Amazon Best Selling Novel “Malabar A Flame” in Lima World Library
7.The dream land
Mary saw through the window the elated Danny and Abu
standing in front of the house. Only a day has elapsed since
their arrival in London and they had not dared to go out into
the streets. When the kids saw Mary they began to climb up
an apple tree. Sara stood there giggling at their antics. While
scolding the children to climb down Mary’s eyes struck at
the bright sky. How enchanting! The sight resembles the
scene akin to looking out from the Mattanchery church. The
silvery sky is littered with blue patches of clouds. She didn’t
feel going back.
What an attractive surrounding! In the majestic road, red
buses were plying. Either side of the road there are footpaths.
Red tiles had been paved in the footpaths. She heard the
rumble of the horse carts. Cars were less. Only the rich have
cars. In her state of Cochin, there were only a handful of
cars, mainly owned by the royalty.
The pedestrians were eyeing Mary. Her attire is quite fit
for her sleek and attractive body. Pleated dhothi and shawl
over the blouse. Mary was not aware of others watching her.
She was enjoying the array of uniform houses and trees on
the road. There are electric post on both sides of the road. At
night it all may burn. The connection to the posts is through
the underground. Sara had reminded Mary to see the lights
burning at night. She remembered the pale kerosene lantern
in the native home.
On trees white flowers glitter like stars. The flowers like
jasmine, hibiscus were not be here. But white and grey doves
were there in drives. No crow. As it is a cold nation birds of
Kerala will not be here. It is like a dream world. Never dreamt
of standing in a country which divided India and ruled over
it. It is all blessings of God. We do feel respect to this people.
How carefully they keep their homes and country clean. Is
the growth of this country because of its wealth? As the
rulers are more civic than selfish the country developed like
this.
As it feels warm, a cool breeze patted her body. As a
respite the trees waved. A madamma (white lady) with a big
dog passing them turned back and looked at Mary twice. She
might have been pleased with my attire. The dog escorts her
as her friend. As they came from behind its eyes could not
be seen. Are dogs of this size common in this country? Her
bulging breasts jumble with the rhythm of her walk. The
white hairs on her hand and nape are interesting to watch.
Sara watched the madamma curiously.
“Amme, amme (mother, mother) one doubt. Do the
adult women here wear the mini skirts as the school students
do in our Cochi?”, Sara asked.
“I don’t know. I shall ask your father when he comes,”
Mary replied.
“ What is the reason for the silver hair of the ladies here,
do you know?
Sara has another question for which the reply Mary did
not know. She herself found the answer for that.
Here there is no coconut. So there is no coconut oil. That
is why their hair is silver. Sara looked at Mary with proud as to
know how her answer is.
Although women are not so beautiful, Mary liked their
features. The Brahmin ladies in Kerala are not inferior to
them in beauty. Fair complexion and modest breasts will raise
jealousy in any woman. Still there are differences? Here when
the ladies travel alone, do the women in the homeland have
such courage? All are trekking in the same road. The sense of
untouchability is not here. Dog and cats are travelling with
humans like obedient children? Our land is the slaughter
house of untouchability. Some poor are massacred there
in the guise of some wretched laws codified by the country
lords.
Mary in her keen observation found another difference.
No one is crazy for ornaments. She was amazed. No one
wears any gold chain! No speck of a gold on their body.
Where is the gold they have robbed of the world? And yet the
progress they see around is astounding. Majestic enormous
roads! It will take a hundred years to have such roads in our
country.
A young man and woman crossed them off. While
walking they were kissing in the open. Mary blushed. “Che,
no shame doing in public”, she mumbled while turning her
head and walking away tethering Sara. Thank God, Sara
didn’t see it. She was looking at a horse cart.By clasping Sara’s
hand she scurried into the house. It was an experience like
frying pappad in boiling oil. Sara looked at her in wonder.
What happened to mother? She went in angry while Mary
felt guilty.
Danny and Abu were still on a huge apple tree. Danny
was gazing at the sky. He was about to pluck an apple. Sky
had changed from a white blue. Danny felt the sky is close
to him here and in the native land. Why the sky is near in
this place and away in another country. Why doesn’t the
sky come still nearer to me? When the sky opens its eyes it
sees the mountains ready to conquer. As the sky fears the
mountains it will not come to the earth? In Abu’s bid to pluck
an apple the tree trunk broke down. He smiled by seeing the
red colour of the apple. He stretched the apple to Danny and
asked:
“Have it”.
“No, you eat it’’, Danny said.
Abu devoured the apple. Somewhere near a strong wind
blew and waved them mildly. It made them happy. They
waited for the wind again. Danny waited for the wind that
did not come. Where has the wind gone? It has gone this way
to have a nap at noon. When in sleep if someone disturbs
the wind manifests like a cyclone. No one can see it. No one
knows its colour.
“Just like wind there is someone we cannot see. Who is
that, you know, Danny asked Abu.
“It is the soul of the dead”, he blurted.
