Saturday, March 16, 2024

The clever trick (960)

Renuka was lying in bed after a hectic morning. Getting up early in the morning, preparing hurriedly breakfast and lunch, and sending her six-year-old son to school by 8 am was a bugbear. It was a big ordeal to wake him up, give him a bath, force-feed the breakfast with milk and send him with his books for the day without forgetting the lunch box. But she enjoyed doing it though it irritated her sometimes making her raise her voice. Her hubby would have no time for her in the mornings but he never troubled her for his things. It was only after 10 am she would be somewhat relaxed when she would switch on the TV resting on the bed with the day’s paper and mobile by her side and the laptop on the other.

It was an independent house with a tiny garden. She loved gardening. As she was in the bed one afternoon, she heard the buzzer. She saw through the window a tall young man in his early twenties dressed well in pants and a shirt with a matching tie standing with a briefcase in his hand. He had curly hair and looked quite handsome. When he saw her, he bowed his head and said “Madam, sorry to disturb you at this hour. I have come to introduce to you some burglar alarms that would ensure total security. I wonder whether you would like to have a look. It wouldn’t take 15 minutes, madam”

“I don’t think we would be interested in burglar alarms. Thanks anyway for checking” Renuka replied.

“Madam, you must be aware of the spate of thefts and robberies in the vicinity of late. Almost daily some house is burgled. Much worse is the fact inmates are attacked and even killed. There is a great demand for our products particularly from independent houses. You don’t have to buy. It is enough if you make yourself aware of the foolproof security systems available with us” he pleaded.

She hesitated for a while He looked decent and harmless. His shoes were glistening with polish. She said before going in “Please wait. I will ask my husband if he is interested.”

Renuka was cautioned to be careful by her husband though he had no objection to her seeing the stuff and collecting details of price etc

She opened the door and let him in. He was perspiring a low. She switched on the fan and told him to wait as she went to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water he desired.

When she returned, she found to her shock the door which she had left ajar was closed and locked. As he drank the water with a smirk on his face, she knew she had erred in her judgment. As he advanced towards her making her recede backwards to a chair, he laughed and said” Madam, please remember no burglar alarm would be of any avail if you let unknown strangers into your house. Sit on the chair and don’t make any noise. Hand over the keys to the almirah. If you comply with my request without demur you would not get hurt bodily. Some wicked men rape before killing the victims. You seem intelligent. Please give me the keys” he said in a soft and leering tone.

“Young man, you seem to be new to this profession. Do you think I would ever open the door without ensuring adequate precaution? I did not go to telephone my husband as you surmised. I opened the back door and alerted the three gardeners who were clearing the weeds and cleaning the garden to come inside with their implements. They are behind the unlocked closed doors on either side of this drawing hall” she said

“What do you mean?” blurted the young chap.

“Nothing but what I told you. I could see that you are educated and speak English fluently. I have a suspicion you have strayed into this wrong path by mistake. You must have parents, sisters and brothers. I can spoil your life. I have two options. I can give a signal to the gardeners behind the doors to pounce upon you. They are armed with sickles, crowbars and whatnot. I can call the police and hand you over. The other option is to let you go scot-free if you promise that you will never indulge in such crimes. I do not want a young life and the dependent family to come to grief. Tell me quickly before I change my mind about what you wish to do”

The young man promptly fell at her feet and clasping her legs said “Sorry madam. This is my first foolish attempt. I am not getting any job. My family is starving. I hired these clothes for a day. I promise to turn a new leaf and never dream of such misdoings. Please forgive me and let me go.”

She then let him pick up his briefcase and opened the door for him to go out. Once he left and the door was secured, she sat on the sofa and broke into laughter. She narrated to her husband about ignoring his caution and the clever trick she employed with great presence of mind about the imaginary gardeners behind the doors to scare the young fellow away.

It was then she heard the school bus approaching from the loud horn. She turned to look at the expensive crystal clock on the side table to see time. But it was not there to her great shock. Then she remembered the iPad she had left there when she answered the doorbell of the young man. It was also missing. Her spirit of joy gave way to gloom at her foolishness.

