House of Chhabeel Ram Part – 2

(Recap – In first part, it was described about duo personality of Chhabeel Ram. How he happened to behave before the 3-30 p m and then transformed to  a unique behavioral pattern.)

Often after 5.00 p m, the main official building be shutdown, but the chowkidar (guard) and some late going class fourth employees, kept staying back within the building campus. Since, garages were old fashioned one and doors condition was so pitiable, they remained almost open.This worked as the suitable site for group of drinkers ( of the office employees,) at the evening time. Chabeel Ram with other staff members, now begin his second inning of drinks.

Using the extorted amount –  After 5.00 p m, the money extorted from Sahebs, he used to spent in installments. This second ‘quarter bottle’ of liquor, he would consume there, this spree last till 7.00 p m. Till this time, his mental condition became like a florescent bulb, hung on the roof, whose connection get loosed. As the bulb constantly flickers, likewise his mind flickered incessantly.  This put him in a condition; at this moment mind is working properly but at the next, it was in “black out” mode.

Upon consuming the second quarter of the liquor, he was destined  to consume his last third quarter of liquor, on his way to home. There were fixed ‘places’ for such kind of drinkers which  provided the facilities. After consuming the last quarter of liquor, the mental position of Chhabeel Ram became akin to, as if, so many fire crackers are bursting inside the head simultaneously. With this floundering module inside the head, he would now begin his journey to his house. His this movement was akin to a horse, who daily carries his master to his destination. Here, his legs worked as a ‘horse.’

Any how, his legs would manage to fetch him to the colony, where he was allotted  a place to stay, during his service term. His this colony was an old fashioned tenement, based upon the architecture of British period. Here, ‘residential sets’ for drivers, peons, electrician and other fourth class employees were allotted. In the entrance of the lane, an electric bulb on an electric pole too was provided to facilitate the night time movement.  But it had the same flickering condition, as that of Chhabeel ram often had, after consuming second quarter of liquor. From here, the story begins, that directly relates to the  main caption of this story.

The old  fashioned architecture – People, who witnessed the old Railways residential colonies of British era, can easily recall the ‘architecture’ of Chhabeel Ram’s colony. This too was the copy of the same tenement. It was a consolidated tenement of one storied, single block, roofed with corrugated cement sheets. Every block consisted of at least ten residential sets, in a row. On both side of the lane, a row of such block located. Every set of the row, separated from each other with a common high raised common wall. It was done with purpose, to facilitate the privacy of every family.

In every such residential set, two rooms located on the backside, in front of them a small veranda, on one side of this a small room in shape of kitchen. Then a small yard, that too in the front guarded with a high raised wall.  In this front wall, there existed main entrance with double flanked wooden doors. Inside, just adjacent to the entrance, an outdoor toilet facility was provided. This block of residential sets happened to give one and the same impression in look, when you throw a glance from the outside.

The house lost –  Now just imagine a picture. Chhabeel Ram with his stomach filled heavily with liquor and that too overflown. On the both sides of this faintly lit lane, there stood two blocks of residential sets. Every block contained ten residential sets who looked alike. Amidst them, one is of Chhabeel Ram. The mental situation of heavily inebriated Chhabeel Ram is so embarrassing. He is unable to recall, whether on the left or right side of the lane or which one side, his house located. Further more, which house among them belongs to him.

Contrivance of mind – But a miraculous idea, his mind had invented, despite its being in a “black out” condition. Chhabeel Ram, basically being a gentle person was aware of the fact, at this late hour of night , all men are supposed to be in the bed. Only woman of the house, is to remain engaged in washing the leftover utensils or winding up other business of the house hold, before going to bed.

It was his daily routine, on reaching there in highly inebriated condition, he would knock every main door of the residential set mildly. After that, inquire in a meek voice, ” Hello, sister! is this the house of Chhabeel Ram?” His this demeanor was well known whole through the colony. Upon knocking the wrong door, the proper answer be delivered, “No brother! this is not your house.” In this way, he would try almost every entrance door of the entire colony. Sometimes, he would he forget to knock his own house main door and slip to next door again.

When house discovered – Eventually, when succeeded to knock in his own entrance door and inquire upon his own wife, “Sister! Is this the house of Chhabeel Ram?” This situation was enough to boil up the mind of his better half. She knew, this daily drama episode had put up her  into a derisive state, in the entire colony. She ever remained stand behind the door, harnessed with a domestic appliance i.e, a groom or rolling pin or ladle in hand. At once, the doors would open and she hissed like a snake, ” Come on in, you sister fucker, this is your house either!” And give her a thrashing. Almost entire colony awaited this daily episode of entertainment.

Long after getting retired from the service,  Chhabeel Ram got shifted to another private colony. Even then, by virtue of habit, in his inebriation, he visited his old colony tenement at late night. He would knock, every door and inquire meekly, “Hello sister! Is this the house of Chhabeel Ram?” It was the height of the “sorry plight” of his drinking habit. This forced her wife to sell off the newly bought house in a new colony, and shifted back to the parental village of Chhabeel Ram at some other distant district . (End of the story.) Penned by– Vinay Pharasi …..