Gopal had a pleasant disposition, he was always smiling. The new uniform fitted him admirably, it was Parvathy who washed and pressed his uniform, it was stiff like a Military uniform. She watched him depart till the gate and smiled to herself.
An Englishman Robert William, the Manager of Pierce and Leslie Tea Company was retiring and going back to England. He liked Gopal and he liked people in uniform. He could not join the Royal Navy. Williams said ‘Gopal I like your honesty and sincerity, I am giving you my favourite Raleigh Cycle, It is imported and it is made in England.’ Gopal ‘Sir I don’t have the money.’ Williams ‘Post Master, I am giving you free.’
Gopal could not believe it. How, why and he had many more questions. None asked, he could not hug Williams. English people do not like to be hugged, they do not like Indian smell. Gopal shook his hands and placed his hands on his forehead, as a mark of respect and gratitude.
It was the Englishman who hugged Gopal and said ‘I like you Gopal. You deserve it, and take care.’
The Englishman handed the keys and went away. Walking erect, a burden relieved, this was the way he wanted to bid goodbye to his favorite cycle.
… xxx …
Gopal and the Raleigh Cycle became a mobile Post Office. It was a modern concept, he took no one’s permission, in Tellicherry he was the Boss. Instead of the people coming to the Post Office, the Post Office went around. He was the only one in Tellicherry with Raleigh the imported cycle. The cycle had an imported Rubber Horn, it gave a musical sound, and it announced the Post Office as he rode in the bylanes. People would rush out to check if they had any letters, and also to hear any news, there were no newspapers then, Gopal gave them the running commentary of the world happenings and of Tellicherry.
1942, the Second World War was at its Peak, Germany had invaded Russia, there was a fear of Japan landing by the sea and take over Malabar. They would make the Indians as Slaves and make them work, and they would take all the girls to Japan. No one had a clear idea as to what they must do. They had no guns and the people of Tellicherry do not like war, they were actually scared of firing a gun, what if it explodes in our hand? The questions were enormous, Gopal had answers to some of them, not all, but he calmly said, ‘Nothing will happen, no needs to worry, Englishman Matthew told me that English Warships are coming. We are safe. No one had this secret information, in the absence of any other information, this was considered authentic.’
Gopal was planning to hide Nalini in Wayanad Caves. It was his secret plan. Gopal’s Mobile Post Office was a wonderful idea, instead of the people coming to the Post Office, the Post Office reached them, and it reached them in a wonderful way. On hearing the horn, people would rush out, not only for letters, but also to hear about the news of the WAR, as also of the local gossip.
Most people do not know how to write, they knew how to read and write, but not letter writing. Letter writing was beyond them, Gopal had the stationery, he wrote the reply as given by the customers, and mostly it was Gopal’s suggestion that finally went into the reply. Gopal did not charge them anything, except the cost of the Stamp. They insist that he take Tea, he politely declined stating that he just had Tea at the Koya’s Tea Shop. They hear the news sitting and standing, when it came to war, they always stood up. War was such deserving respect. Gopal also gave them good news.
Jayaraj Uppot got a Job in Bombay. His parents are coming from to Tellicherry to look for a girl for Jayaraj. That was important information. Uppot Family, yes a well-known family. Yes Bombay big city. Beautiful roads, tall building and big shops. Yes they get running water, the girls do not have to pull up water from the well like our girls. The message spreads fast.
Gopal does not give bad news like ‘Kutty’s wife ran away with Abdullah, the Travelling Salesman. It was poor Kutty’s problem.’ Why should I tell such news?’ Gopal knew the response ‘Kutty deserves it or I knew she would leave Kutty, She is so beautiful and Kutty is only interested in making money.’
Gopal had no time for Gossip. Gopal always turns towards the lane where Nalini lives. With or without letters, the Raleigh Cycle has a mind of his own. Gopal presses the horn, Nalini comes running and he loves to get a glimpse of Nalini. Nalini’s mother was hard of hearing. She does not hear the Musical sound of the Horn.
She does not understand as to why, suddenly Nalini runs outside. Nalini’s Mother says ‘Young girls should not run like that and you are improperly dressed.’ Nalini ‘Sometimes I feel like running Mama’.
Mama ‘All this running will stop when you get married, you know Krishnan Kutty, yes from Kottieth family, he is in the Army, yes British Army, regular British Job, good salary and they want to see you for their son. He is a good boy, if they like you it will be very good.’
Nalini suddenly got up and stamped her foot ‘I don’t to marry now’.
Mother ‘Who asked your consent? Karnavar will decide, I got married when I was 15, I saw your Papa at the Marriage Pandal. It took me two days for me to see him properly. Then I liked him.’
Nalini ran into the mirror, she made a face, ‘yes that is the face I will make’.
Nalini was not confident. I cannot even tell Gopal. She continued to comb her hair.
… xxx …
Once Gopal goes to the Post Office, Parvathi was relieved, her job done, the uniform looked good, the Cycle cleaned surreptitiously, because Gopal does not like anyone touching his cycle.
