The Morning

 

Ahalya- the thought of her bought a smile and the crow’s feet widened prominently beside his eyes. The smell of tea always gave her aura; her long black hair, kohl eyes, dimples, light coffee coloured skin. Memories!! many of which he recollected in fragments, but it remained forever. A cycle bell startled him ,it was Damu.

“Good morning Rametta!” Damu greeted Raman addressing him as an elder brother.

“Good morning Damu! You are early today.”

Damu smiled back and began his chores. He was a boy of 16,hailing from an “untouchable” family. He was least welcome elsewhere ,but here. This was his part-time job to support his college fee. Picking up the broom to dust the veranda, a mop to clean the floor inside and a old piece of lungi to dust the shelves, he began.

With rigorously clashing cycle chains ,six teenage boys came on their cycles and picked up a pile of newspaper each and left. They too fit into Raman’s small world. Pleased by their timing, he began reading his newspaper.

“Your tea will get cold! go have it”, Raman suggested, looking at Damu. But he wouldn’t listen and went in to the kitchen when rest of the cleaning was done. The tea was warm, yet he drank it without a word. The clock showed half past 7. Damu worked there in the morning and a few hours after his college. It never stopped him from his studies.’ Education first’ Raman always told him and gave him a job on a condition, provided he continues his education. Being a post grad himself, a regular govt job did not lure Raman. He chose a simpler life instead ,may be for good. Damu always asked him ‘why’, but the reply always came in form of a smile. A smile with a million sorrows buried within.

…..to be continued