leave any information with anyone about his new place,” said the man.
“Thank you. I am unlucky to miss my relative. I will be on my way,” said Murari as he walked away.
There was silence for a while and the man from the porch asked one of his men to see whether the visitor was visible. The man went near the gate craned his neck and peered both sides of the road carefully as it was dusk already. He turned to the man in porch and said the man had gone and was not to be seen.
The man sprang up throwing away his pink towel and hailed his family to come out of the house. The men not knowing why the master was happy joined in the laughter much like Gabbar Singh’s men. Bola turned to his wife and said, “I knew it was Murari. The chaiwala Munni rang me up saying that one-man resembling Murari was walking towards our house with a limp. So I covered my face, had our men standing outside to scare him and asked you people to remain inside. Come on, let us celebrate our good luck.”
As Bola, his wife and two children of his danced their way to the gate and peered outside, Murari popped up suddenly from behind the side wall and as he put his hand on the side pocket he said “Lucky I am, that you celebrated your escape a bit too early. I had hidden myself inside the well outside the wall and knew you would come out but never expected the whole family. I have been waiting for this day for five long years. I thank God for my good fortune”
The henchmen who started crowding towards the gate fell back as Murari avenged the murder of his wife and children but spared the Bola’s wife and her children as he felt he had no quarrel with them. He did not care for his life anymore and started walking whistling a Sholay tune loudly. He felt lighter in his heart and better as a human as he walked with a spring in his step. The men stood back half perplexed and half afraid to follow him.


Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Pavitra perplexed

“How is he doing?” Pavitra heard from behind as she was busy changing the IV fluid after observing the vital signs from the various monitors.
“One moment doctor,” she replied as she checked whether the fluid was flowing properly. “He is stable and all vital signs are normal, “she said
“Good” said Dr. Mukundan as he took the file from her hand and observed the drowsy patient for a minute. “Continue the same medicines till I review tomorrow,” he said as he moved to the next patient with Pavitra in tow.
It is a small but reputed cardiac care hospital headed by Dr. Mukundan who had earned his stripes by studying and working in a renowned American university and its hospital. He was still young in his early thirties and was considered a leading cardiologist. Pavitra has been working as a nurse for the last five years and only a year back was posted in the critical care ward after some intense training. Ever since she interacted with Dr. Mukundan in the ward at least twice a day.
Being a conscientious, hardworking and intelligent nurse with gentle and soft spoken nature, she had won the confidence and esteem of the doctor. She was the only one amongst the nurses who got an ad hoc increase in pay a few months back triggering a mischievous gossip among the nurses within her ear shot that the doctor had a romantic interest in her.
What crap she thought to herself, but felt inwardly happy though she felt that the relationship with doctor was formal and professional. However, in the nights while on bed, she could not resist thinking of him, his tall physique, handsome face and friendly demeanour. She even started wondering whether there could be a truth in the gossip as otherwise why she should be singled out for a raise in salary. But, she was quick to smother such thoughts when she remembered her family of mother and younger brother in college dependent wholly on her salary and that marriage was out of question till her brother completed his education and got a job. She was nearing thirty but still looked young with a very charming face and lissome figure.
A week later as Dr. Mukundan was leaving the ward, he asked Pavitra to follow him with a couple of files. This was the first time he was asking her to see him in his room. Could it be he wants to express his feelings, she wondered setting butterflies flutter in her stomach. Her cheeks turned red as she hurried behind him with a couple of patients’ files.
“Sit down Pavitra. I have been wanting to talk to you in private for some time Let me first tell you that I am highly satisfied with you. As a nurse you have an admirable combination of knowledge of your work your functions in the ward, nursing skills, right attitudes, and the noble values of treating your work as a service. The feedback from patients has been good. I am very fortunate to have you in my team and wish to take it forward to a personal level. I know you have a mother and brother in college and how much your salary means to the family. I have spoken about you to my mom and she would like to meet you. Can I pick you up at 5pm tomorrow?  Wear a good sari,” he said with a smile.
That night she could hardly sleep. She did not breathe a word to her mom and waited to see further development She started thinking that this could be a prelude to happy events to follow.
He came at the appointed time and took her in his car to his palatial house. As she entered, she saw an old lady with kindly eyes seated on a wheel chair. The lady smiled at Pavitra and beckoned her by name to come near her. She said “Just as Mukund told me, you look really beautiful and I have taken an instant liking for you.”
Embarrassed Pavitra looked at Mukund who intervened to say” Pavitra, you see my mother is an invalid. She needs someone to assist her and provide her company when I am not there. I know how efficient you are and decided to bring you here.” He paused to see her reaction.
This was a hammer blow to Pavitra crashing all her dreams. Her anger and frustration grew inside her as she felt cheated. When she stood dazed without replying, Mukund prodded her “Do you have any objection to being a companion to my mom? Be assured that you will find this role much more rewarding and comfortable than your present job.”
Pavitra did not know what to say to this unexpected development but realized he was cunning. She wished to run away from this treacherous man. She put her handkerchief to her mouth   and turned towards the door to hide her tears.
Mukund’s mom who was watching all the time with a grin quickly intervened to say “Stop joking, Mukund, why do you find pleasure in teasing her and playing with her emotions? She must have grown lot of her dreams. Do not ever shatter them even in jest.”
She drew Pavitra close to her and said “He is always playful. He wants you to come here as my daughter-in-law and give me your good company. You can still be associated with the hospital.Do not worry about me as I have many servants to take care of me. Ever since he set his eyes on you in the clinic, he has fallen flat for you. Would you please agree to marry him? I will talk to your amma and do the needful. They would be fully taken care of. Have no worry on that score”
When she saw Mukund watching her eagerly, she put her head shyly down and started scratching the ground with her toe.



