STORY-BUSINESS

BUSINESS

I was a dullard in my class and the teacher used to beat me regularly. One day it was too much and I ran away to see my uncle. His daughter Thankam saw me and began weeping.

When uncle came and saw me, he said:” I will give a letter to my friend at Trichur. He will engage you. In his Brahmins hotel in the round. You have talent in cooking. After you learn all items to be cooked, you can establish your own hotel. I will give you ten thousand as dowry at that time.” I left for Trichur and began to work  diligently. After six months, I said good bye and left for Kolancherry, where thousands of people came to the big hospital every day. There was no hotel where you get  vada etc.

I begabn as a ‘thattukada’.  Soon it became a big hit and I shifted to a shop, I hired. Then I brought Thankam, whom I had married. She proved a great attraction for young men, with her fair complexion and ready smile.

Our business prospered. One day my old teacher came. When she saw me she was shocked. I went and touched her feet:”It is because of you, that I became a businessman. How are you here?”

“My son is admitted here. He is a mental patient” I consoled her:”I know the Doctor here, I will speak to him.”

In due course, I became a father. But or good time ended abruptly, when miscreants set fire to the shop.

I had earned enough and so decided to shift to Madras. We took our maid with us, to look after the child, named Abhilash. He was put in a convent school.

When our second baby was born, Abhilash was a Doctor in the US.

 Once again, fate intervened.

Our hotel was attacked by anti-Malalayalee goons. When my son heard of it, he told us to come to Ameica.

By now my uncle had left us and we were forced to open a hotel at Trichur  itself.

Our third baby was born and named Thankam. My wife has become old, but her smile is as fresh as ever!