A Helping Hand
“Can I ask you something, if you don’t mind?” Rajat asked on the walkway of the park near the SAC.
“Sure, provided it is decent enough to answer,” I replied cleverly.
I was in no mood for the puzzles, questions or elusive things. I wanted to have a simple chat. He laughed at my wit. “You won’t regret this walk, I assure you.”
“Okay, go on,” I said, still unsure of what was coming up next.
“I know your stall concept is unique. But since today’s morning, I have been observing that it’s not been doing well. Yesterday it had a few people, but even those numbers dwindled today,” he paused for a moment, probably waiting for some kind of response from me.
I did.
“I know. I thought people would love it as it lets you create something for yourself and gives you an idea of one of our artistic traditions. But now I…umm… kind of curse myself for brewing this idea in the first place,” I said looking down, scratching the soil beneath my feet with my shoes.
“It happens, Maya. You know I set up a gaming stall because I was pretty sure it would work. I thought hard of what could work best for me and this idea hit me. Everybody likes games, particularly young ones and this way, my idea hit the bull’s eye. As simple as that. But the truth is the concept of putting up a gaming stall is not very innovative or you can say not unique,” he emphasised on the word ‘unique.’
I kept mum. He went on.
“My idea survived because it is able to draw people’s interest and attention. I don’t have to pull lot of strings in the process. In the same way, I believe yours too can be revived too.”
“Good for you, Rajat. But at least your usual concept is working well on the people unlike mine,” I said with a hint of sincere appreciation in my voice though disappointment was clearly dispersed on my face.
”I agree but games are very common. Your idea is different and stylish. People have no idea how much fun it can be. They can make beautiful items for gifts and at the same time can get a sneak peak of our traditional crafts. It’s a great creative hobby for kids too. A friend was telling me that he really liked your stall on the first day. I guess if people had paid more attention, they’d have realised what a wonderful thing it can be,” Rajat said, pondering.
Unsure of where the discussion was heading, I said, “Thank you for appreciating my idea and boosting my confidence but it is not working Rajat. People are more worried about getting their hands and clothes dirty. And one more reason, maybe that people are not interested in Indian traditional crafts anymore. They prefer western concepts like those showy models in Ritambhara,” I grunted in disgust.
Frustration was making its way into me but I controlled it the next moment.
“Come on…” he said trying to placate me. “I know people have different choices but that does not mean our Indian culture has lost its charm. It is something that makes us stand out on a global platform.
“Sorry, Rajat. I am just a bit frustrated. Maybe people need some incentive to come to my stall and deep down I know I am unable to provide it”
“I know. What if I provide that incentive to people?” Rajat said, his eyes twinkling.
“You? Why? And how? I mean why are you doing this for me? Don’t you have anything else to do? What about your own stall?” I stopped and looked at him straight in the eye with my hands crossed on my chest
“I have. But I’d say do not get any wrong ideas. I’m just saying this as a good friend, Maya. I want to do something good for you. But first, kindly spare me those suspicious eyes and do not rely on your doubts,” he said stepping back and covering his face in pretence as if afraid of me.
It did not make me laugh. Instead, I grew more suspicious. We had barely spoken to each other in class and now all of a sudden he wanted me to consider him as a good friend and was spouting tips for my success. It was inscrutable and hence, indigestible.
I had to speak my doubts. “We never had spoken to each other until now, Rajat. Tell me honestly, why do you want to help me out?” I reverted with a defensive gesture.
“I told you, Maya. I just want to be your friend. Nothing else. Give me a chance to explain myself at least,” he shrugged, with the same soft impression on his face as earlier when he was at my stall.
I pondered over the pros and cons for a moment. There was nothing wrong in listening to his plan. And if he had something else on his mind, even by mistake, he could never get away with it. After all, this was IIT where girls are considered far stronger than in the outside world.
“Okay! Tell me what is cooking in your head? But beware! I’m watching you,” I said with a warning tone, pointing a finger towards him.
“Your suspicions are welcome, ma’am. But you too beware! You might end up thinking differently about me,” he smiled, raising his one eyebrow.
I sighed and gave up. “Okay. Let’s see what happens. First tell me how you can attract the crowds to my stall,” I asked, all ears. Even if he had some other plan in his mind, at least he was doing me a favour by trying to make my stall a success. And listening to an idea wouldn’t cost a dime so I had nothing to lose.
He stayed silent for few minutes in deep thought. “As we both know that my stall’s done well in the past two days and the same is expected for the remaining two days as well. I have an idea that is worth giving a shot. I declare a winner for each game and give away a prize in my stall. I am thinking using your pottery items as gifts. What do you say?” he said rubbing his temple.
His idea was enticing and I thought about it for a moment. “This sounds promising. But tell me how my pottery items be your game prizes?”
“First tell me, how much time it takes to make a fancy small pot?”
“Not too long to make small items. The only thing one needs is precision of one’s hands. Otherwise, a small pot hardly takes ten minutes to make and a few hours to dry completely.”