 

Sunday, March 10, 2024

A mysterious assignment (1219words)


There was a gentle knock at the door around 9 PM. Who could it be, Vinay wondered? He had neither friends nor neighbours in this complex ever calling on him. He opened the door to find a young woman in her late twenties standing. He had seen her many times in the complex during his morning walks but had never spoken to her. She smiled at him and asked with a certain hurry in her tone. “I live in one of the adjacent apartments. My telephone isn’t working. The cell phone is also not usable. Can I please make an urgent call to my mom who I understand is not well.”

As she was talking to her mom, Vinay pretended to be reading a newspaper but was overhearing the conversation. She was quite an attractive woman, petite and had a sweet voice. He could feel her genuine concern for her mom and learned that she was feeling bad for not being by her side. After she disconnected, she thanked him profusely. He introduced himself and asked her to be seated when he went to get her coke. She saw as he opened the fridge, it was bare except for the small bottle of coke.

She could also see, from where she was seated, the kitchen that bore no evidence of any cooking or vessels. When they were talking, she came to know that he was single, he was laid off about eight months back and the money he had saved was spent, a sizable chunk towards his now deceased father’s medical expenses and the balance on his food and rent. He still owed some rent and was pressured to vacate. He was frantically looking for a job but nothing was forthcoming in the present downturn. She expressed her sympathy and her wish that he would find a job soon. They met each other in the next few days several times exchanging small talk that gradually became longer.

He was turned away wherever he went for a job He was at the end of his tether. It was at such a critical juncture that she came to him one day and asked him” Are you willing to do a job for me and if you accomplish this well, it may open the gate for a brighter future. But there is a condition. You should not ask much details but simply carry out the work entrusted to you without any demur. Do you have trust in me? If you trust me fully you must carry a packet to another city safely with you. This is a secret and important assignment. You must not discuss it with anyone and you should not carry any other luggage. The man meeting you at the airport will deliver you a box with new dresses and other essential things you would need. He will take you to the place where you are to hand over the packet given by me.”

“How will I know the man at the airport?” Vinay asked.

“My man will identify you and utter the password that I would be giving you. He will take you to the destination. You should not ask any questions about what the packet contained and whom you were going to meet. Certain secrecy is necessary. If you trust me, you can agree not otherwise. I will give you an air ticket and also some money for the help. Be assured that at the end, you will be happy that you did me this job”’ she said.

Vinay thought he could not be in any worse situation than he was now and the lady seemed nice. He had taken a great liking for her and often spent time thinking of her. She was paying some money too which he badly needed. He decided to agree notwithstanding a doubt about the possibility of drugs, contraband or some secret official documents exchanged.

He told her” I need a break from the present depressing situation. I have full trust in you and am aware that you will not get me into any trouble. I am ready to start any time.”

She replied “You may leave two days later. I will hand over the packet to you this evening along with the tickets and password. Please do not try to contact me till the packet is successfully delivered.”

Vinay carried nothing except the secured packet in a box. It passed through Xray without problem as he feared. He was thinking of her and her mysterious ways during the journey. He hoped that this could be the beginning of a series of such assignments.

The man who received Vinay at the airport was curt as he gave him a box. He gave him 15 minutes to change his dress. There was a pair of nice suits with shirts, other garments and a few things of daily need. He was surprised at the way money was spent on him when he was a mere courier and a strange fear came over him whether he would turn to be the sacrificial goat. The car took them to a posh apartment and the man left after dropping him.

As he was waiting in the drawing room, he started sweating despite the air conditioners. It took ten minutes and no one appeared. He felt some eyes were watching him though there was none. He wished she could have been a little more open. Suddenly he heard a door opening and saw a figure approaching him. He stood up involuntarily struck in total amazement and surprise when he saw the person.

“Are you surprised, dear, to see me here to receive you? Please open the packet yourself and see the contents” said the lady he had met at his place.

When he opened it, he found, to his utter surprise and disbelief, it was stuffed with scraps of waste paper and wondered why all this secrecy and for what purpose.

She laughed and said “The whole assignment is a silly test to see whether you have implicit faith in me. I am glad you passed it admirably well. I thought you might develop cold feet and back out. Luckily for me, you did not.”

