Chapter 2:
Family
Ssandeep B Teraiya
I saw him first time at the age of around 12 or so. We had bought a new home near Karan’s home. They are Brahmins, and my papa paid him the decree of “Gruh Puja”. That day we met for the first time. He arrived with his daddy and was holding green leaves from banana trees, getting into a small white dhoti and a red shirt, with yellow “Tilaka” on his forehead, and small “Choti”. He was looking like small “Pujari”. He sat near his dad, and was also chatting Sanskrit “Sloka” with his dad.
I remember my mom told me to see him and learn something from him. After “Puja”, I asked his name, what school he operates, and other stuff.
He asked me the same things and our friendship started. That day we had lunch together. Equally they are Brahmins, so my dad had asked for all three members of his household, his mother, a very kind lady, would serve my mother after lunch in cleaning and washing. From the very first day, both families became very close. We were also 3 members, including me. His father sat with my dad smoking “Bidi” after lunch. I noticed his father was smoking continuously. My dad asked him not to smoke much, but he ignored that. My mom and his mother were busy with cleaning after puja and lunch, and I was busy with Karan showing him my video games.
Soon my dad transferred me to the same school he was studying at and then we had started to go school together. In our school there was only one class per standards, so we were in the same class. We used to go to school by foot. He was very serious in his studies, and at the same time, he was very good in outdoor games too. We used to play with marble balls in our street. On Sundays, we and a few other friends used to sit at the temple. Our home whole day, and yes, I remember Karan always doing morning and evening puja at the temple. Sometime we also used to join in evening “Arti”.
After the 12th board exam, we both joined B.com at KHM College. Those days were the great days for us. We both used to go to college on my bike. He always used to make money for petrol and sometime food when we used to throw in the collage. Though his financial situation was not so good, but he was really loyal to me about money and all. Now we were like best buddies, we used to move in the city here and there, and once he asked me to go away from town. He wanted to go to some peaceful place, as our chowpaty was always crowded. He had said that we should find a beach place outside the city. Together we went outside the city, on the coastal highway. We saw the sea from the highway and we both went there, parked my bike on the road side. We walked there and found that beautiful old, damaged boat. It was really peaceful, as it is now, full of trees, and pure white sand. This boat was full of leaves and other dust, but it was a good place to sit. We cleaned it and made some kind of roof with leaves from coconut trees. As days passed, we started to visit that boat often and in a couple of months we had made a small hut on the boat. We both liked it and we started to go there almost daily. It was not that far from the city, and it was a safe place for us. It became our second home. We passed many days there, as I told you, and I started smoking there only. We used to get food parcels here in the evening and we had dinner here many times,
Whenever we get bored, sad or happy, we both used to go there. Karan gave a name to this boat.
“OHM” means nothingness as he used to say. He felt away from all the tensions, dreams, and all. There he used to feel like he was doing meditation. And he used to go there alone too, many times.
Karan told me once that he will never leave this place. He would die here. The day he said that, he was very emotional because a doctor said that his father needed to stop smoking and his mother too started having health issue.
In our college days, Karan had grown up as a very emotional boy, especially about his mother. He always worried about her health and struggle. His life was only his parents. He never wanted to leave his hometown, Porbandar. He always wanted to be with his parents to take care of them. I recall in one case I asked him why he took so much time in the temple while praying. He used to hold his hands with closed eyes and stood in front of a temple statue for a long time. He told me that day that he prayed for his mother. I said that we all did that, but why did he take such a long time? That day he told me that he prayed like this.
“Hey Bhagwan, bless my mother's great health. Hey Bhagwan, give me strength to gain tons of money so that I can serve the best life for my parents. Hey Bhagwan, forgive me if I have made any mistake. Hey Bhagwan, please be with us always. Hey Bhagwan, I will not be able to live this life without them, so please when the time comes to depart from this universe, please first take me from this world before them. Hey Bhagwan, please take care of us always.”
That day I came to know that he was so emotional, and he believes so much in God.
He was really happy here in Porbandar. He left his studies during his second year of college and started doing the job to help his father. He worked at many places. Those days, he used to deliver newspapers in the mornings and in the evenings. He was looking for another side job in the day time too. All had been going well.
He was very fond of speaking English; He always tried to learn more English. Whenever he met a good English speaker, he used to ask them to teach him. Sometimes he would come home to watch English movies on an English TV channel.
Changes began in his life in the year of 1999-2000.
We were 22 years old.
Karan, I and some other friends and neighbours were sitting in the temple. It was a meeting for our “GANPATI” event for our street and I remember it was Sunday, at five or six in the evening. Karan was standing in front of us; he was showing us a flow chart of the event. He was explaining how we would decorate it, what all the programs would be, who would manage what, and how much money we would get, etc.
He was wearing a white kurta. He had combed his hair straight up, had some beard on chicks, blue denims, and everything was perfect for his almost 6 foot height, powerful body and very white skin. He was trying to impress everyone with his manner and body language. He was standing with a paper and pen in hand, and was speaking like some teacher or some politician.
The meeting was going very well, almost everything was sorted out. When would Dholi come? Who all would bring Ganpati? Who would arrange the welcome? I was the one who has to arrange everything here at temple before they come to the Ganpati statue.
We were about to finish the meeting. I saw one taxi come with fewer bags on it. It was our new renter. This room we are sitting in was the one we rented to them; they were two members, Bhaskar Uncle and his daughter Neeta.
