MY LIFE – ALONE
When I returned alone, a feeling of desolaton overcame me. I felt listless.
Soon, I started wandering among the waste land surrounding the town, then the hills and the dry river beyond.
I met some Keralites , whose names I cannot recollect, one Koshy among them, who was more attached to me.
The days in the office do not merit any mention. Once our chief Auditor came, a Sardarji. I used to shave only once in the week, the stubble growing slowly during the week.
I too was called inside the cabin.
“How are you, Mr. Subramanian? You are alone without any body to look after you? At least today you could have shaved, to respect the Chief Auditor. Or, you grow a beard like me, ha ha.”
He was a jolly type. He would stop his car on the road side and buy nuts or plantains. He had only one hand, with which he could drive recklessly – these were the stories about him.
One day I had a trunk call from the admin. section at H.Q. I could not understand anything except the words KOTA. I promptly said yes.
I knew that I would get a quarter if posted at Kota, Alex my friend, had told me. George had applied for transfer to Bombay. So the chain depended on me. I got the order in a week.
My things were bundled together in a sac and Durgadanji, Deputy Director in the state and a relative of Mataji, staying in the house, arranged a vehicle to take me to the railwa station. All, including Shakuntala’s parents,were sorry at my sudden departure. I too felt sad; we meet as strangers, depart as friends! Who said that?
At Kota Alex, Mirchandani and Nag were my olleagues; Bannerjee was the L.D.C., all working under Lodha, the Auditor. One Dasgupta was the Audit Officer located at Ratlam. Our quarters were at the same place, earmarked for our department. I stayed with Alex who was unmarried, even though one was allotted to me. The office peon Shivpoojan Ram was the cook and shared the quarter free.
I was given contractors’ bills and compilation of accounts (audit only)
George gave his bicycle, for a sum settled by our colleagues, even if I did not know cycling. I seated myself on it and Nag wheeled it for some distance along the road and left it. I hit the cycle on a country woman and she started beating me with her hands, abusing me all the while, though it did not pain me! All were laughing. That is how I learned cycling.
Our colony was on the east side of the railway line and the officce just near it, on the west side. At 11 A.M the fronter mail comes from Bombay, carrying the dak which is sent by “railway dak” in the luggage van where it is sorted and unloaded at each station.
Nag and Mirchandani used to collect it, even if it is the peon’s duty. I too went to give company.
The Chambal river was very near. I liked to walk towards its bank.
When I returned alone, a feeling of desolaton overcame me. I felt listless.
Soon, I started wandering among the waste land surrounding the town, then the hills and the dry river beyond.
I met some Keralites , whose names I cannot recollect, one Koshy among them, who was more attached to me.
The days in the office do not merit any mention. Once our chief Auditor came, a Sardarji. I used to shave only once in the week, the stubble growing slowly during the week.
I too was called inside the cabin.
“How are you, Mr. Subramanian? You are alone without any body to look after you? At least today you could have shaved, to respect the Chief Auditor. Or, you grow a beard like me, ha ha.”
He was a jolly type. He would stop his car on the road side and buy nuts or plantains. He had only one hand, with which he could drive recklessly – these were the stories about him.
One day I had a trunk call from the admin. section at H.Q. I could not understand anything except the words KOTA. I promptly said yes.
I knew that I would get a quarter if posted at Kota, Alex my friend, had told me. George had applied for transfer to Bombay. So the chain depended on me. I got the order in a week.
My things were bundled together in a sac and Durgadanji, Deputy Director in the state and a relative of Mataji, staying in the house, arranged a vehicle to take me to the railwa station. All, including Shakuntala’s parents,were sorry at my sudden departure. I too felt sad; we meet as strangers, depart as friends! Who said that?
At Kota Alex, Mirchandani and Nag were my olleagues; Bannerjee was the L.D.C., all working under Lodha, the Auditor. One Dasgupta was the Audit Officer located at Ratlam. Our quarters were at the same place, earmarked for our department. I stayed with Alex who was unmarried, even though one was allotted to me. The office peon Shivpoojan Ram was the cook and shared the quarter free.
I was given contractors’ bills and compilation of accounts (audit only)
George gave his bicycle, for a sum settled by our colleagues, even if I did not know cycling. I seated myself on it and Nag wheeled it for some distance along the road and left it. I hit the cycle on a country woman and she started beating me with her hands, abusing me all the while, though it did not pain me! All were laughing. That is how I learned cycling.
Our colony was on the east side of the railway line and the officce just near it, on the west side. At 11 A.M the fronter mail comes from Bombay, carrying the dak which is sent by “railway dak” in the luggage van where it is sorted and unloaded at each station.
Nag and Mirchandani used to collect it, even if it is the peon’s duty. I too went to give company.
The Chambal river was very near. I liked to walk towards its bank.
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