Short
Story
Mohan
Kothekar
Writer and
Blogger
Destiny
is a good thing to accept when it’s going your way.
When it
isn’t, don’t call it destiny;
call it
injustice, treachery, simple bad luck.
American Novelist, Joseph Heller
‘Prediction is very difficult, especially
if it’s about the future,’ Danish Physicist, Niels Bohr said decades ago is
still applicable to those who stands in long serpentine queue – particularly
from the developing countries - to obtain the American Visa. In the recent past, to get the Visa is
equivalent to receive the priceless treasure; it has become more difficult in
Trump era. Various permutations and
combinations, unreal to real, fallacious to authentic ways and means are used
to obtain the Visa. One has to incur a
lot of money and to prepare oneself for Visa interview as if he is appearing in
the Indian Administrative Service Examination.
What are the criteria for rejection and issuance is a water tight
secret. Lucky guys come out of the
embassy yelling Eureka… Eureka… in a louder hilarious and joyous mood than what
Archimedes in 17th century uttered when he hit upon the method of
determining the purity of gold. However,
the number is so limited that once in blue moon such bang screaming is noticed.
The novel tribe of people – what
we called in the present context as IT’s – has emerged under the leadership of stalwarts
like N. R. Narayana Murthy, Premji Azim and associates from IIT’s and IIM’s; rushed
for the greener pasture in the Nineties and the first decade of this century to
Europe, America, Canada, Australia and other developed countries; most of them
have conceded the new culture and environment as the epicenter of their work
and life. The adopted country has not
only provided the latest know how in the field of specialization and awarded
degrees and diplomas, but offered the employment opportunity that has
transpired and churned the whole economy of the country of their choice. The remnant migratory groups are joining the
main flock. IT companies are deputing
the staff on H1B and other types of Visas; once they reach their destination,
rarely they returned back unless it is warranted.
Great English Novelist of the 18th
Century, Samuel Richardson once quoted, ‘the difference in the education of men
and women must give the former great advantages over the latter, even where
geniuses are equal;’ the present century disproves his basic tenet and quiddity.
However, in the present world, the
African proverb, ‘educate a boy and you educate an individual, educate a girl
and you educate a community,’ is more practical. Modern boys and girls are the great disciples
of Nelson Mandela, he said, ‘education is the most powerful weapon, which you
can use to change the world.’ The world
is transmuting with such a fast pace that no one has expected even a half
century before. The whole algebra,
trigonometry, geometry and arithmetic of the mother planet have metamorphosed;
once upon a time the things which were taboo had become the routine.
Half a century ago, if someone
said that Mr Keshari Nath Tripathi from Hastinapur of Meerut district of
Western Uttar Pradesh of India gets contented when scrumptious and palatable
Idli was offered; Shanti Devi, who was uneducated and blessed with three sons
and two daughters, her most favorite thing was South Indian Temples, its
architect and intricate carvings, besides, a room exclusively reserved for God
and chanting of mantras; the community would have declared him as daffy and
foolish. In the same way, well-educated
and cultured T. V. Sundaram Iyengar of Chennai has affection and endearment for
a Murrah breed of buffalo and also lush green fields of Northern India; and S. Jayanthi
who blessed with a daughter and son and tries to become an expert chef in North
Indian dishes and speaking in broken Hindi language; both would have been out
caste and affirmed as betrayer and traitor of great Tamil culture.
In the twenty first century
anything can happen. Mr Sripati, the
last offspring of Tripathi, and Mrunalini, the only daughter of Iyengar; while
working on the same project have deputed for specific work in Los Angeles; they
decided to marry after three years of friendship. The youngsters of both the families have no
hesitation and objection over the matrimonial issue; rather they act as a
mediator between the elders. After the initial
hiccup, tribulation, turmoil and bustle both the families approved the wedlock
proposal. With the pride and conceit,
the Tripathi family gets mesmerized due to South Indian culture; the only
adversity was the Tamil language. Haruki
Murakami said, ‘learning another language is like becoming another person;’ so,
the Iyengar family has developed an affinity for Hindi language, though hatred
and embitterment still continued in Tamil Nadu.
