Chapter 19

“Five years later one day I was on a bike and was on my way to college. A girl was crossing the road. She looked familiar. I looked again. It was Ramya. I turned the bike around. I stopped near her.”

“Ramya had grown up. She looked more mature.”

“Do you remember me Ramya?

“She looked up with a startle. I saw recognition in her eyes, then surprise and then happiness.”

“ Of course I remember”

“Where are you these days? I heard that you were not in town”

“After my dad died we moved to our grandfather’s house. The schools there are not so good. So we came back to town for better educational opportunities”

“Where do you stay?”

“We stay at the same house. We stay in one part of the house. The other part of the house has been rented out. Come and visit us some time. Rajesh and Mom will be very happy”

“I remember, initially they had gone to stay with their grandfather. But they were not happy there. So Mrs Chandrashekhar came back to Tridevpur with children. She took up a small job. They rented out their large house. They stayed in their outhouse. It was very creditable. The children were good in studies. Rajesh is now a doctor. Ramya has completed her law.” Uncle shared what he knew.

“I used to visit them on and off. We became good friends again”

“Now the marriage proposal.” Chandy  said

“I saw in her a younger sister. I think she saw in me a protector who is more than a friend and a brother. It happens. But I can’t see her as anything else”

“Ok I will explain to Mrs Chandrasekhar. I hope this won’t affect the beautiful friendship you guys have” Uncle commented

“Arjun get me one more drink.” Uncle asked Arjun

Arjun got up to fix another one for Uncle.

“You boys were part of the Jaycee club. What was the most satisfying project you guys have participated?” uncle asked as Arjun returned with his drink.

“I would say for me the ‘Cheshire home visits’ was the most satisfying project” Arjun replied

“What was this project about” Uncle asked

“As you know, Cheshire home was first established by Cheshire who was one of the pilots who dropped the Atom Bomb in Japan. After having seen the mayhem he caused, he set up a center to look after people who were crippled and deformed in the bombing. Later he extended this concept to a chain of homes to look after invalids and cripples who often have nobody to look after. We had one like that in our city” Arjun started explaining

“One day we visited the home as a group from Jaycees. We distributed some sweets and books to the inmates. We also talked to many of them too. The home appeared well run. I entered into a conversation with one of the officials. He made an interesting observation. He explained that the finances of the home was reasonably good and quite a lot of entities like Jaycee, Rotary and so on visited them with gifts and sweets quite often. But what the inmates missed a lot was variety of human companionship. He asked whether some of us could visit the home and spend time with the inmates.”

“We felt it was a good idea. We started visiting the home on Sunday afternoon. We would talk to different inmates. Some time we played cards with some of them. Some of them were born invalids. Some were crippled in some accident and decided to move over to the home to avoid being a burden to their families. They often liked to ruminate about their life before their accidents. I become friend to many. They used to look forward for our visit and I also looked forward to the visit to the home. I realised the value of the time we we spent at home. Many of them explained that the time we spent was much more valuable than the contributions and sweets the visitors came with”

“That is really true. We often don’t realize the value of the good health god has given. “ Uncle observed

“My young friends, I am thoroughly enjoying your stories. I am able to get an insight to how the life has changed from my time. Tell me what other interesting projects you did as Junior Jaycees” Uncle was ready for more stories. But his eyes were drooping a little and his voice was slurring with the few drinks he had.  Even then he was in no mood to end the evening.

“Arjun, I remember the scandal you guys got involved in the fashion show you guys conducted. What was it all about” Chandi was remembering the juicy stories.

“Oh that was horrifying experience. I was the secretary of the club and Tommy was the President.  We decided to organise a musical extravaganza and a fashion show. We got a well-known band called 12 BC to perform. We convinced and cajoled talked all the girls whom we knew; our sisters, cousins and friends, to join the fashion show. We managed to sell quite a lot of tickets. As the day approached we were quite confident about the quality of the program we were stitching together. We invited a few senior bureaucrats for the inauguration and to be the chief guest. We also send out invites to all the major newspapers and magazines along with special press passes.”

“We wanted the program to go without a hitch. We put together a special team with responsibility of the security. This was all the more important because of the fashion show and the participation of many girls. The program started well and went on well. As the luck, rather un-luck, would have it, one of the major fashion magazines decided to cover the program and send their photographer to cover the show. This gentleman came to the program and attempted to enter from the side entrance to the stage. The security team posted at that entrance asked for the special pass we had given. They did not have it. Then they asked for the press card. They did not have it. So the security did not allow this gentleman to enter. He tried to push his way in. In this scuffle something from the hands of the photographer fell down. The photographer was very angry. He went out with a huff and a puff with a threat that we will be taught a lesson”

“By the time this news reached us the organizers it was late. Tommy and some friends rushed to the Press Club to apologize. Some of the friends of the photographer even tried to beat up Tommy. The next day all newspapers covered the show. But in the worst light possible. The newspapers reported that the show was a flop and the hooligans were misbehaving and most of the people who participated and attended were drug addicts. They went on to add that the senior bureaucrats who had attended had left early in disgust. The truth was that they left after the inauguration as they had some other program. The reports also accused that the organisers manhandled the reporters because they did not want the reporters to witness the mess and the illegal activities that was going on there. They also declared that the press club has boycotted all Jaycee programs throughout the state.”

“My God, It would have been a disaster” Uncle responded

“Naturally. Our parents, particularly the parents of the girls who participated were so upset at the scandal. The newspapers continued with the diatribe against us for next few days. We tried our level best to placate them. We some respected people to recommend our case and also bought booze for the influential crowd at the club. Finally they relented a bit. They gave a small news item in the back pages that after detailed investigation they have come to know that the troublemakers were not Jaycee members but some outsiders and on account of the innocence of the Jaycee members, they would not boycott Jaycee activities in future”

“That was good” Uncle said

“But he damage was done and we had to live with it for quite some time”

“Now it almost looks humorous. But that taught us few lessons . The l power of the press, what the essential ingredients are for managing the press are, and  the pinch of salt we need to add when we we read newspaper stories. It has come in handy for us”

“Looks like stories can be never ending. But I am too tired. Need to sleep. What are you guys going to do now? Are you going to sleep?” Uncle asked

“No Uncle. We are going for a night drive. We will go Indrapasta Tourist home and have a coffee” Arjun replied.

“Are you guys crazy, Don’t you feel like sleeping?” Uncle asked. His eyes were almost closed.

“ After a couple of drinks it is fun to have a night ride. The cold blast on the face is exhilarating. I feel that I am flying then” Arjun replied.

“These are youngsters they have all the energy they need. You get up and come to the bedroom before you crash out on the sofa. ” Aunty caught uncle’s hand and pulled him up and she turned to Arjun and Chandy and remarked

“You already have had few drinks. I don’t think you should be too adventurous”

“Yes aunty” Both of them replied in unison and hopped onto the bike and rode away to the darkness”