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‘Get lost from my sight; you don’t get your ball back. Make your parents pay for the loss first. Then we shall see! If I don’t get my money back I am, charma sulithini (rip your skin off). ‘he threatened them moving the walking stick as if to hit. The boys were scared out of their blues, they simply ran away, scattering in different directions. ‘Let’s go in Keshava. These boys are so careless! Go and clean out those glass pieces. And give me that ball’ he said sternly. I silently handed him the ball and went on to clean the bedroom. These shattered glasses are a thing of beauty. You should look at them, adore them and then only discard them. Those tiny crystals like structures, each piece sparkles like a diamond when sunlight passes from the window. I looked at them about fifty or so fallen on the ground revealing a mystery world within itself. Picking up one for a closer look I kept it near my eye, the sun rays seemed to pierce through the crystal and shone brightly with different colors. This is really a thing of beauty! Then quickly I collected them, moving every piece on the bed and around it. I had to next pacify Thatha, he was boiling with rage. I knew how to bring him back to normalcy. The right recipe can do wonders at such situations. Thatha was a great foodie. He loved to eat and enjoyed his meal thoroughly. At times I have also wondered at the way he eats, hurriedly and stuffing his mouth with food. There was an urgency in the manner he had food. This behavior made me reach two conclusions about him:
• Either he’s never had delicious food throughout his life till now.
• Or he prefers his lunch and dinner really ‘Hot’

The present situation gave me the clear command of preparing a feast for lunch. In two months, you can study any man even if you are just a ten year old kid. I knew what each of his taste bud yearned for. Ajji’s words rand in my ears ‘The rich eat like kings. So you did better get prepared to become the Royal Chef.’ I was trained to become one. The menu for today’s Royal feast is…… a surprise! I tiptoed to see if Thatha was taking a nap. He was enjoying a blissful sleep on his easy chair. Was he the same ‘Lion’ that roared few minutes back at the verandah? Because if you look at him now, he slept like a harmless child. I went back to the kitchen. The short ‘Easy chair nap’ usually lasts for forty minutes after which straight to reading the different newspapers. Thatha had a passion for journalism, I think. He subscribed for three top newspapers daily, and he did read each one of them carefully. Forty minutes was more than enough for preparing a normal lunch, but a feast? Will I be able to keep the surprise to the last minute? But I wanted to see that expression on his face at the moment he sees the feast spread over the huge dining hall. So I multi-tasked, cutting vegetables for sambar and frying the spices simultaneously. Then grinding the spices for that secret ‘Sambar’ powder my family was famous back home. Iyengar sambar is the most famous thing in entire Karnataka. Payasam I was trying only for the second time, hope it comes out well. Everything fell on place and it was ready by twelve thirty THATHA’s lunch time. I walked into the dining table, his nose had already sensed the aura of ‘feast’. ‘Keshava, what’s special for lunch?’ he said in a pleasing tone. His pace increased as he almost rushed to take his seat. ‘Sir I thought some change will be good from the routine… I replied very modestly. No longer did I finish the sentence he had already started. I stood nearby ready to help him with the servings. But he seemed to lose himself in enjoying each morsel of food he ate. When I handed him payasam in a tumbler, he was already a happy man. Did I see tears in his eyes? May be I did, I will never know with those thick rimmed glasses hiding his eyes. But when he got up from his chair he looked at me affectionately like one of his own. I will never forget that day. Thanks to those ‘little rascals’.

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When Thatha was telling me his story, I imagined in my mind every single incident that he was narrating. I was the director of the cinema and I was my own audience. I imagined young Thatha in his prime youth, in boot cut pant with bright colored polka dotted shirt. He would have looked like our Annavru. I imagined him (with all the creativity I was blessed with) in the scene where he met Jayamma for the first time. After he walked out of the house, I said “CUT! Good shot!” In my mind. This whole experience was new to me but it’s a very exciting experience. I was on my journey of becoming the best director in ‘sandalwood’. But right now I was looking for a character to play Jayamma, as per the rumors back in my village was not exactly a ‘damsel’ or anything close to one. And it was very difficult to marry her off. People also felt she was ‘different’. More on the ‘talkative side’. Nothing like how Thatha had praised endlessly. Now who can I cast for that role…. It’s not a small decision to make. She’s my movie’s heroine. Opposite to someone of the stature of Annavru…. I better take my time. And also verify my sources back home.


