She left the vehicle and went to receive the elderly woman. Taking the suitcase from her hands, Nandita inquired about her health. “You should have informed daddy. He would have come to the bus stand to receive you. Why trouble yourself?” she said.
Septuagenarian Rajamma smiled and said “I know the way to come. You people are busy in city and I do not want to disturb your schedule. Is your father there or left for the office?’ she asked.
“He is getting ready,” Nandita replied.
“Okay, you go to college. We shall talk in the evening. I think you are studying well,” said Rajamma as her eyes searched for her son Prakash.
Observing her grandmother lost in another world, Nandita kept the suitcase on sofa and left for the college.
Tucking his shirt, Prakash came out from the bedroom and felt a little surprised at the sudden arrival of his mother. She never comes when asked to come. But gives occasional surprise, he told himself and asked ‘Amma, how are you? You should have written a letter,’ he said being casual.
Rajamma felt happy seeing her grown up and accomplished son “I thought of writing you a letter, but our tailor Silar’s son Imam is writing seventh class board exams and did not spare time for me,” she explained.
Busily searching for his cell phone, belt, and watch, he again asked her “How was your journey? Did you get the seat?
“Yes, I got the seat,” she replied.
“Okay, take rest. I will come in the evening,’ he told her calling his wife Rama to give instructions.
Soon Rajamma and her daughter-in-law were busily engaged in inquiring about their worlds.
As usual, Rama expressed her unhappiness. Relating her life, she said “There is nothing great to tell you. My life revolves within these four walls. I wake early to arrange things for him and children. After they leave, I busy myself washing clothes and setting the things in order. All I get is an hour of time after lunch when I feel like sleeping or watching television. Once they return, again my work awaits me and by the time, I am finished, it will be 10 pm.
Earlier, before we had children, he used to take me to shopping or movie during the weekends. Those moments are gone. I have no time for those outings and I deliberately lost interest in going out now. I will only be bothering you with all these. By the way, how you are able to stay alone there in the village?” Rama asked Rajamma.
Though happy being in village’ Rajamma said “There is no way. When the children fly like birds, what will any parent do? Parents cannot fly with them. I am comfortable if not happy,” the elderly woman replied.
* * *
Entering the home, Nandita smiled at her grandmother and threw herself in the sofa beside Rajamma without even taking out the shoe. “Ah, tell me Nanamma, how are you? You came after a long time. You stay with us here forever,” she said.
“First you go and wash your legs and come, ordered Rajamma.
Without any word, Nandita followed her word. Changing into casuals, she again came to Rajamma and tried to drag her into conversation. The elderly woman was watching the television as if she was seeing it for the first time. She was deeply engrossed.
“Did you listen what I said. Now be with us forever,” prodded Nandita.
Turning her head impatiently, Rajamma asked “Why? What will you give me if I stay here?”
“Anything you ask,” said Nandita childishly.
“No need to give anything to me. I am happy where I am,” Rajamma said appearing disinterested to talk more.
“Why Nanamma you won’t listen to us even your own son. What treasure did you hide there in that worst thatched house. I wonder what happiness you get there in that small remote village. You don’t have a bus there, no telephone and nothing. There will be no power and you do not know when will it come or whether it comes at all in the day. Don’t you get bored living here in god forbidden place? I went mad when I came last time during the summer holidays. I swear I will never come there again,” Nandita went on and on.
Rajamma rejoiced at her grand daughter’s talkativeness but at the same time got irked by her criticism. ‘Shut up. I feel bored here not there in the village my kid,’ he said preferring not to annoy the girl.
“Why you got bored here. We do not get time to what all we want to do here. You can go to shopping, hotels, theatres and do lot of things. You hardly find time to live. But in your place, the time hardly passes. There is no place to go and none to talk to. You can just live your life surfing the countless number of channels here.”
The elderly woman wanted to put a full stop. “Okay kid, I agree. Your place is great to you and my place is great to me,” she said.
“What is great Nanamma? How are you getting along with all illiterate people there who only wake up to collect the cow dung madly running to the muddy fields? Nandita remarked.
Immediately observing the elderly woman is hurt at that she again said prolonging her voice to please her ‘I am not worried about those people Nanamma. I am worried about you. You are lonely and get bored there.”
Rajamma got a bit angry and said “You need not worry about me my child. I do not get time to get bored there. I am as busy as you are.”
Growing curious and to corner the old woman, “How? How busy are you there?” Nandita posed.
“What do you want to know all that? Don’t you have home work to do?” said Rajamma growing impatient.
“Please Nanamma, tell me how you keep busy there?” pricked Nandita again.
“I find everything very good there, the smell of wet mud, the simple people, the trees and the green fields and what not?”
You find endless rows of coconut trees giving you a beautiful look dancing with the passing winds. Next to them flow small canals sparkling with the early morning sun rays. Adjacent to them, you find vast stretches of green paddy fields converting the hot air into smooth and cool and you can really feel it as you pass by. One is always in tranquility devoid of hustle and bustle you find here.
Majority of the people go to the fields in early hours while some remain at home to rest or to care for their children. As I complete my cooking and settle in the front courtyard grinding the pigeon pea, the passersby would say hello to me and inquire `Amma, how is your Prakash? Did you go to town?’. Meanwhile, our tailor Silar’s son returns from school and asks me “Amma, should I write letter to Prakash uncle?” Time just passes quickly. After my lunch, I sleep for a while. Waking up in the evening, I water the plants in the backyard where the chirping birds try to speak something which I hardly understand. The banana tree wears a new bunch and guava tree bears more fruits. It is new experience every time I go into the backyard. I pluck some to hand over to the children passing by my home. When it is dark, people of my age – cobblers, carpenters, ironsmiths and all flock around and we keep talking about the times we had experienced or talk about our children, their jobs and places.
In the last summer, after waiting in vain for the government to desilt the sprawling tank, we decided to do it ourselves. Every villager gave one day labour and I carried ten baskets of mud. Being an elderly person, I was asked to do little while the younger people worked more. This time, the tank was full which will take care for three full seasons.
Unlike here in the town, we need not exchange money. We all exchange what we have for free. It is like a big family where everybody knows each other. I witnessed majority of villagers born and grown up. There is none I do not know or none who do not know me. I feel more comfortable and happy.
My child Nandita, we do not have comforts like you town folk, but villagers are contended lot. Though the village does not have good huge schools like here, the one very old and simple one produces proud people like your father Prakash. There are many who went to that school and are now making a decent living at distant places.
Having completed, Rajamma posed `Tell me do you have all that here? Leave about that tranquility, I do not find people talking affectionately with each other. It is really disgusting to be here. But, I want to see my son and you all loving children. It is good if I stay as little time as possible. Surely, your world is great, but to you,” Rajamma concluded taking a deep breathe.
Nandita remained silent trying to recollect the scenes she had seen in the village, now through the eyes of her grandmother.
Ends/
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