Mr and Mrs Iyengar were quite contented
when a glass full of Lassi (butter milk) was offered in the morning hours at
Hastinapur; followed by milk, curd and paratha in breakfast, sumptuous ghee
with Chapati and Rajma curry during lunch hours; Chole-Bhature at afternoon
session and royal dinner with glass full of milk at night. When Mr and Mrs Tripathi visited Chennai for
the first time, the things were reciprocated with equal dignity, affection and
amity. Both were highly impressed due to
Iyengar family’s command over English literature, sophisticated culture and varied
South Indian dishes especially made from rice.
They were further en-grafted when a week pilgrimage tour was managed from
Tirupati to Kanyakumari. Settlement of
marriage has become an easy task when dignified and noble treatment was tendered
by both the sides.
Ms Mrunalini Iyengar, when became
Mrs Tripathi, the first transformation realized at Hastinapur residency was
courage and conviction for education rather than to follow routine traditional activities;
age old ghunghat (Tulle) practice was abrogated at once; not only her sister in
laws but nearby young married ladies extended thanks to her firm credence. She gets handily accommodated in joint family
culture; the first lady in the family who effortlessly became a trend setter;
thanks for her command over fluent English.
Mr Sripati’s impression was par excellence due to his educational
background, noble gestures and respects for elderly couples. He became the role model during his stay in
Chennai. Mrs S. Jayanthi has special exorbitant
adoration for her aloft, adroit and smart son in law who was bewitching and pretty
fairer than her daughter; amalgamation of North and South Indian dishes along with
Chapati was her first and foremost responsibility. After the marriage, the couple joins their
duties at LA; otherwise one should have found a new trend of culture in
Hastinapur town – a city of Kauravas dynasty.
After four years of courtship, breaking
news was flashed from LA was that Mrunalini and Sripati were going to become
parents. The first and foremost change
observed at Hastinapur was the addition of one more Murrah breed of buffalo in the
courtyard; her milk especially reserved for ghee production. As per the age old Hastinapur tradition, a
mother must consume a tin of ghee (sixteen Kg) in a span of three months
immediately after delivery. When the
news of buffalo purchasing was back flashed, the affright, dismay and fear was
noticed on Mrunalini’s face. Had she has
been well acquainted with such a nasty, disgust and repugnance age old tradition;
she would not have dared to remain pregnant throughout her life. She threatened her husband, if she forced to
consume the ghee products, she will prefer to sue or will give diverse or will
die at once. Whether motherhood for
Indian marrying girls is bane or ambrosia, hell or heaven, good or baleful,
glee or sorrow she could not distinguish.
The South Indian front was not
lagging behind; it was the first occasion for Mr and Mrs Iyengar to become
grandparents. The pre and postnatal preparations
were in full swing and that too on war footing. Old clothing was already collected, cleaned with
antiseptic, and dispatched to LA; In India, many people considered it inauspicious
to do any shopping for the baby before the baby is born. Indian enjoys festivals; one among them was Seemantham
followed by Valaikaapu, the traditional South Indian samskara (ritual) festival
and Godh Bharai a traditional North Indian festival meant for first time
pregnant ladies. The observations of a
newly pregnant lady were fantastic; her South Asian friends were more
traditional than their descendants in India.
In collaboration with adamant elderly ladies of India, her friends
organized the grand gala function and the women flock from India joined them
using Skype and WhatsApp.
She remembers the H. S. Haskins’s
words, ‘tradition is a prison with majority opinion the modern jailer.’ The family traditions are for joy or for
punishment; Mrunalini could not able to distinguish. She received such traditionally bounded flash
news from both the destinations and compelled her to perform at LA; it has
tarnished her endurance and fortitude. The
happy thing was that she was on the other side of the globe, few things were
often declared done. However, the modern
electronic gadget has brought the world at a hand shaking distance. Fortitude, pragmatic and experienced ladies
of India had made her life miserable and forlorn. She remembered Queen Victoria’s famous
sentence, ‘being pregnant is an occupational hazard of being a wife.’
