I lit another cigar, preparing myself to be a good listener. He told me that, he is fleeing due to some issues at his home. He was working at some gulf countries, and the recent slowdown cost his job. But with his contacts, he could find out another one with a better package. He planned to fly back for re-entering his visa, and celebrated the night before his flight with friends and beer. On the way back after a dizzy night, being driven by Manu (Let me name him “Manu”, just for the flow of writing. Please bear with me.), and his friends still with their beer bottles sitting at rear seats, made the biggest of mistakes. The window was open, and the copes passed by noted the drinking co-passengers and stopped the car. They were all accused and jailed. Manu spent 28 horrible days at a desert jail till his sister helped him with about 3 lakhs to bail him out. He reached home with a bowed head. His parents were angry. It took him about 2 months to convince them to accept the reality. He was mentally down to join his new job. He started searching for a job in India itself. This decision made his parents to think of his marriage. He was also happy to hear this long awaited call from them, not knowing the fact that; his stars were all set for their worst play with his life.Now, let’s take a trip 4 years back to the beautiful, cool Wayanadu. Manu was having his studies at XYZ city in Wayanadu during 2005-2007. On a Sunday, he located a girl from church. He was attracted towards her and further investigations made him moody. She was a novice. Devoted her life to the almighty. He was upset to know this. But, the young, hot blood showed its courage. After a long try, he could convince her to change her decision. She announced her future at home and after a little resistance, her parents too agreed to it. They got a green flag from both houses for the relation. Things went fine and he could earn a job abroad soon after his studies. He left to gulf for two years of contract and returned for leave after two years. The mighty stars started sketching their plans from that day.
A week after him returning home, he decided to meet his lover girl. He visited her and handed over some gifts at her home. His would be in laws also were treated well and cherished. He said bye to her with a delicious lunch by afternoon. On the way back home he met one of his classmates at bus stop, “Tina”. They talked for a while and he explained his reason for being at that place. She was working for a marketing firm that time. They were good friends at school and she was having a known crush to him from then. She requested him to have a look and support her marketing activities. Being a gulf return, he took it as his chance to show off. They went to her home and her parents were away that day. He purchased some of the goods and she offered a tea. At some moment, being alone at that big house and the sparking age led them to the sin of his life. They made love. Tina was breaking the ice with her crush to him and he was a young, hot, enthusiastic chap to readily accept it without caring the consequences. His stars were happy for being plotted the best of their play, he was unaware of.
He flew back in a month from this day. Settled down normal, and cared to call Tina once in a while. Exactly after two months, he received a call from Tina with that disastrous news. She was pregnant. He found himself in a Pub, heavily dozed that night. Managed to be normal in a day’s off and called her right in. she was also not in any mood to continue with it. She suggested an abortion. Same day, he credited her account with the required amount. Tina confirmed success of the MTP in a week and things went back to normal.Time heals. And it did its magic to them too. Now in 2011, when he’s back after a tragic recession, she behaves very normal like nothing happened within them. But, she changed her profession by this time, had her diploma in FT and hired an office in one of the metros in Kerala. Started own business, visited foreign countries frequently and was away from home staying alone for some reasons.
Honking of a car put a break to his narration and I suggested a tea break. We were silent at the tea stall with me thinking of what is coming ahead and Manu being re-winding the unfortunate events happened. I was more than confused of my very destiny to meet this guy. But, I was sure at that moment about a purpose which brought him to me. I paid for the tea and proceeded to platform no: 4, where the train was supposed to come and he followed me silently.
There were only a few passengers around. We located a vacant bench to continue with his narration.
Manu’s parents decided to fix his marriage. They fixed the dates as the ring exchange in December 2011 and marriage by Jan 2012. He started flying high with the long awaited dream come true. He met Tina at her home town to invite her personally. She was acting happy to hear this. She was introduced to his girl once on phone in between. Tina agreed to meet him a day before his marriage for helping him arrange the function. Manu send invitations to all his friends and relatives. Arrangements for the catering and decorations were done and purchased his wedding dress even.
