The Simpleton from the Village
"Where are you off to, Kumara", asked Krishnan from the tea shop, pouring tea from one tumbler to another, with a flick of his wrist.
"Taking the buffaloes to the river. The vet will be visiting the village animal clinic today, need to reach early. By the way, when you return from the town, will you buy me a packet of ghee rice?" said Kumaran.
Kumaran was a daily wager, a simple man with simple needs. He stayed alone in his hut, after the death of his mother 3 years ago. He admired people who wanted to achieve something in life, like his childhood friend Sudhakaran, who had left for a job in the gulf soon after passing his 12th. He was content with his simple life. Kumaran had also been to school for 12 years, but he could pass only till 4th grade. Realising that he was not fit for an academic life, he dropped out and tended the cattle in the land-lord's farm. Over a period of 10 years, he had saved some money to buy a couple of buffaloes. He tended to them when he did not work in the land-lord's farm. They were, in a way, his dearest possessions.
The tea-shop was the meeting point for the village. Everything from the economic policies of the government, to Rahul Dravid's cover drive were critically analysed and debated on those rickety stools and benches.
The next morning, Kumaran came across to Krishnan's tea stall. Venu, the tailor and Bhaskaran, the post man were discussing something interesting from the news paper. Strangely, there seemed to be a consensus among the folks. That was not common. He peered across to the news paper in Venu's hand, trying to make sense of the proceedings.
"Will it be the end of Human Kind?" Screamed the headlines. Kumaran could not understand. Everything is going on well, why would the humans die off?
By evening, he had a vague idea of what was happening. There was a comet that was heading closer and closer to the earth. There were discussions among the folks at the market that it is a harbinger of sadness and death. Some said that it would hit the earth and people from their state would die due to the impact. Kumaran was sad, this is not how he wanted his life to be.
The next morning, the warmth of the discussions was missing from the tea stall. They were looking at the photo of the comet that was their supposed killer. It was of a pale blueish hue, with a short tail. Kumaran did not know what to do now. He was going to die in a week's time. So far he had been happy and content, but now it changed. He wanted to enjoy his last week on earth in the best way he could.
That night he could not sleep. He wanted to enjoy life, but somehow, he did not know how to. He had seen in a movie long back that the hero drank a bubbly liquid called beer to enjoy life. He needed to do that. He remembered a conversation he had with his old friend Sudhakaran, who took him to the town. They had porotta and ghee rice, and had spent a day out in a hotel. Sudhakaran told him that there were 5 stars hotels, that were the most luxurious. It was beyond their capacity to stay there. From that day onwards, Kumaran always harboured a dream to see a 5 star hotel. But he always thought that there was time for all this. Little did he know that his life was going to end so soon.
Next morning, he woke up early and took out his buffaloes. He was going to sell them and use the money to enjoy life. There was no point in working hard if everything was just going to end so soon.
Considering that he had limited time, he did not bargain with the buyer. May be he hadn't heard that everything was going to end soon. He took his money and took a taxi to the city. He had never sat in a taxi or gone to the city. First he decided to get new clothes.
The hotel was far more beautiful that he had ever imagined. There were beautiful wooden carvings placed in the corners, and paintings adorned the walls. He did not find the paintings remarkable, but the wooden carvings were remarkable. He had seen a similar thing during a tour to the King's summer palace while he was in school.
He stayed on in the hotel for 6 days. Every day he had ghee rice, porotta. tapioca and payasam. He also had beer for the first time. First time, he felt that it tasted odd. But once he had more of it, he seemed to like it more and more. He did not feel like eating anything else. He was now completely happy and was waiting for the day the comet would fall down and destroy everything. He checked his calculations. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is our last day on earth. He smiled and closed his eyes. Tomorrow, there will be no waking up.
The next morning, Kumaran woke up. As he rubbed his groggy eyes, he realised that he was still alive. Every one was alive. Probably the one beings that may have died are his buffaloes. He sat on the bed, holding the soft pillow in his lap. A drop of tear escaped from his eye. He was sad that he was still alive.
