Amazon Best Selling Novel “Malabar A Flame” in Lima World Library
15. Fascination
Peter Scot passes away.
Antony was bereaved. He ate nothing that day. Antony
felt as if everything lost in life. He thought of birth, death
and destruction. All that one builds up after death are taken
away in one blow. Death is a great leveler. The king and the
queen, the poor and the lowly, all are called to eternal rest by
the unknown hand to be consigned to the elements. Is there
an soul that comes back to raise one from death? He was not
sure.
He took part in the funeral that was held in the West
Minister Abbey with all honours warranted to a Lord of the
Realm. Among the mourners was his brother b\from Cochi.
There were no sons or daughters as Peter Scot was a widower.
Never cared to marry agaion as he was wedded to his horse.
But he was a great man. A good man at heart.
If Winter comes can Spring be far behind? Danny and
Sara completed three-year degree course in the University of
London. Sara’s wear and style changed a lot. So was Danny’s.
They adapted the manners of the modern world. Antony
spent much of his income from the railways on his children..
There was no school fee for both up to 16 years. Danny was
too anxious to complete the University and get a job to save
his father from the drudgery of manual job.
Sara in the privacy of her room was reading Kingsley
Amis novel ‘Take A Girl Like You’. while Mary browsed her
Daily Mail. Nigeria became free from the British In 1960
thousands of Indians were expelled from the former British
colony of Uganda. Britain had to offer refuge to many of
them. Thereafter other refugees seeking asylum from Asia.
As Sara studied Diabetic Nursing she got job easily.
She wanted to do higher studies in the same area. She had
blossomed into a beautiful flower. Dr Rajasekharan flashed
a smile at the nurse who came to get the prescription paper
of a diabetic signed by him. He was always thrilled by the
fragrance she brought to his room She is special to him. Is it
because borht were immigrants from the one and the same
Kerala, in the southern tip of India?
One day Rajan mustered courage to ask her::
“Who are all there in Sara’s home?
Appan, amma and a brother. Then the question stopped.
He seemed in a reverie.
As always, she broke the silence: “ Doctor, are you
dreaming? Just sign this”.
He was a Hindu and she a Christian? But was it not the
Hindu Ezhava savant Sree Narayana Guru who taught that
there was only one caste, one religion and one God for man?
After all, he is devotee of the Guru. His parents are and his
grand parents were.
Don’t all these rise from the savage culture. Culture is of
human. Aren’t religion and caste mere ways to life? Then how
will religion end up as hindrance to cultural bonds? Britainis a Christian dominated country. But Britons do not take
religion very seriously. They accord value to liberty. They are
not ready to sacrifice their liberty for the sake of religion. But
Indians blindly trust in God and is passionate about it. Dr.
Rajasekharan vowed to discuss these matters with Sara some
day soon.
No he could not wait. On one right moment he salvaging
all his courage to barge into sara’s room in the hospital. She
was reading a book. How could a Malayali girl read books like
her English counterparts? She lifted her face and smiled.
”Why have you come? Did any patient make any
complaint?”. She invited him to sit.
They looked at each other silently for some time. Finally
she asked “What do you want to know further?”
“Yes of course. I like you. I have liked you ever since I
came to work here. I have just completed my +work here for
my MRCP. I wanted to settle down here for some time before
returning home. And I want to marry you!” Dr. Rajan said all
in one breath and awaited her response.
When there was none as he found her staring at him as
though she was in disbelief.
“Doctor do you know the meaning of what you said just
now?. It seems there are many miles for us to go before you
settle down” she uttered finally.
With a crooked smile, she poked another question to him.
`Why did you study general medicine. If it were surgery, you
would have more guts to ask such questions!”
“We are of different faiths, though I don’t mind such
differences. What is your caste? Nair, Eezhava”
“I am an Eezhava, but not a faithful.”
“Doctor, it is my parents who take a decision about me”,
she said abruptly and ended the conversation at that.
Rajan was not disheartened. He had anticipated such a
response from any normal girl. He only appreciated the guts
of the girl to be free, frank and fearless. He ruminated over
his strategy number two—speak to her parents.
Sara also had a restless night. She liked the young doctor.
Tall, fair like her, Long nose, thick moustache, black bushy
hair,.flat chest, soft spoken a gentleman in every respect.
She had begun liking him. But not the way he took it. As a
good looking and intelligent girl, she is a grab for any English
speaking professional, leave aside faith or religion. She has
not forgotten the day when a white kid threw a kid on her
face and ran away before he got thrashed! She alighted from
her bed. It was only two in the morning. She stood in front of
her mirror and examined her thoroughly. Not bad. Not at all.
She smiled to herself and went to bed again.
Chilly morning washed by a heavy drizzle. Sara was in
deep slumber when Mary knocked at the door.”Why do you
sleep like a log? Not going for duty?”
She alighted from the bed. Went to the window, to peep
through the curtains. Rain had subsided. But no sun. She felt
giddy. Diallled her hospital to say she did not feel well and
won’t be coming.
When she had finished brushing her teeth and waswashing her face, Mary entered with a cup and a tea pot.
What is happened? Not going for duty today. It is unlike
you..” Mary started.
Phone rang. Mary lifted the receiver and replied: “No
doctor, she is not feeling well. She is not coming. Oh yes, I
will ask her to call back”.
She told Sara who the caller was. It is Dr. Rajasekharan,
the one you said was kind and caring” But Sara did not say
anything.
After while the phone rang again. Sara took it up. It was
Rajasekharan and none other.
“If it is because of me, please… I am sorry. No more such
idiocy”
“No. No..I’m okay doctor” she said and put the phone
back.
“He is tense without seeing me,” she told Mary.
“What’s it, mole?”
“Love-lorn!”
Mary’s eyes widened. She stood there wondering what
was next in store for her.
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