Jayamma had passed away ten years back and Thatha was a widower. He seemed too merry to be one though. This always stimulated the ‘detective’ in me to act accordingly and investigate. I loved detective movies. And watched them regularly. Before any of the audience guessed who the murderer was, I would have. There was this talent in me. Usually these murder stories had a secret motive. ‘What was your motive Mr.SK?’ I would ask myself. ‘Dowry? Domestic violence? Boredom? Did you kill her’ I rehearsed in a James Bond style. ‘Whatever it was, I will find out.’ I told my reflection in the mirror and finally ended by saying ‘Keshava, ChennaKeshava’. That was the best Bond performance I ever saw. This detective thing is not very easy you see. I started thinking in my free time about the different kinds of movies I watched. There must be a secret room in which I can find ‘the evidence’ even today. I drew a map of the house on the backside of the advertisement pamphlets. And I planned to check in each and every room during the nap time. Back in my village, I watched ‘Crime story everyday’. I wanted to become a police detective and catch the bad criminals. Or I can even make a movie on police.

‘Keshava, come over here’ Thatha called me lovingly. He’s beginning to like this foundling. ‘Sir!’ I said sincerely. ‘Wanted to talk to you.’ he said. His voice scared me, though it was gentle. What did I do today! I ran in to the kitchen first, just in case I had left the milk boiling. No, I hadn’t. Safe. I then retired to a corner where he majestically seated himself on the easy chair. ‘I want to tell you my story Keshava. You can many lessons from my life. About love, about hate, about the various patterns of behaviors in humans and many such things, I will tell you all’ he said. But during the whole monologue never did he once look in to my eyes. There was a mixture of guilt, shame and pride in his voice. I waited patiently. ‘Trraaasshh…’ a loud crack of breaking glass came from Thatha’s bedroom. I rushed immediately but I knew what caused the sound. I had done it several times myself before. Just to ensure it was the cricket ball which caused the commotion I ran towards my master’s bedroom. Thatha followed angrily. ‘These boys are done! They are over today. Fetch my walking stick, let’s go and confront those rascals!’ cried Thatha in rage. Back in action, I thought. I fetched him his walking stick; secretly in my mind I was hoping he gives those rascals a good scare today. And out we went together. Its going to be an interesting afternoon, we are coming for you little rascals! The ball was in my hand and I knew they want it back at any cost, even if they had to fight with ‘Dodda mane Ajja’ (big house grandpa). They stood in a line outside the gate ready to welcome us. Their faces had sunken to the size of the ball; they avoided looking at Thatha but searched constantly for the ball. Meanwhile I slowly revealed the ball from behind and began playing with it, throwing it up in the air. Their eyes followed the ball and their heads moved up and down. Thatha cleared his throat and began ‘hey, you rascals broke my window pane! How dare you! You people are going to become the citizens of India tomorrow and look at yourselves now. You shabby, useless, good for nothing boys! What will the country gain from you?’ his voice was fierce. I was scared; I stopped playing with the ball and hid behind him. The intensity of scolding of Thatha is directly proportional to the intensity of their scolding to me. Wow, I am a good mathematician also now. Thanks to Thatha.

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This city is a strange place; let me tell you that one thing for sure. In our village, the women folk wake up at five thirty and start sweeping the front yards. They make so much noise that it wakes everyone in the household, what with all that scrubbing the ground with cow dung; it’s definitely going to make lot of noise. And there is always the local gossip among women in the neighborhood. But one thing I have concluded in all these years is that all women, atleast in the village are true artists or they were simply too good in geometry. You should watch them drawing those intricate rangoli designs. Simply superb. But what about here, no one wakes up early in the morning. Only the old people I see in parks walking and talking and laughing loudly. Some of them also exercise in the parks. ‘Parks are very important in cities’ Thatha always said. Strange, I never see any woman with their hands colored rangoli on early mornings.