Monday, March 13, 2017

Krishan Srivastava’s faux pas

“I have heard you patiently but none of the reasons given by you can explain the steep fall in your regional sales. This is the last quarter and your sales hitherto is a measly 59% of the target. Our director made a caustic mention about this. Your team members are good. I suspect there is a failure of leadership. What do you plan to do? This may be the last chance,” said Krishan Srivastava, shortly addressed KS, General manager (Marketing) to the Northern regional manager Kuldeep Singh.
“I am sorry, Sir. The market is bad with supply more than demand. Our competitors are plying the customers with heavy discounts and long credit even when their prices are lower than ours. We are trying our best focusing on our quality and brand. I am sure things would improve this quarter, Sir,”
“Kuldeep, I do not agree as other regions are doing very well. The real reason is elsewhere. You have been working with me since your management trainee days. As a father figure I have been wanting to talk to you on some personal matter but was restraining myself. I have decided to speak out today in your interest. Can I proceed?” asked KS
Kuldeep kept quiet avoiding KS’s eyes.
“Your silence is understandable. I am getting to hear from several sources that you are having illegal relationship with a woman employee in your division and spend lot of time talking, messaging and going out with her. You have a wife and two children. We have not taken action as there is no complaint. Since this has affected your official work, I am compelled to advise you to discontinue this liaison to avoid an immediate transfer,” warned KS
Embarrassed by the revelation, overcome by fear that his family would come to know and shaken by imminent transfer, Kuldeep Singh short of falling at KS feet pleaded forgiveness with the promise that he will stop forthwith his association with Pinky.
“This won’t do. You cannot resist the temptation and will start meeting her outside office. But I am clear that a transfer to another region alone would bring sense to you and justice to your wife, I am anyway getting her transferred to another office in the same city” KS said in stern tone.
“I swear in the name of my wife and children that I would have nothing to do with her,” and as an earnest, he pulled out from his pocket and placed on the table a box containing bottle of perfume. ” I intended to present this gift for her birthday this evening at a restaurant and now I have no more need for it. Kindly excuse me and I am a reformed man,” he said and wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Okay., do not worry. Take this bottle away and give it to your wife,” said KS
He shuddered and said “This will only rise her suspicion for I have never given her perfume as she is allergic to pungent smell,” and left the office hurriedly.
It was already 5.45pm and KS remembered that his wife Lalitha and children would be waiting at a friend’s house for a birthday party. In a hurry he slipped in the perfume packet in the side pocket of his coat thinking of his wife.
There were a lot of guests, some common friends and some known faces with many children playing around in the large hall that was brightly lit. Lalitha’s friend and her husband welcomed him warmly. KS removed the coat and hung it in a coat stand and reclined comfortably in the sofa by Lalitha’s side. The party commenced with cake cutting and birthday songs. The hostess soon came around the guests with hors d’œuvres and drinks. There was gaiety and laughter all around.
Suddenly a shrill tone of a mobile was heard. Everybody stopped talking and looked at the direction of sound. KS knew it was from his instrument in his coat pocket. As he was trying to get up, KS’s young son rushed towards the stand. He put his hand in the coat pocket and took out the box containing the perfume and after reading the name of the perfume on the box said loudly “Mummy, Papa has bought a scent for you”.
When Lalitha asked “What are you blabbering?” the boy   read out loudly “With deepest love to my Pinky darling, ever yours, KS” that was written on the box. The mobile had stopped ringing meanwhile. Lalitha rushed to the boy and snatched the box that had the inscription Gucci Flora.
KS sat dazed and frozen on the sofa. One jolly friend let out a loud guffaw and exclaimed “What a gaffe? Behind the innocent facade, you seem to be enjoying life with sidekicks.”
“It is not mine and belonged to one Kuldeep Singh, a regional manager in my office,” KS was explaining even as his voice was drowned with peals of laughter from men and looks of derision from women.
KS with a bewildered face looked at Lalitha. He knew explaining there would only invite contempt. There was utter disbelief and deep hurt in her face. Covering it with her hands unable to bear the shame, she ran out of the hall. Silence fell in the hall. The hostess followed by KS ran behind her. She wrenched herself away from KS when he tried to put his arm around her. They left the party with Lalitha sobbing and the children confused.The party was a big flop by one indiscretion of KS putting someone else’s gift in his pocket without checking and that too of one with the same initials 
The moral is if you have to buy a gift for your wife, buy it yourself; never carry someone else’s gift.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Sunita's compassion

