Prasad’s homecoming was like getting a cool shower in the hot desert. It was an oasis in the dry parched land. I had known many months back that he would be coming. I felt that somebody to depend on was there for me who was all alone all this time. A shade for me who has been fatigued by the hot summer of life… at least for a little while.
Prasad had been doing higher studies on scholarship in Chicago. Studies are over… he has got a position also there. He has got a special intention of coming to his home country. To get married. He is coming after almost settling an alliance. A sister of his acquaintance in America. She has done MA in Sociology. In case he doesn’t want to proceed, there are other proposals as well.
In his earlier letters, Prasad had written about these proposals. He had written in the letter: ‘ It will be good if Chechy and Roychayan go and see the girl.’ I wanted to. I was also eager to see my future sister-in-law. But Roy was disinterested. What he uttered were only thorny words.
“Oh, who am I to see the girl for your brother? I’m a ‘non-worth spade 7.’ You all can go and select her. Otherwise, it will be like the foolery of selecting me.”
I tried to persuade him.
“ What will Prasad think about it? He will feel bad about it. Won’t he think, we didn’t consider his request.”
“Oh…what to think about it? One should go, see and decide in such matters. That’s all”
“ Aren’t you the only brother-in-law Prasad has? How sad to speak like this!”
“Brother-in-law! I don’t want such positions. Do I have the eligibility to become the brother-in-law of an American!”
“Whatever the reason be, isn’t Prasad my brother?”
“If he is your brother. It’s good for you. What has got it as special about me?”
I knew that it was of no use to tell Roy about it. I withdrew from the attempt.
How to go and see the girl who resides a hundred miles away! Who is to accompany me? I have nobody to accompany me. In case, there is anybody, it will be bad, won’t it be? What to write to Prasad? How can I write the things Roy told me? Finally, I found a solution. I wrote to the girl’s parents. Two three letters. The result was a meeting at their relative’s home in our place. I told them a lie that Roy was out of the station. I saw the girl. Talked to her. Beautiful! Good behavior. Prasad will definitely like her.
May his choice come right!
I waited excitedly for Prasad’s arrival. Mon also waited for his Prasad Uncle quite enthusiastically.
“ What will Prasad Uncle bring me, Mummy?”
“He will bring some things, Mon! What’s there even if he doesn’t bring anything? Isn’t it enough to see him?”
He didn’t seem to understand what I said last. It may be applicable to me. Not to a kid like Vinod mon! Anyway, he went on to say that his Prasad Uncle would bring cars and planes.
He had a question daily to ask. “ Mummy, When will Uncle come?”
As the day of Prasad’s arrival came nearer and nearer, our joy got accelerated. Roy had no feelings at all. No change in his attitude.
The next problem was going to the airport to receive Prasad. Roy announced that he wouldn’t be there. How long time has passed since Prasad has come!
Probably seeing the sorrow on my face, Mon asked me: “ Mummy, Will the plane Prasad Uncle overturn?”
I covered his mouth with my palm.
“Don’t say such things, Mon! Nothing will happen to the plane Prasad Uncle boards. Nothing will harm your uncle.” My voice broke.
Anyhow, a letter that came from Prasad was a great blessing. He had shown the date he would arrive in Bombay. His ticket to Cochin was not yet confirmed. So we need not come to the airport to receive him. He will come all on his own.
But Mon felt sad. He was disappointed that he could not see the plane. Days moved by with the same question and answer that repeatedly came.
The days of waiting… I felt incredibly happy. As if I forgot all my sorrows. The reality was, during those days, Roy’s words could not cause any wound in my heart.
With the help of Santha, I prepared some delicacies and pickles. When we filled two three containers with ‘Achappam’ suddenly I remembered my Mummy. Mummy used to make one thing or the other every time. Prasad and I needed only mention one of our favorites. In the evening when we come back from school, the thing would be ready.
When I filled the containers with many things, I remembered. I hadn’t prepared anything for my Sonnie. Now, in spite of the many things I prepared, the feeling that it’s not enough still remains.
During the days of anticipation, many a time my mind grazed on the green meadows of my mind. The time when I played games with Prasad… How I took him to school, holding his hand in protection! The day I burst out crying when some classmates pushed him to a fall bruising his knee…When his face brightened in joy on seeing the paper boats I made for him… How we sailed those boats…How he listened to me with widely open eyes when I read stories to him…In this way how many recollections of our childhood…
“The best years are the first to flee…” Virgil’s words…
We grew up quarreling and making friends with each other. The estrangement was but fleeting. Even when we grew big, our friendship had never broken.
The time when I was doing my Predegree. Prasad was in Std IX at that time. I caught chicken pox. I remained shut up in my own room not to spread the epidemic. We had told Prasad not to come to my room. But he would come hoodwinking Pappa and Mummy.
“Chechy, Open the door….” I won’t open it. Then he would come by the window and would look in. He would talk sympathetically.
“Does it pain you? Do you feel itching badly?” He would inquire. Fruits and fruit juice would be brought and handed to me.
Memories will make my eyes wet. The happiness of the past becomes the sorrow of the present!
Finally, the much-awaited day arrived. Prasad did come indeed! I was perking my ears for the horn of the car or the sound of the calling bell…
When I saw my dearest brother, both tears and laughter broke out together. I sobbed. Prasad’s eyes also overflowed. Drops of joy!
Though Mon came running, suddenly he felt shy and kept himself aloof. Prasad lifted, embraced, and kissed him.
“Do you know what all things I brought for you?”
Prasad opened his box, took many toys and dresses, and gave them to him. His face brightened.
Roy came in while Mon had arranged his toys, and was playing with them. An aloofness was visibly felt when he talked to Prasad. Some kind of pretension. Artificiality. Roy was answering Prasad’s earnest questions in a detached manner.
Prasad shared news of America till far into the night. Roy sat there for a little time and got up and left, saying he was feeling awfully sleepy.
“Why, Chechy, Roychayan seems to have changed a lot.” Prasad asked me when Roy left.
“Oh…Nothing. He has been traveling a lot these days. He must be tired.”
Prasad muttered a ‘Hm’ in disbelief!
When it was far into the next dawn, he said, “ Now it’s too late. I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. Let’s go to bed.”
When I was preparing the bed for him, he asked me:” Chechy, do you remember how I fell from the cot?” They recalled a childhood incident and laughed. He was lying on the floor like a sack of things. He had dreamt of falling into a pit. Moments of innocent bliss!
At the other end of the memories, another horrid picture…sudden death of Pappa and Mummy… all memories and joy end in that harrowing reminiscence!
(Cont’d)
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