As the pregnancy advanced, two
pronged activities were carried out in Chennai and Hastinapur. First, the complex and complicated
arrangements for Visa; it was decided that the Chennai family will join the LA
at the time of delivery and after six months Hastinapur family will replace
them. The cycle will continue till the
baby attains six years of age. Second,
North Indian family was awfully busy in Gond (Gum), Suka Meva (Dry fruits),
Methi (Fenugreek seeds), Halim (Watercress), Til (Sesame), Besan (Chick peas)
and Dates laddoo (sweet) preparations in pure ghee; side by side, recipes from Bajra
(Millet) ki roti, Dry Halva, Dry Paratha etcetera. The South Indian family was equally enthusiastic;
for breakfast, dry Idli, Dosai, Sevai and Soup; for lunch, a long list of
different Kuzhambu, Sambhar, Rasam, Kootu, Podi, Fried Rice and other food
recipes in abundant ghee followed by pickles and curd etc. All recipes were dispatched to their
destination well in advance, so as to avoid any complications during custom
checking.
When the pregnancy reaches the eighth
month, the first blow received from American Visa office. The Visa of Mr and Mrs Iyengar was out
rightly refused; the intents were the best known to the American
administration. That day was full of
mourning and lamentation. As a stop gap
arrangement, Mr and Mrs Tripathi were ready as a night-watchman, they pre-pone
their visit. They received the date of appointment
from the American Visa office, New-Delhi when Mrunalini was about to complete
nine months of pregnancy. The relatives,
well-wishers, experience holders have tender them different shades of noble
advice regarding how to obtain the Visa.
Mr Sripati was urgently sent to the Germany for the office work; he may
likely to join LA after six months; Mrunalini was the lonely lady at home, her
friends were inclined to support her during pre and postnatal period.
The ‘D’ day has arrived; Mr and Mrs
Tripathi were in a queue with all the credentials. Shanti Devi was inwardly chanting Hanuman
Chalisa mantras so as to get a Visa without any adversity and hesitation; Mr Tripathi
was normal, physically and mentally. The
interview was officially arranged in Hindi language. At the eleventh hour, Mr Tripathi decided to
speak the truth with written proof; without bulging to the advice of near and
dear. The summarized English version of
their discussion was, ‘my daughter-in-law has almost completed nine months of
pregnancy and alone. My son is in
Germany for office work. Nobody is there
to look after the daughter-in-law. If
you allow us to join the girl then we will feel glad, if not then good-bye. Before we leave, I want to quote what Andre
Gide said, not everyone can be an orphan.’
With a minute pause, the American Officer asked Mr Tripathi in Hindi, ‘will
Mrs Tripathi accompany you?’ Mr Tripathi answered for the first time in plain English.
Mr Tripathi received Visa for ten
years; he started his maiden voyage and reached the destination; on the same
day, he became the grandpa of a girl child.
There was an unwritten agreement between Mrunalini and her father-in-law
that he will enjoy each and every recipe specially made in pure ghee from India
and in return, she will relish those nutritious dishes that maintain her figure. One additional clause was added that every
day she will prepare South Indian breakfast for her in law. Only once, she dared to eat Methi (Fenugreek
seeds) ladoo; it was so bitter that she never touched many of the recipes again;
on the contrary, father in law has enjoyed and relished the pre and postnatal
preparations as if he was pregnant and delivered a child. She couldn’t imagine her figure, had there
been forceful consumption of a tin of ghee in three months of time. In true sense, Mrunalini and her
father-in-law had enjoyed the so called delivery episode to the fullest extent. They became the intimate friends of each
other.
Why Shanti Devi has not received
the Visa is still the biggest question.
In her opinion, her spouse has played a major foxy, artful and villain role
in not awarding her Visa. What
transpired between him and the American Officer in English were a conundrum and
an enigma to the rest of the world. After
arrival, when Mr Tripathi was persistently asked what he said in English, his answer
was, ‘yes sir.’ It is the chance that
determines his destiny and not the choice.
So destiny plays an important role in the life of an individual. As far as Mr Tripathi was concerned, the
destiny played just the opposite role of what William Shakespeare wrote in golden
letters, ‘it is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in our-selves.’
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