On 21st Nov 2011 morning, the day I met him on station, something unexpected turned up. Tina knew his old house, a few kilometers away from present house. Tina’s parents along with some relatives reached the address of his old house. They enquired about a guy named Manu. They carried a ring which engraved “Manu” in it. They claimed that, Manu and Tina were in love and she got pregnant from him. They were looking for Manu, hearing that, he’s going to marry another girl. Stars… Stars… I doubted, was it the stars which played smart or was it Tina who framed him to her desires? Anyway, Manu’s uncle came to know about this from one of his friends and he met Tina’s relatives that time. That evening he called Manu to ask about the genuineness of the scandal for which Manu declined. Manu got upset on knowing this last minute twist in the drama. He lost his mind. He couldn’t make up his mind to face his parents once they are aware of it. The orthodox family will not accept this. Finally he decided to run away. Packed his certificates in a small carry bag on the pre-text of scanning and took his laptop along. Could not pack any dress as that may doubt others. He took his father’s bike and left it near a shop in the bus stop and handed over the key to the shop owner who knows his father. He took a bus to the nearby town and realized that his purse is almost empty. Sold his phone in a mobile shop in town and caught the next bus to Shoranur.
On the way, he was thinking of all that happened to him. Every joy of getting into a new life with his loved one has turned down. His parents are going to ill treat him for the error of his life. What best can I do next? Why is this happening to me? And at last his mind was stuck on a more dangerous question. Why should I live like this? Being hated by parents, relatives and the girl who loved him for years? He couldn’t ask anyone. He couldn’t find anything that supports him to live. So, at last he decided to commit suicide. Now, the difficult most part of it. How? Thought of all possible methods. Finally decided to consume poison. He got down on the way, bought a bottle of poison. Settled near a vacant place and started crying, cursing his stars, himself and that moment when he met Tina. Finally he took the bottle and opened it. No, he’s not able to do that. He was realizing… Suicide is not as easy as he thought about. He lost his courage; his desire to live stopped him from it. Still, he was hated by the world around and left with no options. He postponed his attempt for some hours. Kept the bottle back to pocket and reached the nearby bus stop to catch a bus to Shoranur.
I was dumbstruck. I couldn’t believe my ears. Looking at him, I realized that he was crying. Tears rolled down his eyes. I was sitting still, not knowing what to. Somehow I asked him to wipe his tears. He controlled himself and showed me the poison bottle he was carrying. I snatched it in a matter of second and threw it on the tracks. He didn’t react. He was silent. My natural intentions made me stand up and I walked away silently unable to justify my reaction. My mind was all messed up and after a long thought process, I walked towards a coffee vendor. I bought two coffees and walked back to him. He was sitting there silent and his head down. He looked at me and I handed him the coffee. I broke the silence calling his name. He didn’t react. I still don’t know how and why I convinced him to change his decision. He told me that, he was planning to jump out of the train. But, I believe, I could make him understand the practical side of life. At least, I could act well, being a responsible citizen. He took out three sim cards from his pocket and fearing that, his relatives will locate him with the signals, damaged them and threw on the track. He was trying to break his USB modem, when I interrupted and told that, it will be activated only if he connects it to his laptop.
Announcement for our train finally arrived. And it was hardly two minutes for the train to arrive. I had a ticket booked in AC compartment and said bye to him. He thanked me for my friendship and mentioned that, only a few people in this world cared so much about a stranger. He reminded me of not revealing his identity in the blog as well to which I smiled. I kept on reminding him about calling me once he’s at Pune.
Got into my compartment, settled down and was thinking of the strange but true incident I was going through. At a point, I started realizing that, it’s not my commitment to a fellow citizen that made me advice him, it’s the disturbing reality that I handed him over my visiting card and my blogging habit made me do that and to listen to his story. After all, I belong to Kerala, the Selfishness’s Own Country….. I took out my laptop and opened the blog to continue writing. Outside the thick masked glass window, away from the chilling AC, there were slums running behind; hiding all the bitter happenings of its inhabitants…..contd...