“Why this test at all for me? I doubted initially whether you are romantically inclined towards me but I banished such a thought as I was a jobless man,” he asked with some naivete.

“I don’t know really. I had this strange desire to test you for I had lost my heart to you ever since I set my eyes on you during my daily walks. I have made inquiries of you. I came that night only to meet you and get to know you more with the ploy of using your phone. I do not know how you feel towards me. But I am madly in love with you and want you to marry me and help me in looking after my vast business interests. If you like me as I do for you, we will start a new life and spend the rest of our lives together. That is the reason I planned your discarding symbolically the old dress and everything from that wretched place,” she said.

He extended his arms wide open for her to fall into for a long embrace.

                                                 

 

 

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

The reconciliation, thanks to Raju (1159 words)

 

Savitri was seen pacing anxiously between the living room and the front veranda till she finally called out to her husband who was watching TV,” Gopal, it is nearing 8.15 pm and there is no trace of Raju yet. He is usually back by 6 pm from the playground.”

“Ask his friend Shankar who lives three apartments away down the corridor,” Gopal suggested without taking his eyes off the TV.

” Aunty, Raju did not come to play today,” was the reply from Shankar

He has not gone to any place other than school and playground without informing. There were frantic calls to close relatives in the city and a few of his school friends. They drew blank from everywhere. There was no inkling of where he could have gone. Like any other day, on return from school, he kept his school bag on his desk, washed his hands, changed his clothes and had noodles with Horlicks. He looked normal though he did not speak much to his mom or sister.

The dailies and WhatsApp messages were full of stories, mostly false and some partially true, of the kidnapping of children for ransom and how in many cases the children were harmed if demands were not met. Some neighbours added to their anxiety with thoughtless remarks about children being maimed for begging or their kidneys being removed for sale.

 Savitri panicked and started crying inconsolably. Gopal, a senior manager in a reputed business firm wished to seek the help of the police. A couple of neighbours counselled patience and asked him not to rush to police as they felt such a step could bring harm to the child. It was already 9-30pm with the sky dark. It was also drizzling making the gloomy atmosphere sombre. The only redeeming feature was there being no call for ransom as yet.

Gopal spoke to one of his friends, who had influence with wide contacts, seeking his advice on how to proceed in the matter. He suggested that it is always advisable to seek the help of police as they are trained to nab the culprits without endangering the lives of the victims. He said that no time should be lost and that he would speak to a close relative of his in the police department. After talking to the relative, the friend took Gopal to the residence of his relative to lodge a complaint. He did not want Gopal to be seen going to the police station.

Men were put on the job. Gopal was asked to keep talking without disconnecting if there were any calls for money. He was advised to keep stalling by requesting the kidnappers to reduce the ransom amount or plead for time to borrow money Meanwhile the police would be monitoring the calls to his number.

Gopal and Savitri were awake the whole of the night. There was no call. The searches continued and phone calls were made again to Raju’s friends. The day dragged into the night with no progress. Another day went by with no clue about the whereabouts of the boy.

Raghavan was a regular caterer supplying lunch and dinner to bachelors or households living in various parts of the city. He rode a bike specially fitted with several hooks to carry many bags and covered areas like T Nagar, West Mambalam, Ashok Nagar, KK Nagar and Vadapalani. He had been supplying in the vast building complex at T Nagar where Gopal was living and even to his apartment on many occasions. Raghavan could identify members of the families to whom he supplied by their faces.

When he went to supply lunch to a customer in a block of flats in KK Nagar, he found to his surprise Raju playing alone near the staircase of the ground floor. He knew the boy lived in a posh apartment complex at TNagar and asked him how he was there and with whom he was staying. The boy, without replying, hastily ran into the flat. Raghavan did not take any special note of this as he was not aware of the boy missing from his home.

The next day when he went to supply food to someone’s house in Gopal’s complex, at TNagar, the lady of the house was telling him how a young boy, Raju by name, from one of the adjacent flats had been kidnapped three days back with no trace of the boy till then.

Raghavan immediately told her that he had seen the boy only the previous day at such and such a place in KK Nagar and how the boy ran inside a flat without replying to him. Both of them rushed to Gopal’s house and soon all of them went in a car to the place where they saw Raju.