Early that morning I found myself tucked in bed, I must have slept in Thatha’s room after he fell silent. I started the day with my regular chores. Thatha returned from his morning walk and I met him at the spacious verandah as I was sweeping ‘I didn’t want to wake you up today. You were sleeping peacefully’ he said in a gentle voice and placed the walking stick right in its place. ‘Sir, I must have dozed off. I am sorry.’ I said apologizing. ‘It’s ok Magu, carry on now. That was a heavy dose for you yesterday I think’ he mumbled slightly embarrassed and walked away.

They told me. Even before Thatha had opened the topic, I heard stories about Jayamma in my village. There were a lot of rumors back in the village about Thatha and Jayamma. Before I tell you the rumors about this couple, I should tell you something about Thatha’s history. In a village, everyone knows Who, Where, How, Why of everyone else. May be Thatha thinks he is forgotten by the people, but it’s never so. The stories are told from mouth to mouth passed down from generation to generation. And so it reached my ears, my grandmother told me everything she knew about Thatha. Thatha was the fourth son in a family of six. They belonged to a rich family of landlords. ‘They have enough money to feed the entire village for a whole century’ my grandmother said. The children were a bunch of arrogant idiots except for Thatha, he wanted to study. The others only believed in tormenting the poor all the time, Thatha never approved this behavior. So he kept himself as far away from the village, far from his people. My grandmother said that Thatha was clever and all, no doubts about it. On the day he had passed metriculation, his family celebrated the occasion lavishly. They announced a dinner for all the poor and there were special prayers offered in the temple. She said she would never forget that day in her life. ‘The food the rich eat gives them that glow on their face and also makes them intoxicated with wealth. That’s why they act like mad elephants, always troubling the poor.’ she commented. Thatha was not there to celebrate his success. Some villagers found him sitting under the huge mango tree and writing something. ‘People knew he was different from the rest. A bit foolish in the head. Always looking at the sky and muttering things no one understood. He carried with him paper and pen, everywhere he went. These educated people are a big mystery’ she sighed.

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‘I used to sing that song to my wife when she was away, in her parent’s house. My wife, Jaya. She was very beautiful, long hair neatly plaited. And jasmine flowers everyday, to decorate in her hair. Her ever smiling face used to cheer me up in any tough situation. She was a woman of less words but a careful listener. Long back, before you were even born Keshava, I met her in the arranged marriage fashion. The guy goes to the girl’s house and all that, you would have seen in the movies. So, I also went to my sweet Jaya’s house in Maddur. The house was filled with guests, running around and fetching things for the ceremony. People were laughing and passing around plates of sweets and snacks. I had eaten so much that day. Inside my heart I knew this was the woman of my life, before I even laid eyes on her. I waited impatiently for the moment when I would see my beloved. Even the different kinds of sweets laid in front of my eyes didn’t distract me that day. I rubbed my fingers constantly in tension. And my eyes were searching for my bride. How will I recognize my bride? Every one wearing sari here with heavy jewellery. I began scanning their feet; married women always wear a silver belt around their feet. I must have looked like a boy who had some serious problem in the head because my father in law looked at me probingly. My uncle, having realized the gravity of the situation handled it well by saying that I was just looking at a rat which was passing by notoriously causing trouble to the household. Synchronously there was lots of shouting heard among the women ‘Rat, drive that away’ and my gaze turned to normal. Clever uncle he saved me that day. I just bent down my head and started to count numbers silently. They say it’s a good technique to control anxiety, this counting thing. So that’s what I did for a few minutes. Then there was silence and then giggling of girls. Slowly my Jaya walked in to the room around her were fifteen women. As soon as I looked at Jaya I knew it was her. There was no confusion. It was her. Wearing a red sari, she looked as lovely as any woman can be. I could still hear the sound of her anklets inspite of the noise. My ear was somehow fixed like a radio and I picked up her frequency only. Her face looked like an angel, she was the most beautiful woman I had seen in entire Maddur. I got up as she came and sat and cleared my throat. My father in law began to panic but I raised my hand in consolation and said ‘I liked the girl. Please arrange the marriage early’ and then the whole room fell silent. ‘But, what about…..’ my uncle asked in broken words and my only reply was ‘I know she’s the one. No questions. No dowry. No singing needed to confirm it.’ I looked at her for one last time before I made my heroic exit.

