The daily bread

“Leave it mom.. This ain't something new to us. Why worry about it? Don't forget that he is the same even for his own village carnival, leave alone yours”, Jambukeshwar, shortly Jam, told his mother.

His father, as usual, had informed her that he would have to resume duty at his office on Monday, and hence would not be able to attend the third & last day of the annual carnival held at her native village.  

“No dear!! My relatives have always been unhappy that he never attends the entire carnival. He always runs back to office in a day or two max, hesitating to take even one day of leave.”, his mother murmured softly with frustation. Jam could understand her disappointment.

“I shall make sure to visit all days of every carnival and make mom and relatives happy, regardless of the number of holidays it may require me to avail.”, he vowed to himself.

* * * * *

Months passed by and Jam got placed in a reputed company after finishing his graduation. He earned a good amount as salary and his parents were quite happy about it.

Around 5 months after his joining the job, his mother's village carnival came up. This year again, it spanned over three days, including the two days of the weekend and the following monday.

“This year we shall all attend the carnival fully!!”, his mother exclaimed, to his father's usual response, “Oh.. you spend as many days as you want, and I am not concerned about it. I shall leave on Sunday night to report at my office on monday morning. Daily bread and livelihood are above all else. Please understand”.

As she started getting visibly disappointed, Jam said, “Mom. Don't worry. We two shall stay for all 3 days of the carnival.”, in an attempt to console her.

* * * * *

They left for her village on friday night and reached her village on saturday morning. They went to the maternal uncle's home, where they usually stay during their visits to her village.

“Welcome both of you”, uncle greeted his parents, and then looked at him proudly, “Oh you too !! Welcome Sir !!”. He smiled sheepishly at the new respect given to him. Aunt greeted them all and offered them snacks and coffee, after they refreshed themselves.

Jam felt he got much respect in the town that time. There were many who came up all the way to ask him how his life/job were. A few even went to the extent of asking his parents about his marriage plans.

“So, atleast this year, would we have all 3 of you during the entire carnival”, his aunt asked his mother sarcastically.

“No mathani(sister-in-law).. He would as usual return on sunday night. It would just be the two of us for the third day”, as his mother replied sadly, his aunt, in an attempt to comfort her, pointed at him and said, “Oh leave it.. The little prince is here anyway with us, and we should be glad”.

Through his discussions with the people of the town, Jam realised that his father's not attending the carnival had become a matter of mockery from being a matter of disappointment, over the yeras.

His uncle was a communist sympathizer. “Your husband is such a timid individual without a backbone. The management should always be under our clutches. You allow them to dominate you, and you would stay with a curved backbone all through your life. What did Lenin and Marx fight for !! These people would never learn”, his words always taunted Jam's mother. His father turned a deaf ear to any of such advise or words.

* * * *

After having breakfast and attending the morning events of the carnival, they had lunch and went to visit uncle's estate. His uncle was a big landlord in the village and had a lot of agricultural lands, mango groves and coconut groves owned by him, apart from a few big houses. Since the place was surrounded by hills, they did not feel it very hot, though it was noon.

“John.. get me some tender coconuts”, aunt ordered a man who was working in the grove. He obeyed instantly.

“So, how is the work going on?”, she questioned in loud voice, in an explicit attempt to display her domination.

“All good, under your highness”, he replied in a obedient voice. Landlords and landladies often enjoyed their laborers being obedient and docile. Hence, in attempts to please their boss, they often acted obedient, even if they really were not, especially when there were others around. Such attempts were very fruitful.

“Fine. Where is Maari though?”, she asked.

“He has went to his hometown to offer prayers to their ancestral deity. He would be back tomorrow. He requested me to inform you the same”, John replied.

“On leave and travelled away??”, she responded in an angry tone, and continued, “Doesn't he realise that there is are tons of work pending here in the farm?!?!? Good then. Ask him to meet me or ayya (her husband) once he is back.”

“Ok madam”, he said and bowed to her.

They moved slowly and entered their car, which was parked a little away.

* * * * *

That evening, Jam had his coffee and enquired about his father. Hearing that his father went to meet his childhood buddy Murugan who stayed in the same village, Jam left to the same place, after intimating his mom.

Murugan and his wife welcomed Jam with glee. Jam could realise that the warmth of their welcome was indeed real and had no pretentions.

”Ok Jam.. you stay here talking with them, and I shall take a short walk till the lake and be back shortly”, his father started walking slowly towards the lake with these words.

Murugan shared all their old memories with Jam, who was listening keenly to all their stories.

* * * * *

Jam returned home and slept peacefully that night. Next morning, as he refreshed himself and came out, he could see a man standing in front of uncle, literally begging and pleading with him.

From their conversation, he could infer that this guy pleading was Maari, the person who was absent the previous day.

“That is why laborers should be kept in place. What the hell work do you have out of town now when we are hell bent here getting things right at the farm”, uncle was angrily shouting at him.

In a mild tone, with a few tears, he said, “Sorry sir. My kid got sick and my wife felt it would be cured upon worshipping the ancestral deity. As my kid's health worsened, we felt an urgent need to go visit the deity. I had come to inform you or amma (mistress), but could not inform you as both of you were away, and hence informed John, before I left. I realise it was a mistake. Please pardon me”.

“No Maari. This isn't going to work. Please have your accounts settled. You shall not have a job with me henceforth”, Maari fell at uncle's legs hearing this and pleaded to save his family, as he was the breadwinner of their family of four.

“Ok. Get up. But remember, this would be your last warning. Never repeat this in future.”, uncle said in a stern voice, as he left slowly towards the farm with teary eyes.

As Jam started at Maari with a pitying look, his uncle said with a smile, “Dear. These guys never have faithfulness towards their boss. They never feel they should be loyal to the pennies they are paid. Remember that bulls can be controlled only with a whip. “

* * * * *

Jam tried sleeping after lunch, but the events of the day disturbed his sleep. He slowly recollected all the words told and heard over the last two days. He was literally shaken as these thoughts flooded his mind.

Uncle, who was a huge sympathizer and claims to be a follower of communism, himself, only expected loyalty and faithfulness from his own employees, to whom he was the employer. Above all, evidently, he placed them nowhere close to himself in status, and therefore treating them equally was out of question.

Murugan had told him how his father was mistreated by his uncle, during the early days of his parents' marriage, when his father's finances were not that good.

As he slowly thought further, he could realise that all the respect that he got newly at the village, from their family and also others, were all a side effect of him earning a decent amount as salary.

All their respect and love was for Jam 'who earned much'. If only his salary was missing, his status would be akin to or even much worser than that of Maari. He stayed awake all noon immersed in thoughts.

* * * * *

His mom came in the evening to him, with a cup of coffee, to wake him up. He quickly grabbed the coffee, and as he sipped it, said in plain voice, “Mom.. am returning to the city with dad tonight. I have to go to office tomorrow, and I don't think I can skip that”. His father, who was standing closeby was looking at him surprised, as his mother looked at him wearing a shocked and disappointed look.

He finished the coffee and started packing his clothes.

* * * * * THE END * * * * * 

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