The enigmatic touch (1140)

(A translation of my Tamil story)

Chakrapani Iyengar would be around 70 years, tall and fair complexioned but with a frail health. He was confined mostly to his bed or easy chair in the spacious hall after a heart attack two years back. A soft spoken and gentle person, he was taciturn by nature and was content with his newspaper and TV. A god-fearing person, he was not overtly religious save the red line on his forehead. He received a fat pension and was financially sound.

His wife Champakam, short and stodgy, dusky with charming face had a kind disposition. The couple got along very well with no quarrel between them with each one trying to please the other.

In this short Rajee is an important character. A vegetable seller she brought daily in the mornings different varieties of greens and in the evening sweet limes(mosambi) and oranges. Champakam (we would call her Mami) has been buying daily greens and sweet lime for the last three years. Rajee about 40 years old, slim and very attractive, had three children. To her bad luck, her husband was a good-for-nothing fellow, not going for job regularly, given to drinking and beating Rajee almost daily for money. Her household was running only on her meagre income. She would often share with mami her miserable condition with a violent wastrel for a husband. The latter would patiently lend her ears and when Rajee struggled to pay the school fees or meet medical expenses, would give her money without expecting it back. Iyengar would be inwardly pleased that his wife was kind and helpful.

Let us come now to the crux of the story.

In the morning as Rajee announces her arrival shouting the names of different greens, Mami would hurry to lend a hand to put down the heavy basket from her head. The bright greens damp with sprinkled water drops would tempt anyone to buy. Once the basket is put down, Rajee would hastily tell, “Don’t touch the greens. Call ayya (sir), let him come and touch the greens first.” Mami’s face would fall instantly.

Some days Mami would tell her with some acerbity,” Ayya is having his bath. What if I touch the greens? Would they shrink and become pale? Funny, you keep grumbling “ayya, ayya” as if he has magical hands.”

“True, he has a mysterious touch. All the greens would be sold in a hour or two and I would be back home to cook food for children. If you touch, there would be delay and some may remain unsold. Do not mistake me. I can wait for ayya to come,” Rajee would tell.

Mami with a frown on her face would tell Iyengar, “Your Rajee tells that only if you touch the greens first, they would be sold quickly. I do not know what special or magical touch she is talking about. I am married to you for nearly 40 years and yet to know your enigmatic touch,” and go inside jabbing her jaw sideways against her shoulder.

Iyengar would not miss the mischievous punch in his wife’s words but still walk with some pride towards Rajee and tell her, “Do not offend anyone while speaking as it is hurting,” and take two bundles from her basket.

“No, ayya, I have not spoken in an inappropriate manner but was only telling that if you touch the greens first, I would be able to reach home early. Don’t I know about the good nature of Amma?" Rajee would reply in pacifying way.

If for one or two days Rajee does not come, Mami would be concerned as to what happened and tell Iyengar, “I am wondering why Rajee has not been  coming and whether her cruel husband has hurt her.” He would reply, “I have been wanting to ask you the same. Why don’t you ask her sister if you happen to see her?” Such is the kind of impact Rajee had made with this elderly couple.

One day around 7 pm, Iyengar told his wife,” Champakam, I am unable to breathe and the chest is paining. Get a doctor immediately.”

Dazed and frightened, she ran to the front porch and shouted at the boy in the opposite house, “Ranga, Ranga, please fetch a doctor immediately. Uncle is unable to breathe and is having acute chest pain intermittently.”

Within a few minutes, a doctor and some neighbours were there. Someone tried to revive him through CPR but to no avail. There was nothing they could do and Iyengar passed away.

Next day morning, when Rajee came as usual shouting the names of various greens, she saw small groups of people standing on the lawn and inside the porch. She put down the basket immediately and rushed in. To her great shock she saw Iyengar’s body laid in the hall, she let out a shriek,”Ayya,ayya, how can you do this and leave us as destitute?” and cried inconsolably as if her own father had died. Everyone without exception wiped their eyes seeing the grieving vegetable vendor.

For more than a month Rajee was not to be seen. This added worry to the already grieving Champakam. She chanced to see Rajee’s sister who worked in the neighbourhood and enquired about her. It transpired that Rajee stopped selling greens and fruits ever since and sitting stupefied at the entrance to her hut. It seems when asked why she was not resuming to sell greens and fruits, her reply was that business was closed for ever with the passing away of ayya. Her sister also informed the children were hungry despite some help from neighbours. She has now started making idlis daily and selling from the front side of her house.

 Mami gave her 500 rupees to be given to Rajee and wanted that she should meet her immediately.

Mami was touched by the strange bond of affection between a simple vegetable vendor and the aged husband of hers.

Rajee came after a week. She looked pale with her eyes swollen. On seeing mami, she started crying again. It was now the turn of Mami to console her. She told her,” I heard you have stopped selling greens and fruits and instead begun selling idles from your house. Why don’t you come daily for one hour or so to help me? I will pay you monthly 2500 rupees. You can come after10 am by which time you would have finished selling idlis. What do you say?”

She agreed telling Mami that she would do whatever she asked her to do. Mami then confided to her,” My husband had instructed me to treat you like his daughter. He has left 75000 rupees in your favour in his Will. Do not worry,” and patted her gently.

On hearing this, Rajee  started crying again at the strange affection and kindness of the old couple for her.