MUKHIYA UNCLE

“Mukhiya Kaka is no more, Vimala.” Arvind came near his wife and told putting down the receiver which gave her a strong jolt.But the next moment she contained herself and told,”We have to go….would you be able to walk?”

“ Yes,I can walk.I have to go to the hospital once from where we shall book our flight tickets.”

“I thought of meeting Kaka several times … but could not do so .” Vimala’s eyes were filled with tears..

“Kaka was sick” said Arvind.

We invited Kaka several times to come and stay with us…”Please come to us.Your son-in -law is a doctor who will look after you well.. But he never came.He told that if he took the water from daughter’s house he would go straight to hell” Vimala was sobbing.“I do not even remember the faces of my Daddy and Mummy.Mukhiya Kaka looked after me like his own daughter.He never allowed anything to fall short during my upbringing.

Vimala was sobbing thinking about all that.

“Vimala, take care of yourself.I understand your feelings.” Arvind told consolingly.

Mukhiya Kaka and Kaki were parents for Vimala.They gave love to Arvind and Vimala so much that the even after ten years of their marriage all the customs followed so far were like that for a newly married couple.

From the childhood the crops coming from the fields were kept in Vimala’s hands first .Auntie used to say that the first fruits are always to be offered to God.Kaka used to say that they were the Gods and Goddesses for them and their smiles- their blessings.

When Arvind’s posting was at Lucknow, auntie used to send crops like pulses , wheat, rice, after proper cleaning.Apart from that Laddu made of sesamum seed, Arvind’s choices snacks , or papads and pickles for children.After every season the items going into the sacks varied but not the weight. Seasonal fruits and vegetables were also sent to them by the aunt.Arwind told jokingly to Vimala,”Seeing you none will believe that you eat so much.Your Kaka and Kaki seem to be caring about your diet.”Even when Vimala requested them not to send Kaki would say “Vimala dear, without offering to you the first crop, Kaka would not taste anything from the new crops”.

When they left lucknow the practice was stopped.Still all possible things like crates of mangoes,home made ghee, ladoos made of dry fruits,were despatched to them through servants by train.The transporting cost was more that the material cost.When Kaki was told about it her reply was ,” Without offering to the Gods and Goddesses , Uncle would not taste anything”.

The young village servants vied with each other to get an opportunity to carry the materials to Vimala Didi.Vimala felt sorry that after the demise of Mukhiya Kaka, Kaki will be left alone .She could feel Kaki standing in her cotton saree before her.In the name of ornamentation Kaki used to apply large sindoor on her forehead which none would have ever seen fading.Her lips were always red with the juice of Paan.Her chair, kept at the center of the courtyard, was shifted to a shady place in relation to the sun’s position.From there she could see people coming through the front door and also on all servants working in the house.Keeping a plate on her lap she engaged herself in cutting betel nuts while keeping an eye on all servants.

Vimala had heard about her parents that when she was only three years old there was a fire in the granary in which both got burnt badly and died as none could save them.

Vimala was going to the village after two years.Her flight was only upto Delhi beyond which she was to travel by a taxi.

No sooner she came out of the airport she reached her childhood.As the taxi moved, the fresh memories of childhood started coming alive.

“I do not remember the faces of my parents,Arvind” She started telling her husband with eyes full of tears.” When I was small Kaka used to carry me on his shoulders to the village school.I felt a little shame when I slightly grew up.My friends teased me telling that I was a child to be carried on shoulders.Kaka had a desire that I should study.I used to study waking up to late night, Kaka also kept himself awake for my sake..Arvind had heard these stories a number of times.Had it been other time he would have asked her to stop.Now Vimala was looking like a child who had lost her father and was heartbroken.

“I know Vimala that you love your Kaka.What to do? Whomsoever has come has to go.You must be strong as you are to console your Kaki.” Arvind held Vimala’s shoulder and told this in a consoling manner.

“Arvind ,the problem is not that I love my Kaka.The problem is that Kaka loved me too much”.Vimala wiped of her tears but sorrows made her eyes an “ Akshay Patra”.The moment she control herself she started sobbing again.Through fields and farmyards,ups and downs the car reached the destination.

