Two Men...And A Thousand Words In Between

Nester Cornwallope attempted to exude confidence as he strode along the stained footpaths that are characteristic features of an Indian street, perhaps even more so in the 1970’S. He failed to accomplish this, for he was constantly forced to look down in order to avoid any plastic waste, thrown food, or animal faeces that can be found here.

‘Why did I even come to this country...’, he thought to himself.

But he very well knew that the decision to travel to India was not his to make, but his wife’s, as most decisions of such a nature, usually are.

“It will be fun”, his wife had told them.

“NO, why can’t we go to the usual destinations? Paris, Switzerland, or someplace in China, if you’re so interested in Asia so much. But India….it’s just a filt… it’s not a clean place. It’s always hot and humid in most parts. There are nice attractions, but there are better ones in Europe itself, and the people there are quite…impolite. ”

“But honey, it’s important to expose yourselves to new cultures. New experiences. Otherwise, it’ll just be the same old, same old. Besides, all of my friends had travelled there during the summer with their families, and they have all told me that it has given them a newfound appreciation for their lives. It’ll also be great for the kids… a new experience, seeing…different people.”

And so it was decided.

‘New experiences, my ass…’, he thought out aloud, immediately looking up to check if anyone had overheard him, before telling himself that even if someone had, they probably would not have understood.

He continued along, searching for the hotel where they were staying at. He spent no less than half an hour searching, but he could not find it. Finally accepting the fact that he was indeed lost, he looked around for somebody to assist him. Searching amongst the crowd for somebody to approach, his eyes wandered towards an aged man, tending to what appeared to be a vegetable cart, and approached him.

The aged man’s name was Madan. At least, that was the name by which people referred to him. He was around 50 years of age and wore no shirt, his brown complexioned body had patches of dirt spread all over it. Nearly 35 of those 50 years had been spent as a roadside vendor. He had not much knowledge of what constituted a decent living, but he never felt as if he had been deprived of any luxuries, for he did not even know what luxury would be. His innocent mind had always believed that all others lived as he had, spoke as he did, and worked as he did, simply because that is all he had experienced in his life. When he looked on at this white-complexioned stranger approaching him, he stepped back at first, instinctively not recognizing him as human.

“Dear sir, could you direct me towards the Orchid hotel.”, Nester spoke as he approached, “Just an indication of which direction I could find it would be enough.”

Madan leaned back to distance himself from the stranger. Was he talking to him? And what language was that, it sounded quite funny.

‘Maybe he has come for vegetables. He definitely does not eat enough, his skin looks so pale.’, Madan thought to himself.

“Janab, you want vegetables. I have fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes. I have lettuce, onions, lots of stuff.”, he spoke in unrefined Hindi.

Nester stood perplexed. “I’m sorry, I don’t get you. If you can’t speak English, just point towards the direction, that would be enough.”

‘Just great’, he thought to himself out loud again, ‘We had to travel to a country where nobody can speak the damn language. How am I supposed to get around here? Nancy is going to hear a word or two about this when I get back.’

It was Madan’s turn to stand perplexed. What does this pale-faced stranger want? And who is Nancy? Maybe he is asking for a hospital, he looks like he is about to faint, I should assist him.

The kind-natured person that he was, Madan said earnestly, “Sir if you need a hospital, there is one right down the street.”, and saying this, he raised his hand, pointing towards the direction, “It is called Sri Laxmi Sai hospital. Very good hospital. Very good.”

“Is the hotel in that direction?”, Nester said.

Believing him to be asking about the hospital, Madan nodded his head.

“Well thank you so much, good man. Here’s a tip for your help.”, and saying this, he placed a 20 rupee note in the palm of Madan’s hand.

‘Why is he giving me money? Does he want vegetables too?’, Madan thought. ‘What a weird man.’

Before he could ask him, however, Nester had already departed down the street, humming to himself jovially. Madan shrugged his shoulders and carried on with his work.

Predictably, Nester returned a few minutes late, angrily gesticulating at Madan as he approached.

“You sick son of a…you think you can get away, pulling a prank like that on me.”

Madan was now baffled. He had told the white man what he had wanted, why was he so angry with him now?

