The Day The State Split Asunder-4

By the time he got off the bus, the sun was about to call it a day. Unlike mornings, the streets got busy with commuters, street shop vendors, and the promenading crowds. A group of five eunuchs were perambulating the streets, visiting every shop, demanding from each their accustomed toll of ten rupees each.

He is striding quickly on the sidewalk with a big smile on his face as if he had won a million-dollar lottery. Three young women all dressed in white with their black tresses freely suspended are walking abreast, on the same sidewalk but in the opposite direction. They are so taciturn and so perfectly placid that they looked like wandering ghosts.

A speedy four-wheeler is racing blindly, unmindful of the stagnated water on the road, and as a result of it, the turbid waters splashed onto the three women, drenching them from tip to toe. Their milky white garments have completely become caramel brown. Karthik was just a few metres away from them and luckily escaped from getting wet.

"You stupid!" yelled one of the woman, gazing in the vehicle's direction, "You will get knocked down by a truck…"

He looked at them with compassionate eyes and continued walking.

After sauntering further down for ten minutes, diligently marching through the dusty roads with stagnated rainwaters, he finally reached the gate of his home, pulled out his shoes and socks at the doorstep, racked it inside the wooden shoe cabinet, released the backpack slinging on his shoulder and placed himself comfortably on the sofa in the hallway stretching his hands and legs. Thereafter, he exuberantly unzipped his bag and took out the blue envelope which contained the offer letter and walked towards the Lord Shiva portrait.

God! It is only because of your blessings, I got a job today. I think you liked my prayer in the morning. 

The delicious aroma of spicy vadas frying in the oil wafted from the kitchen. The tantalizing smell intoxicated the taste buds on his tongue. He swiftly turned around and made his way into the kitchen at the drop of a hat.

His mother is singing Annamacharya songs and there are three different pans placed on the stove with three varying burning levels of flames. She was so engrossed in chopping the onions that even with tears sliding down her cheeks; she continued singing.

"Amma!" Karthik said as he quickly dragged a chair from the dining table and sat down on it.

The delicious vadas inundated in fresh curd with salted fried chickpeas sprinkled upon it are present on the plate straight in front of him.

"How was the interview today?" she asked after stopping singing while keeping her hands busy in chopping the onions into tiny pieces.

"Amma! Finally, God blessed me with a job," he said with an overwhelming cheeriness in his tone. "I am selected."

"Really!" she turned around, dropping the knife on the chopping board. "That's a wonderful piece of news. I think God might have got fed up with your morning prayer. He might have thought in case if I don't grant him a job he will irritate me daily with this kind of prayer."

"Amma… I didn't expect this kind of response from you. I thought you will be happy."

"I am just joking. Today I prepared your favourite vadas."

"What is the occasion? There is no festival today."

"Forgot? Today is your birthday," she said while walking back toward the stove.

"It had already passed fifteen days ago."

"That was according to the English calendar, as per the Telugu calendar today is your birthday."

"Why you didn't tell me this in the morning?"

 "When did you give me the chance?"

"Amma! I think on this entire planet only we Indians have the option to celebrate birthdays twice. Once according to the English calendar and second in local region calender's. Anyway! Today I received a wonderful gift truly. But…" his voice completely trailed off.

"What happened?"

"Amma!…" his tone lowered."The job location is in Bangalore."

"What!" her lip corners pulled downward in sadness.

"Yes, Amma! If I don't go, then I will lose this opportunity."

The smile on her face vanished. She was looking at him, mute and immobile, resembling a tree rooted in place. He quickly rose and stood beside her, taking her hands into his and said - "What happened?"

"Had you prayed properly in the morning maybe God would've given the work location in Hyderabad, instead of Bangalore." said his mother, her eyes ambivalent.

"Why so woebegone? You don't like me to go to Bangalore?"

"Don't ask me. Ask your dad. When matters of serious importance are under consideration, it is a woeful thing to hurry."

She moved to the sink where she began washing the dishes, wiped them dry with a wet towel, and got back to the stove. His father after having completed his evening prayers walked into the kitchen.

"What mother and son are discussing?" asked his father, looking at both of them. "Karthik! You look so animated today. What's the reason?"

"Your son finally got a job." said his mother with a melancholic smile.

"Congratulations Karthik! At last, you made it."

"Dad, the job location is at Bangalore and… Amma is not happy about it," said Karthik.

"That's wonderful! What is the point about not feeling happy?" said his father.

"Dad! Even though I am happy about the job, I am apprehensive about relocating to an alien city which I have never been to before. If I don't report, then I need to renounce the offer. If I proceed, then I need to leave Hyderabad and you both."

"We will talk about it later. For now, go and fresh up first."

"Okay, dad."

After Karthik walked into his room. His father walked back into the hall, switched on the television, casually flipping through the channels. Five minutes later his wife came along with a coffee and placed it right in front of him on the table and sat on the couch. He saw the bewildered look on her face.

