Grandparents' Bag of Stories

by Sudha Murty

  Ajji put biscuits, rice and chapati in a bowl and kept water in another bowl just outside the gate. The two dogs looked at her and attacked the food greedily, gobbling it down in minutes. Then they drank the water, wagged their tails to thank her and ran away.

  Slowly, the trio walked back and sat on the steps of the veranda. Ajji said, ‘I wish they could speak. Then I could make them their favourite food. After all, the earth also belongs to them.’

  ‘Your perspective is so different,’ said Ajja. ‘Humans can speak and that’s why we can do the things we want to and own material things like property and land.’

  ‘Poor animals. We are occupying their land just because they cannot communicate like us. Even if they had ownership of any piece of land before us, they can’t tell us.’

  ‘You are right,’ said Kamlu Ajji. ‘Now that humans are all indoors, lots of animals in India are coming out from the forests to the cities nearest to them because it was all their land a long, long time ago.’

  Ajja added, ‘This world would have been a different place if we understood the chirping of birds and the language of animals.’

  Ajji smiled and said, ‘I am thinking of Dheeraj now.’

  ‘Who’s Dheeraj?’ asked Ajja.

  ‘Do you want to listen to a story?’

  Ajja and Kamlu Ajji nodded their heads like children, eager to listen to what Ajji had to say.

  Amit and his wife Preeti were high-ranking officials in their kingdom. They were young, powerful and rich and lived in a mansion by a river. They frequently hosted official celebrations on their yacht or their beautiful large gardens, but made sure they invited only those people from the kingdom who were also rich or powerful, and not whom they considered less fortunate.

  Ramu was a housekeeper who lived with them and served them for years. One day, he brought home a young boy of six years. The boy looked innocent and intelligent.

  Ramu asked Preeti, ‘I met this boy in the village fair. He doesn’t have anyone to take care of him. I would like to help him. Can he live with me?’

  Preeti glanced at the boy and said, ‘Sure, as long as he works for us and does not spoil the premises.’

  And that is how Dheeraj began living in Preeti and Amit’s home.

  One day, Amit hosted a dinner for an important minister. The evening began with a tour of the river on the yacht. Then the yacht docked on the riverside, and music began playing as the celebrations commenced in the beautiful gardens. There was a wide spread of delicacies being served. Dheeraj was assisting Ramu with his chores.

  The dinner was in full swing when the barking of two dogs disturbed Amit and his guests. The dogs were right outside the main gate of the gardens. Amit gave instructions to Ramu to hush them and chase them away, but the dogs refused to move. The non-stop barking upset Amit and he said, ‘I wish someone could understand what they are saying so that we could respond appropriately and ask them to leave.’

  Dheeraj was nearby and overheard Amit. Timidly, he approached the master of the house and said, ‘Sir, I can understand them.’

  Some of the guests laughed while others passed sarcastic comments.

  Preeti asked, ‘Tell me, boy, what are they saying?’

  ‘Madam, I will tell you if you promise me that you will not get upset when I share their words with you,’ said Dheeraj, looking worried.

  ‘They must be talking about food, boy! Anyway, hurry up and tell us,’ said Preeti firmly.

  ‘Madam, they are not talking about food.’

  ‘Get to the point, boy! I am losing patience with you,’ snapped Amit.

  Nervously, Dheeraj continued, ‘Sir, there is a male dog and a female dog at the gate. The male dog said, “Look at life’s irony.”

  ‘“What do you mean?” said the female dog.

  ‘“This couple is used to being served by someone all the time. But a day will come when the master of this house will give an important person water to wash their hands and the lady will voluntarily run and bring a towel for him to wipe his hands.”

  ‘“Who are you talking about? Whom will this couple serve?”

  ‘“The male dog grinned and said, “This little boy.”

  ‘Both the dogs then had a hearty laugh,’ said Dheeraj, and fell silent.

  The silence spread through the guests and it ruined their mood.

  ‘Are you mad? You are nothing but a servant boy, an orphan and a poor fellow. You don’t have anything to call your own. There is no way we will ever serve you,’ retorted Preeti in anger.