"Taking the buffaloes to the river. The vet will be visiting the village animal clinic today, need to reach early. By the way, when you return from the town, will you buy me a packet of ghee rice?" said Kumaran.
Kumaran was a daily wager, a simple man with simple needs. He stayed alone in his hut, after the death of his mother 3 years ago. He admired people who wanted to achieve something in life, like his childhood friend Sudhakaran, who had left for a job in the gulf soon after passing his 12th. He was content with his simple life. Kumaran had also been to school for 12 years, but he could pass only till 4th grade. Realising that he was not fit for an academic life, he dropped out and tended the cattle in the land-lord's farm. Over a period of 10 years, he had saved some money to buy a couple of buffaloes. He tended to them when he did not work in the land-lord's farm. They were, in a way, his dearest possessions.
The tea-shop was the meeting point for the village. Everything from the economic policies of the government, to Rahul Dravid's cover drive were critically analysed and debated on those rickety stools and benches.
The next morning, Kumaran came across to Krishnan's tea stall. Venu, the tailor and Bhaskaran, the post man were discussing something interesting from the news paper. Strangely, there seemed to be a consensus among the folks. That was not common. He peered across to the news paper in Venu's hand, trying to make sense of the proceedings.
"Will it be the end of Human Kind?" Screamed the headlines. Kumaran could not understand. Everything is going on well, why would the humans die off?
By evening, he had a vague idea of what was happening. There was a comet that was heading closer and closer to the earth. There were discussions among the folks at the market that it is a harbinger of sadness and death. Some said that it would hit the earth and people from their state would die due to the impact. Kumaran was sad, this is not how he wanted his life to be.
The next morning, the warmth of the discussions was missing from the tea stall. They were looking at the photo of the comet that was their supposed killer. It was of a pale blueish hue, with a short tail. Kumaran did not know what to do now. He was going to die in a week's time. So far he had been happy and content, but now it changed. He wanted to enjoy his last week on earth in the best way he could.
That night he could not sleep. He wanted to enjoy life, but somehow, he did not know how to. He had seen in a movie long back that the hero drank a bubbly liquid called beer to enjoy life. He needed to do that. He remembered a conversation he had with his old friend Sudhakaran, who took him to the town. They had porotta and ghee rice, and had spent a day out in a hotel. Sudhakaran told him that there were 5 stars hotels, that were the most luxurious. It was beyond their capacity to stay there. From that day onwards, Kumaran always harboured a dream to see a 5 star hotel. But he always thought that there was time for all this. Little did he know that his life was going to end so soon.
Next morning, he woke up early and took out his buffaloes. He was going to sell them and use the money to enjoy life. There was no point in working hard if everything was just going to end so soon.
Considering that he had limited time, he did not bargain with the buyer. May be he hadn't heard that everything was going to end soon. He took his money and took a taxi to the city. He had never sat in a taxi or gone to the city. First he decided to get new clothes.
The hotel was far more beautiful that he had ever imagined. There were beautiful wooden carvings placed in the corners, and paintings adorned the walls. He did not find the paintings remarkable, but the wooden carvings were remarkable. He had seen a similar thing during a tour to the King's summer palace while he was in school.
He stayed on in the hotel for 6 days. Every day he had ghee rice, porotta. tapioca and payasam. He also had beer for the first time. First time, he felt that it tasted odd. But once he had more of it, he seemed to like it more and more. He did not feel like eating anything else. He was now completely happy and was waiting for the day the comet would fall down and destroy everything. He checked his calculations. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is our last day on earth. He smiled and closed his eyes. Tomorrow, there will be no waking up.
The next morning, Kumaran woke up. As he rubbed his groggy eyes, he realised that he was still alive. Every one was alive. Probably the one beings that may have died are his buffaloes. He sat on the bed, holding the soft pillow in his lap. A drop of tear escaped from his eye. He was sad that he was still alive.
Nice story..
ReplyDeleteWell written! Captures the ill effects of fake news on the less educated. Considering that this story is from the era when internet and smart phones were not popular, what could be the case in a similar situation now? May be a line of thought for another nail biting narrative. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete