Radhika and Satvik looked at the antique showcase they had just bought with immense satisfaction. Rearranging the room to make space for it had been challenging, and it was with great regret that they gave away two low chairs to accommodate this giant piece.
"All your books can come here," Satvik said pointing at the two sides. "All my showpieces can take the inside shelves. We can keep the big Nataraja idol here in the centre."
Radhika visualised the arrangement he suggested and shook her head, turning to look at the Nataraja idol gracing the foyer. "He looks majestic there. We will get something else for this niche - Radha Krishna or Buddha..." she said, her voice drawling.
"Do you remember the couch we saw in that other shop? I can't forget it... Shall we get that. I think it will be a perfect match for this shelf," Satvik said.
"The leather one? Won't it make everything look brown?" she asked doubtfully.
"Hmm... We could contrast it with a brighter piece for the niche. Let's go hunting tomorrow. My heart is really set on that couch," Satvik said.
"Where will you keep it!" Radhika asked, looking around the well-set drawing room. There was no room left for another piece.
"We will figure it out," he assured her.
"We just need a bigger place," Radhika said, laughing.
The glitter in his eyes when he turned to look at her made her pause. "What?" she asked, her heart beat rising in anticipation. She giggled. "What? You have figured it out?" He laughed triumphantly. "Oh my god! Where?" she squealed in delight.
He grabbed her hand and led her out the front door. He stopped outside the neighbour's door and fished out a key from his pocket. She watched him fascinated. "You have bought that house?" she whispered in awe.
He silently opened the door and they stepped in. "Not yet. But we have agreed in principle. She was not ready. She wanted to hold on for the market to improve. But she agreed... Just imagine! We can tear down the common wall and we will have a hall large enough for big parties. Our adjoining lawns is big enough to hold a wedding reception!"
Radhika's head reeled at the possibilities. "Will we have the money?"
It made him pause but he smiled again. "We can manage. Loan won't be an issue."
Radhika hesitated. "We kept that aside for Jhunu's wedding..."
"We'll manage, don't worry. I am set on having her reception here," he said waving his hands towards the lawns. Radhika threw her arms around him and whispered, "You are amazing, Sattu!"
He preened and felt smug. It wasn't easy, but egged and aided by Radhika, he managed to muster a decent capital and get a loan. He would have to work like a donkey to repay, considering he was no longer all that young. But he was healthy and had no ailments. He stared at a distant future, when Radhika and he would sit in the lawn facing the brook that flowed beyond, enjoying a cup of tea, their grandchildren playing around them.
His eyes welled up. "Do you remember Radhika, what difficulties we went through to buy this house?" he asked her.
She nodded as the two returned home. "There were so many hurdles, from the government, from the environment department. But you have planted so many trees and shrubs. The roses look so beautiful..." Radhika gave loving affirmation.
He nodded and put an arm on her shoulder. "You were always a pillar of strength."
When the loans came through and they signed the documents, their joy knew no bounds. They quickly went about knocking down the walls, merging the homes, furnishing and decorating it like there was no tomorrow. Celebrating life, that's what Radhika called it. They decided to name their home 'Utsav'.
Yes, it was. Their daughter was married off from that home. And they decorated a bedroom to welcome their grandchild. As the monsoon set in, the insects came chased by amphibians, who in turn were chased by the reptiles. Over the years, Satvik and Radhika knew how to deal with it, but they put up additional protection for the sake of their son-in-law and grandchild.
The rains poured relentlessly, the water levels rising slowly and steadily. Radhika, Satvik and the other residents of the small complex watched worried. And then came emergency warnings, "Please vacate the banks of the river. More rainfall expected. The area is expected to experience flooding."
Some decided to leave right away. But Radhika and Satvik waited. They were one of the oldest residents here. They had given so much love to the place and invested their life's savings here. Nothing could happen to them.
But the stream was growing by the second. When the water entered the garden, they could not ignore the danger. "Take only the essential stuff," Radhika told Satvik as they packed quickly and stepped out. Because some of the roads in the city were inaccessible, their sedans and hatchbacks were of no use. Satvik brought the SUV to the front door and the two quickly loaded the bags. Satvik dashed back into the house and ran from room to room, with tears in his eyes, not knowing what will be left when they returned.
Radhika urged him to come back quickly. "There are flash floods it seems in some areas. Don't linger!"
He jumped into the vehicle and the two dashed off. That was just figurative as the progress was flow due to the heavy floods everywhere. Some streets turned into streams with strong currents and the police was diverting traffic. There were boats plying, carrying people. At one junction, the couple was made to get down. "It is not safe. Please use the ferry service," the policemen insisted.
With no choice but to heed, the two took one bag each - that's all was permitted - and they were transported to a nearby ashram that was providing shelter and food.
They clung to their bags for moral support and ate gratefully what was provided. They found some space amidst the throng of people to stretch their tired bodies. Sleep evaded them. Next morning, Radhika decided she would not become a beggar and offered to help the overworked ashram members. A senior lady smiled and gave her some responsibilities. Seeing Satvik moping in a corner, Radhika dragged him around to help her with the chores. Satvik used his organisational capabilities ti manage the crowds thronging for food and shelter.
It was more than a week before the waters receded and news started trickling in. Most of the areas were declared safe to return. But their own area was still off the limits. The brook was still swollen and most of the structures along the banks had been destroyed. Radhika and Satvik were devastated. Satvik's cry of agony rang through the halls. Radhika bore it a little better, for his sake.
"We are safe..." she said softly. "Our daughter and grandchild are safe..."
He nodded. "Let's go there tomorrow and see the place," he suggested.
Radhika was silent for a few moments. Then she shook her head. She pointed to the small room they had been allotted because of the work they had done at the ashram. "Do you see, Satvik? When they told us to pack only what we need, we didn't even have three bags each. Then, when we had to abandon our car, we brought along only one bag each and yet, Satvik, we have survived. We have lived. We were blessed to get food and a roof on our heads. And because we were willing to work, we have got our dignity..." She looked at him. "If the river has claimed our house as hers, let her. That land belongs to her... I don't want to see what's become of our home. It was never ours... Nothing is. Even this isn't... Let us start anew... With what we have and what we need."
She cried. Satvik put a hand around her shoulder and sat silently.
"All your books can come here," Satvik said pointing at the two sides. "All my showpieces can take the inside shelves. We can keep the big Nataraja idol here in the centre."
Radhika visualised the arrangement he suggested and shook her head, turning to look at the Nataraja idol gracing the foyer. "He looks majestic there. We will get something else for this niche - Radha Krishna or Buddha..." she said, her voice drawling.
"Do you remember the couch we saw in that other shop? I can't forget it... Shall we get that. I think it will be a perfect match for this shelf," Satvik said.
"The leather one? Won't it make everything look brown?" she asked doubtfully.
"Hmm... We could contrast it with a brighter piece for the niche. Let's go hunting tomorrow. My heart is really set on that couch," Satvik said.
"Where will you keep it!" Radhika asked, looking around the well-set drawing room. There was no room left for another piece.
"We will figure it out," he assured her.
"We just need a bigger place," Radhika said, laughing.
The glitter in his eyes when he turned to look at her made her pause. "What?" she asked, her heart beat rising in anticipation. She giggled. "What? You have figured it out?" He laughed triumphantly. "Oh my god! Where?" she squealed in delight.
He grabbed her hand and led her out the front door. He stopped outside the neighbour's door and fished out a key from his pocket. She watched him fascinated. "You have bought that house?" she whispered in awe.
He silently opened the door and they stepped in. "Not yet. But we have agreed in principle. She was not ready. She wanted to hold on for the market to improve. But she agreed... Just imagine! We can tear down the common wall and we will have a hall large enough for big parties. Our adjoining lawns is big enough to hold a wedding reception!"
Radhika's head reeled at the possibilities. "Will we have the money?"
It made him pause but he smiled again. "We can manage. Loan won't be an issue."
Radhika hesitated. "We kept that aside for Jhunu's wedding..."
"We'll manage, don't worry. I am set on having her reception here," he said waving his hands towards the lawns. Radhika threw her arms around him and whispered, "You are amazing, Sattu!"