  Amit was livid. ‘This is all nonsense. I don’t believe that you can understand the dogs’ language. It is just wishful thinking on your part, something you dream of. Be quiet!’

  Amit called Ramu immediately and instructed him, ‘Take this boy away.’

  Dheeraj pleaded, ‘Sir, I am not making this up. I have only repeated what I heard.’

  Amit refused to look at him.

  Quietly, Ramu escorted the boy downstairs, upset and sad. He said, ‘My child, don’t say such things in front of the masters. They are powerful and can throw you out of the house. Then where will you stay and who will look after you?’

  ‘But, Uncle, I have shared the truth. There was nothing to hide.’

  ‘Do you really understand the language of the dogs?’ asked Ramu.

  ‘I can understand their language, but I also know that I can use this skill only three times in my life.’

  After the party, Amit and Preeti took Ramu aside. Amit said, ‘Dheeraj is no longer allowed to live with us or work for us. Once he falls asleep, take the boy and leave him where you found him.’

  Ramu could not disobey Amit, but he was heartbroken. When Dheeraj was sleeping, he put him on a small makeshift boat with some food and a note that read: Please look after this orphan boy. He has been abandoned through no fault of his own.

  When Dheeraj woke up and realized he had been set adrift on the river, he saw that the boat was going downstream. He was hungry and ate some food, but didn’t know what to do after that. By then, the stream had reached the sea and the boat was becoming wobbly.

  A big merchant ship was sailing nearby and the captain of the ship spotted the boat through his binoculars. He noticed the boy and sent a rescue team to the boat. Dheeraj was rescued soon and brought back to the ship. The captain met the boy and read the note his team had found. The boy’s innocence captured the captain’s heart and he decided to let the boy stay and help him. Days passed and the boy began learning skills such as navigation, business knowledge and trade.

  One day, when the ship was docked and being readied to set sail again, the captain noticed that Dheeraj looked worried. ‘What is the matter?’ he asked.

  ‘Sir, I heard a conversation between two dogs,’ he said and pointed to two wild dogs sitting a short distance away. ‘I urge you to stop all travel today, especially if you are carrying valuable goods.’

  ‘Explain yourself.’

  ‘The two dogs are chatting about a big storm that is going to hit us in twenty-four hours. The birds have warned them that it will destroy everything in its path.’

  ‘Do you understand what they are saying?’ asked the captain, surprised at this revelation.

  ‘Yes, but I can do so only three times in my life. I was kicked out the last time I shared my knowledge. I don’t know what you will do, but please listen to me and delay the trip by a day.’

  The captain laughed. ‘I am a seasoned captain. I know when a storm is coming. Now is not the time, and I don’t agree with you.’

  ‘Sir, I am not lying. I request you to reconsider. What is the worst that can happen if you delay by a day?’

  ‘I will lose one whole working day and I am under a lot of pressure for a speedy delivery of these expensive goods. I will have to pay my crew for an extra day too and it will affect my profits,’ said the captain.

  ‘But isn’t life more important?’

  ‘What if there is no storm tomorrow?’

  ‘Then yo
u can punish me. But I guarantee that there will be a storm soon. Besides, have I ever asked you for anything in the time that you have known me?’ said Dheeraj.

  The captain thought about it and agreed to delay the departure by a day.

  The neighbouring ship, however, was loaded with goods and was about to leave. The captain ran to the ship to advise the other captain and convince him to delay his journey by a day too. But the captain there laughed at him. ‘You are a well-travelled man. There is no sign of a storm. I am definitely leaving.’

  The captain came back, dejected. He waited for a few hours and then suddenly, out of nowhere, he saw huge waves in the distance. They were so huge that they blocked the sun when they rose. Dark clouds gathered and it started pouring. From his binoculars, the captain saw the neighbouring ship sinking, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.

  Later, he thanked the boy profusely and realized that Dheeraj was gifted. Soon, Dheeraj became the apple of his eye.

  Years passed and Dheeraj turned into a young man, well versed in trade and the navigation of ships.