"Lakshmi! Lost at sea?" he picked up the coffee glass from the table."Why you look so worried?"

"So! Finally, you let him go to Bangalore?" she asked.

"Lakshmi!" he took a sip and continued, "So far he has lived a theoretical life. Now it's time for him to live in the practicality of this world."

"How can he live there alone all by himself?"

"I came to Hyderabad with just a pair of clothes. I literally struggled for one year. But the lessons I learned in that one year brought me into the position where I am standing today."

"But! Karthik is still a kid."

"When I came to Hyderabad, my age was nineteen. Karthik is now twenty-one. He is not a kid anymore. If we keep pampering him, he will remain where he is. It's time for him to step out of the comfort zone and start learning the world around him."

"Why you don't have any compassion for his nerves? How can he manage all by himself? He may be a grown-up for you, but for me, he is still a small kid."

"Lakshmi!" he completed the last sip and placed it gently on the table. "Do you think he is going to stay there forever? Just wait and see. He will not even stay there for one year."

"How can you say that?"

"We have seen him for these many years, can't you theorize? Don't think too much about it. Let him learn a few lessons by himself. On a still sea, even a passenger who learned the basics of navigation can sail the ship smoothly. It is only in the troubled waters, the skill gets surfaced conspicuously. All these years he has been sailing on the plain waters."

His mother did not say another word. She silently picked up the glass from the table and went back to the kitchen. Her eyes mirrored what her voice concealed. Her mind wandered somewhere a thousand miles away.

When the change of state occurs, the phenomenal mind will assume a unique aspect, which is indecipherable. The pain felt in separation is the price paid for love.

Ten minutes later Karthik walked into the hallway and sat beside his father, who is watching the updates of the burning Andhra-Telangana issue.

"These people are fighting like dogs." said Karthik, looking at the tv screen."Why don't the leaders from both the regions sit, discuss, and end this impasse?"

"The two regions are fighting for Hyderabad. It has become a bone of contention for both the regions. It will be a tremendous loss for Andhra Pradesh if Hyderabad goes to Telangana. Business barons and industrialists have invested enormous funds in developing Hyderabad as a global IT hub and the engine of economic growth for the state." said his father.

"Dad! Let's not talk about it. I hate politics. Tell me one thing finally…" he picked up the remote and muted the television. "What to do with this offer?"

"Just go ahead…" said his father. "Bangalore is the IT capital of the country, an idyllic place to start your career."

"Dad, I am feeling an intense surge inside of my chest with oscillating thoughts. I want to join and I don't want to leave you both."

"Karthik!" said his father, placing his hand on his shoulder and said, "Always remember. The hardest walk you can make is the walk you make alone, that is the walk that makes you the strongest. Do you know when I first came to Hyderabad? I didn't even have a job. I just came with a pair of clothes. I have no friends and relatives. I used to sleep at the bus stand."

"Amazing!" said Karthik."Fair and square, you had thrown yourself to the wolves and returned leading the pack. But why Hyderabad?"

"There are no major industries in my village, and the only option is Hyderabad. We didn't have mobiles and the internet in those times. There's no way we could share our troubles with our parents. That year was harrowing."

"I can't imagine a single day without mobile and the internet."

"That's the problem with your generation. Always remember and pin this in your mind - 'The wolf on the top of the hill is never as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill' Always be that wolf, climbing the hill. Have the hunger to achieve more in life!"

"Thank you so much, dad. You really inspired me. Now I am feeling excited to discover the hidden dimension of my life. But what about Amma? She is not happy."

"I already spoke to her. There's nothing to worry and did you look at the hostels?"

"Yes, dad. I already searched for one. But they are asking to pay a month's fee in advance. We can pay it online."

"I will give you my card. Do the payment. Your generation is fortunate. You didn't even reach Bangalore, but still, you confirmed a place to stay. In my days we had to roam on streets day and night looking for the 'to-let' board sign."

"Okay, dad."

His mother came to the hall holding two bowls in both hands containing his favourite Vadas, placed it on the table, and sat on the chair facing them in the opposite direction.

By the time he completed eating it, the image of a homeless man he had seen in the morning flashed in his mind, reminding the promise he made to himself.

"Amma! Can you pack some food in a box?" asked Karthik.

"Why?"

"This morning I vowed to give food to a homeless man at the bus stop if in case if I get a job."

"I will pack it."

She walked back to the kitchen. Five minutes later she came along with a carry bag containing the box and gave it to him. He collected the box and strode off toward the bus stop.

When he approached, the old man was singing songs and was playing with a stick just like the way kids play with the toys. He gave the box into the hands of the old man.

The old man after having taken it from him said - "Andhra and Telangana will soon get married…"

This man is crazy. The two regions are fighting against each other for the divorce and he is saying Andhra and Telangana will soon get married.

To be continued...