‘I don’t know Keshava, what came on to me that day! I was beaten black and blue when I came back home by my father for being disrespectful. There were threats made but I took them all in my stride and patiently waited for the date of marriage. I returned to Bangalore to continue in my job. Back then I was working for the government primary school. I waited eagerly for my father’s forgiveness and more so for the good news of my wedding. Now in my free time I began asking myself ‘Did she like me? I made such a big fool of myself in front of her. Hope she isn’t scared by the way I acted. I should write her a letter and explain myself more clearly’. Keshava, those days were not like this. E mail, Chat and dating were un-heard of. People from good families never spoke to or wrote to their fiancée before the marriage. But I was a modern man, I was educated and somewhere in the corner of my heart I had one and only one single doubt about Jaya, ‘was she literate?’ it kept haunting me every day and night for twenty three days. Then I found the answer to all my doubts. Because then, I was married to her!’ at this point of narration Thatha took a break. He fell silently for a few moments and stared at the ceiling for a long time. I must have fallen asleep after that......

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In the days to come, I began to like Thatha. He was a man of simple needs but a disciplinarian. His schedule never changed not even by ten minutes. He got up sharp at five o clock, put on his ‘Monkey cap’ and held a walking stick (to scare away the dogs) and went for a walk to ‘catch some fresh air’ he used to say and then followed a lecture on pollution. He was my teacher, he taught me how to read and write. I was slow in the beginning but picked up fast. I cooked for him and sat beside him while he ate slowly and silently. Never does Thatha drink water with his meals; he says it’s a bad thing. And I have embraced this habit. Though the television was there, he referred to it as the ‘idiot box’ and watched only news on it. Every time I saw those colorful advertisements my eyes grew big. And he would notice it and sigh. Every evening we would have coffee at the same Janata hotel at sharp four thirty after his afternoon nap. Dinner was always light followed by ten o clock news. Thatha was a sound sleeper, never had nightmares but snored heavily. He was my master and companion and I loved the way he calls me ‘Magu’ affectionately. Thatha was talkative but a good person, I had decided.




That day sitting near his feet at the easy chair I began to worry why Thatha fell silent. Why isn’t he telling me how bad the city boys are or about the harmful effects of pollution or the corrupt government! He lay there on the easy chair staring at the ceiling. I waited till he began to speak. ‘it’s only a passing cloud’ I told myself. And after the nine o clock news he did begin to speak, and what a speech it was!

‘Keshava, I want to tell you about that song. And why it has disturbed me and brought me to this situation’ he said with a firm voice while I walked into his bedroom to keep glass of water at his bed side. ‘Yes sir, I want to know about it. If you don’t mind telling that is…’ I said shyly. I was determined this time to give my master un-divided attention while he spoke......

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I sat down by his side and Thatha was rocking on his easy chair. He continued his story from where he had stopped. ‘Keshava, that song…. You know what it means?’ immediately I answered ‘that wife and husband are one’ he looked astonished. ‘Good, good you know lot of things already ‘ But sir, you told this much in the hotel. I want to know more…’ I asked giving a hint of my curious nature. ‘Yes, you will hear about it more. Go and switch on the lights in the balcony and here. It’s evening time, the house should be lit brightly. Go now…’ he sent me and I finished the job in a few seconds. ‘You are quick, come. Sit. It means that life is like a song, The song of emotions is the sign of prosperity, life is like veena (instrument) provides the music of life, the moment of oneness is one of joy. It’s a good message. Though there are two hearts beating, the tune is the same. And once united, we will never separate again. The song of emotions is the sign of prosperity, life is like veena (instrument) provides the music of life ’ he breathed heavily and fell silent.