It transpired only then that Gopal’s aged mother was living alone in the flat and the relations between the old lady and Savitri were so badly strained that the elderly lady was asked three years back to live separately with no contact whatsoever with her thereafter. Gopal was also not allowed to meet his mother.

They saw the boy hiding below his grandmother’s cot. The old lady past eighty who could hardly walk without a crutch was greatly surprised to see her son Gopal with his wife after years. She told him that his son Raju had come three days back saying it was vacation time for him and that he wished to stay with her. He had not told her that he had run away from his house without telling anyone. She was surprised no doubt as no one from his house visited her for years.

Savitri hugged Raju and was seen crying in joy that he had been at last found. Raju wrenched himself away from his mom and snuggled around his grandma. Gopal asked Raju why he left without informing anyone.

The boy replied amidst sobbing” I felt bad for grandma. She is alone here. She cannot see properly. We have to shout to her for her to hear. She is not allowed to stay in our home. You never met her. Mom would also not permit me to meet her. I felt sorry for her and wanted to give her some company. I know I have caused you worry but there was no other way.”

Raju’s grandma immediately remonstrated with him saying, “This is not the way to talk to parents and I disapprove of it. You should not have left the house without telling them. Apologize to them  right now in my presence,”

When Gopal turned towards his wife, he found Savitri falling at the feet of the old lady pleading for her forgiveness and begging her to come with them to their home permanently.

When Raju saw a trace of a smile on the wrinkled face of his grandma, he let out a shriek of joy and promptly fell at the feet of his parents.



Sunday, March 3, 2024

Man proposes, God disposes (960)

Vikas was posted in the 39 Mountain Division under XIV Corps situated in Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. There were occasional skirmishes beyond and soldiers were engaged in safeguarding the frontiers. The situation was mostly calm. On an off day every week, Vikas visited the nearby small town. It had nothing to offer except a small bazaar and some eating joints. There was a temple on a small hillock nearby.

It was on one such visit to the temple he came across Rajwanti (Rajvi in short). As she was climbing down, she tripped and fell. There were none seen around. She had sprained her leg and was in great pain unable to move. It was getting dark in the evening. Amidst feeble protests, he lifted her in his arms and brought her down to the road. He hailed a cart, thrust five rupees in the cart puller's hand and asked him to take her home. She never took her grateful eyes off Vikas till the cart turned into a lane.

He could not forget her beautiful face with her narrow slit eyes and high cheekbones. She had a golden complexion and her hair was not entirely black but darkish brown. She had a small mouth with a permanent pout on her lips. On the next off day, he came much earlier than usual to the temple looking for her. She was not seen and it was time to return. Disappointed, he started coming down the hill. He saw from a distance a petite figure standing at the same place where she had tripped. It was Rajvi obviously waiting for him. He found a bandage on her ankle.

"Aren't you ok? Why the bandage? Do you have pain when walking?" he asked.

She nodded her head in affirmative and said "It should become alright in a week. Thanks immensely for the help. I was shy to talk to you before the cart puller" she replied.

"No thanks are needed. I enjoyed carrying you in my arms. You are so light in weight" he said with a mischievous twinkle. She giggled in turn

"Sit down by my side if you are not in a hurry. We can talk for a while"

"Not here. Let us sit behind the big boulder” she said

Soon they fell in love after a few meetings and ended up getting intimate. He promised to marry her and on every off day, they met. He gave her each month a good sum to live in comfort with her parents. Life was full of joy for both. He found her a simple and good-natured girl and wished to take her along with him once he was transferred to civil station and marry her. Two years passed by in no time. She confided to him one day that she desired to have a child. He counselled her patience till they moved to Plains and were married.

Suddenly he stopped coming and there was no news of him. Rajvi came almost every day to their haunt but there was no trace of him. She was sure he would not have deserted her and as weeks passed by her parents seeing her disconsolate condition advised her that this was common amongst the army men. 

