Neyveli - Mustache Guy - Old Lady

Please don’t look for logic. As I am not able to write in Tamil, I am writing this in English.

:::: 2009 Summer Holidays :::::::

This is Neyveli. If you have not heard of neyveli, I can give you a clear picture. This place which can be called as ‘Thar Desert’ of Tamilnadu has few hotels which give something very similar to food, few buses which have a look more or less like a bus and few theatres which are neither touring talkies nor decent film screens. The temperature will always be greater than 42 degree. The Unlucky students of Electrical branch come for IPT (In-plant training) to this Desert. [Only for the Certificates…  :P]

You cannot survive there without the Fresh Juices and coconut water. Two boys were standing near a coconut water shop (also called as ‘coconut juice’). One looked like a future MLA with heavily build body and doubtful expressions in his face. Other one looked like a soft guy with a thicker mustache which gave him a look of an elderly person. Those two were among the group of Electrical students who came for the In-plant training to neyveli.

The people in the shop looked like aged people. They were two and looked like couples fighting for the daily survival. The old man was sitting at one end of that small shop and the old lady gave the coconut juice to those boys. Meanwhile, the guy with the thicker mustache had a phone call.

“Ya amma. Had my dinner. Hmm…… so…..ok…and ……ya…..just drinking now……brought bananas as well” He was busily involved in the call. MLA (Let us call him that way…….) was inquiring about the hotels nearby. The old lady was looking at the mustache guy when he was talking over the phone.

“amma. Had your dinner? ... Hmm……take care….. I will be back in 10 days…everything is ok. Convey my love to appa…… mm……ok……will call you tomorrow…eat all three times a day…..don’t skip food because of work……ya ………bye……. Love you Ma...”

The old lady was laughing sarcastically. The Mustache guy was disturbed and asked her “Why are you laughing?”

She gave a dirty look at him and started to talk “In this age, every son loves his mom and family, but not after the marriage.”

“I am not like that.” He told very strongly. “I don’t believe anyone after the ignorance shown by my son after marriage.” She gave a stronger answer.

MLA was touching the shoulders of the mustache guy and asked him “Shall we go...”. “One minute.” He told him and turned towards the old lady.

“Here is the money for the coconut.” He gave her a 50 rupees note. When she was returning the balance amount he spoke again “Ok. You need not believe my words. Since how many years you are doing this business.”

“This is our family business and we are in this business for the last 4 generations.” She explained with pride.

“Ok. Let’s have a bet. Will you be in this business at least for another 15 years?” Now he was sharp in his words.

“Sure.” She was doubtful about the boy’s reaction. “Today my age is 19. I will comeback after 15 years. Probably I think that I would be married by that time. I will come back here with my mother and family after 15 years. What do you say……. Are you ready for the bet?” The boy asked.

Her expression totally changed now. She gave a smile and then didn’t talk for next few minutes. Then she went down towards the coconut and took one. She gave it to him and told “have it.”

“I…. I don’t understand……. I have paid for what we had and this one….. no…… ” He was fumbling with words while MLA from behind told “Have it. This is a token of love from her.”

She was looking at him [It was not looking, but staring]  and finally when they were about to leave she asked “What is your name?”

He turned towards her and asked “What is your son’s name?”

She hesitated but told after a while “Dhanapal”

“Mm……..Call me Dhanapal, amma. I will come here for another 10 days. Consider me as your son. Bye. Good night. Take care of your health and also that of appa’s…..”

She stood there motionless for another few minutes....