“There is someone bigger than that. May I say it? Abu
nodded.“God’’. Abu’s eyes focused on Danny’s face. Why should
I think big in my small head? Why should he think so and
make his head hot?
Behind the house there were many trees grow skyscraped. While enjoying the breeze from there Danny’s voice
raised.
“Amme, appan coming’’.
When that voice was heard Mary, Sara and Aiysha came
out. Throwing the seedy part of the apple Danny and Abu
alighted from the tree. All faces are pleasant. Though Antony
was anxious of Ali he did not reveal it. Aiysha came out with
the thought that Ali will be along with Antony.
Although she looked behind Antony she did not see Ali.
Antony patted daughter’s head.
“Oane kando? (Have you seen him, my hus?” Aiysha
asked.
Antony’s face turned dark.`Ali has some more work, will
come soon”, he told her.
He looked at Aiysha with sympathy. What an innocent
woman, who knows only to love her husband and craves for
his love in return!
“Hei, Abootty, do you like this place?
“No’’
“Ye, Don’t like here? Why not, Abootty, don’t you like
this heaven.’’
“No, there was no one to play with’’.
“When you start going to school there will be friends to
play with, Antony convinced him.
“For that Abu didn’t know English, Danny expressed
doubt”.
“You are going to school to study English and French?”
“Did we not go to our country, then we need not study
there?” Abu raised doubt.
“ We have to go our country. But we have to study till
then. So we shall study here now”.
“Antonyachaya, when will they join school?”, Aiysha is
eager to know.
“This week itself we shall try. It is the duty of parents
here to admit the children to school. Those who did not leave
their wards to school will be liable to be prosecuted”.
“Bizarre. Is there school nearby,’’ Mary asked.
“School is there at a walking distance’’.
“Fees?’’
“Till 18 years old, all free. Those who are bright can study
how much one likes. The government will help”.
“By clearing Aiysha’s doubt Antony got in. Aiysha waited
outside for Ali.
Mary also went to the house along with Antony. When
he sat to dine he was happy. The dishes brought from Kerala
spread on table. Coconut chutney, tender mango in salt
water, aviyal (curry of elephant yam and yam). He glanced
the dishes for some time.
Mary is an expert cook. The aroma of native dishes
filled the room. Antony relished the meal with wife and the
children. Is the chutney a little hotter? A little too much of
chilly? He asked himself. After all, ever since he came to
England, he is accustomed to the English cooking with less
chilly and spices. After finished and went to work.
Suddenly the shout of Ali was heard from downstairs.
Mary looked through the window down and grasped the
situation. When Ali came home he saw Aiysha was standing
outside. Mary withdrew her to the kitchen. Ayisha served the
food on the dining. Ali’s face was sullen. She also did not
utter a word to break the silence. Without eating much Ali
got up, washed his hands and went out. Aiysha went pale.
Ali who used to heap praise on her delicacies served on on
the tender plantain leaves in their native land did not even
touch his favourite–the pickle of tender mango. It seems her
husband had changed a lot. Is it because of the climate here?
The cold has frozen his heart? Aiysha’s eyes welled up.
She recalled her days back home. Ali had two younger
sisters in Kashmir. But she has not met anyone. He once
promised her he would take her to Kashmir someday but she
was not that lucky. Ali was proud of saying that he was bright
in studies. When he failed in 8th class he dropped his studies.
The he joined his Bapa in meat business. Abdullah was not
happy to see his son in the trade. At last he decided that he
should be sent to the army. He met the Captain. The Captain
met Major Stephen Rim and there emerged a way.
It was the time of recruitment for Southern Regiment. Ali
was ordered to reach Cochin. He was taken in initially among
the lowest order. After apprising the discipline, devotion
to duty and character of the candidate for five years he will
be promoted to the next rank. When Ali became the horse
tamer of the Cochin Naval Chief, William Scot, Ali began to
learn Malayalam. It was the days when Ali felt that I would
not be successful in the toughest language.
All felt that it was a great fortune to get a job in the British
army. Muslims from Malabar had also worked with Ali
in the Cochin harbour. It was to attend the marriage of a
colleague that Ali travelled to Malabar. He found a fair but
shy girl who sang the `suruma’ (a Muslim chorus on the eve
of the marriage) at the bride’s house. Her voice and figure
lured Ali. He longed to make her his own. He conveyed his
wish through his friends. Initially there was opposition. To
the query why should they give her to a Kashmiri, her Bapa
gave two answers. One was stronger than the other—he is a
Muslim.
Ali’s grandpa was one who came down from Kashmir in
1900s for trade, married a Malabari girl and rests in one of
the graves there. Though Ali is handsome, the girl’s brothers
were not happy with her alliance with a n outsider. Finally
‘nikah’ (wedding) was consummated with the blessings
of all. Since the marriage with Aiysha, Ali refreshed his
Malayalam. What impelled Ali for this was the mute gestures
shown in the first night. It was an unforgettable experience.
Nothing could be uttered. But there are dreams and desires
to be exchanged, what a misfortune?
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