Her dad said “Your man seemed good and was paying you every month as a husband would do to a wife. The others did not even pay but ditched after being with women as long as they wished to. Let me go to their camp and find out”

A week later her dad said “I learned from someone there that one Vikas Pande was seriously hurt when fighting and was taken away to some distant hospital. He doesn’t know whether he is alive and discharged from the army or dead now. No point in crying always. Wait for six months. If he does not come in search of you, forget him.”

Her mother added “Thank God, he has not burdened you with a child. Many are left behind with children”

She was not reconciled. She knew he was an honest guy and truly loved her talking about the future of their children and family. She was worried whether the worst might have happened. It was five years since he had vanished. Much water had flown under the bridge in the village stream.

Rajvi was sitting with her two-year-old boy near the boulder that brought back old and fond memories. She had a bulging tummy being in an advanced stage of pregnancy. She came here frequently. As it was getting dark, she got up to go home. The little boy ran ahead of her in the slope. Afraid he may fall she hurried her steps and fell down. The little boy was crying by her mom’s side. She could not get up.

It was then a bearded man with long hair and a crutch approached her and said “Would you permit me to lift you? You can hold the crutch and get up if you don’t wish me to touch you.”

She grasped the cane and got up with difficulty. He held the boy in his hand and slowly they climbed down to the road.” Can you now go on your own with your boy or do you want me to accompany you?” he asked her gently.

“No, I can go on my own. Thanks immensely. You are a godsend” she said thinking of a similar incident in the past as she trudged her way home limping

Vikas in a beard with a wooden leg and a crutch wiped his eyes as he saw her fading away in the distance. He could make this arduous trip over the hills only after this long time spurred by a glimmer of hope.



Wednesday, February 28, 2024

The bubbly man with a large heart (1237)

Basudev Pal, Basu in short, has been in the hospital only for less than a fortnight and it seemed an eternity for him.  He had a heart attack in the office and was luckily brought to the hospital immediately. After a week or so in ICU, he was moved to a room with two beds separated by a curtain.

Though he was stable, the cardiologist scared his wife that the first three weeks and three months after the attack were crucial and that anything could happen during this period. He told her that Basu needed to rest for three months and get doctors' care for the scar to heal.

Basu was just 45 years old with a small family of a wife and two kids. He was not financially very sound except for the monthly salary from the good job he held. Though the medical expenses would be completely taken care of by the company, this unexpected attack rattled him wondering how it would alter his life.

Scary thoughts often crossed his mind as to what would happen to his wife and children if he were to die suddenly, a possibility that the doctor had not ruled out. He was the sole breadwinner for the family. Although his wife put up a bold face and gave him pep talks that he would be soon normal, he knew she was very worried. He could not also come out of the negative thoughts.

One afternoon, three days after Basu moved into a private room from the ICU, a new patient was wheeled from the ICU into the other bed in his room. There was a flurry of nurses moving in and out fixing several tubes connected to different monitors and bottles for drip. A senior doctor along with his associates was by his side monitoring the condition of the patient.

Basu wasn’t exactly excited about the arrival of a new patient to give company. The condition of the patient rather depressed him. The curtain, however, hid him from the things going on in the other bed. It was only later that Basu came to know from his wife that the patient’s condition was not good with an enlarged heart with practically little strength to pump the blood. It seemed that he was in ICU for 10 days before being shifted here. Except for the nurses and doctors, no relatives or friends of the patient were seen. Basu learned that he was of the same age. Things became quiet after some time. Around 7.30 pm, the curtain was drawn open at the new patient’s request. Basu slowly turned his head to see a beaming smile from a burly face with a ‘hello, Johnny well met’ attitude.

He said “I am Anand Sinha. Don’t be scared by all these tubes and bottles. They would remove them after three or four days. I have grown accustomed to them so much. I am fine and happy despite my being here. What is bothering you? Why are you here? You look young and healthy.”

“Thanks, I am Basudev. I suffered a mild heart attack and have been in the hospital for about ten days. “he replied.

“Phew, mild heart attack? That is nothing. The stent they must have fixed will take care of you for decades. You will be fully fit in a month or so and will be your usual self short of jogging. Nothing to worry at all. Every other fellow gets this in this stress-filled competitive world. A little precaution in your diet and a bit of walking will take care of you. You can just forget that you ever entered this hospital.” he said and loudly laughed till his nurse motioned him to stop.