The main gate in front was open.The whole village was eagerly waiting for the arrival of Vimala Didi and the bridegroom.As soon as they came activities for taking them to the village got speeded up.Both the sons of Kaka Ji were present in the house.Amidst sobs and wailings whole work was completed.The Haveli which looked lively when Mukhiya Kaka was alive looked gloomy after his demise.

With great difficulty Arvind got leave for two days.So it was difficult for him to stay beyond.He called the taxi in the evening itself.When the taxi came Vimala was sitting with Kaki.When she sought permission from Kaki she cried,” Wait till the final Shraddha ceremony, dear.”

Vimala looked towards her husband.He could make out aunt’s feelings and so he thought it proper for Vimala to stay with the family for some more days.

She ate and slept with Kaki. Both could share the pains and console each other.The pains bring the people nearer.Both were attached to the departed soul closely.They remembered the past.Vimala suddenly remembered and asked, “Kaki, please tell me why was uncle touching my feet before leaving for outside work”.

Kaki found it difficult to answer.Later she told,’Kaka saw you as a Devi.Do you know he wished to touch your feet before going out anywhere because he said,”Taking the dust of my Devi’s feet I would like to go to heaven.”

“ Oh Kaki,Kaka was God himself.For him his heaven is already booked.”

“Why God, Dear? If everyone becomes human, it is more than enough.”

On the final day of the ritual, a lot of relatives and friends were present in the house. Kaki herself had not seen many of them.

Out of that was one distant Buwa ,sister-in-law of Mukhiya Ji who knew Vimala’s parents very well.

She called Vimala , “Hi, Murari’s daughter”

“ Ji ,Buwa Ji !Kaki gave a short reply and introduced Vimala briefly.This type of address was quite new to Vimala.She had made least effort to know the names of her real parents.But somehow her curiosity made her sit near Buwa Ji today.With love she swept her hand over her head and said ,”You have got the face of Vimala , dear child.”

Oh Amma, I am myself Vimala.” She told smiling mildly.

“Don’t you know, my child.The name of your mother was also Vimala.”

No,I am hearing it for the first time, Amma”

Vimala was devastated.She felt that her existence was proving meaningless..The roots of her faith developed for years were shaking.Why did the family ,considered by her as her own, Kaka Ji who gave her so much love , kept it a secret?

She was also getting annoyed with herself .She became so blind in the love of Kaka Ji that she did not even bother to know the names of those who gave her birth.Giving an excuse of headache, she went inside a room and recollected old memories .She was getting mad for not understanding the reason why Kaka and Kaki did not divulge the truth.

Till the guests departed ,Vimala did not come out of the room.By the time Kaki came to the room, after completing her work at night,Vimala had almost lost her patience.She asked Kaki,” “Why did you people name me as Vimala?”

“We named Vimala after the name of your mother, so as not to forget her.”

“So have you forgotten my father?”

“ No dear,We will never forget them even for a moment.Whenever we see you their memories become deep.Kaki wiped out her sweat and sat near Vimala” You neither have your Amma , Bapu , nor Kaku now.So all these have no meaning , my dear.”

"Vimala brought out all her predicaments

“ But I am here Kaki !I want to know why was I given my mother’s name…..Also in which way Kaka Ji got his atonement? What was Buwa Amma telling when she stopped seeing me coming? Vimala threw out all her predicaments before Kaki.

“Old stories are sometimes more painful than the wound, my dear”.Kaki wanted to appease Vimala.

“I get too much pain even otherwise, Kaki!”Perhaps knowing the truth might bring me some relief.Well let me know! “

“Your Kaka himself wanted to tell you the truth through his mouth…but did not venture to do so.This was when you had completed two years.I was to deliver Mohan.I had gone to my paternal house for a check up.Your Kaka, your mother , father and you were here. Your Kaka, spending time with his friends, came home heavily drunk late one night”

“What are you telling, Kaki? Kaka drinking !!!

“That was a dull day, dear, so he sat to drink in the company of his friends.Neither had he drunk before, nor had he drunk after”

“Ok then what happened?”

