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People
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Written by Nitha
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Last week India celebrated her 61st birthday on August 15, which reminded me of India's 50th year of Independence.
I was in high school back then and used to go to school in an autorickshaw with my friends, Suna and Kavitha. There were celebrations all over the country. We also wanted to do something special on that day. We gave our pocket money to the auto driver and bought some balloons, colour chalks, flags and stickers of India, and toffees. In the morning we decorated our autorickshaw with the stuff we bought......whew it was a spectacle. And on the way to school, we shouted 'Jai Hind'(praise India) and 'Vande Mataram'(bowing before motherland), and threw toffees at whoever we met on the road.
We were so happy and puffed up with pride and felt like we did some thing for the country. I rushed home after school that day to tell everyone about our great patriotic deed. But they already knew, the news had spread in the village. And quite contrary to what I had expected, I got a good whacking from my mother. She advised me later that young ladies should be so soft-spoken and obedient that people outside should not know that such a girl lives in that house, or else they will start gossiping about your charactor and you would not get marriage proposals from good families in the future. I had learned a very important lesson that day.
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People
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Written by Raman
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Venom Minded Inventions
The bathing ghat in the rivulet near the residence of this correspondent is a store-house of make-believe, unfounded and wild news. The storey writers, producers and directors of the store-house – all are time killers and jealous. Almost all the women-folks who come over here for cloth washing and bathing play their roles diligently to produce unfounded wild news.
Reetha of 35 is the fore-runner. She comes almost first every day with a bundle of cloths. Even if she finishes her work before others come, she waits for them. Three or four gathers, she de-bags news manufactured in her stained brain. When it spreads, no doubt, a family feud in the neighbourhood is set to rise. A cooked news she released last week is still haunting victims. She murmured it in the ear of Devaki who came next to Reetha to the rivulet. Devaki in turn made a successful addition to it before presenting to the fourth present by that time. All the four discussed the news thread-bare.
By noon, the cooked news spread like an epidemic. When Geetha returns from College around 5 pm many of the villagers glare at her. She read something unusual expression on the faces of the villagers.
By 8 elder brother of Geetha, Ramakrishnan, returned home from work place. He immediately roused towards Geetha who was studying in her personal room. He slapped on her face instantly without any query or seeking explanation. Geetha stood dumb-founded. Her brother is normally cool-headed. She has never witnessed him in such a frenzied mood. He shouted, where she was yesterday. The stunned Geetha said, in college writing class-tests. Then who was in Ramadas Theatre in the city in the company with a Sajeevan, he roared. Stop your study, do not go to the college from tomorrow, he roared with shivering body. Geetha pleaded before him, his father and mother her innocence and begged the father to go to college and make verification about her presence in the college yesterday.
The father made a discreet enquiry and convinced she was in college writing class-tests.
As the washing ghat was the source for many unfounded stories in the past, the family’s enquiry centred on it. The truth came out accidentally. Geetha’s brother was passing through the washing ghat when he overheard Reetha telling Baby about the unfounded and maligned news released by Kausallia yesterday while washing cloths.
Ramakrishnan went to the house of Kausallia around 5 evening and explained the whole thing before her husband and father-in-law. The ashamed husband caught hauled of her hair and pushed to the ground causing her a leg fracture.
Two weeks ago another lady created a flutter in the village. She planted a lie among other lady-folks in the washing ghat. It spread all over the village and beyond. It was about two clean-imaged teenagers of opposite sex. The parents of both put her husband on thorn for misconduct of his wife. Repeatedly ashamed husband on numerous such incidences in the past, returned his wife to her parental home as a punishment. It is heard she is now mending the way and avows not to go to the washing ghat if and when she returns to in-laws.
Two months ago two lady-folks engaged in cuffing as a rumour unleashed was against the relatives of one of them.
Yesterday, it was heard, the elders in the village directed few youngsters to dumb the beating stone deep into the rivulet to deprive the dirty lots venue to invent cooked up stories. The youngsters are waiting for appropriate occasion of darkness to fulfill the assignment. They are afraid of doing so in day light as the washing lots will not allow them to walk in the street.
