I intend blogging the first few sample chapters of the novel for everyone to read. Every alternate day, a new chapter will be released through my blog. Avid readers may please read and send me their comments.
I would appreciate if readers can indicate their preference about using their comments as part of the book
Chapter
4
Thanks to the mobile
cellular technology. The Mani Shankar’s cell phone was handy. Gone were the
days when one had to wait for long hours to connect a call, out of the town.
Mani Shankar talked to Gowri in U.S.A, the next morning and told her
everything, without omitting any detail – including the one relating to
Sharmilee sleeping on his bed. Gowri was a person of details, as usual, and
naturally, she had a number of questions. And, she was very magnanimous and understanding,
as usual.
“I know you very
well, Mani. Unfortunately, the world is not as magnanimous or large hearted as
you are. You can run into problems. So, be careful. Take care. Best thing, take
the girl to some Home for the Destitute, and leave her there. We can take care
of her expenses there, if warranted. Anyhow, keep me informed,” Gowri said.
Mani Shankar met Gopi
in the restaurant. “Can we talk?”
“What about?”
“About Sharmilee, the
destitute girl….. You know her…. You have been offering food to her.”
“Yes, what about
her?”
“How much do you know
about her?”
“Very little. I
sympathize with the girl. Whenever she passes by, she looks pathetic. She is
very innocent. She is not communicative. Yes, I had offered food from our
previous day’s kitchen. My owner is quite strict about the revenues to the
hotel. I can’t be seen giving away even the previous day’s food freely. I am
accountable to him……. The girl looks repulsive, I am sorry to say, with her
dirty clothes and unkempt hair. But, I hadn’t seen her since the day before
yesterday. I didn’t get time to check on her, too.”
“Why are you
interested in her?”Mani Shankar was direct. He noticed that Gopi showed keen
interest in his conversation about Sharmilee. Gopi turned his head away as
though he didn’t want to face the truth.
“She is in my custody
now,” Mani Shankar continued.
He looked perplexed.
“Why? Is there any problem?”
“No, she is fine. You
must see her now.”
There was curiosity
in his look. “Where is she now?”
“Are you free anytime
today?”
“I can go with you
this evening.”
Mani Shankar was
quite puzzled by Gopi’s interest in Sarmileel.
‘Could
he be the one?’
He didn’t appear so.
They met in the
evening. Mani Shankar took him to the lodge by walk and they talked on the way.
They found enough time to share their loneliness and their stories.
Gopi’s father
Pandarinath lived in the far off Roorki, beyond Hardwar. He was a mithaiwala and had plans to start a
restaurant in Joshimatt, the base camp for the pilgrims to Badrinath, an abode
of Lord Narayana. There was no decent vegetarian restaurant in Joshimatt and
the potential for a hotel business was tremendous. But Pandarinath had no manpower
support to manage a business in two different places. He had a rich father in
law, but no issues at home. Pandarinath was growing older and his wife was
desperate to have a child. During one of his visits to Joshimatt in connection
with starting a restaurant over there, Pandarinath chanced upon a young widow
with a young boy, around seven or eight years old. The boy, Gopi, was cute and
lovable. Somehow, Pandarinath fell for Sugandhi, the widow and developed a
relationship with her. His visits to Joshimatt increased and he spent time with
Sugandhi and Gopi. He developed a liking for Gopi who didn’t fully understand
Pandarinath’s relationship with his mother. Soon, Gopi took Pandarinath as his
father. Pandarinath started his restaurant at Joshimatt and Gopi, at a very
young age, became the de facto owner
and employee of the restaurant. Unfortunately for Gopi, his mother fell ill with
some sudden serious illness. Pandarinath could have easily taken her to Hardwar
or Roorke for a good medical treatment, but he was afraid of getting exposed in
front of his wife and the rich father-in-law, whose patronage he couldn’t afford
to lose. Local medical attention didn’t help Sugandhi and she died. After his
mother’s death, the relationship between Gopi and Pandarinath went through some
metamorphosis. Pandarinath’s visits to Joshimatt reduced, though Gopi continued
to be the trusted employee and a remote son. Gopi couldn’t complain. He had a
decent life with some freedom and responsibility to engage himself in. He liked
the restaurant business and his association with it 24x7. He never went to any
school for his studies. Occasionally, he too felt very lonely, but was helpless
about it. He was already wedded to his work. His restaurant and his guests
there were his greatest companions.
“I am so sorry,
listening to your story.” Mani Shankar empathized with Gopi. He could realize
how lonely Gopi should be feeling right now.
‘I
am not the only person on this earth, to feel lonely‘…………………………………..
“Did you say anything……?”
The Gopi’s question brought back Mani Shankar to their conversation.
“I wanted to say that
I was not alone on this earth to feel lonely. In my case, I am the one who had
sought loneliness and still feeling bad about it.” Mani Shankar then told Gopi
briefly about himself.
Sharmilee had spent
most of her time that day, sleeping in the comfort of her warm room, under the
blankets. When they reached the lodge she had just got up and was sipping some
tea.
“Oh, she looks
terrific.” The Gopi’s comment came loudly.
Sharmilee recognized
Gopi instantly, with a broad smile. She extended the cup with tea to Gopi. Mani
Shankar looked for any unusual expression or body language from Gopi. There was
none, except a natural curiosity from a young adult about a charming girl. That
was interesting.
“How, uncle? What a
transformation? How could you do it?” Gopi had suddenly felt closer to Mani
Shankar and started addressing him ‘uncle’.
Mani Shankar
explained. “She is going to be in my custody for some time. I need to find a
proper place to put her in – maybe some orphanage. She also needs to be treated
for her mental illness. She is not a normal girl. I have to find some long term
custody for her.”
“Tell me, uncle, what
I can do to help you? I really pity this girl. Now, with her changed
appearance,……… I don’t know what to stay.”
But Mani Shankar
understood what he would have liked to say. The boy seemed to love her.
‘Is
she in a position to reciprocate?’
They engaged in some
small talk and went for a walk, down the valley, along a narrow path.
“There is a small
temple down this valley, an exquisite place, surrounded by a very beautiful
garden, full of wild flowers. I can take you there, if you would like. But not
now, maybe, in the morning.” Gopi explained.
Mani Shankar, Gopi
and Sharmilee appeared to be developing some intimate bond between them.
Sharmilee, for the most part, was either silent or responded with just one or
two words, but she seemed to be enjoying the company.
“Uncle, for the first
time in the last several years, I feel having some company, today,” Gopi
mentioned, towards the end of their meeting that day. They ate some simple dhal and roti prepared by Savithri Devi, the old lady, looking after the
lodge.
“What a delicious food I am eating,” Gopi
commented. Coming from the hotelwalah,
his appreciation of the food was understandable.
After all the small
and serious talk, Mani Shankar gained no further knowledge about Sharmilee. He
wasn’t yet prepared to discuss everything about Sharmilee in detail, with
Gopi.
Mani Shankar
religiously relayed what happened that day, to Gowri, who grew more
apprehensive, though she didn’t express it much. This ritual continued in the
days to come too.
*****