  One day, the captain, Dheeraj and the crew reached an island known for encouraging business and trade. Dheeraj and the captain went to visit the king, taking some gifts along with them.

  The king enjoyed Dheeraj’s company since he was smart and an expert in his field. Soon, they were deep in discussion. While speaking, Dheeraj heard two dogs barking nearby.

  The king remarked, ‘They are quite dear to me, but I am tired of their barking. They refuse to move. I have closed the window, but I can still hear them barking away out there. Usually, they are well behaved.’

  The captain looked at Dheeraj.

  Dheeraj smiled. He turned to the king and said, ‘Sire, I can understand the language of your dogs. Can you open the window so I can hear them clearly?’

  ‘I have never met anyone who can understand what dogs say, but if you are right, I will make you a minister in my court,’ said the king.

  ‘Sire, I will do this but not for the greed of being elevated to a minister of the court. I was punished the first time I used it and rewarded the next time. I can use this skill only once more and this will be the last time.’

  Dheeraj said, ‘There are three dogs down there—a father, a mother and a child. They have been arguing about whom the child belongs to—the father or the mother. The father says the child belongs to him, the mother says the child belongs to her, but the child wishes to let you, the king, decide. He says he will respect your decision. So they are trying to communicate with you.’

  The king went to the window and looked at the three dogs below. ‘Ah! Their child belongs to the clan,’ said the king. ‘Yes, a child owes a lot to the parents, but he also has a responsibility to his clan and society.’

  With the king’s words, the dogs stopped barking, bowed their heads and walked away.

  The king was happy and rewarded Dheeraj. He said, ‘I want you to become the minister of business. You are intelligent, balanced and mature.’

  The captain agreed to free Dheeraj of his duties on the ship. He was proud that the boy was being recognized for his skills.

  Months passed and the king remained happy with Dheeraj’s service.

  One day, the king called him and said, ‘Dheeraj, visit all the provinces in our kingdom and see how business is doing. Based on your report, we will fix the rate of taxes throughout the kingdom.’

  Dheeraj began his journey. Word spread among the people: ‘Dheeraj, the minister of business, is visiting the kingdom everywhere. He will assess the situation on the ground and evaluate the businesses. He’ll then provide his inputs to the king about the tax rates.’

  Dheeraj reached the province where Amit and Preeti lived, and a vague memory came to his mind when he saw their mansion, the river and the yacht. Dheeraj’s mind raced at this discovery. He learnt that Amit had gone up the ladder even further and had become a top official. Dheeraj decided to focus on his work and not mention his time there.

  The next day, Amit hosted a big lunch with a lot of guests, in Dheeraj’s honour.

  After lunch, Dheeraj went to wash his hands in the sink. Suddenly, Amit came out with a jug of water since there were no taps in those days. Soon, his wife Preeti also came running out with a towel. It was vital to please the king’s official and be as hospitable as they could, so that they could gain future benefits.

  Dheeraj washed and wiped his hands and looked out from the balcony. He saw the servant’s quarters and saw Ramu working below.

  He laughed a little, surprising everyone. Then he asked, ‘Will you call that man here?’

  ‘Sir, he is only a servant. He can’t give you any information about our business,’ said Preeti.

  ‘But I must meet him,’ Dheeraj responded.

  The guests were stunned. They had assumed that Dheeraj would want to spend time getting to know the business people in the province, but he wanted to speak to a mere servant!

  Ramu was called. He had grown old and frail. When he entered the room, Dheeraj embraced him, ‘Uncle, how are you? I never thought I would see you again. You are partially responsible for who I am today.’

  No one understood what he was talking about. Ramu stared at Dheeraj and after a few seconds, he realized who he was. Tears filled his eyes.

