Gopal sat alone in his room, he did not switch on the light, and in fact he did not know when the darkness had set in. Mangaden house was one of the few which had electricity, the house which had the Rai Bahadur title on the chest of one of the ancestors.
Parvathy followed every step that Gopal takes, not deliberately, but more by intuition, and it was ingrained into her system. Parvathi realised that something was worrying Gopal, and it must be Nalini. She had become more popular, with every one shouting Nalini! Nalini! And a man cannot hand over leadership to a girl, who has no clue of War. This was life and death of Tellicherry.
There had been rumours that Prisoners in Poland were made to dig their own grave to be shot and the rest of the prisoners to fill the grave, young girls carried away to slave camps. The Japanese were no less. In the darkness Parvathi could see the silhouette of Gopal, unmoving and rock stationary. That was when Parvathi decided to intervene, Gopal’s destiny may be interlinked with her own destiny.
Parvathy entered and stood close to him, she did not touch him, but her fragrance did. Gopal looked up and said ‘Parvathy’. What a sweet sound it made when her called such.
Parvathy ‘What is worrying you?’ Gopal ‘I have no information and information is power. I do not know as to what is happening in the war, who is winning and who is losing?’ I have to protect Tellicherry and I am blind, it is dark just as this room.
Parvathi wanted to touch him, she did with her words. Parvathi ‘Tell me Gopal Chetta? What do you want?’
Gopal ‘I wish I had a Radio, I can then listen out to the world Radio Stations, and then we will get an idea, as to where they are fighting. We can then make an analysis of the war and the direction the war is progressing.’
Parvathi admired him for his intelligence and clarity of thought. Poor Gopal Chettan, fighting the war all alone, and leaving him no time for love. Parvathi ‘Let me try Gopal Chetta! Let me try?’ She did touch his head, as she walked out, she smelled her hand, and it did smell on her Gopal Chetta.
… xxx …
The next day when Gopal returned late at night, he parked his Raleigh in the usual place, as he moved away, the cycle fell on its own, and he ran back and found a small stone, which may have toppled the cycle. Even a tiny stone can topple a man, leave alone a cycle. The stone seem to be a lifeless thing, it also seem to move with a purpose! ‘O God! What is the purpose of my life?’
When Gopal entered his room, it was clean, on his table stood an old Radio, a real Radio. Gopal shouted ‘Parvathi!’ Parvathi was there, she had been waiting for him all evening.
Gopal was excited touching the three band Radio. Parvathi ‘I found it in the Attic store where all old things are kept.’ Gopal was excited as a child, he connected the radio to a plug. Gopal switched on the Radio. No sound came, both were glaring at it, slowly a strand of smoke came out. Gopal understood and he switched it off. Their heart broke as they smelled the burning smell. The one thing that would help him in the war effort lay lifeless. Smoke the depressing smoke was all that it produced.
It was Parvathi who did not lose heart. ‘Chetta! I will check with Haridas Chettan, you know Haridas uncle who had a bullet injury in the war, Yes Ambalavattom house, I will ask him.’ Gopal looked at her ‘Amazing girl! She never gives up’. Gopal smiled at her. It was a scintillating smile, it cheered Parvathi’s heart.
… xxx …
Gopal dreamt ‘The Radio was working, but he could understand nothing, it was a strange language, not a word was discernable. Gopal continued to shift from Short Wave 1 to 2. Different language, not one in English or Malayalam. Gopals dream changed colours. Parvathi came in wearing an attractive Skirt and Blouse, She switched on the radio, and there was no News, only sweet songs, melodious songs. Gopal shouted ‘Put on the News!’ Parvathi smiled at him and closed the door. Gopal woke up to see Parvathi opening the door, she brought in a Cup of Coffee. Parvathi saw her wearing the same skirt and blouse. He was shocked, he had never seen her in that dress! How come Gopal saw the same dress in his dream? Gopal went to the Post Office. His mind in turmoil! He understood nothing, the world seems to be moving on an independent path, and he did not seem to have any role in it.
… xxx …
Parvathi went to Ambalavattom house, it was just across the street, both the families were connected, she walked in freely, Ambalavattom house had a small Devi Temple, Parvathi went and prayed seeking Devi’s blessings. Parvathi walked up the wooden Staircase to the room of Haridas Uncle, Haridas had a Bullet Injury in his leg, had difficulty in walking and had retired with disability Pension, and he got up seeing Parvathi. He liked her, an intelligent and a simple girl. Parvathi told him about the fiasco with the Radio, could he have a look?
