BABU

Babu could not remember clearly how long it had been. It must have been during his pre-teen years. The humming had been irritating for a while in the beginning. But Babu had got used to it now. Just something he had to endure, like so many other things in his life.

One of his earliest memories was the day his father died. The fondness his father had showed for him seemed so unbelievable now. Did it really happen ? He wasn’t sure anymore. Soon after his father’s passing, Somappa had come into his life. He just moved in with Babu’s mother.

One night Babu had awoken with a start. There was a huge commotion. Somappa was screaming and beating his mother, and throwing whatever he could get hold of at her. Babu instinctively went to his mother’s aid. He tried to push Somappa away. That enraged Somappa. He grabbed the small boy and thrashed his little body until he lay still. Then he continued to whack Pechchayi.

Babu did not think much. He did not wonder why his mother tolerated this monster. He did not wonder why his own mother hated him. He did not miss his loving father. He just did not think about these things.

But when the humming came, he heard the voice. It told him things. He just listened. And soon after, put it out of his mind.

Pechchayi

Pechchayi cried herself to sleep, like she often did. Her life was a shambles. The times with her husband seemed like a distant dream. It had been a carefree life. Until her son was born. She cursed Babu under her breath. 'Saniyan'. Her husband doted on the boy. She was left alone , discarded. She felt violated and used. Then her husband died. She was emotionless. She was left tending to the useless Babu. Until she met Somappa. But he had turned out to be a rogue of the worst order. Daily beatings. A listless son who just roamed the town. Her life had become hell. She buried her face in the pillow. It smelt overpoweringly of sweat. She cried silently until she fell asleep.

Somappa

Somappa felt nauseous. His head felt like it would split any moment. He had to get a drink quick. He looked around. The boy was sitting in the doorway, looking at him blankly. Somappa's temper flared. "Dey, inga va". Babu continued to sit and stare. Somappa exploded. He charged at Babu and beat him with both fists. Babu cowered in the corner. 'Nandri ketta nayi'. Somappa looked around uncertain what to do next. Then he saw the five ringgit note under the vase. His eyes lighted up. He grabbed the money. The boy was forgotten. Somappa stumbled out of the house. The bright sunlight blinded him, and he felt dizzy for a moment. He crouched by the drain, and relieved himself. The dog lying nearby looked up at him for a moment. Somappa spat at it. “Chi, naye.” The dog moved off. Somappa stood up. He felt his pocket. Yes, the 5 ringgit note was still there. He stumbled along the lane to Chin Kee’s sundry shop.

Somappa sat in the five-foot way. He clutched the small bottle tightly. As the fiery liquid seared his throat he grimaced. Relief. Somappa wiped his lips, and leaned back against the wall. After a minute he took another swig.


Pechchayi

Pechchayi was in a sober mood. Somappa had stopped coming. She discovered that Somappa was in prison for theft. It was a relief not to have him around. But Babu was becoming impossible of late. He had not come back home last night.

She ate the dried bun, dipping it in the fish curry. She looked up. Babu was coming down the road. “Dey, nasama pora kaluthe… uruppida matte nee. Poda, poi nalu kasu sambathichu eduthuttu vannu sonna, engada poi tholanjeh ? Thandam, thandam”. She threw the slipper at him.

Babu slipped quietly into the house. His face appeared curiously different. Must have started drinking. The useless thug. “Dey, marketla poi Angamma kitta karuvadu vangittu va. Kolambu seyyaren, sappidu”, the maternal instinct in Pechchayi showed itself momentarily. Babu was silent. Pechchayi went inside. Babu was lying on the bed, face down. “Enda, nee uruppiduvaya ? Neththu ponavan, ippa than vare. Soru thanni sapida kanom? Ennada achu ?” Babu was silent.

“Onnakkelam poyi seyya nenakirenneh, enna seruppala adikkanam,” Pechchayi went back to her bun.


Somappa

The guard opened the gate for him. “Apa, Soma ? Apa nak buat sekarang ? Bila nak balik ?” he laughed. Soma smiled back. His throat was parched. He walked a few steps. Then he came back. “Tuan, boleh bagi 5 ringgit ka, lapar sangat la tuan?” The guard looked at him pitifully. He just waved him off. Soma walked down the road. Two little girls were standing at the corner, giggling. He walked up to them. Suddenly he grabbed one of them. The other screamed. He put his hand into the girl’s pocket, and fished out 2 ten-ringgit notes. He took one, and returned the other to the terrified girl. He let her go, and the two girls fled. Somappa headed towards Chin Kee’s shop.

Thiruchelvan

Thiruchelvan was tired, but he had to go on. He had been told that this family needed help. It was a single mother, struggling with a school drop-out son. He looked at Ravi, sitting in the passenger side. Ravi was a dynamo. He thrived on activity. A true karma yogi. “Next left brother.” The car turned into a small lane, with shanties on both sides. Children ran around, barefoot. Stray dogs lazed near the garbage heaps. “This is the house.” They stopped in front of the house. The woman came out smiling, patting down her hair and wiping her hands on her skirt.
“Vanga anneh,”
“Eppidi irukkeenga?”
“Enna anneh pannarathu. Payyan ethuvum uruppidiya illa. Etho neenga uthavi seyareenga, polachukkarom. Thanni kasu, letrik kasu kattanum. Gas vereh mudinjurichu”.