This did not lift Basu’s jaded spirit who was immersed in thoughts of self-pity while this guy in what seemed a critical condition was cracking jokes on himself, at the nurses and making them laugh despite the many attachments all over his body. He had a positive attitude, and cheerful spirit and made no complaint unlike Basu griping to the nurse about a dull pain on the right side of his chest or likely constipation.

There was no evidence of fear in Anand despite the worried look of the nurses and their constant monitoring of his condition now and then. Poor chap, he was not allowed more than 500 ml of water the whole day. Again, in the night there was an emergency with doctors and nurses making a beeline to his bed. So, it was a surprise when in the morning around 7 am, Basu heard “Hello Basu, how are you? Could you sleep well despite the disturbance from my side last night?”

The nurse cautioned him not to speak loudly and to sleep for a while. This did not deter him from talking about his office and his work. At 7-30 am sharp, my wife came with coffee, sandwiches, fruits etc. Then some relatives and colleagues dropped in with special permission. Basu forgot about Anand and the curtain was drawn by the nurse.

At dinner time Anand was at his best making Basu laugh with his crazy jokes. He said “You are a lucky bloke as your wife seems very affectionate type and constantly with you. You have so many caring relatives and good friends calling on you while not even one  cared to enquire about my well-being."

When Basu smiled weakly, Anand remonstrated him,” Don’t scare your wife by pulling a long face all the time. Cheer up particularly when you are well and on the road to recovery. When we both go home, we will have a binge of beer to celebrate our homecoming.”

It was then it struck Basu that Anand had no visitors, not even his wife or kids. He must have read his mind and said, “My wife got separated from me a few years back and my daughter is with her. She has cut off all connections with me and even my daughter is not allowed to see me.”

Basu could see his moist eyes and felt bad that he was so wrapped up in himself that he never made any enquiry about Anand and his family till then. But he was amazed at his strong spirit and cheerful disposition despite the sad happenings, Basu decided to share his breakfast, talk to him for a long time the next morning and make amends for his lapse.

Alas, Basu did not get the chance. When he woke up the next day morning, the curtain was pulled closed between their beds. He could hear the nurses with sombre faces whispering to each other in soft voices.

Basu asked one whether anything was amiss but she did not speak but showed her hands heavenward. After 30 minutes, when Anand’s body had been removed, the nurse told Basu “Anand ji was aware that he had less than a week to live. He wished to remain in the hospital till his end. There was nothing that was medically possible to prolong his life. Poor man, he had none to care for him in his last days. He told me last night that he was enjoying his stay in the hospital thanks to his friend on the other bed and was making fun of your imaginary fears.”

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” —Mark Twain




Saturday, February 24, 2024

Beauty is skin deep (1208)

            "I didn't give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you"

It was a sultry day and there were no visitors to the institution. Some days there used to be even four or five couples and a few days there would be none. It used to be boring then with nothing but novels to keep me busy. I do voluntary work in this child adoption centre out of affection for my mom who was heading this institution till she passed away a few years back. She was insistent that I give back to society at least a portion of what I have taken from it.

 This adoption centre is a part of the institution that ran a shelter for orphans and destitute women, a school, vocational training institute comprising of tailoring, laundry, carpentry, a printing press and a small machine shop. It is a home for hundreds of children and women where they were cared for until they were rehabilitated into society.

Many social workers give their time and money to this institution. I chose the adoption centre when I was asked to choose by the head of the organization as I loved children and playing with them. It was only later that I realized one needs to have an abiding interest in children and plenty of patience. I had to minimize my social life and even skip minor family functions. But I always felt happy with this work when I saw my mother’s photo and remember her total dedication and the immense satisfaction she derived when she found safe and secure homes for the children of the centre. The choice of foster parents required utmost care and gathering of information. One cannot afford to make mistakes as the future of the babies is dependent on the right homes.

A young couple, Vanita and Varun, one day dropped in. Both of them were working in a well-known IT company drawing hefty salaries. She was in her early thirties and was exceptionally beautiful. Varun, a tall and handsome man made a good partner. When she expressed her desire to adopt a child, I asked her why she was doing it while still young, she explained that she was not medically fit to bear a child,

I kept quiet for some time wondering how even advanced medical knowledge is unable to cure some maladies and asked,
“You both are working and that too for long hours. Who will look after your baby?”

