THE PUSH INTO THE RIVER
‘Listen
attentively. I am sending my family to a safer place as I feel insecure living
in this part of the city with my family. There is a threat to my life because
of my official duties. I have been advised to shift to a secured zone
immediately and live in an atmosphere of security. I shall not be living in
this house any more. I want you to be the caretaker of this house till things
normalize. You need not spend the nights in this house, but do come here every
day and see to it that this lawn is maintained and that everything is
okay.
Also,
look for the letters from the post office and the courier service. I am
expecting some journals and letters. If any such mail is delivered, give me a
ring from the landline telephone which is inside. Keep these keys with you. I
will retain one set of keys with me. And I shall pay you one thousand and five
hundred rupees a month for this job. Fine!’
‘Okay,
sir. Don’t worry. It is my responsibility now,’ said the caretaker.
I had
the last look at my house before asking my driver to move. I had shifted to the
new security zone created for the government officials.
One
lazy Sunday afternoon, while I was sitting in the lawn of my quarters and
reading a newspaper, the guards on duty informed me that someone wanted to see
me. I desired to know the identity of the person and the purpose of his visit.
I was informed that the person was the
caretaker
of my house and that he had some private work with me.
‘Is
everything fine? Sit down and tell me what brings you here this moment.’
‘Sir,
your house is fine. No worry on that front. A tragedy struck me.’
‘What
happened? What tragedy?’
‘Sir,
my son drowned in the river. He was a young boy of
14
years. I am ruined.’
‘That
is a real tragedy. I can understand your feelings. So sad!’
I dug
out two five hundred rupee notes from my pocket and handed them over to the
caretaker.
‘Keep
this small amount. This is nothing. My sympathies are with you. Have courage
and faith. Everything will be fine.’
He
accepted the money reluctantly but added, ‘Sir, I want to say
something. I need help. I was unwilling to come to you but many people told me
that I should seek your help. “
‘What
help? Please tell me.’
‘Sir!
Sir! it looks so odd but then you know my poverty. ’
‘Tell
me plainly.’
‘Sir,
I was told by many people that you can arrange some government assistance for
me. Many people are getting compensation, Monetary assistance and government
help. That is why I came to you.’
‘Look
here, I don’t tell lies on such serious and tragic occasions. Since the boy
fell into the river accidentally, seeking government relief or compensation has
neither moral nor legal justification. Who told you all this?’
I dug
out two more five hundred rupee notes from my pocket and handed them over to
him. He got up to leave.
‘Sir,
please keep one thing in mind. I am a poor man.’
The sun
had hidden in clouds that had been gathering up over the sky. There appeared a
sudden change in the weather. I went inside and asked the servant to
prepare a cup of tea.
After
that day, the caretaker kept visiting my office repeatedly. Sometimes he
stepped inside the office room; sometimes he met me at the entry gate and
sometimes he stopped my driver when I was about to leave for my duties. His
visits not only annoyed but disturbed me as well.
‘He is
determined to seek something of great value from me. I will refer him to some
other person who can easily say a convincing and firm ‘NO’ to him,’ I thought.
I would
meet officers during our weekly review meetings. Most of us were friendly and
helpful to each other as we faced common problems in turbulent days. I shared
this problem with one top officer connected with the implementation of law and
order in the insurgency ravaged . To my surprise, the caretaker stopped
visiting me. And whenever he telephoned me, he did not mention his son’s
drowning. As days passed, I forgot the issue altogether.
One day
while I was returning from the office, I saw the caretaker driving a new
motor bicycle. Surprised, I asked my driver as to whether he had seen who was
driving the motor bicycle.
‘Sir,
why do you test me? You know it all. You have done it.’
‘What
have I done?’
‘He
got compensation in lieu of the drowning incident of his son. It was through
your intervention that his compensation case was registered. He got a sum of rupees 2 lakh recently. Didn’t he tell you
all this?’
His
words shocked and surprised me. I had never said so to any officer nor
recommended any compensation for him. In my heart, I also felt a little happy that
the tragedy which I tried to compensate by mere two thousand rupees was now
adequately compensated. But what intrigued me was how my name got linked with
it. I was seriously puzzled.
As days
passed I forgot this incident. Uncertainty of life ruled our minds like a dictator those
days. There were many other pressing things to remember like the family
affairs, welfare of ailing parents, education of children , official duties and
meeting schedules. I had forgotten my
house as well. The caretaker’s issue crept in when he visited or telephoned
me.
And one
day the guards outside my quarters informed me that I had a guest. Since it was
the caretaker of my house, I asked the security guards to let him in. This time
he had come in a three wheeler ( auto rickshaw ) and brought a young boy with
him. This young boy was carried inside with the help of the auto rickshaw
driver and was made to sit on a chair. Once the boy was comfortable, the auto
rickshaw driver left the quarters and
waited outside on the road.
‘Sir,
he is my second son. This poor boy is polio-stricken. He cannot walk. Nor can
he use his hands. Sir, this is my biggest worry in life. I shall not be always
there for him. He needs to live in this world and for that, he needs to earn
something.’
‘I agree
with all what you say. I am distressed to find that this young boy can neither
use his hands nor legs. Very unfortunate!’
I took
out three-five hundred rupee notes from my wallet and said:-
‘Keep
this money. This is for the boy. I am sorry. Nothing can be done by me in this
case. And please let me know as to what you think about me. I do not run this
government. I have no powers to employ people. And then who told you to put
this boy to discomfort by carrying him to this place? See, he cannot sit comfortably
on that chair. And after all, if he seeks employment, he should be able to
work. He cannot walk. He cannot stand on his legs. He cannot use his hands. How
do you expect me to arrange a job for him? Who is the person who misguides
you?’
Holding
the three currency notes on his hand, the caretaker looked towards me and
said:-
‘Sir,
anything can be done if you put a word. Many people go to the office and sit.
They don’t work at all. After finishing sitting in the chair there they come
back. Nowadays the final aim is to get a monthly salary. Who cares what you do
in the office? Sir, please help this poor man.’
‘I am
sorry. I can do nothing. And listen, please do not take him to other officers
who happen to be my friends. Don’t ever mention my name at any place.’
The
caretaker called the auto rickshaw driver inside and sought his help to carry the
boy back into the vehicle. I walked up
to the door to see him off. After making the boy sit in the vehicle, he turned
to me and said:
‘Sir!
Sir! Keep this poor man in mind. God shall keep your family happy.’
‘Thanks.’
‘How
will he live when I am gone? Please think about that, sir.’
‘I have
told you very clearly. I shall not promise what I am not capable of doing. You
must listen to it once for all.’
The
caretaker came a little closer to me and said:
‘Okay,
sir. Now tell me please….. in case I push this boy too into the
river, shall I get your help in another compensation case? I am a poor man.
Don’t misunderstand me.”
I
went into my room. While drawing the window curtains, I thought of going
to the bed. I wanted to slip into a quilt and sleep in the darkness of the
room. Outside, it looked like an evening with dark clouds all over the sky.
( Avtar
Mota )
PS
This
is a work of pure fiction. Any resemblance with any person, group or society or
incident is a mere coincidence.
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.