“Great!” Rajat smiled and went on cheerfully, “Look Maya, your pottery items will be the prizes at my stall for the games. We can start making few right now so that we can have completely dried pots by tomorrow morning. Those pots will be the ‘special prize of the day’. People won’t have any choice but to accept them. If people find the prizes alluring, they may possibly ask me where I got them and I can easily direct them to your stall. What say?” Rajat explained sitting on a bench next to the walkway.
“Umm….it sounds interesting but are you sure this will work? I mean how can you say this so confidently? It may take a toll on your stall too if the people find the prizes unattractive. You might lose your customers” I said, doubtfully sitting beside him.
“I know the possible consequences but this idea has high chances of working out. Not 100% but 90% at least. People will go crawling to your stall only if they find pot items fancy and stylish. We need to stress on how to attract people. For this, we can decorate your items in an appealing manner. Once I gift them your items, they may get curious. Everybody loves beautiful things and let’s not forget, girls are always crazy for fashionable things to show off. Also the plus point is that in your stall you have facilitated things by allowing people to create their own designs. Therefore, they will prefer to make items according to their wishes. This way they will be happy and satisfied. Your colourful items will definitely steal their hearts. If somebody still has doubts, I can explain the entire procedure of pottery making and how anyone can learn it in no time.”
He relaxed after explaining his impromptu idea. My jaw dropped in amazement. It was so nice of him to make such an effort for me, to make my idea work. My doubts melted. Finally I spoke my heart,
“Wow, Rajat, that sounds really cool. I am ready so I will or say, we will make some beautiful eye-catching items right now at my stall. But I can’t promise anything about the future in which you have interlocked your destiny with mine for two days,” I said, a little perplexed.
“Karma is our duty. Leave the rest to the divine,” he said
like a sage. I laughed at his dramatic pose.
Then he assured me in a sincere tone, “You don’t worry, Maya. Let’s cross our fingers that it works in our favour. Something is always better than nothing you know”
“So what are you waiting for then? Let’s run. We have a big task on our hands,” I said smiling and we started walking towards the SAC. Where others were crazy for the fest, right there were a couple of crazier people; not worried about attending the events but working at a stall. Us.
We reached in fifteen minutes and unpacked my stall. There were lots of colourful clays, a pottery wheel, a box of sticks and a pile of decorative items. Rajat took a look around. He said, grinning, “These look so inviting Maya. First teach me how to make a nice pot and then we will think of the giveaway prizes.” He went agog instantly.
His grin charged me up and I started teaching him about the process.
“First you have to decide what you want to make. Then take required amount of clay and add some water to make it smooth.”
I took a small dollop of red coloured clay showing it to him. “Put it on the moving wheel like this. Now here comes the most important part of pottery making–precision of the hands. Your hands must move in the absolute directions to achieve the desired result.” I made a pot while instructing Rajat simultaneously.
“The pottery wheel will keep moving and you have to mould your clay very quickly. When the basic shape is made, you can use pins, sticks or toothpicks to make designs like I am doing right now. The pressure should be very light otherwise it will make a hole in the clay. It’s quite a deft process you see.”
I instantly took a toothpick and holding it from its blunt end, pushed its sharp end on the moving pot’s body with slight pressure. I moved my hand downwards vertically in the same line. This way fine circles were made all around the body of the pot. Then I carefully placed my both palms under the bottom of the pot and lifted it from the wheel. It was done.
Rajat was in complete awe. He applauded and I swiftly placed the pot into his hands. He was joyous.
“Be careful. It is wet and can lose its shape easily,” I said washing my hands.
“This is so interesting, Maya and yes….creative too. Where did you learn this skill from? I am really happy that I learnt something new today. Bravo Maya. Well done!” He exclaimed happily, observing the pot from every side. I felt a peace inside me as he chattered on. At least someone was impressed with my idea. I needed it and felt good.
“Thanks, Rajat. Your appreciation and support means a lot to me. It was needed. I will tell you where I have learnt this skill later on. Now quickly suggest some designs so that we can make them right away” I said seriously.
He carefully put the pot aside to let it dry, “Hmm…sure. We can make hanging or desk flower vases, small glasses, designer bowls, and earthen pitchers like matkas…” and his ideas went on. We could only execute a few ideas but we turned them into alluring prizes by decorating them creatively.
We both worked together on the designs for the next twenty minutes. It was quarter to nine at night and we had little time to get our things done. We worked as fast as we could. Rajat decorated some of the prepared pots with shimmering glitter. He carefully placed all the pots in one place. They could only be decorated when they were completely dry. I stole a glance at his work and I must admit he was being very careful with them. I was impressed. He was so attentive.
It was around half past eleven at night when we finished. We ended up making twenty three different kinds of colourful items. We sat next to each other on the floor, drained. We sat up and admired our freshly installed shop of pottery items. We looked at each other. Rajat’s eyes were filled with happiness and mine with a strange kind of pride. I was feeling quite emotional too. We both smiled at each other as we put all the items neatly on a big tray and placed it carefully on one shelf.
“One question,” Rajat asked tapping his feet. “What if items don’t dry by the morning? Our fest will start by ten.”