Varun said “My mother is staying with us and we intend to engage an ayah also to look after the baby during the day”

” Are you also as much keen on this adoption as your wife is? I asked Varun.

“Yes, keener than her and we are in total agreement on this. We have discussed this endlessly and have come to choose a baby. We want a baby girl in particular,” he said with a smile.

I was surprised as normally couples prefer boys even in these days when gender discrimination is frowned upon. They usually seek fair-complexioned boys with good features. They even try to ferret out information on the biological parents and their background, if any of the child. As a rule, we never disclose such information. I asked them to fill up the application form with all the details and gave them a day to see the children.

 As there was a general tendency to pick fair-complexioned and good-looking babies leaving behind the dusky and ordinary-looking ones, we show the latter first. Only when the couples are not happy with them and prefer to return, that we show them some more. Our objective is that all babies should get willing ‘parents’ and that those not endowed with looks or colour should not be left out and be offered first

On the appointed day I had chosen four baby girls between 2 and 4 who have not been lucky to be adopted so far. 

One of them Sumi (3), was very dark but endowed with very sharp features. She was a quiet girl not given to much interaction with other children. There was a forlorn and lost look on her face.

Lakshmi (4), was fairer but was not attractive with a wide bulbous nose and big ears for her face. She was, however, a pleasant and outgoing girl.

Sweety (2), dusky in colour, had a squint and always cried uncontrollably on such occasions putting off even those who contemplated to consider her.

Shanthi (2), who was the darkest of the lot. She was skinny with the ribs showing, and protruding teeth and limped a little looking awkward when she walked. But she had a smiling twinkle in her eyes. She has never been in the zone of selection thus far.

I had all of them dressed in good frocks after bath and breakfast and made them sit in the adjacent room playing with toys.

When Vanita and Varun came, I was not very sanguine of their liking any of these four. They have been rejected time and again. She had brought plenty of chocolates. The children looked at me for my approval to accept the toffees. They have been trained that way. I left the couple with the children and came to my room. It took more than an hour and they had not come out.  Curious to know what was happening I peeped in through the door. All the children wreathed in smiles were seen playing with total abandon as if the two strangers had known to them for a long period.

I thought they were a compassionate twosome and played with the kids just to give these tiny tots some happiness and warmth denied to them. I had seen so many come out mechanically and express their unhappiness as we do while selecting saris.

 They came out at last, though reluctantly. and the lady said” I have taken the snaps of the kids in my mobile without your permission. I hope you will not mind. We will come tomorrow again to finalise”

I surmised they were being gentle and may not come the next day. I proffered to say “In case you are not satisfied with this lot, I can show some more.”

Pat came the reply,” No need, we will choose one amongst these four”

 The next day they came early in the morning and said in unison the name “Shanthi”, when I asked whom, they had selected.

 Vanita said “We discussed the whole of last night. I could have taken all of them but we had to choose one. I was drawn to Shanthi by her eyes. We will make her a healthy child and after some three years, I will have her teeth aligned and do something about the limp if possible. Don’t worry. We like the dusky colour that God has given her. She is such a cute little darling.”

Varun said” My mom was not fair complexioned after all. Beauty and colour are skin-deep. What mattered is that Shanthi caught our fancy and both of us zoomed on her.”

He added “Maybe, God willing, we may come again next year and adopt one more of the other three. Thanks a lot. What wonderful people you are!”

Thoughts of my mom raced in my mind at the successful conclusion.

(This is fiction to be enjoyed for its spirit though it may or may not strictly conform to the adoption laws.)

 

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Krishna’s munificence (968)

Although Bhama and Gopalan were a loving and smart couple, they struggled to make both ends meet each month. They had four children. He was a clerk in a private company with a meagre salary. They could not provide nutritious food and good schooling to the children. They were pious but their prayers yielded no result. Gopalan, an honest and hard-working guy, found no way to augment his earnings.