Parvathy knew Moothamma was the power center. Parvathy ‘Moothamma! Do you know how much Gopal earns?’ Moothamma ‘I don’t know.’ Parvathy ‘I know.’ Moothamma ‘How do you know? Did you ask him? Parvathy ‘No Moothy, how dare I ask him? I read his appointment letter, it says 70 Rs a Month, for the first three months, then it will be one hundred Rupees a month.’ Air escaped from Moothies mouth. ‘One hundred every month. A big salary, then we can look for a girl for Gopal from a good family. Parvathy made a wry face. ‘Moothamma! You do not understand anything.’ Moothamma ‘What did you say?’ Parvathi ‘I say, now a days you cannot see properly’.
Moothamma ‘No I can see, you have become fairer, your skin is glowing.’
Parvathi ‘That is what I said! You don’t understand.’ Moothamma ‘Understand what?’ Parvathi ‘Poor Gopalanchettan works full day, soon to earn one hundred rupees a month, and yet he does not even get a cup of tea, when he comes home.’ Moothamma ‘Now understand! You want to give him tea, good and are you sure that he will get me money, when he gets his salary.’ Parvathi ‘Why not Mootrhamma? He has no one, you are the one who brought him up.’
Moothamma liked her answer. Yes she told Parvathi, make a cup of Tea and also give him a snack, a Banana fry or something like that Parvathi smiled, another way to reach Gopalachettan. ‘Room given, room cleaned, Uniform washed and Starch pressed. Now Tea and snacks. ‘I must find out what he likes.’ Parvathi gave the crushed Tobacco and Beetle nut to Moothamma and hugged her.
… xxx …
When trouble approaches you, it does give a warning. Most of us are too deeply immersed in the present, the burden of the future unfolds slowly and imperceptibly. When you are dressing in the morning, a button falls off, it was a notice, you are too involved in the present and the future knocking your door is forgotten, you don’t even hear. That is what happened to Gopal that day. Gopal saw a black Cat cross his path, he ignored it, and his mind was occupied by Nalini. He pedalled slowly, he had an apprehension that something adverse was taking place.
It gnawed his heart. The heart was impermeable to adverse news. The future was bright, Nalini was waiting for him. But still he had a bitter taste in his mouth. As he turned into nalini’s lane, he saw a crowd at her gate, suddenly he was anxious. It was an indication of Celebration or Death. Gopal pushed at the pedal in panic. The Pedal broke. Gopal got down and picked the fallen pedal, placed it on top of his Carrier Box, under the band, and he continued to pedal furiously. In death People generally wear White, they are generally standing in small groups and in silence. Death was present, and people talk in whispers. Here they were brightly dressed, talking and showing their teeth in happiness.
Gopal stopped, still on the cycle asked ‘What is happening?’
One fellow replied ‘Don’t you know? Nalini is getting engaged today?’
Gopal ‘Who? ’Gopal could not make a complete sentence. ‘An Army man, Krishnan Kutty from Kannur. British Army, good job, The Maratha Regiment. You know famous Regiment. A job with Pension. Nalini is lucky, good family Kotieth house.
All data fell on Gopal like Molten Lava. He understood nothing, except that his Nalini was getting married. Gopal could not ask any other question, in fact the question could not be even formulated. The question stayed stuck in his mind ‘Marriage when?’ It was not asked, but it kept repeating in his brain, and it went back and forth, clashing in his skull.
Gopal scrambled to climb his Cycle, in fact he jumped on to his Cycle. The broken peddle fell off from the box. Gopal saw the broken peddle, it seem to speak like Nalini.
“I don’t want you,
I don’t care for you.”
Gopal caste a dirty glance at the Pedal and rode off furiously. On an impulse, Gopal returned to the pedal.
It lay in the red dust, unwanted, abandoned and unloved. Gopal stood near the pedal, he could not pick it up and he gave his final sermon. “Pedal this is your destiny, to lie in the dust, unloved and uncared, then he added ‘unkissed’.
Gopal turned back, he did not pick up the pedal. Gopal was peddling away, he had tears in his eyes, he did not know as to where he was going, his mind was blank. Destiny had deserted him, he peddled furiously and Gopal fell on the Tellicherry beach.
The Sun had set, the sky made beautiful patterns, the colours scintillating and breath-taking.
The Sea gulls were returning home.
Gopal clutched the Rupee Coin. The Sea breeze was cool, then it began to rain. Gopal collected his broken heart and the Cycle without one Pedal.
… xxx …
It was dark. A lamp was lit in the verandah. There was no one there, only behind the door stood Parvathi.
Parvathi ran inside and warmed the Tea and the Banana Fry. Parvathi placed them on his table. Parvathi went to the Veranda and awaited the call. After a long time Parvathy entered, she found him sitting on his chair, he had not changed, there was sand on his uniform, and he was fast asleep on his chair. The Tea and the snack cold and dead. Parvathy sat alone in the Verandah.
To be Continued….
Trance Series 