STORY-NEWSPAPER BOY

Newspaper boy A young man used to drop newspapers and magazines in my home. He is fair and looks educated. I liked to talk to him, but he could not sit here,as he had to complete his work before ten. So I told to come next day at about three. He came, as promised and I ushered him in. My maid had prepared tasty pokodas and he enjoyed it and then I gave him tea. “Tell me who are you and where do you come from?” “We were at Erode, my father had a tea shop there in busy centre, where mostly the poor people lived. The shop was ransacked by hooligans during anti-Malayalee riots. My father was killed. Mother and I came to The safe Kerala,with whatever we could carry and settled here. My name is Subash and I am a graduate. My curiosity was awakened and we left in my car, to see his mother. The vehicle had to be stopped and we went ahead on foot, leaving the driver in the car. After some five minutes, we reached is house, somewhat better than the rest of the hutments. “Ma, this is Nian, the gentleman I told you about.” She looked young and exceedingly cute, with big eyes and plenty of curly hair. “I could believe if I am told that you are his elder sister. Is there anything I can do?” “We want some work for this boy. From his work, he gets only a pittance.” She spoke in chaste English and My curiosity knew no bounds. Madam, how is it that you speak English?” “We were in Madras earlier, I studied in Elphinestone College. My husband’s business there , a hotel, was prosperous and misfortune plagued us there too. It was destroyed in fire, whether deliberate I don’t know.” I remembered my mother’s words:”Son, money we have plenty. What is the use of having a big Bank balance? It must benefit the needy.” I took both of them to my house. Madam, you stay here, as my mother. Go to the cheri daily and organize the families in Post Office saving shemes. Collect ten rupees daily, the can afford it as they are getting god wages. At the end of the month, put it in the Post Office , in separate accounts; you too will get good commission. Subash will do gardening here. I want to grow plants having medicinal properties. He shall get ten thousand as salary” He touched my feet, I pulled him up:”It is nothing compared to what you deserve.” We became very close, Madam did housekeeping, including maintaining accounts. Some two years elapsed, before tragedy struck me: l lost consciousness. When I regained it, I found myself in the hospital. My maid was there. She said:”Thank God, it is over. Madam remained here twenty fur hours, daily praying to Guruvayoorappan, see the photo there.” I saw it on the wall of the room. When Madam came, I told her to show me a mirror. I looked like a skeleton. She hastily removed it. “You remained here for a month. Doctors had washed their hands off. We washed your body daily. Milk was given by a tube inserts in your nose. Daily, I improved, started taking kichdi. Doctors could not believe it. Even before we left the Hospital, I requested Madam to marry me