“Then we won’t be able to use them as gifts, Rajat. Wet pots can never be used as prizes,” I thought a little.
“To be on the safer side, why don’t you also keep your own prizes with you tomorrow? If my items do not dry by the time we need them, you can always use your own gifts,” I said matter-of-factly.
“Umm, hmm. Well… after all this hard work… I don’t want to back down. I won’t bring my prizes tomorrow. Is there anything that can be done in order to quicken the drying process?”
“Yeah. They dry up quickly if you use some heat or keep them out in the sun.”
He thought for a moment, “Hmmm. Okay, Maya. Let’s put them here and hope they dry by the time we require them. We must go get some sleep now.”
“You’re right. Let’s hope for the best,” I said with my fingers crossed.
At IIT K, boys and girls can be together in the day. They can even go to each other’s respective rooms at any time of the day. But at night, boys are not allowed in girl’s hostels and vice versa. That was why I couldn’t invite Rajat to my room to chat for a while about the next days’ events. Rajat escorted me to my hostel in silence and then left for his’. I went into my room, quickly changed into my night dress and snuggled under the blanket. It was a chilly night. I was really tired; all my muscles and bones ached because of fourteen and a half hours of activity but Rajat’s idea kept running through my head.
A spark of hope had ignited inside me but who knows what’s going to happen. Maybe Rajat’s idea would work or maybe not. Maybe I’d succeed or maybe I would be disappointed. I sighed. I hoped we’d succeed and quickly drifted off to sleep.
*********************
I came back to the present. It was already very late and my body was aching. Rajat was asleep. I looked at his sleeping face and kissed him again. If I would get a chance to live for eternity, I was damn sure I’d live it with only him. He made life so simple and beautiful with his love. I whispered, “I definitely will love to relish many more centuries with you, my love.” I snuggled next to him and soon drifted to sleep.
Sweet Memories
The next morning I woke up very groggy but I had to make breakfast and lunch for Sejal and Rajat. I hurriedly completed my chores and sent Sejal and Rajat off. It was only after they left that I got some time to relax. I had had my breakfast with Rajat and I walked to the balcony of my bedroom to enjoy my cup of tea. I loved whiling away time in my balcony. The balcony faced a detailed view of the small garden of our society. This garden was especially meant for elderly people to sit and chat with each other. I loved watching them in my leisure time as they reminded me of my parents whom I often missed.
I was about to stand taking the support of the balustrade when I noticed the two half–filled cups of tea on niche in the wall. They made me recall the events of the previous night and why we couldn’t finish our teas. A shy smile ran across my face. Rajat had always been impeccable in terms of love making.
I sat on the swing and wondered how destiny had surreptitiously tied us to each other. Once there was the time when I hardly knew anything about a classmate whose name was Rajat and now the same stranger was my husband who was completely in love with me. He couldn’t live without me and I couldn’t live without him as well. I was so lucky to be his wife. He was such an understanding and a dedicated spouse.
I shook my head as I wondered whether it was wrong of me to be taking so much pride of my destiny. Why should it be wrong? Destiny had indeed blessed me with the most dedicated husband and I had the right to take pride in it.
I could recall my college days as if they were a movie I had seen just yesterday. Every scene and every action was crystal clear in my head. I knew Rajat had been the reason behind the success of my stall during Antaragni. How could I forget his contribution? I perfunctorily drifted back to the past again.
***************
The next morning, I dressed hurriedly and decided to reach my stall one hour before the event. I wanted to
see whether the items we put on the shelves last night had dried or not. I was tense as I walked from my room to the SAC. I was worried about what the day was going to be like; about what would happen next.
Would I be able to live up to Rajat’s expectations? I was doing my best but can somebody ever deny the fact that mistakes are more likely to happen when one tries to be extra cautious? Above all this what I was worried about the most was would Rajat idea work? Would I be able to grab the attention of the crowds today? It was a risk that Rajat was willing to take. I was still unsure about the motive behind his help but deep down in my heart, I was grateful to him. His idea should work but even if it didn’t, I’d be thankful anyway. Thankful that he had given me a ray of hope at a time when I needed it the most.
Either way I was determined to give my best shot and not let Rajat down. I wondered what he was thinking. After all, he himself had said that there were 90% chances of it being a success. That meant the chances of failure were 10%. While I couldn’t control destiny, I could please him with my efforts. To calm my nerves, I reached the SAC crooning a melodious song. I unpacked my stall. It was messy because of the previous night’s work. I had enough time to tidy my stall but checking the items was more urgent. With my fingers crossed, I started to look for the tray which we had placed on the shelf above the pottery wheel.
I looked in that direction but the tray wasn’t there. I was puzzled for I clearly remembered we had put it on that shelf. There was no mistake in my memory but at the same time I couldn’t deny the fact that the tray had vanished. I stood numb for two minutes and then started searching around like a maniac, but it was nowhere to be found. I overturned my stall but failed to find it. I started to panic when I realised that the tray was really gone.
It’s Never Too Late Page 3