Let the husbands engage their wives in full time chores at home. |
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People
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Written by Raman
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Costlier Behave
Sathi, around 45, goes with a bucketful of cloths and soap box and some detergent powder to the bathing ghat of the canal near her residence for washing and bathing. She dumps cloth into the water and re-dumps into the bucket. Picks one each and spreads on the lonely beating stone to apply detergent and soak. Half the soaking through, Kurumba, around 40, comes for the same chore as Sathis’. She waits for half an hour and still the stone is under the custody of Sathi. Kurumba’s temper ran high, she is in double mind – whether to strike or keep cool for some more time. Paru with the flush and blood of 35 enters the scene with a bundle of cloths. As the beating stone is only one, Paru and Kurumba have to wait till Sathi vacates the stone.
Patience exhausted Kurumba decided to take on Sathi. She said I am waiting for more than half an hour and you finish the work quickly and murmured the beating stone is not your private property. Sathi retorted back, it is I who came first and you can use the stone only after my job is over and that if you are so hurry you could better have washed at home. She did not stop there, but slowed down the pace of work. Kurumba distastes the situation, stands biting teeth. Five minutes more gone, she moved on to the stone and occupied it the moment Sathi turned to pick another cloth from the bucket. Rest is history. War of words flied between the two when Paru stood a silent spectator. If she intervened to pacify either of them, the other will turn hostile to her.
The intensified war of words led Sathi throws two pieces of cloth of Kurumba to the canal which is about 15 feet deep. The effort to comp out the cloths by a couple of youngsters failed.
The issue caught the attention of the families of both the ladies. It became a wild issue between the two families which are located within a distance of about 400 meters. The male-folks took the issue very seriously. Mediators intervened to pacify both sides. No use.
Eye witness Paru landed in a soup. If she narrated the events in good faith, one among the two will turn hostile towards her. So, she invented an escape route. Both the families, mediators and others queried the ignition cause, but she maintained that her attention was glued to a quarrel of two boys on the bank of the canal alongside and she could not see actually what had happened between the two. Poor, they had to swallow this utter lie.
The family who lost the cloths claimed Rs 3000 as the value. Kurumba’s family was adamant to part with even Rs 100 as they maintained Kurumba did not throw away any cloth.
If compensation is not received to the lost cloth, it is shame and surrendering, the aggrieved family felt. They ultimately decided to move the police, filed a petition. Third day, a police constable visits both the families. His first visit was to the complainant’s end. He asked the complainant to explain the whole things happened. The complainant bared open all things. This is over, the family head tosses two hundred rupee currency notes to the semi-bent left arm of the constable as if nobody has seen anything. This is for positive reporting to the Sub-Inspector by the constable. The constable then moves on to the residence of the culprit after telling the complainant to be present at station at 10 am tomorrow. Here he makes a criss-cross enquiry as if he is a court-appointed commission, passes a long lecture about the consequences and financial loss likely to be. This session is over, the house captain tosses a five hundred currency note to the semi-folded left arm of the constable and beg not to charge the case. He nods his head and leaves with the verbal order to be present in the station next day at 10 morning.
Next day both the complainant and culprit ensure their presence with supporters from opposing political parties. The accompaniment of political agents with the complainant and culprit to the station ensures no assault to the parties concerned in the station.
Before the parties entering the cabin of SI, the constable who made spot enquiry calls party of culprit to an isolated corner and whisper that he has reported in their favour to the SI. He forgets not to add to the need of pleasing SI and the writer who writes the statement to be signed by both the parties and specifies rupees 1000 for SI and rupees 500 for writer. The amount for both may be given to the writer, he forgets not to mention.
Around 11 SI calls both the parties to his cabin and ask the complainant what has happened as if he has not read the petition. Then, his turn is towards culprit. SI imposes a stern warning on the culprit and tells the complainant that if the opposite party misbehaves in future report to me forthwith when I will teach her a lesson and directs both the parties to sign a statement on the table of the writer. The writer waiting with a statement to the effect that both the parties have made compromise gets the signatures and asks the complainant to go so as to facilitate receive cash for SI and himself. The moment complainant leaves the room the writer accepts the cash by stretching his left hand to the bottom of his table to the tip of culprit party’s right hand. Clean transaction. Nobody has seen. Or, believe not seen.
The petty incidence has cost both the parties. Sathi’s cost limited to rupees 1000, the cost of dress, plus rupees 200 paid to the constable. Kurumba’s cost stretched to rupees 2000 (rupees 1000 to SI, 500 to writer and 500 to constable) plus a clean humiliation of calling in the police station as a culprit.
