Nurungukal..2..contd…

The snatch:

        I do not remember my mother shopping in a provision shop. That was the duty of the male members in those days, although she insisted for her presence in the case of textiles that too restricted to a particular shop as the owner was our family friend. I think that was the case in every family  till the advent of departmental shops. Many house wives took it as an outing after finishing their daily chore. After settling down at Wayanad in my retirement I used to have plenty of time to accompany my wife in such casual trips. In fact I considered it as an inexpensive frolic as it is a fun to watch the colourful crowd moving from one rack to another. Most of them took it as a social event besides the purchase, for meeting friends and exchanging pleasantries and at times refreshing their culinary expertise. In the course, many new contacts were established which later on lead into ardent friendships. House wives tiptoeing with a trolley full of ready to cook or eat foods in packs of eye catching colours, some precariously balancing a baby with one hand and some tiny tots pulling the tip of the dress of their mother to draw her attention to get a chocobar unmindful of her persistent reprimands, charged the atmosphere with energy and fun. Iam always in praise for those ladies whose contribution in balancing the harmony of the house often go unnoticed and unrecognised.

       It was on such an occasion we met Sajan [not his real name ] a sprightly young man. He was in a casual dress and did not look like a sales executive. He was arranging i a new brand of LED lamps in a stand. With a broad smile he approached us and started pouring in why the lamp was better than the other brands and about the new offers etc. etc.. When he understood that we refused to yield, as a last shot he introduced himself as the son of our neighbour, who was a member of our Panchayat. His attempt did not fail. We accepted the offer and he joyfully volunteered to fix the bulb himself  in the evening and promptly complied with it. It was the beginning of a relationship. Later on I had met him several times from the same store and at many  other places, carrying a bulky bag full of new items fore sale . He was a link of a direct sales agency. I considered him as a roll model in that capacity.

          One day his mother requested me to supply 2 glass of cow’s milk daily to nourish her son  as he was toiling day and night to boost the sales. Then onwards he used to come to our  house exactly at 8.30 in the morning to collect the milk. At that time I used to be in the front veranda reading the news paper over a cup of coffee and it became customary for him to wish me a good morning.

          That day also he strode briskly into the courtyard, in his checked t-shirt and ¾ th pants gave me a laughter and the usual wish. Without lifting my face from the paper I waved my hands. But by an impulse , when I looked up saw him moving away from me in a hurry. At that moment I never thought that it would have been my last glimpse of him. A few hours later when I was in the midst of  a meeting the tragic news reached me that he met with an accident  and is no more and it made me shudder.

           While thinking about him now I am reminded of the great saying …quote “ It does not matter how much I have. What really matters is what I do with what I have..” …unquote……may his soul rest in peace…….contd