“Your father had gone to sleep.But your mother was awake to feed them.When they came she went to deliver the food after heating.Kaki’s fair face had faded.With tearful eyes when she looked at Vimala her eyes showed that she had lakhs of questions to ask” “Then?” .

“Liquor turns a person into an animal.The power of discrimination between good and bad is lost.He leaped up at her and grabbed her.Poor woman tried hard to escape from his clutches to save herself.She shrieked and shouted which reached the sleeping Murari. He was shocked to see when he came to help her.He pounced on his brother.He freed her from his clutches.Both the brothers clashed.They did not see your mother.When they heard that there was a fire in the granary they saw your mother standing.Murari jumped into the fire to save her.How could he save her! He too lost his life. Villagers tried to extinguish the fire but by then both were swallowed by fire “.Saying this Kaki kept silent

Vimala was numb.She could not believe that a person whom she respected so much will have such an image too.She became breathless.It was a punishment for her to spend even a single moment in that house. Early morning she called a taxi and left for Delhi suddenly.Thus she reached Mumbai alone.

Seeing Vimala suddenly, Arvind got surprised.” How have you come alone?”I was to reach there tomorrow.Had I received a message, the least I could have done was to receive you at the airport.After seeing Vimala he could not say anything.I thought you would like to stay in your house a little longer.”.

“That is not my house, Arvind!”

“Why do you say so? By the death of Kaka Ji the relationship does not get snapped”

“You will never believe, Arvind, the type of the truth I have confronted with.”The dual is going on between my mind and my heart.” Vimala told in a serious note.” I did not know the truth of Kaka Ji.He was a murderer.”

Arvind could not believe his ears.Till date she had not got tired praising Kaka Ji.How could Vimala talk against her uncle like this today!

“We shall talk about it later.You are tired now. So take rest.”

“ Arvind you do not know the condition through which I am passing now.Whom I considered as God has turned a Devil.When I tell you the truth about Kaka Ji , you will not believe.How much respect I had for him but he has lost everything after I came to know of his credentials. Vimala went on venting her feelings uncontrollably.

“To which reality you refer to Vimala? It was a mistake committed unknowingly, the consequences of which would be so serious was not known to him” Arvind told Vimala which shocked her.

“How do you know all these?”

“I knew it even before, Vimala.When your Kaka came to our house with the marriage alliance everyone wanted to know about your parents”.Arvind went on telling.

Vimala looked at him puzzled.

“Then he told us everything and left the decision for us to make.When there was an agreement a request was made to us not to divulge this fact to any one.” Arvind told .He was deeply in love with you, Vimala But you forgot everything in a moment after hearing a little against him”.Arvind’s changed to a complaining note.

“But what were the mistakes of my mother and father? Parents lost their lives only because of him.He has committed a crime”.Vimala could not control her temper.

“He committed a mistake but he did everything for atonement throughout his life.Do you know why he named you Vimala?” asked Arvind.

“I do not know, why?”

“I shall tell you.The fact remains that he could not free himself from the crime.But by giving the name of your mother and touching your feet throughout his life, he was not begging pardon from you but from your departed mother.If you see from the point of justice he was correct, Vimala”For a crime committed in a weak moment he did atonement throughout his life. Arvind told Vimala convincingly which made her think with a calm mind.

Arvind made her understand the nature of a human mind.Those whom we like we make him respectful. And when some flaw is found in his image the very same person is treated not even as a human.Today when the flaw of Kaka Ji came to surface he is not treated as a human.This is wrong Vimala.To err is human.A true human will try to learn by mistakes so as not to repeat it in life again. The way your Kaka Ji did.”

Kaka Ji followed the conduct of a true human.Mistakes are committed by humans.He only reaps its consequences.It is we who make him either God or a Devil. Arvind tapped Vimala’s hand and said,” I leave the verdict to you.It is up to you to make either the simple mistake look greater than his life long atonement or his life long love for you to make you forget his small mistake committed innocently. Arvind peeped into Vimala’s eyes where he found tears but not a single spark of her fuming temper.