Poetess

“You stupid country bumpkin. Can’t you keep a lamp burning in the verandah.” Thomas blared at the top of his voice in inebriated condition. He almost fell while trying to sit on the floor in the verandah of the one room thatched house of his. It was one of those typical houses one saw in the fishing hamlets. Behind the verandah was one room, the corner of which also served as their kitchen. The fear of sea erosion was always there but the fisher folk have accepted that as a part of their daily life. Thresiamma, clad in Kerala style lungi and typical Christian style blouse peeped outside. She was a fat rotund lady dark in complexion.

“ Hey man, if you get drunk don’t come this side and make nuisance. Sleep in the beach somewhere. Children are sleeping”, she voiced her disgust sternly.

“If you want, I will serve you rice and fish curry”, she completed in the same breath.

“The whole day I have not earned a single pie. I am desperate. Not that I want to drink. But when Mathukutty offered I couldn’t resist. Poor me.” Thomas continued to babble, but in subdued voice.

“By God, You will die because of drinking, Think of your family, man”, she swore.

This was not a very unfamiliar scene in any fishing hamlet, enacted daily. One never had dearth of reason for drinking. Thomas had his meals and lied down in the verandah itself to sleep. Despite the good amount of alcohol inside, sleep eluded him. It was the case with the entire hamlet. Though they were saved from the Tsunami that hit various parts of the neighborhood, the fear instilled was heavy. None had ventured into the sea for almost a week.

Thomas was in his mid-forties, well-built and good in his trade. He had two children, a girl and a boy. The girl was onto her teens. The boy hardly five. Thomas had made sure that the girl went to school and was doing her 12th standard. He dreamt of her doing well in studies and getting a government job. Unlike many in the hamlet Thomas did care for his family and spent a good portion of his earning for them. Getting drunk was a rare feature though he consumes a couple of pegs daily. As is always, after getting drunk he feels guilty and various thoughts haunt him.

Fishing hamlets used to be very secular till religious fanatics and opportunistic politicians stared playing with the pliable minds of the poor people. The hamlet had people of various faiths but all used to participate in every celebrations irrespective of religion. A perfect commune – humanity was sacred. It uses to be. Today petty causes can flare up to communal riots. People’s hearts have been divided, thoughts prejudiced and vision blurred.

But the teenagers do not see the world in its true nature. They are strong, optimistic and have a go-get-all approach. Some carry through and scale great heights; but most bury this enthusiasm or get buried under the burden of life’s reality. Mariakutty, Thomas’s daughter, wanted to achieve newer heights in life. She tried her level best to excel in areas she had interest. There were many to start with; but the list got dwindled as she became older. Not that she lost interest butfor the simple reason of economics in a fisherman’s dwelling. Priorities were different. But she always had high marks in her studies and also was pursuing her interest in singing by establishing herself as the lead singer of the church’s choir. She also used to pen her thoughts in the form of small poetry, which she had mailed to a few vernacular magazines.

Maria had a dusky complexion. Frail and tall she resembled more like her father in her facial features. Though she wore simple basic dresses, attention was paid to all details and always had a clean elegant look. The customary regular oil bath game gleam to her long hair. In the hamlet she would stand out and get noticed; but would be lost in any other crowd.

It was her literary bent of mind which got her acquainted with Jayaram, who used to frequent the church and also was having literary activities in the form of drama & mimicry. They became thick friends and often spent their time discussing serious matters of life and world around, many which were based on features published in various magazines. They had difference of opinion in various matters and viewed issues in a different perspective. Maria & Jayaram agreed to disagree in many issues but remained good friends.

Her back ground and his were vastly different. Jayaram belonged to the upper middle class society, where both his parents were qualified white collared job holders. He was fair skinned. Slightly stout, with a thick growth of bushy beard well- trimmed. Normally he is seen around in jeans & T shirts. The smile of his is quite appealing to anyone and helps him in getting friendly with people. Soft spoken and well-mannered he was popular in his circles.

Many a tongues started wagging in the hamlet. Many had seen the two youngsters in various places. Many stories started doing rounds and it eventually reached Thomas’s and wife’s ears. Tresiamma started shouting at Thomas. She never wanted to send the girl for studies after her 10th standard exam. To be some fisherman’s wife she was already over qualified. When Mariakutty reached home that evening Thomas gave one blow on her cheek even before starting the conversation. Then he started abusing her. It was only after a few blows and couple of one liners that she understood that the storm was in the name of Jayaram. She laughed out loud. Both her parents were a bit startled. Without any remorse in her voice she explained that Jayaram was a good friend of hers and nothing more. They shared common interests and so liked to talk and discuss. The intellect & awareness of Thomas and his wife could not digest that.

“This is how everyone tells in the beginning. But in no time you will be sitting and sobbing here with your womb breathing a new life. You Idiot.” Thresiamma was caustic.

“I had great dreams about you. But you have failed us.” It was Thomas’s turn.

Without getting rustled Mariakutty walked to the verandah and took a seat. She was still laughing though not aloud.

“What will give you both confidence in me?” She asked. “I am willing to go to any extendto kill this doubt now itself”

“You should never meet him again”, Thresiamma ordered.

“That’s all. Done and it is a promise.” Maria didn’t seem to have any problems.

Her parents were relieved of the tension that had built up. They tried to tell a few niceties to her and also a bit of advice.

Maria wrote to Jayaram.

Dear Jayaram,

Life is queer. The turn it takes, its pace, its language, its smell, it’s everything is unpredictable. It’s different to different people. It’s time to allow life to play its way. I am not ready, both mentally and ideologically, to interfere and have my say. Mt parents view our relationship in a different plane. No fault of theirs. So let’s vow not to meet again. I know you will understand. Maybe in some other turn of life’s path we might meet in different capacities with different emotions. Maybe outr paths will never cross. But you will always be somebody who played a part in making my individuality; for a girl from the fishing folk hardly gets companionship of people of your class. Hope you will nurse only good feelings and have no grouse.

Yours friendly,

Maria

Mariakutty continued her studies and finished her degree. During this period she established herself as a poetess. Her poetry was regularly published in a vernacular weekly magazine. The subject she dealy encompassed all the emotions of human beings; especially through a woman’s eye, an woman whose moorings were in a fishing hamlet. The hamlet was proud of her.

Her women characters had all the inherent nature of the sea. Their minds were as deep as the sea. Though very rough at the surface her women were very cold and quiet inside. External factors wavered the mind causing high and low tides. And her fury can drown almost anything. Her gentle caress were like the waves kissing ones feet.

Though her parents were happy with her achievements they were not fully satisfied. They wanted her to take up a job and earn. She was ready for that but on one condition. They will not force her to marry. She applied to the same magazine that was publishing her works. She did get a reply. Along with the appointment order there was a hand written note from the editor.

Dear Maria,

It’s time for us to meet. All these days I was keeping in touch with you by ensuring that your poems do keep coming. They tell a lot about you. You have blossomed into a great woman; a good human being. My waiting hopefully will end now. Let’s meet again not just as friends.

With Love

Jayaram.

Maria joined Jayarm the next day.