  With an arm around Ramu’s shoulder, Dheeraj turned to the guests and said, ‘Twenty-five years ago, I was a poor orphan. Ramu uncle took me in and I worked in this house for a while. I heard two dogs talking during one such celebration. They said that a day would come when Amit-ji would bring water and Preeti-ji would bring a towel for me to wash my hands. Today, this has come true. In their anger, they had told Ramu uncle to abandon me. Poor uncle was in no position to refuse their request, so he put me on a boat when I was asleep and sent me across the river with a kind note. My foster father, the captain of a ship, adopted me and looked after me well. It is his and Uncle’s compassion and kindness that made me who I am today.’

  Nobody said a word.

  Dheeraj took Ramu by the hand and walked out of the room.

  By the time Ajji finished the story, she saw all the children sitting behind her, listening intently. They had been there the whole time!

  Raghu grinned. ‘Ajja and Kamlu Ajji, do you think you can hear the stories without us? The moment we heard the word “story”, we came running from the veranda to listen to Ajji.’

  April Showers Bring May Flowers

  The day was hot and humid. Damu looked at the sky and said, ‘It will rain today!’

  ‘How do you know that?’ asked Aditi.

  ‘April always brings showers,’ he replied.

  For the children, Damu was an important link to the outside world. He was the one who would go to the market, buy groceries and other essentials, return and keep things out in the sun to sanitize them. Then he would go for a bath and join the family after he was clean and fresh again.

  ‘What’s happening outside in the town?’ asked Krishna.

  ‘Everything is closed. There are few people on the road and only a few shops are open for groceries, medicines, vegetables and of course, petrol bunks too. People get out of the house only to buy things they need urgently.’

  ‘Do you get mangoes in the market?’ queried Raghu.

  ‘Not yet. See the mango trees there?’ said Damu, pointing to the trees inside the compound. ‘The mangoes are still raw.’

  ‘Then when will ripe mangoes be available in the market?’ persisted Raghu. He loved mangoes.

  ‘Usually, you get the best mangoes in the month of May. But when rain falls, things are not the same. For instance, when rain falls in April, the mangoes fall and the yield is less. That is why mango growers don’t like April showers, but people who grow jackfruit prefer it because the quality of the fruit gets better with the rain.’

  Ajji joined the conversation. ‘April showers bring May flowers,’ she remarked.

  ‘Yes, Bangalore also has red flowers that bloom in May,�
�� piped in Anoushka.

  ‘There are many flowers that bloom after April showers, especially those that are used to manufacture herbal medicines since the herbs grow better with the natural rain in April.’

  ‘How do you know that, Ajji?’ asked Meenu.

  ‘One of my friends is a doctor of Ayurveda. He told me. After April showers, he would go to the forest in search of medicinal flowers, leaves and fruits.’

  ‘What else did he say?’

  ‘Well, he also told me a story.’

  ‘I also want to know about these herbs. Wait a minute, I have just put the pressure cooker on the gas. Give me a few minutes and I will also join in,’ yelled Kamlu Ajji from the kitchen.

  Soon, everyone had settled in to listen to the story that Ajji had heard from the Ayurvedic doctor.

  Mahesh was a popular doctor in his village, and had immense knowledge about herbs and medicines.

  Within a few years, he became famous in the village and the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, he also became arrogant and frequently said, ‘I can cure any disease in the world. If I can’t cure it, then the disease is incurable.’

  One day, a man named Prashant came to him with an unusual fever. No matter what medicines Mahesh gave him, they didn’t help and Prashant remained ill. After two months, Mahesh gave up and said, ‘Look, my man, this disease cannot be cured. Pray to God to save you.’

  Prashant went home, desperate and dejected. Mahesh called his wife and said, ‘Take care of your husband. I have tried my best and failed. I don’t think he will survive more than a few weeks.’

  Months passed. One day, Mahesh went to the market to shop for groceries and ran into Prashant—he looked hale and hearty and was busy managing a shop in the market. Mahesh was surprised. How on earth was this patient still alive? He approached Prashant and said, ‘I am glad to see you. How are you?’

  ‘As you can see, I have completely recovered and I am so thankful!’

  ‘Which doctor treated you after me?’ asked Mahesh.

  ‘Sometimes, a doctor appears in the form of God. Even if the doctor only gives water, it can be as good as the best medicine for the patient,’ said Prashant.