The Fragrance of Vineyards
While resting after supper, Jacky began to think about the bygone days. Everything happened so soon — applying for the loan, receiving it, and coming to London. At home, Father might be still working, sweating under the hot sun. All the people like Jagannathan Mesri (Mason). But if there is no work the family will be starving. Every day he works for the daily bread. He is about sixty. Both his father and mother are working hard every day. Their life is a continuous fight with building blocks, stone, gravel and cement. Even though mother too works with him, life is painful and difficult. Jacky used to stare at the tall edifices his father had built and ask “My father has raised you to such a height. But why doesn’t he alone rise?” Father’s character is also different from that of others. He had no great ambitions. All that he wanted was to live without starvation by his own labour. It is true that he had constructed many huge buildings. But that does not mean that he should build such a mansion for himself. He was only an ordinary mason. This had always been his way of thinking.
When he starts building a house, he takes up the whole responsibility on his own shoulders and finishes the work as best as he can. He never takes a bigger share when the profit is divided among the workers. It is from this meagre income that he runs the family and pays for his daughter’s nursing studies. In spite of Jacky’s parent’s hard work they could not pay a single rupee of her loan amount. It was in the midst of all these problems that Jacky put forward his desire to study. Those in power and those who take bribes are happy. They have all the good things in life. Their desires are satisfied. Many of their children study abroad. Jacky also wished to learn like them. But the poor are helpless. They have no faith in anyone. There is nobody to help them. Those in politics or with serious religious bend of mind only think about the safety of their existence. The members of his own family had been preys to this attitude. Yet learning abroad that too in Britain, was the dream of his life.
There are many highly educated young men moving about jobless in India. Such people rarely get the jobs that they really deserve. There is nobody to understand their sorrow and disappointment. Many of them move in the wrong track. Religion and politics make a good harvest through them and find satisfaction. As he was working with his father, placing one brick above the other, his mind was distressed. If he could take a degree from London, he would be accepted throughout the world. Then he thought that it was something impossible for him.
Why should he dream about such a situation? The rich people and those who take bribes or practise corruption and business men can send their children to foreign countries to study.
A poor mason’s son like him should never dream of such an opportunity.
While working in the hot sun, along with his father, Jacky’s mind was filled with dreams about London. Every day he wished that his future would soar as high as the buildings they were constructing. He knew that it might be an extravagant ambition. In this world of falsehood and deceit the poor and needy are perishing every day. He had the courage and desire to fight against all kinds of injustice openly. But he had to remember his family. A family of which had centred all the hopes on this only son. They had fulfilled all his desires till now. He was dearer to them specially, because he was a boy, born after two girls. As he was skilful in learning, they were willing to assist him as long as he wanted. Even his teachers had congratulated him on his proficiency in Mathematics and Sciences. He passed B.Sc. in the first class. He tried to study medicine after that, Jacky and his parents were shocked on hearing about the fee he had to pay even for admission in a medical college. It amounted to many lakhs. With this his future became uncertain.
Being a clever student, Jacky had received much flattery, good wishes and congratulations from people. But he did not get safety in life. He had neither interest nor the resources to give lakhs of rupees as bribe for admission and studies. He realised that his future would be on the decline in India. His desire to study in London became stronger. It became his life’s ambition. He should find out a safe means to realise this ambition. When he presented this idea before his family, they could only stare at him and at each other. Whether he would get the bank loan was uncertain. Then how could they encourage the desire of their son?
But fate was with him. When he remembered that day a smile flashed through Jacky’s face. As usual he was working with his father. The dream about London was slowly fading in his mind. While working, he stood staring at the brick held in his hand. Then he heard his father coughing aloud. He was sweating all over. He took the towel, wiped his body and went towards Jacky and called him “Jacky…..” He looked at his father. He saw the light of love on that face. Jagannathan looked at his son lovingly and said “Son, didn’t you say yesterday that you will get the loan if our house and property are pledged? Go and enquire about it. We are not against your wish. Go to the bank.
Jacky felt exhilarated. He could not believe his own ears. He stared at his father’s face in joy and surprise. Jagannathan stroked him on his shoulders and said “Boy, you go and find out” Jacky’s joy was unfathomable. His father continued to work.
Jacky drew water from the well and washed his face, hands and feet with it. He changed his dress. He told his co-worker Molly about the new development. Soon his friend came with his bike. Jacky’s mind was as bright as a tree full of blossoms shaking its branches in the wind. He sat behind Prakasan and went to the bank. Though, they were driving through the road, Jacky felt that he was already in the plane bound for London. It was a real blessing from God that father had consented to pledge even his house for the loan. They reached the Charummoodu Bank. After that everything happened very quickly. The loan was sanctioned soon. And finally Jacky had reached London.
(Cont’d)