I called Karan to help them to carry all the luggage as we had to get it to the second floor from the stairs outside. After some introductions, Karan and I helped them to place everything in the room. While drinking water, we both invited them to join our Ganpati event the next day and we left from there. While coming back from their room, Karan asked me to meet him at his home.
Karan’s house was just 3 houses away from my house. It was owned by his father and his father got it from his grandfather. It was the last house in our dead end street. Behind that house, there was a farm; it had one room, a kitchen, a small backyard and a terrace. There were just three members living there, Karan and his parents. Karan’s dad, Manojbhai, was some 55 plus years old and as I said, he was a priest. His mother, Shanti Masi, was 50 years old and was a housewife. Karan was the only child who had come very late in their lives. They were not that much better off financially. His mother was doing some housework, including ours, and his dad’s income was not enough. Plus his mother was not well, so most of the money was used for medicines for his mother. I picked apart the door; Manoj Uncle came to the open doorway. He welcomed me. It was gloomy inside, only one yellow lamp was there and Shanti Aunty was making dinner ready in the kitchen. They used to use that traditional fireplace for cooking, with some firewood. Smoke was all over the room and kitchen. I asked Uncle about Karan, he was giving medicine to your Aunty inside the kitchen Uncle said.
I went inside the kitchen and saw Karan was standing with a water glass in hand near his mother. Aunty was having the medicines from Karan’s hand. Karan gave her water and Aunty made faces while drinking it.
How many times have I told you not to forget any medicines! Even Papa is not taking care while I am away from the house. This is why I do not want to go to another city for earning. Karan was angry in his talk with his mother.
His mother started making Chapatti again with her sticky roller near the fireplace with lots of smoke. She replied to Karan, “Beta, don’t worry, medicines are not making any difference anyway. Whatever is going to happen will happen. You don’t worry. Go with your friend Sagar; he is waiting for you,” she said.
“Mummy, I am telling you for the last time! Do not use these words again,” Karan shouted in anger.
“Hey Karan, relax. She had her medicine now. No need to worry. And tell me why you wanted me to meet you.” I changed the topic in the kitchen.
“Yes, let’s go to the terrace,” Karan asked me to go with him onto a terrace.
“Who are they?” Karan asked me immediately after reaching the terrace.
“Is that why you asked me to meet you?” I asked him with fake anger.
“No, I mean you did not tell me that the new renters were coming,” Karan said accusingly.
“Why? Why should I tell you about our renters?” I went on with my fake anger with a straight face.
“I did not mean it that way,” Karan stopped asking questions. He turned his face towards a farm field view behind his home. It was dark outside, though.
I laughed and asked him to ask what he really wants to ask.
“I was just asking to know, nothing important, so leave it anyway,” Karan replied.
“Okay… actually Bhaskar Uncle shifted here in Porbandar as he got transferred from Baroda. He was looking for two rooms to rent for a few months here in Porbandar, and they came in touch with my dad’s friend working in the same company. That’s how they came to talk with my dad and we gave them our two rooms for rent. As you know, my dad is going to get a work visa for the UK, and lots of Maher relatives are there in the UK. He will settle there, and soon, my mom and I will both shift there too. So it is better to give on rent to some good family. Now tell me what else you want to know about them?” I asked clearly.
“I want to know about his daughter. Her name is Neeta right?” Karan cleared himself by asking straight about Neeta.
“Oh, so it’s about Neeta. Hmmm, okay…” I got the hint that he was interested in her.
“No, it’s not like that. I am just asking,” Karan said.
“Oh, did you like her?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but when I saw her downstairs, while she was trying to close the car door with her long leg, holding bags in both hands, she pushed the door with her leg. She was gathering strength by holding both of her dark pink lips in her mouth. Her big black eyes, small red Bindi on her forehead, long earrings and her pure white sleeveless long dress was all so perfect for her height. She must be 5 feet 6 inches. Her hair lines on her eyes, and that relief when she dropped both bags on the floor in the room, all these things made me watch her all the time. She also looked at me with a smile as we were helping them with all the luggage. When she smiled at me, I saw some sprinkle in her eyes, it was full of happiness, yet something sad was there. It gave me a feeling like she is fighting with some sadness. But I like her personality; it is a fusion of education, freedom and our Indian values. I mean she is a truly modern girl, not like others who do show off more than their actual education,” Karan said many things about her.
“Oh, Hello, Karan you have discovered all this in just 20 to 30 minutes with her?” I asked, somewhat surprised.
“Yes, it is enough time for me to know somebody,” Karan replied with pride like he was superior in knowing people.
“So, what now? Go ahead and marry her,” I pushed him aside.
“Oh, shut up dude. I am simply stating that I like her personality. It does not stand for anything else. Chill!” Karan replied while sitting along the border of the patio.
“By the way she is older than you and me. She must be about 25 to 26 years old,” I informed Karan.
“So what? Can’t we like someone who is older than us?” Karan asked.
“No, I mean… anyway leave it. Tell me about tomorrow. We’re all set, right?” I quickly changed the topic.
“Yes, all set. I am very excited this time as we have Ganpati here for a whole week this time. We have planned so many things. I hope everything will be ok,” Karan said.
“We will rock brother; here all will be all set when you come to Ganpati statue,” I assured him.
“Yes, you have to stay ready, as I will be busy with all the other people you know,” Karan warned me.
“Yes, I know dude. You will busy in your dance with Dholi. Anyway, I am going home for dinner; we have invited Uncle and Neeta today,” I said while going downstairs.
“Hey, I want to get in on this dinner party. Wait! “ Karan ran behind me.
I ran towards my home saying “You are not invited at all.”
***