He preened and felt smug. It wasn't easy, but egged and aided by Radhika, he managed to muster a decent capital and get a loan. He would have to work like a donkey to repay, considering he was no longer all that young. But he was healthy and had no ailments. He stared at a distant future, when Radhika and he would sit in the lawn facing the brook that flowed beyond, enjoying a cup of tea, their grandchildren playing around them.
His eyes welled up. "Do you remember Radhika, what difficulties we went through to buy this house?" he asked her.
She nodded as the two returned home. "There were so many hurdles, from the government, from the environment department. But you have planted so many trees and shrubs. The roses look so beautiful..." Radhika gave loving affirmation.
He nodded and put an arm on her shoulder. "You were always a pillar of strength."
When the loans came through and they signed the documents, their joy knew no bounds. They quickly went about knocking down the walls, merging the homes, furnishing and decorating it like there was no tomorrow. Celebrating life, that's what Radhika called it. They decided to name their home 'Utsav'.
Yes, it was. Their daughter was married off from that home. And they decorated a bedroom to welcome their grandchild. As the monsoon set in, the insects came chased by amphibians, who in turn were chased by the reptiles. Over the years, Satvik and Radhika knew how to deal with it, but they put up additional protection for the sake of their son-in-law and grandchild.
The rains poured relentlessly, the water levels rising slowly and steadily. Radhika, Satvik and the other residents of the small complex watched worried. And then came emergency warnings, "Please vacate the banks of the river. More rainfall expected. The area is expected to experience flooding."
Some decided to leave right away. But Radhika and Satvik waited. They were one of the oldest residents here. They had given so much love to the place and invested their life's savings here. Nothing could happen to them.
But the stream was growing by the second. When the water entered the garden, they could not ignore the danger. "Take only the essential stuff," Radhika told Satvik as they packed quickly and stepped out. Because some of the roads in the city were inaccessible, their sedans and hatchbacks were of no use. Satvik brought the SUV to the front door and the two quickly loaded the bags. Satvik dashed back into the house and ran from room to room, with tears in his eyes, not knowing what will be left when they returned.
Radhika urged him to come back quickly. "There are flash floods it seems in some areas. Don't linger!"
He jumped into the vehicle and the two dashed off. That was just figurative as the progress was flow due to the heavy floods everywhere. Some streets turned into streams with strong currents and the police was diverting traffic. There were boats plying, carrying people. At one junction, the couple was made to get down. "It is not safe. Please use the ferry service," the policemen insisted.
With no choice but to heed, the two took one bag each - that's all was permitted - and they were transported to a nearby ashram that was providing shelter and food.
They clung to their bags for moral support and ate gratefully what was provided. They found some space amidst the throng of people to stretch their tired bodies. Sleep evaded them. Next morning, Radhika decided she would not become a beggar and offered to help the overworked ashram members. A senior lady smiled and gave her some responsibilities. Seeing Satvik moping in a corner, Radhika dragged him around to help her with the chores. Satvik used his organisational capabilities ti manage the crowds thronging for food and shelter.
It was more than a week before the waters receded and news started trickling in. Most of the areas were declared safe to return. But their own area was still off the limits. The brook was still swollen and most of the structures along the banks had been destroyed. Radhika and Satvik were devastated. Satvik's cry of agony rang through the halls. Radhika bore it a little better, for his sake.
"We are safe..." she said softly. "Our daughter and grandchild are safe..."
He nodded. "Let's go there tomorrow and see the place," he suggested.
Radhika was silent for a few moments. Then she shook her head. She pointed to the small room they had been allotted because of the work they had done at the ashram. "Do you see, Satvik? When they told us to pack only what we need, we didn't even have three bags each. Then, when we had to abandon our car, we brought along only one bag each and yet, Satvik, we have survived. We have lived. We were blessed to get food and a roof on our heads. And because we were willing to work, we have got our dignity..." She looked at him. "If the river has claimed our house as hers, let her. That land belongs to her... I don't want to see what's become of our home. It was never ours... Nothing is. Even this isn't... Let us start anew... With what we have and what we need."
She cried. Satvik put a hand around her shoulder and sat silently.
No comments:
Post a Comment