Mr.Smile

He is a short & stout elderly man,who would make the park his home for almost 2 hours every morning.Every single walker was familiar with this person, who moved with a very slight limp.His unique quality of greeting each and every person whom he passed by, with a namaste or good morning,endeared him to one and all.
 
He was involved in multifarious activities in the park. On sundays, he would conduct public speaking classes under a tree and every one was welcome to participate.Games & walkathons were organized to mark special occasions. Republic day and Independence day were celebrated in his initiative.He also arranged daily poojas in the small Ganesha temple in the park.The credit for all these happenings goes to him. He is 79 years old and I admire his zest for life and the positive energy he spreads all around.

His personality was enhanced by his captivating smile. It was contagious and people would smile back.The reason for his good health must be his joyous smile.Often we have experienced that most people around us have an unsmiling attitude. Why can't they smile back when someone smiles at them ? For some,even smiling seems like a herculean task!

I can recall, the officer in the US Embassy addressing the visa applicants before their interview, and giving them tips on how they must  conduct themselves during the procedure. The first point he stressed was to smile.He was very disapproving of Indians, who, according to him basically do not smile and hence fail to impress.

Smiling is the key to success and a recommended facial exercise too.It costs nothing.So let us all smile and succeed! And keep a healthy mind in a healthy body like old Mr.Smile.

The harassed wife

A lot has been written and talked about the emancipation of women & the independence they enjoy in our country.Women power is being applauded.But in the rural parts of the country, women are still suppressed and harassed.The experiences of these faceless and voiceless women, who lead restricted lives reach us via the media & press. Much of what happens in cities is unknown.

But one incident I came across was indeed shocking. One of my husband's subordinate officers,  Mr.Sinha was a well educated,decent gentleman. He was a workaholic and had an impressive career record.Though conservative Biharis, his family was modern in their life style. They would often visit us as they lived close by. They presented a picture of a perfect family.

One late evening, my husband had just got back home from office, when the door bell rang.I was amazed to see a distressed Mrs.Sinha, with a tear stained face at the door. Sensing trouble I invited her in.She hesitated and then on entering,sat down and started weeping. Narrating something which was incomprehensible,she repeatedly said that her husband was out to kill her that day.

Shocked at this revelation,we could not believe all that she confided in us. He  was a sadist and would harass her for even trivial issues.She had been enduring his shameful behaviour for the last 15 years but  today, when he resorted to beat her and lock her up,she could bear no more. She was completely powerless to protect her two teenage daughters, though he meant them no harm.

She somehow managed to elude him and a kind rickshaw puller escorted her to our place.She sought my husband's help and requested him to accompany her to her house, to speak to her husband and warn him of dire consequences to his career.Her optimism led her to believe that he would listen to my husband since he respected him a lot.She was visibly embarrassed but this was her last straw. We were stunned and perplexed, since we always assumed he was an even tempered, easy going, harmless sort of person.

It was a difficult decision to intrude upon their private issue, but then we had to help her .She was shattered and all alone.Leaving her behind, my husband went to meet Mr Sinha, taking along another common friend with him.Things were sorted out at length, and he profusely apologised. Embarrassed and guilty, he submitted a written note of apology too.

Words unspoken and with a heavy heart Mrs.Sinha went home and subsequently all seemed well.

A few months later, I met the couple at a function.Mr.Sinha's friendliness and demure attitude drew attention and he was in his best behaviour too.I smiled to myself- only we knew the other side of his personality. It was inconceivable that this man was in reality a  Jekyll & Hyde !

The cheer leader

There was a wedding in the family & the small house was overcrowded with the near and dear ones.It was a reunion of sorts, with many of them living abroad, joining us.Only two days were left for the wedding & there was a hodgepodge of excitement all around.Everyone was having fun.

Sleeping arrangements were simple. The majority of members slept in the huge hall, the floor covered with make shift beds. Children were rolling about & no one really cared about the comforts. The only mantra was to enjoy.

Two days prior to the wedding,early in the  morning around 4.30, my mother in law as usual began making coffee for the early risers. The sweet aroma of filter coffee was slowly waking up the others, one by one.I was awake though still lying down, when I heard the clinking of ladels & spoons hung in the stand in the kitchen.At that time, my mother in law had gone out of the kitchen to fill water and the unusual sound made me look towards that direction. Just then she entered the kitchen and  started shouting "thirudan , thirudan (meaning thief  thief)".She had spotted a pair of hands slowly reaching for the small silver lamps & other items kept on the kitchen counter. She couldn't see the person in the outside darkness. On hearing her, every one got up shouting & pandemonium prevailed.All of us ran out & my brother in law & two other persons chased the two men who were supposedly the culprits.We could guess that they had the stolen goods in the little bag they carried. In the hustle bustle, I could distinctly hear my husband's voice & assumed he was one of the persons chasing the thieves.I secretly admired his prowess and went inside the house.I stopped short & was appalled to see him still sitting in the bed, shouting loudly "(pidi  avanai  ...pidi pidi)  catch him  ... catch  the thief " while still not out of his slumber. This was his reaction to whatever was happening around. He had not moved an inch out of the bed!! Surely he was the 'cheer leader' of our house ! This was his way of expressing solidarity .

The friendly Uncle

Our two year stint in Patna began on a very satisfying note as we settled down in a newly constructed apartment of our choice. We were impressed by the wood  furnishings in the house & our landlord seemed very friendly & accommodating.. He was a stickler for neatness and admired the orderliness of our house. However I was troubled by the huge size of the balcony which was divided into two by a single wall.They were living on the other side of the wall in an identical flat. Any time they could enter our space by jumping over the wall,which was only 3 feet in height.So, often I would keep the glass doors of the balcony closed to ensure privacy especially when my husband was away. 

It was only a few days later, we realized that there was no lady in their house. They were conservative thakurs and this was all men's den. The parents & sisters were living in a huge mansion in their native village & would visit occasionally. Mr.Babban ( his nick name), our land lord , a man of about 30 & a bachelor, had two of his cousins for company. He himself had done his graduation & was planning to appear for the civil services examinations. But he did not even know where Tamilnadu was in India & he could not even speak english. However, he was very confident of becoming an IAS officer soon! His cousins were studying medicine in Russia, so they said, but they too were in the same boat! What they were doing most of the time in Patna, instead of attending medical college in Russia was a mystery! They too would have  become top doctors in Patna, I suppose ! And there was an uncle who was a gentleman to the core. He was quiet ,very soft spoken & would talk and play with my little son. They all liked our family since we all  spoke their language, Hindi.

My husband was relieved since he had to travel often & these people seemed trustworthy. So it was a safe apartment for the family while he was away, since  Bihar was a state known for its high crime rate. My son was at first  thrilled (we were scared) at the sight of two big rifles hung on the wall in their drawing room.But it was owned by them for safety.

A few months later, I was informed that his parents had arrived & auntiji wanted to see us.I went there with my kids & they started chitchatting with the "uncle" who was offering them chocolates. Auntiji  was a kind looking  lady  in traditional attire & greeted us warmly. As she was observing my kids & the man, she told me in a hushed tone that he was her nephew & loved to play with my children, since he was missing his own, who were in the village. Then, very casually she mentioned that he was seeking refuge here since the police were hunting for him in connection with two murders believed  to have been committed by him.A shiver snaked along my spine. As she was talking, a silent track of thoughts ran in my head - my God ! My husband trusted these people for our safety while he was away and all along,our custodians have been this family with a criminal among them ! What an irony !Of course we never had any issue with them and they were  very friendly but the rest of our days in Patna were spent in constant apprehension of lurking danger. Isn't it so true that appearences are often deceptive?