STORY - MY FRIEND

I live among Hindus.

The Church is in the town, but my Papa set up a grocery shop in a remote village, anticipating good progress, because there was no such facility there. He was not mistaken.

I used to go to school with my friend Devaki, a Namboori girl, senior to me. as we were neighbours. Her brother, a fair slim boy, studying in the tenth standard, would pass by us, but would not even look at us, as he was too shy. I like him. Often when I go to Savi for company, her brother Prasanth would withdraw into his room. Their mother is sweet and well behaved. She became a widow at the young age  of thirty five. They are not well off, but Papa wold give them rice etc. on credit. I think they have pawned their house,and borrowed money too from Papa. Prasant knew  all things and would not offend me; so I went to his room to ask questions about geometry.. Slowly we became  free; He would take us girls in a canoe, to the other side of the river, which was an island, for all practical purpose, except for a narrow bund, connecting it, to the  land. The island is a granary of paddy. Prasanth has land in the island.

After school, Prasanth joined the college. I think Papa used to finance his education. He passed with rank and went for B.Ed. Papa is on good terms with the Manager of our school and managed to give Prasanth a job there, though only temporary. I did not go to college, as I had only low marks. Savi got married and only Prasanth and I were left there.in the village. I had not gone to her marriage and told Prasanth I would like to go there. But somehow it was postponed. After about two years, Savi gave birth to a boy. So we both went there, along with his mother.
It was a long train journey, to the North end of Keralam. The sights were interesting and I told Prasanth, it will be nice to settle in Malabar. Her family was big. There were four brothers and Savi’s husband is the eldest. They asked me if I was Savi’s sister. I said we are like sisters. We stayed there for two days and returned, except Savi’s mother, who stayed on there. The fact is that they sold and we purchased the house, which was already mortgaged to my Papa. So technically, they were homeless and it may be the reason, for mother to stay with her daughter. Of course, we did not even think that way. Some days later, Papa suddenly died of massive heart attack; we took him to the Hospital but it was too late. I cried and Prasanth took charge of the proceedings in the Church.
I had to take charge of the shop and Prasanth helped me He would come from the school and sit in the shop to help me. He advised me to buy a computer and make bills on it. In a few days, I learned the tricks. We three, including Mummy, stayed together, like a family. There was no talk of our marriage. Some friends of my Papa sounded the possibility of Prasanth converting to Christianity, but I said, I cannot ask him. Finally, Mummy talked to him and it was settled. I felt so happy that I kissed him. Till then, the decent man never even touched me