Lance Naik Haridas was a Wireless Radio Operator, he promised to come and have a look. Parvathi does not give up hope.
… xxx …
Haridas was delighted to be needed, he was never consulted, and he was alone with his cat. He loved his cat, he called her Radhika. No one had an idea as to why he called her Radhika.
Haridas reached Mangaden house, it has been years since he had been to this house, when he was a child, he used to play football in the same compound, those were the days, the memory fresh in his mind. Radhika standing and watch him play football.
… xxx …
Haridas saw the Radio on the Table. With the help of a Screw driver and a knife, he managed to open the cover of the Radio. He saw a dead Lizard, the probable cause of the short circuit. The Radio tuning knob was missing, the driving thread perished.
After an hour or so, Parvathi heard the Radio making noise. She was thrilled, she had never seen this radio work.
Haridas managed to move the tuning drum with a tiny chiselled stick. The station changed as the drum moved. The Radio worked. The set lay without the cover like a dead frog with its legs stretched. Parvathi was delighted ‘Thanks uncle! It works’ and she gave him a warm hug. Haridas ‘Call me when Gopal comes, don’t move the Radio from the table, I shall teach him to operate the radio with a Tooth Pick.’ Haridas was happy as he walked home, he turned to see the image of Radhika. The image was still there, it will always be there.
… xxx …
Gopal was now addicted to the Radio, he could now move the Tuning drum with a tiny tooth pick.
He could now mark the position of British Radio, German, Russian and the Japanese.
The great German onslaught to Moscow was halted, Pearl Harbour Attack by the Japanese led America into war, The American entry changed the course of war, and the invincible Warships of the Japanese were sunk by the American Fleet. The Japanese advance halted. Japan was fighting a defensive war.
Gopal daily briefing of the war was authentic, his analysis brilliant. As the threat to Tellicherry receeded, the interest in war diminished, the girls stopped coming, with that the excitement of the war evaporated and receded. ‘No girls No fun’.
Gopal was happy that the threat from Japan receded, but it also landed him in a vacuum. There were challenges and excitement in preparing for war.
Nalini stopped coming, with that the boys also abstained, only the older men came, they were equally keen to know as to what would happen to Adolf Hitler.
… xxx …
Nalini gets a Marriage proposal. A brand new American car Ford was seen in Tellicherry, the kids ran behind the car as the car moved slowly through the narrow streets. It was amazing, the people sat inside the car as if on Sofa. It glided without making a noise, the kids followed the car, and the Dogs too joined in the excitement. It turned into Nalini’s house.
A man wearing a suit with an elderly couple disembarked. The Kids stopped at the gate. The prospective Groom Subhash was from Dharmadam, he had come with his uncle and Aunty, Major Vasudavan and his wife Meera.
Subhash had migrated to Singapore before the war, he made a fortune in Rubber trade, now he was a big time war contractor. He had come home to Tellicherry to find a girl for marriage, he heard of Nalini, the brave and beautiful girl. Subhash was handsome, rich and elegant. All three were well dressed. They entered the drawing room. Shoba Nalini’s mother had advance information. She had kept the drawing room clean and the snacks ready, a simple tea ceremony, the girl seeing ceremony. It is a bend in Destiny, a simple fifteen minutes will change the life for ever. Good or bad, the Umbilicus chord tied again for ever, till death do us part.
Shoba had told Nalini to change into a silk sari. Nalini refused to dress. ‘I am not ready for marriage’. Nalini wore a simple skirt and blouse. Nalini was directed to serve the Tea. Nalini did reluctantly. Even in Skirt and blouse Nalini looked stunning.
Nalini looked at Subhash. She was shocked, Subhash looked handsome and he did not have a moustache. Nalini gazed at him. He had a charming smile, he looked rich and had a Diamond Studded watch.
The Tea ceremony over. They bid good bye. Nalini did not come out, she ran to her room, she closed the door and shouted ‘IT’S MY CHOICE!
GOPAL WHERE ARE YOU?’
To be Continued…
Trance Series 