{Prologue – The title’ Bablee’ of this long story is given on purpose. This is a hackneyed amalgamation of various love stories revolving round the character ‘Bablee’. Although, the title might be more appropriate on the name of another lead character ‘Ganak.’ But the reason is ‘Bablee’ appears on the scene in the second half of the this story and is somewhat intricate, who commands many characters. The truth is , at the first hand I conceived the idea to give the title, ‘ Ganak’s love story,’ but ‘Bablee’ suited more appropriate. Almost all the characters of this story (barring one or two) still alive, when I am penning down this story and living their own life as per their circumstances. This is another thing, how much happier they are in their real life is not known.}
I chanced to get acquainted with lead characters of this story named ‘Ganak’ and ‘Bablee’ in the year of 2000. At that period of time, I was about forty years old but always tried to take myself as a chap of twenty five – six years old. In fact, it was a sort of misconception, all men conceive in the mind when they enter into the first slope of their life span. Other wise also, in the present era when the cosmetic facility to dye your hair from grey to dark is readily in hand, one may conceive this type of misconception till the age of his seventy.
Often we occasion to meet people in the life for some causes, either they need us or we need them; may sometimes it be casual or with no purpose. The fact was, I had constructed a small house and I needed a skilled painter to whitewash the house. Besides, I was in search of painter who could deliver the services on low cost charges. A common man when erects a house, it occurs with him, till he reaches to the completion of the house, he becomes emptied pocket plus indebted in this construction drive. Further, it’s often considered a house not completed until given a white wash. The same financial crisis I was confronting.
I had queried from my all friends to suggest some skilled painter to white wash, who could afford his services on reasonable cost. One friend had suggested the name of ‘Ganak’ but made a remark, “the fellow is moody, if he begins to like you, he will do your job on low cost. He is well skilled in his job either.” Fortunately he had his abode at a short distance from my suburb located personal office. One day in evening time I appeared at his house. In contrast to my imagination, I found a man who by looks like about thirty years old, young looking. He was tall, slim with wheatish complexion, hair combed neatly backward and had a manly voice that sounded somewhat hoarse.
The slight evening already had fallen. Often the hard working labor class people after finishing the toilsome day work use to take some alcoholic drinks. It’s a common sight at least in our urban areas. When I approached him, it was obvious by his looks, he was under the impression of country-liquor. He lied on an old knackered cot in the small yard of his house. His house situated on an old bye-lane and by the side of this lane ran a water canal.His house was in the location which was supposed to be under the grab of growing urbanization in near future time.
The condition of the old house was in semblance to the condition of his old tattered cot. It was single storied dilapidated house with somewhat expansion, that seemed to contain four to five average sized rooms in the back side and one ante room at the front side. House roofed with old timed corrugated tin-sheets. It was clear by the looks of the house, it was constructed long ago when this location was solely like a village in the vicinity of the old town. Such kind of houses were common in that old era.
The house was equipped with electricity and an incandescent light bulb was shimmering dimly in the early evening, as if , waiting the approach of dense night, so it can display its full magic. No sooner, I had stepped on the yard of his house, a pack of mongrel dogs set a bay in my welcome. This unexpected welcome made me nervous and I halted on the main entrance. But on a hoarse command of his, all they calmed down and resumed a silence. He forced himself to get up from the cot and threw a questioning look at me.
“I need to meet Ganak Painter.” I responded to his glance.”
“I am the same.” he answered approaching me . ( Here I have to disclose one fact, our conversation was taking place in our vernacular.)
When he talked, his alcohol saturated breaths touched my nostrils. “Please be seated.” He requested, then it occurred to him, it was not proper to make me seat on the tattered cot, so he facing the main door of the house called out, “Mother, get a chair here for the gentleman.” In between, his dogs again began to snarl at me, he at once picked a cane, he had had by the side of the cot and rapped on the ground to warn them and now said in poor English with a smile, ” fear not, no biting.” His this English accent too brought a smile on my face. In between his old age mother carried an old plastic chair from inside the house and placed that by the side of the cot. Indubitably, old woman was an icon of old time’s beauty and affability, it was obvious by her ageing looks. She was kind of woman, by looking at her, the pious feelings of homage generated at once, as if, she was mother of all people even like me. Automatically, my both hands got folded in reverence and I extended my salutation to her, ” good evening mother!” She received the pleasantry with motherly affection and said in subdued voice, ” Kindly sit down son.”
Perhaps, this was the impact of salutation for the mother, that impressed Ganak and this nominal gesture helped generate the seeds of future intimacy between Ganak and I. It’s my personal opinion. Now, once again Ganak was looking at me with the same questioning glance, as if, intended to know the purpose of my visit. I gave the reference of my friend who had suggested his name and told of my purpose of getting white wash of my newly constructed house.
On hearing this, he looked for a while at me with his dilated pupils under the alcoholic impression and said, “I can start upon that from next week. At present I am busy in another work in hand.” I conceded to that. For a while we discussed about the labor charges of white wash. Though he put up one condition, ” items needed for white wash would have to be purchased from a specific shop.” The reason in support of this condition he gave, ” sometimes, you may not be present in person on the spot and I may run short of some goods, I can get all that on my own credit from there. Shop keeper trusts me in dealings.”
I knew the another facet of this term and condition. In our social system, be it the service of a plumber or carpainter or any one else, all they had their fixed shop, from where, they were in practice to collect some money in shape of commission to help promote their sale. In our social system, every where at every stage in diurnal life this kind of “kick back” prevails.Other wise also, if I directly approach to purchase the same items, the same cost shop keeper would charge from me. In that case his profit margin rise to some more percentiles.
Upon being agreed about the terms and conditions, I tried to offer him some advance in shape of earnest money, so I could consider the deal fixed. But he refuted to accept, merely said, ” I honor my wordings. When I said, I will white wash your house, I will do that. One thing more, two days prior to the starting of white wash, show me the the site of the work. There, I will make you note down the list of needed items. It’s upon you to fetch them personally. If you can’t, deposit freight amount to the shop keeper, he will arrange his own.” I had no objection in that. When I asked for my depart, he made me stop and said again in his poor English. ” Sir! If you don’t mind, have a little drink, if you need.” I was impressed by his confident mannerism.
I assured him, ” Not today, but some day on the site of white wash we will celebrate the drinks.” My this suggestion appeased him and he gave a wide laugh and said. ” it seems, there is going to take place a good tuning with you Sir! But at least one cup of tea, as a token of our first meeting.” And without waiting my approval, he again called out to mother to prepare a cup of tea. Till now, evening had fallen completely.
When I was sipping the tea, dogs stirred and barked in a slightly low voice and ran towards the main entrance wagging tail, as if, welcoming some one. An another man, who had the the same tall height and physique as that of Ganak, with small trimmed beard and curly hair but more sharp features entered the yard. He was pushing on his bicycle and pack of dogs trailing behind in friendly way. He silently , nodded at me, as if, extending the greeting and parked his bicycle by leaning it by the side of the wall of the house.
The truth is, the sharp features of this man beautifully resembled to that of mother. Ganak, without my query started, ” he is my elder brother Manik. Whenever he is not engaged in work some where, he assists me in my white wash job.” Manik silently entered inside the house, as if, he had no concern with any one out side. After finishing the tea, I left the Ganak and came on the main road. ( End of the part first. Cont’d) Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–