As an offshoot, Sathis husband forbid her from going to the canal for bathing and cloth washing. For about 3 months both the families were not in talking terms. Their hatred has now melted down and both exchange pleasantries when met.
A bad incidence gives a welcome out-come, let the cost and humiliation go to hell.
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People
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Written by Nitha
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This story spilled out from a friend after he had a couple of drinks in a party.
He is a village boy from the central parts of Kerala, who is very ambitious and hardworking, and he has recently got a job in an reputed company in the city, fighting many odds.
The story begins with an invitation my friend gets, to attend a conference in the the national capital, flight and accomodation provided by the company. He was very excited because he had never been on a plane or stayed in five-star hotel before. He immediately confirmed that he will be attending.
Although he was a little apprehensive about the flight, he reached his destination safely. He arrived a day early so that he had enough time for sight-seeing, which he did wearing the new shirt he bought for the trip. In the evening, he summoned the laundry boy to his room. He thought that it would look awkward to give just one shirt, thus he gave his new dirty shirt and two old but clean shirts to the boy, and told him to return them the next day morning itself. The boy replied that there would be extra price for 12 hour service. It is at that time he realised that he has to pay for laundry, he had thought it is part of the house. But it was too late, his prestige didnt allow it to take it back. The night was spent in anxious anticipation of how much the bill might be..
The laundry boy came in the morning with the clean ironed clothes, smiling face and a bill amount which was much greater than the actual cost of the three shirts together. He paid the bill with a sigh and thanked god that he had taken some extra money for emergency. This incident made him very alert on each steps at that hotel. He cancelled his plan to visit the pool and health club (he didn't know it was for free). He confirmed with the room service that the fruit basket in the room is complimentary and immediately emptied it into his bag , the only thing he could do to compensate with his money loss.
We laughed on this through out the night. Some friends even said that the shirts are still in his wardrobe , exactly like the laundry boy gave it as he couldn't bring himself to make those dirty again. |
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Family
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Written by Raman
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An Aye Opener
Raghu's provision store is in the interior of the village. His telephone is open to public use for which he charges a small amount equal to the charge at public telephone booths. A backward community housewife of around 50 comes and seeks permission to make a call. She makes the call when Raghu was weighing onion for a regular customer. The housewife finishes the talk in about 2 minutes and lays a one rupee coin on the table. He queried where she called to. She replied unreservedly, to nearby, and left. After two minutes she returned to the store and said I forgot one thing to tell during the talk. She took the telephone again and talked just for a minute, paid one rupee and left. This time the store-keeper Raghu was free from any customer and sitting idle. Just to know the number she called to, he pressed the button of caller-ID gadget connected separately to the telephone. The number displayed was 5 digits more than a local number which indicates the call was distant and STD. He immediately called the housewife by name who was within his sight on the road. When she came he showed the display in the caller-ID and smilingly asked is this local number. He did not say anything more as she was his regular customer for provisions. She passed a folly-smile and queried how much more should be paid. He replied, give the usual amount you used to pay minimum when called to this number. She extended a ten rupees currency note. He accepted it and gave back rupees four after taking rupees three plus three for two calls received short.
For a week she did not turn up to the store to purchase provisions, and instead purchased from another store just 40 metres behind his store. She could not stick there as the old man in the store is graduated in under-weighing and over-charging - a fact known to all in the village.
After a week when returned to the store, Raghu queired where you were Vimala. Pat came the reply, I was at home and did not purchase anything these days as cash was not there. She self-convinced that the store-man has not taken the phone issue seriously and ordered 2/3 items. When the items packed and gave she queried whether he has disclosed to anybody the phone incidence. Oh, why I should say to anybody, he said. She heaved sigh. The fact is otherwise. He had disclosed it to his close-friends including this correspondent.
Raghu has experienced more such incidences of unworthy nature. One day a well-wisher who is a cigarette smoker told him that it is better not to keep the cigarette boxes on the cash table. The cash table is within the hand-reach of customers. He asked why you say so. He said, nothing. Raghu pondered over it and thought somebody might be lifting cigarettes. He decided to have it convinced himself. He started counting the cigarettes in loose packet and the sealed packets before he moves to weigh and pack the items and keeping a back-eye vigil when the smokers come. One day, when he was packing an item a youth smoker came and told he is taking a cigarette and kept rupees two on the table and left. The store-keeper counted the cigarettes in the loose packet and the sealed packets soon after he left. Sealed packets were Okay, but in loose packet two cigarettes were short. He started pondering how much money he might have lost in the years gone. Certainly his blood pressure might have soared. Then onwards he kept the cigarette packets on fridge-top where the customers’ hands cannot reach out.
