GURUVAYOORAPPAN

STORY- SREE GURUVAYOORAPPAN Ramu and Kuttan decided to run away from home. Both were smart and cunning, with no inclination to study. Ramu was the leader. He stole whatever money there was in his father’s purse and one fine morning, got into a train, without buying any tickests. It was way back in 1933. All seats were unreserved. Travelling Ticket Examiners used to check and catch those without tickets. Our boys were caught. As they were about twelve only, they were asked to get down at Coimbatore. A gentleman, who was watching all this, offered to give them work in his tea shop. Ramu was thin and agile. He was given the work of supplying tea and snacks. His friend worked in the back yard, grinding rice, udad etc. As his father was without work, he sent home money. Ramu spent his wages in seeing pictures in cinema theatres. Of course, they went together. Then they went to Madras. Actually it was their employer who suggested it, as he got local people as substitutes. MADRAS CLUB As directed by the ex-employer, they approached the man in Madras and were taken immediately. Ramu became cashier and Kuttan proved a good cook. A Tamilian girl, Lakshmi used to patronize the Madras hotel, as it was called and became friendly with Ramu. She was a college student, much older than Ramu, plump and black as charcoal. Ramu used to draw sketches of all people who visited the hotel and Lakshmi enjoyed watching it. One day hooligans ransacked the hotel and both Ramu and Kuttan were beaten up. For two days the hotel was closed. Kuttan suggested going back to the village and setting up their own business. Before going, an FIR was lodged in Madras, the leader of the musclemen, having been identified from the sketches. He had come there earlier also. Often, Ramu was summoned to attend the Court at Maras and Lakshmi would take him to her house. It was neat and tidy and they became very close. One day she too came to Keralam and they were married at Guruvayoor temple. Ramu’s reputation as cartoonist spread far and wide, after his story appeared in newspapers and TV channels. He got several assignments, including CBI. He became rich. Kuttan married his uncle’s daughter, traditional murappennu and both friends had children. They were happy, but the gods became envious. Ramu was struck with paralysis of the left leg. Lakshmi persuaded him to construct a Guruvayoorappan temple in their locality, so that she can pray to Him daily. She had heard of such faith healing. With good connections, donations poured in and a mini model replica of the original temple became a reality. Ramu became busy, painting Krishna story on the walls of the temple, leaving business to Kuttan, by making a special scaffold to adjust his paralyzed leg Poor children were fed in the temple daily. No money was extracted for doing pooja at the temple and it attracted visitors from far away places. May Guruvayoorappan bless Ramu!