‘Ah, maybe he has returned for some vegetables.’. It was the only rational explanation he could think of.

“Janab, you want vegetables? I can give you some. You already gave me 20 rupees, so I’ll take it from the cost. I have fresh tomatoes, 100% fresh, very nice, or I can give you…”

“Oh for god’s sake, can’t you understand me. Or are you just playing dumb.”. His present frustration, coupled with the ever-present annoyance over having come to the country in the first place bubbled over.

“That’s it innit. You bloody rascal. You’re playing me. You’re just….Having a LAUGH, Aren’t you.”.

He grabbed Madan and pulled him close. “You aren’t getting away with this, you understand. You little prick. I am sick and tired of these games, so you will tell me NOW…Where can I find THE ORCHID HOTEL!!!”

Madan stared at the man, unblinkingly, partly puzzled, but mostly frightened. He mustered the composure to speak without stuttering.

“Janab, if you need vegetables…”

“Oh for God’s sake!!!”. Saying this, Nester pushed Madan to the ground. “Just….enough games already. I don’t understand what you’re saying, just speak in goddamn English, you uneducated, foul, piece of filth.”

By now, a fairly large audience had assembled around the two men. Onlookers began to talk amongst themselves, pointing and commenting.

One of the onlookers, who knew Madan, ran up towards him, who now lay on the ground, still completely baffled.

“Madan, is this guy troubling you?”, he asked, as he helped him up to his feet.

“I honestly don’t know, Suresh.”, was Madan’s response. “He just came up to me and started talking in some language. He didn’t look so good so I pointed him to a hospital, and he just came back and started shouting at me.”

“He definitely needs a hospital.”, Suresh responded. “Look at his face, it's all flushed red. That is not a good sign.

“That’s why I told him where Sri Laxmi Sai hospital was, but he just came back screamed at me, and pushed me.”

Meanwhile, Nester’s attention soon turned to the congregation surrounding them. “Well, what are you all looking at?!! For god’s sake, is this a joke to all of you? I come here, asking for help, and this little twat, he pulls a prank on me, and you all find that funny don’t you. And for god’s sake, nobody speaks the damn language. No English. My God!!!”

The ongoing conflict soon attracted the attention of two policemen stationed nearby, and they soon arrived on the scene.

“What is the problem here?”, one of the asked in Hindi.

“Oh thank god, policemen.”, Nester exclaimed in relief, “Can you help me out here?”

The two policemen looked at each other. One of the asked the other, “Is he speaking in angrezi?”

“It's okay, I can speak angrezi”, the other one reassured him. He then approached Nester.

“Is there a problem sir?”

“Yes, Can’t you see there’s a goddamn problem! I ask this man to direct me to the Orchid hotel, and he just makes fun of me. And everyone here gets in on it. This is absolutely unacceptable; I deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”

“Sir, I understand your grievance, but taking it out on the man is not right. He did not understand what you were asking him since he can’t understand English.”

“Well, that’s his fault, isn't it!!! If he can’t learn the language, then why the hell should I suffer for it? Uneducated men like him should be placed in jail, for all I care!!!”

The policeman could not hold his anger in anymore.

“Sir, just because a man cannot speak English, does not mean he is uneducated, so please, mind your tongue.”

“How dare y…”

“I’m not finished”, the policeman interrupted. “I’m sure that even without a decent education, this man here understands the basic principles of life and human decency better than you do. In spite of not understanding a single word of English, he still attempted to assist you. I hope you recognise that. You ought to be thankful!!!”

Nester simply looked down, his frustration turning into shame.

“Now I can direct you to the Orchid Hotel, so please come with me.”, the policeman said before turning to the crowd and speaking in Hindi, “Show is over.

The three men, two policemen and Nester, boarded the jeep and departed. The crowd dispersed.

Madan and Suresh both stood still for a while.

“What just happened? What did the policeman say?”, Suresh finally asked.

“I don’t know. They probably took him to the hospital for treatment. He really needs it.”, Madan responded. Suresh nodded in agreement, before departing.

“I hope he recovers.”, Madan said to himself, before continuing on with his work.