Sunita madam was taking her class. She saw Sumitra from the corner of her eyes sitting morose in one of the rear benches and frequently wiping her eyes. She knew the girl well and was also aware that the young thing had lost her mother and her father was an alcoholic. He had married again but the step-mother was not kindly disposed to the poor girl. The thought sat heavy on her mind. She went through the lessons hurriedly and was relieved when the bell rang announcing lunch time. She called the young girl of thirteen near her.
“Sumitra, I have been observing you during the class and you were crying. Stop it and cheer up. Tomorrow is the annual day when prizes would be distributed by the chief guest. You have been an outstanding student topping the school in every examination and extracurricular activities. You are being given a special medal and there will be a special mention by the Principal about you. You must be happy. Tell me what is troubling you?”
“M’am, you know all the prize winning students have been asked to bring their parents for tomorrow’s function. They are required to be on the dais along with the student while receiving the prize. You know the situation in my house. Dad will not be in a fit condition in the evenings to come to school. My mom has also refused to come. There is a fight daily in the house and yesterday it was the worst.”
Sumitra remembered how she sat crouched in fear in a corner listening to the noise from the hall. It was his drunken dad mouthing profanities and her step- mother sobbing. There were the noises of glasses, the bottle-opener dropping down followed by loud swears, beatings and finally slamming of the door. She never went down when her dad and mom were together. He had begun drinking ever since Sumitra’s mom died, three years back. He was a loving dad but never demonstrated his affection even when her mom was alive. It was only her mom who was her best friend in whom she could confide anything and everything. Her step-mother Savitri was also very affectionate to her initially. It was all the mistake of her dad which turned the affection to dislike. He would taunt her needlessly telling her he married her not for her beauty but only to take care of the motherless girl and in the process, he unknowingly drove a wedge between them.
The school was in all festoons and the music blared through loudspeakers. The lawn was filled with students, parents and teachers. In a corner, snacks and tea were being served. Groups of people were seen standing along with their children talking animatedly, some with teachers and others amongst themselves. Sunita madam was looking for Sumitra and smiled to herself when she saw her in the corner where tea was served helping the guests with spoons, sugar and paper-napkins.
An announcement was made requesting the guests to sit down in their seats and the prize-winning students to assemble by the side of the dais with their parents. Sunita went near Sumitra who was standing at the rear with a glum face, and said “Look here, it is not your fault that your dad and mom could not be here. Cheer up. I am there for you. Wipe the tears off your face, my darling girl.” She moved away as the proceedings began with a prayer song.
After the welcome, the prize distribution started. As the name of each student was announced by the Vice-Principal Sunita madam, the student along with parents came up the dais to receive the prize from the hands of the chief guest. There was an endless stream of prize-winners coming up the rostrum with beaming smile, with their parents in tow.
Finally, Sumitra’s name was read out with the special mention that she was declared the best-student among all the classes not only in academic performance, but also in all extracurricular activities. When the chief guest stood up with a medal, he saw the girl coming alone towards him.
He remarked “Where are your parents? Don’t they know this is a red-letter day for their child?” There was a murmur amongst the audience and some muffled jeering remarks. Sunita madam walked towards the Sumitra and stood behind her. She loudly announced that her parents were not in a position to attend. Turning to the chief guest she said “You can deem her as my adopted daughter.”
 When the chief guest saw her with a puzzled look, the Principal was seen walking towards them telling “Sir, you may consider me as her god-father. She has made us all proud by her achievements and good behaviour. I may add she is a role-model for all the other students.”
Sunita madam was seen wiping her tears even as she clasped Sumitra tightly. The chief-guest pinning the gold medal on her said loudly “Pardon me Sumitra, I didn’t know the circumstances of your parents not being here. I am so happy to hear the praise heaped on you by your teacher and the Principal. I pray to the Almighty for your success and happiness in life. Do remember that you are doubly fortunate in getting such a teacher and Principal.”
The entire crowd was surprised when they saw Sumitra falling full length at the feet of Sunita madam and the Principal. The audience rose as one man and gave a standing ovation amidst joyful cries of “Sumitra, Sumitra” 

Let us raise a toast on this Woman's day  to teachers like Sunita madam who are hard to come by and who serve with such compassion and empathy, helping the hapless children realize their self-worth and esteem.