Arun Narayanan could be seen making his way to milking his cow. He was
welcomed in by the songs sung by the birds which sat on the trees. Whilst
washing the cow as preparation for the milking process, the baby calf ran
away at full speed.
College student Shalini was glancing over at the pale looking flowers which
stood in front of her house, when she saw the baby calf running. She
immediately set off behind the calf.
It was at this very moment that Deepu Abhilash was making his way to
Shalini's house to meet her father. Deepu saw the calf coming his way. He
took a second to prepare himself, and then opened his arms up wide and
picked up the baby calf in his hand. Deepu handed over the calf to Shalini.
Shalini was visibly blushing with an apprehensive smile. Seeing this, Deppu
smiled back at her.
Deepu was an unmarried young man, and was an employee at the bank in
Charumoodu. He was Shalini’s neighbour as he was renting the house next
to hers.
Deepu used to drink tea from nearby shops, but decided against it on
seeing the increasing usage of additives. Just like how there was corruption
in the society, even the common man's tea had become prey to this.
Deepu told Shalini that he came to see her father(Arun). Deepu walked
alongside Shalini to the house. Arun came outside carrying milk in a
container. Arun was not pleased to see his daughter walking in with a man,
and angrily asked her where her mother was. Shalini replied calmly “in the
kitchen”. Arun became more agitated and demanded her to take the calf
back to its mother.
Arun then turned to Deepu and asked him why he had come.
Deepu politely replied that he wanted one litre of milk.
Arun seemed to be very cross with what he heard, and let Deepu know
exactly how he felt.
"I don't want anything to do with my neighbours, a bunch of losers who go
behind my back to spread rumours about me.
Deepu was shell-shocked to hear that. He wondered why this man was
saying this to him.
Shalini was hearing this entire conversation, and felt humiliated at her
father’s reckless and Ill-mannered way of speaking.
Deepu remained calm and enquired whether he had caused any trouble for
Arun and his family.
This was a sharp question. A question that Arun wasn't expecting to hear
that day. A question that Arun was not prepared to give an answer to. Arun
took a minute, in the hopes of some answer to the question coming to his
head, and in the end, decided to go with the first thing that came to his
head which sounded like this- " but I don't know who you are".
Deepu was quick to respond," I am Deepu, and yes I am also a neighbour
of yours. You may not know me but I know exactly who you are. Why do
you live like this? Why do you limit yourself to this version of yourself? Why
do you barricade yourself from the rest of the world? You see that wall?
Just as how tall that wall rises, our mind should also rise higher and higher.
Love shouldn't be just reserved for your family, it should be shown to your
neighbour also. It results in a harmonious society as well. No educated
man would wish harm on anyone. I hope that you won't end up being
someone who is filled with hatred”.
Arun looked surprised. He welcomed Deepu into his house. He called his
daughter and asked her to bring a cup of tea for Deepu sir.
Arun suddenly felt a gush of feeling that he never felt before. Arun truly, for
the first time in his life, felt what it actually meant to have a real
conversation with a neighbour. He finally understood the heart
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