Ravi unloaded the provisions and carried then into the house. Pechchayi looked happy. “Anneh, gas vanganum. Letrik bil….” Ravi fished out two fifty ringgit notes and handed it to Pechchayi. She smiled.

Thiruchelvan looked at the boy. He was the same age as Thiruchelvan’s son, who had died in the accident a year ago. He smiled at the boy. Babu looked blankly at Thiruchelvan. Thiruchelvan glanced at Ravi and the woman. Then he slipped a fifty ringgit note to the boy. For a fleeting moment Babu had memories of his father flooding back.

Pechchayi

“Dey, engada avanga kudutha kasu ? Kudra.” Babu looked blank. Pechchayi knew the other man had given money to Babu. She grabbed Babu by the hair and shook him. Babu handed over the money. She pushed him away, and Babu fell in a heap in the corner.

Babu

The creaking door woke up Babu. Only his mother’s loud snores could be heard for a moment. As his eyes adjusted to the gloomy darkness of the room, the hunched shadowy figure was silhouetted against the outside moonlight. Heavy breathing. Babu watched the familiar scene unfold. Somappa stumbled in the dark, cursing in Tamil.

Suddenly, a scream, “Dey, nasama poga, yarda athu…”

“Ada chi, pesama padu..”

Pechchayi was fully awake, and seeing Somappa stumbling around, drunk, launched a tirade of choice Tamil words. She screamed at the top of her voice. Babu lay quietly, watching. Somappa lunged at her, almost falling over her prone body. He started landing blows on her, “Chi naye, vaya moodittu padu. Kaththu kaththala kathare… Onnu vachenna uyiru poyyudum”.

“ Dey, veenapona manusa, unna en veettukulla vittathukku enakku ithum venum, innamum venum. Ippathan jail lerunthu veliya vitturukkan, marupadiyum poka pakkiraya ? Emmele kai vecha….”

“Ennadi saval vidure…” he punched her face. Pechchayi grabbed the broom and whacked Somappa. He grabbed her hair and shook her.

Babu watched, lying quietly at the end of the room. After a while, Somappa collapsed in exhaustion, and promptly dozed off to sleep, snoring deeply. Pechchayi continued to ramble for a while before she too gave in to exhaustion.

When he awoke, the sun was up. Pechchayi and Somappa lay in awkward postures, still in deep sleep. He pushed his mat and pillow under the cupboard and went to the bathroom. A quick wash-up and he was ready to go. He grabbed his bag and stepped out. “Dey Babu, ennnada athukkule kelambitte. Poi roti vangittu va, pasiyara” Pechchayi sounded tired. “Enda nasama pora payaleh, oru vela sonna seyyaraya ? Eppidi nee uruppidiveh ? Itha irukke, veena pona erumai, ithu mathiri than neeyum varaporeh….” Babu moved out of earshot.

Pechchayi

It was afternoon when Pechchayi returned from the factory. Somappa was there, alone, sober for once. 'Endi, enge di poittu vareh, thiruttu kalutheh ? Oru paththu velli kudu. Oreh thagama irukku'.

Pechchayi started to say something, but thought better of it. She just shrugged. Somappa was enraged. He started shouting obscenities, and grabbed the wooden stool and charged at her.

Somappa stood over Pechchayi. She was on the floor, bleeding profusely from her head. But she was breathing. Somappa looked down at her. He felt the rage rising again. He rained another blow on her limp body. Then he sat down beside Pechchayi’s lifeless body.

Babu

The scene in the house brought on the throbbing hum. Seeing Babu, Somappa charged at him, carrying the stool. Babu stepped aside. Somappa stumbled and fell. The hum started. Babu heard the voice. The hum was deafening. The voice. It was very clear. Babu moved quickly. He caught Somappa in a stranglehold. Somappa’s eyes bulged. He looked strangely surprised. Babu felt him go limp. The humming stopped. Babu sat down. He felt a luxurious peace. He lay down beside Somappa’s lifeless body.

It was quiet and still. Babu looked at his mother’s body lying in a heap in one corner. And Somappa, dead too, lying nearby. Soon it was dark.

Babu carried the limp lifeless body of his mother and threw it into the garbage container. Next he went back and dragged Somappa’s body and climbing in himself, dragged the body in. Babu was panting and drenched in sweat. He sat for a moment. Then he carefully buried the two bodies in the garbage. He climbed out. The humming was gone. The voice too was gone. He felt a strange calm descend on him. He slept. He dreamt that he was a child again. With his father. Smiling. Happy.


Thiruchelvan

Thiruchelvan knocked on the door. It was a long minute before Babu opened the door and peered out. Thiruchelvan smiled. Babu looked blank. Babu opened the door and moved aside. Thiruchelvan stepped inside. “Eppidiya irukke ? Amma illeh ?” Babu did not answer. The house was strangely quiet.

Babu’s dream had come true. His father was back. And Thiruchelvan had found his lost son again.