Half a kilometre from this store a man of around 65 conducts a stationery-cum-sweet store. This store on a bus-route and junction has good sales, but the profit is not to the expected extent and used to loan cash from petty money-lenders to purchase exhausted items.
One day a well-wisher asked the brother-in-law of store-man for what purpose your brother-in-law is doing business – whether to earn some money or to feed the co-villagers. The unexpected query stunned him. He egged to know the back-drop of his query. The man politely explained that a number of incidents of lifting (if said stealing, its meaning becomes worthless) various items displayed on the table in the front which is very close to the customers standing spot has come to his notice. He, in turn, conveyed to his brother-in-law the things going in the store. This disclosure prompted him to be vigil. Few months passed, he is now earning better profit and not depending on money-lenders.
Vigil pays always. |
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Customs Old & New
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Written by Raman
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A Lesson To All
The village life in Kerala is aligned in blind-faith, and faith.
Hasna is the eldest daughter of Moidu, a tea-stall owner with no education. Hasna's mother too had no luck of sitting in a class-room. She has two younger sisters aged 16 and 18 - both passed Matriculation. Hasna passed Matriculation with first class. Her father's meagre income axed her cherished hope to become a District Collector after passing IAS and earn good name for better administration. When she attained the age of 20, her parents put her on marriage banner. Many proposals came. None materialized. The father knocked the door of an astrologer to know if any horoscopical block is there. He predicted none of the sort.
The parents have heard of the astrological talents of the oracle in the nearby temple. The oracle is a graduate and new appointee there. He mastered in extra earning techniques. He soothsays and offers to do remedial rituals, of-course, for a price. The parents of the girl approached the oracle through a third-man as they cannot directly because of religious bar as they are Muslim. The oracle has no objection for people of any religion as he matters only. But, the satraps of Muslim religion will take sword against the parents.
The oracle suggested various rituals and assured the girl's marriage will take place within 6 months on completing the rituals. The parents tossed over Rs 20000 to the kit of oracle for various rituals. Three years are over since then, the girl still remains unmarried. The parents stopped knocking the doors of soothsayers and resigned to the fate.
A poor mother of a youth of 24 approached the very oracle to have her son restored to good-conduct path as he used to tread on malicious path. He suggested two courses – both to be performed by him for. The poor mother took a loan of Rupees ten thousand from a Co-operative Bank and gave to him. He conducted some rituals in his ritual-cum-soothsaying shed erected specially for such purposes and assured the mother that her son is now free of all ill-thoughts and maliciousness and that he will get a good job within a month and look after the parents. The mother returned over-happy. A week later on Onam eve-day the bicycle on which he was a pillion rider dashed on to an electric pole and died on the spot.
Still no dearth of clients to the oracle. The clients have to wait for hours to come their turn. His Homakundam (brick-walled sacrificial fire) is in flare from 8 am to 6 pm all the days.
Look at another show in the nearby village. An unmarried youth engaged in powdered spices packing and distribution one day started runnig in his compound like God Hanuman. News spread like wild fire. Coloured stories circulated by all and sundry. Among many stories, a story clicked well. There is a somewhat famous Hanuman temple about 4 km away in a coastal village. The Hanuman is not happy there. So, he vacated that place and came here in search of residence. The youth got hold of the idea. He pranced and delivered a commandment that he (he is supposed to be Hanuman when in prance) is not happy in the present abode and wanted a shelter here. His parents arranged a handsome loan from a bank against landed property and constructed a small temple. An idol of Hanuman installed and performed daily poojas. Devotees and others who wanted to get their problem solved started pouring in. Income from these people swelled the pocket of the family. The family began giving free lunch to all those present. Meanwhile, they stopped spices business which was a small scale venture. When the prance-commandments proved negative one after one, the presence of devotees thinned and income route narrowed. This was the position a year back. Recently when this correspondent passed that way a neighbour testified that not even a single devotee is turning up now and that the bank put the property on auction for recovering defaulted loan amount. The family is now struggling to meet the ends.
Faith or blind faith, pay for it.
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