In such times, the couple went one day to the local Krishna temple as they usually did, to pray and find peace, and found an upanyasakar, narrating the story of Sudama’s (Kuchela) visit to Krishna at Dwarka. With nothing much to do at home, they sat among the crowd and started listening to the story that was narrated in a moving and gripping manner.

The gist of the widely known story is as below.

Sudama and Krishna were childhood friends during their study at Sandipani Ashram. Though Krishna belonged to the royal family and the former from a very poor family, they were close friends and fond of each other.

In due course, Krishna became a powerful ruler in Dwarka, while Sudama was an impoverished man, facing lots of hardships in raising his several children. 

Sudama's wife Susheela reminded him one day of his friendship with Krishna and requested him to seek his help. Sudama was averse to the idea but yielded to her plea to visit Dwarka. With nothing worthwhile to carry as a gift, he carried a handful of flattened rice flakes (Poha)  tied to his upper cloth.

When Krishna heard that Sudama was at the palace gate, he rushed to the gate with His consort in tow. Though his boyhood friend was seen looking haggard and unshaven face after a long walk, Krishna in great jubilation hugged and embraced Sudama fondly.

He sought the gift, Bhabhi had sent for him and ate the flattened rice with much relish to the amusement of Rukmani. Neither Sudama revealed the purpose of his visit nor Krishna asked him. After pampering with affection and hospitality for a couple of days, Krishna sent Sudama in his chariot to his village.

It was only when Sudama reached the village, that he could witness how Krishna had relieved him totally from poverty with a palace-like house, with his wife Susheela and children decked in finest clothes and jewellery and many other copious and costly gifts.

With tears in their eyes on hearing the moving story about the munificence of Krishna, Bhama and Gopalan came out of the temple to find a very small picture, of Krishna washing the feet of Sudama, in a stall outside the temple. They bought it and hung it in their puja place for daily worship hoping He would bestow likewise  His grace on them.

Within a week, an important development took place in Gopalan’s company with the owner handing over complete responsibility to manage the company to his only son due to declining health. The new master who was of the same age as Gopalan and had known him for long for his honesty and hard work, employed him in his secretariat to assist him giving him a promotion along with a good raise in salary.

The joy of the couple knew no bounds and they were certain that the picture of Krishna with Sudama was the main reason for this unexpected but welcome change. They started praying more and luckily the company’s operations expanded with increased profits. Within two years, he was promoted to a higher position with greater responsibilities.

Human nature being what it is, greed and avarice surpassed devotion and contentment that Gopalan got the picture enlarged to 2’xI’ from the present 4”x3” hoping for greater benefits to accrue. He bought more flowers in different varieties to decorate the god and made Bhama prepare nice and different delicacies for Prasad. Though Bhama felt unhappy about the change in Gopalan, she remained quiet.

Six months passed with nothing big happening at the office. One evening when Gopalan was resting on the balcony, Bhama came and sat beside him. The children were away. It seemed to Gopalan that she wished to convey something but looked hesitant.

“Do you wish to tell me something? Shoot out without hesitation. By God’s grace, we are doing well, isn’t it?”, Gopalan said.

“I think you should not have meddled with the size of the picture in your greed. You employed a cheap human trick thinking that increasing the size of the picture would fetch you greater riches. I think the Lord is upset. I am now in the family way and the lady doctor confirmed it and added a bombshell about the certainty of a twin,” she mumbled with a crestfallen face.

Gopalan’s face fell and lost its colour. After a long silence, he said,” I fully agree with you. I repent for what I did and will seek His forgiveness, though the consequences of my foolishness cannot be changed”

 “Do not worry. I have a suggestion. Let us hang the big picture on one of the pillars at the Krishna temple for childless women to go around it. That way you can atone for your mistake,” Bhama said with a certain finality in her voice.

When he nodded his head in agreement and promised to consult her in future, Bhama hugged him and said,” I am glad that you realized your mistake and sincerely repented for it. Please excuse me for pulling a fast one on you. I am neither pregnant nor did I consult a doctor. It was only to restrain you from overzealousness to get rich quickly. Let us be content with what God has given us. Let us return the smaller picture to the puja room and hang the bigger one at the temple.”