CHANGANACHERRY TOWN
The landlord and landlady gave us one week time to decide on matters.Though I tried very hard to convince my mother,she was not ready to budge.It still felt like an uphill task till Vivek decided to intervene on Saturday when I phoned him.
''Buddy,I am coming there tomorrow.''
He reached home the next day in the afternoon.My mother gave him hot tea.Her hot tea felt lava hot to me.So I blew too hard into the cup.To my utter surprise,Vivek finished the beverage in three gulps.Now,let me take you to his exact sentences.
''Aunty,you know how hard it is for him to wake up at 4 am. and pedal all the way to Piravom in that bicycle.By allowing him to stay in that room,you are doing him a great service.''
My mother budged,at last.Sister and my mother have to stay in this home while I am away.Now,I can visit them only on weekends.Father will be away because of his work as a driver in K.S.F.D.C.,Thiruvananthapuram.He will be home only on some weekends.
Next week,we reached that home in Changanacherry.It was a Monday.There were two double storey houses in the vicinity, and I only noticed it that day. The landlord waxed eloquently about his plan to take two more people in that room.We felt numb when he gave us this grand plan.If it happens,it will be very much like a second wagon tragedy.The room was not spacious enough for two more people.
When the landlord was gone,Vivek took a blank sheet of paper.
''Buddy,we have work to do before leaving for college.''
He started to scribble something in that paper.I inched closer to have a look.Paste,broom,mat e.t.c.
In the evening,we went to the Margin Free Market.The neat objects in the shop gave me a spine chilling dread for the first time.
That evening,we were quiet a sight for the people of that town.With pillows,mats,one bucket,a cup,a broom and many other objects that would make life in a room comfortable,we walked to our new humble abode.Vivek had a confident look on his face while I sported a confused one.All this swift shopping spree was not present even in my wildest dreams.Back in the room,he said,''Buddy,we have to split the pay.Let us check it.''
He paid for most of the objects.I was clueless.It felt very much like magician Samraj goggling his eyes and screming,''Vanishing Beauty Illusion.''
''And the jug costed?.''
I looked at the bill and said ,'25'.
After one hour of calculations and deliberations,we both stopped.Then,we started to talk freely about various things.After sometime,we switched of the light and lay down.Then,we cracked jokes,talked about Superstar Mohanlal and commented about his latest films.Amidst laughter I asked him,''Can I keep the bill?.'' the laughter ended for some time.Howver,he let me keep it.We resumed talking and laughter.It continued till midnight.The word ''bill'' was not powerful enough to intervene in that friendship,which was a tryst we both were unknowingly making with destiny.
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