Everything was strange from this evening. I had never seen Thatha behave so oddly. Of course there’s nothing odd about being nostalgic, but this was not how he was when I met him. The first time I was dropped off at Thatha’s house by my grand father, I was scared looking at this tall huge man with big eyes staring from behind thick rimmed glasses. The glasses had a big nose for support grayish black moustache which reminded me of Kannada movie villain. Only a black mole was missing on his cheek. You see, I have watched many movies in the tent. The rowdies look exactly like Thatha. But he was only dressed well than them, with a jubba pyjama. I wonder why he always wears white jubbas. Blue will also look good on him. I should tell him sometime…Hey, I am going off on a different line of thought here. On that day when I met him first, he came closer bent his head and looked at me adjusting his glasses. ‘Magu, what’s your name?’ he gently asked and only then I was consoled. You see, just anyone doesn’t call you Magu, only a good and honest man calls you Magu (kid). I displayed my 32 teeth and said ‘Keshava’. I must have whispered it very lightly because he brought his ear closer to my lips and asked me to repeat, this time I loudly and confidently said ‘Keshava sir’. He looked surprised, and slowly replied ‘Good, good. See Keshava, there’s lot of work for you.. you have to be an active boy. I don’t like these lazy boys who keep playing cricket outside. So don’t ever talk to them. They are a useless lot. Tell me what’s the use of playing cricket? Will someone from the Indian team select you looking at you playing here and breaking other people’s glasses……’ He continued to lecture on the subject but my mind slightly slipped away and I was no longer paying attention to him. My thoughts went back to my village, Kencha, Rudra, Manga and a whole team of us! How we used to slip away from school silently to far away playground and play ceaselessly. As I was entering the house through it’s screechy gate I had seen a team of 5 ‘city’ boys playing outside on the road. I was gaping at them and they all stopped playing and looked at me. It was a sympathetic look. I knew I was in the wrong place and once I entered the house there was again lot of shouting and playing. But Thatha was a good man, he is nothing like that ‘Boothayya’ I had read in the books. There is only one problem here, he speaks a lot. I turned my attention to what he was saying….. ’Look Magu, there should be no loitering around the parks and roads when there’s no work. These ‘Poli’ (spoilt) kids will influence you too. You should stay away from these people…. Now let me show you around the house and explain you the duties. Speaking about duties, when I was a school master, my students were excellent…. ‘ and I failed again to give him my un-divided attention. A few words fell on my ears but I kept staring at the huge ceiling above and the plaster that was peeling off.

Return to the Repository- page 1

‘This place looks crowded today. I wonder from where all these people come from right at the same time I want have my cup of coffee in peace. Come along with me, you boy!’ said Sampathkumaracharya, my employer to me clutching my hand tightly. I am not a small boy; I don’t know when he’s going to realize that. I am a ten year old boy who can look after himself. ‘Sir, there’s a seat for two here. Let’s rush before….’ I ran even without finishing my sentence completely to occupy the wooden bench before a couple standing close by could succeed.
‘Good magu (kid)! You are quick in action. I like that. You will reach heights in your life untouched by others’ Thatha said happily. I smiled like a happy dog. ‘Bearer, Bearer!’ he shouted loudly and the man wearing a red uniform with a dirty wiping towel over his shoulders appeared on the scene. ‘Two cups of coffee, fast’ Thatha ordered and the ‘bearer’ scribbled on his note pad and disappeared into the crowd. I continued looking at him. The kitchen, he must be going in to the kitchen. I wonder how many people are employed here to work. There are atleast, wait let me count on my fingers 1.2.3……

Jeeva Veenae Needu Nidithadha Sangeetha
Bhavageethae Baalinolumaeya Sankaetha
Indhu Milanadha Santhosha , Sukha Santhosha
Shuba Sandhesha Sandhesha , Sandhesha..voo

Thatha was lost in his thoughts. It seemed he wasn’t there any more. I was frightened. I tapped him slowly over his shoulder. No reaction! How can he die so soon! Does that mean I have to go back to the village? I have seen dead people, they don’t move just like how Thatha is sitting now.

