Prosperity ****

Kaathaan was up at dawn, tending to the vegetable plot. Weeding and watering. He had to fetch water from the pond at Gobal’s field. His wife Valli would clean the hut, and later prepare breakfast for the family. Invariably millet gruel. Their sons would leave with the goats after breakfast. They would be back only in the late afternoon.

Valli would then help Kaathaan in picking the vegetables. Egg plant, long beans, snake gourd, ladies finger, cucumber and pumpkin. They would keep a small quantity for themselves, for the next few days’ meals. She also did not forget to keep some for Malar, widowed since her husband died recently. But most of it Kaathaan would spread in small heaps, on an old mat spread out in the shady area in front of his hut. There were also mangoes, jackfruits, bananas and guavas from his orchard behind his house. He would then rest, leaning against the mud walls of his hut.

Soon the villagers would come by, one by one. They would squat near Kaathaan and make some small talk. “காத்தான், என்ன வெய்யில் இப்படி கொளுத்துது ?” (Kaathaan, the sun is really blazing.” They would talk about the rains, which were late again this year. Or the upcoming Temple திருவிழா (festival). Kala, whose husband was Velan, the fisherman, would come by with fresh fish, from that morning’s catch. Or some கருவாடு (dried salted fish.) She would hand the fish over to Valli, and whoever ever else wanted them. Then she would pick up some vegetables. Chinnan the blacksmith would come by, with the new sickles which Kaathaan had asked for. He too left the sickles and took some vegetables, and a few mangoes. Next Murugan the potter came. Last week Valli had taken several pots from Murugan. The stream of villagers continued. Each came, squatted next to Kaathaan and chatted for a while, and before leaving, picked up some fruits and vegetables. Many left their own products – milk, grains, cloth, firewood. The womenfolk would often go into the house and gossip with Valli. Many villagers stayed on, and often there would be a large group of men and women chit-chatting. When lunch time came, Valli would serve a simple meal, and everyone who was there would share whatever was available. Rice gruel and salted fish was staple lunch. Of course there were vegetables in abundance. Sometimes there would be meen kolambu (fish curry). Valli was an excellent cook.

By evening, if there were any left over vegetables, Valli would carry them in a basket and distribute among the neighbours, and sometimes to the poor outcastes who lived in the shacks on the outskirts of the village. This included Karuppan, the undertaker, who lived alone at the cremation ground outside the village.

It was a convenient arrangement. Absolutely no money changed hands. In fact, most of the villagers had not seen even a 100 rupee note in their lives. They had little need for money. The village was self-sufficient. Everyone was happy and contented.

***

Nadarajan got off the bus, which left in a swirl of dust. Nadarajan was Gobal’s son. He had left Kovilmadam many years ago, and gone to the city to study. He used to come back often, and whenever he did, the villagers would ask him what he was studying. “பொருளாதாரம், (Economics)” he would explain. But no one understood what exactly it was that Nadarajan was studying, or how it could be useful for a livelihood.

Now Nadarajan was back for good. Gobal was very proud of his son. “For his qualification, he can get a high paying job in the City. But he wants his village to become prosperous. That is why he has come back.” The villagers would nod their head. Out of respect for Gobal. They could not imagine how this boy could improve their lives.

***

“Uncle, you are so naïve. Do you know you can get a lot of money for all these vegetables? The fruits will fetch hundreds of rupees. And you are letting everyone take them without paying.”

Kaathaan looked at Nadarajan. “But I don’t need so much vegetables and fruits. I only give away what I don’t need. They will rot away if I keep them. And moreover, why do I need so much money?”

“Uncle, you can sell them. I can arrange for the wholesale buyer from the town to come and buy them. You will be rich. With money you can have a comfortable life. You can buy more land. And build a bigger house.”

“What would he do with so much vegetables ? The villagers need the vegetables. Moreover, the villagers help me. Velan gives me fish, for my favourite fish kolambu. Chinnan has always given me the sickles and knives and plowshares. And before that, Chinnan’s father used to do that. But this man from the town, I don’t know him. He has done nothing for me. Why should I give him the vegetables ?

“Aiyo uncle, you don’t understand. Let me handle it. You will not regret it.” Nadarajan was insistent.

Nadarajan also visited Velan the fisherman, and Chinnan the blacksmith, and Murugan the potter.

***

Kovilmadam was very different these days. Gobal’s house had been rebuilt. It looked grand, and had a tall compound wall around it. And an imposing metal gate. The gate was always closed. Nadarajan lived there with Gobal. He drove a Maruti Nano.

Kaathaan lived in a brick house now. The familiar spread of vegetables and fruits outside the house were no more. The chit-chatting villagers were no more too. Kaathaan hired several outcaste workers to do the work on his farm – weeding, watering, harvesting and tending the goats. Every morning a lorry from the town would arrive, and cart away the vegetables and fruits. There was no more free lunch served at Kaathaan’s house. His meals were different too. He often had mutton and chicken with his meals. He liked to have a drink of whisky after dinner. Kaathaan had money. He even had a bank account. But he spent a lot of his money paying the doctor in the town. Kaathaan and Valli fell sick often nowadays.

Velan was prosperous too. He had a boat with a motor. He had also bought a second-hand Bullet motorcycle, which he rode around the village with Kala on the pillion.

Everyone in Kovilmadam was prosperous.

***

There was a loud commotion. Villagers came out of their houses and hurried over. Gobal was shouting at the top of his voice. Kaathaan was shouting back. Both had several villagers on their side but the words were drowned in the loud shouting. It was a quarrel over money. Gobal claimed that Kaathaan owed him money. Kaathaan disputed this. Chinnan was there too, shouting at Kaathaan. Apparently Kaathaan owed him money too.

So many things were said by so many people in the heat of the moment. The men descended to physical pushing and shoving, and soon enough, blows were exchanged. Chinnan was slashed, with one of the sickles which he himself had made. Eventually the Police arrived and separated the warring groups.

***

There was an eerie silence on the streets of Kovilmadam. Kaathaan sat quietly. He looked around his house. He had all the conveniences. His family was wealthy and comfortable. They were prosperous. But something was missing.