‘Grmph…..’ Thatha stirred in his seat and I was the happiest person in the whole world. But I didn’t want to show it. I stayed calm. ‘That song, you heard that song?’ Thatha asked me in a serious voice. I had never heard that song. We didn’t have radio in our village, I wanted to say. But Thatha returned to his state of motionlessness.

Nidhiyuva Managalu Eradu , Nidithadha Raagavu Ondhae
Minchuva kan Nanchina Sanchu Indhu Ondhae
Prathisuva Hridhayavu Eradu , Papadha vaeravu Ondhae
Saeruva Shuba Samayadhae , Viraha Iradhu Mundhae

I concentrated on the song this time. I wanted to say something smart when Thatha asked me a question, to impress him. Our coffee arrived in what seemed neat and clean steel tumblers. I grabbed it the second the ‘Bearer’ left it. My fingers almost burnt.

Thatha sipped on the coffee, the song still haunted him. I wonder how he could hear the song, it was so light. My sharp ears could only hear bits of it. Thatha turned towards me and asked ‘Do you know what that words of that song mean?’ and I tried hard to say something nice but gave up. I nodded like a total idiot! ‘I will tell you everything about that song, listen carefully. It’s a very special song.’ He sipped on coffee and carefully placed the tumbler down on the table, I saw his hands were shivering. He adjusted his broad big spectacles and adjusted his voice and began ‘ It says about how husband and wife are ‘one’ always’ with a rushed voice. And sipped coffee again. I felt he cut short a long speech into just one sentence then I tried hard hearing again,

BhavageethaeBaalinolumaeyaSankaetha
Jeeva Veenae Needu Nidithadha Sangeetha

It seemed that the song finally ended and Thatha came out of his strange state and explained himself in a clearer way, not that I demanded! ‘You see magu (kid), long before you were born may be in the 1970’s when our super star VishnuVardhan had thick lovely curly hair and was smart as a young lad he had acted in this kannada movie. What’s its name! ‘Hombisilu (Sunshine)’ and the actress was… Why! It was the beautiful heroine of our times, Aarthi. Both looked the best at that time of prime youth. I have watched this movie 16 times you know! Wonderful movie, you should watch it.’ he pointed a finger. I looked in to his eyes directly for the first time, they looked wet but full of life. ‘But what does the song tell about sir….’ I enquired curiously. Something in the song shook him, I want to know why. He is my employer, I surely want to know every detail about his life. So why not start from now I thought.

‘Sir, Bill! The man in red dirty uniform re-appeared’ Thatha took twelve rupees from his long jubba ( shirt) and placed it in the small tray in front of him. The bill was ten rupees and the fellow got a tip of two rupees. He gestured something like ‘thanks’ and shied away into a long dark alley. I walked close behind Thatha, I didn’t want to lose myself here and become a red uniformed ‘bearer’. Meanwhile as we walked out of Janata hotel in Malleshwaram, the roads were as crowded as it was inside. Today was Saturday, shopping day here I think. Thatha held my finger so that I shouldn’t lose my way, or probably because he shouldn’t lose the way in his story telling business. We walked silently towards home which was about ten minutes from hotel, across the market. The house from outside looked big, very big for one person to stay. Now we are two, but it’s still big enough. But it’s old and not fancy. The gate makes a lot of sound when opened and the plaster is peeling off the walls. I can’t complain about all this I am only a servant.