It was a sunday. Drizzling rain had been since early morning and the cloudy sky seemed to deter the spirit of a holiday. Suddenly the sky became clear. I remembered my promise to visit Mrs. Lathika Menon. It was her long cherished desire to give me a dinner. When she invited me in the last month, I said excuses. She believed my words. Now this time I had no excuses. I agreed to reach her house before noon. My friend Mrs. Lathika was living with her daughter and an aged woman. She had been living seperated from her husband.. The reasons I didn't know, I desired not to ask her. I felt pity to her husband wherever he was to live away from such a lady as she is so pretty.
Her house is in the suburbs of the town. I first met her in Salini s house. Mrs. SaliniDas, the director of "Nataraj Natyagraha" is a wellknown dancer. Her husband Mr. Das had been in UAE a long years. Now he is known as the husband of Mrs.Salini. Many talented young girls practising in her school won laurels i in school college arts competitions. The well known actress Miss. Santhi even now comes and do practice there. The architecture of 'natyagraha 'has it's novelty It's location is it's great attractiveness, the place below the hill in the eastern part of the Trichur City is a short distance from the town.
I was arrested by the beauty of the place whenever I visited there and received her hospitality.
Once I said, "Salini you are lucky having such a beautiful place for your dreamland, I have no mind to go back".
She smiled reminded me the lines,
"Woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep"
I taught her Robert Frost's poem, when she was in her college days. The slender beautiful girl in the BA lit.class was the Juliet of the Romeos of the college. She became my favourite in the second year of her studies. In her second year I taught them Shakespear's 'Midsummer Nights Dream'. I accompanied her during her Banglore journey for participating in the Inter University Youth festival. No one to accompanied her from her house. She told me once that her mother's marriage was a love marriage.Her father met an accident when she was studying in the 9th class. There after her mother brought her up singularly. Her father's relatives were not financially sound. Her mother didn't seek the help of her parents. The amount got as compensation helped her family a lot. They lived in a rented house with her paternal grandmother. Her mother was a graduate, she did tuition classes to neighbouring children. Her father's ambition was to train her a dancer. She was a bright student in my class. I took special care and attachement to her.
That year I got a scholarship to UK for further studies. I took three years leave from college. I went to UK for my Phd, during those years I had no contact with her. I came back only after five years and joined as associate professor in the Maharajas college.
She came to my college to inagurate the arts festival. Then she was known as Mrs. Salini Das. a distinguished dancer. After the inauguration of the arts festival she came to my side.
She said, "What a surprise Sir to see you here".
"Sir, I am an ardent reader of your books".
"Salini very happy seeing you, I am proud of you", said I.
"Thank you sir", said she.
I gave her a copy of my recently published book of poems titled ,"Millennium poems".
"Once more ThankU Sir", said she.
" I invite you to visit my house"
She gave me the visiting card.
...
During one of her visit to the Gulf countries, as she was a member of the dancing troop after her graduation, she met Mr. Das He was one of the organisers of the dancing troop in the gulf programmes. Thus she became Mrs. SaliniDas He bought that beautiful place for her dancing school and built a two storied luxurious house for her, there she built a lovely "natyagraha". Mr. Das is a reasonable husband and has high devotion to her.
"I am unlucky sir", once she said in a sad voice
"Why", I retorted looking her eyes deeply.
"we have no children sir", says Salini.
I saw despair deepened in her eyes.
"No despair Salini, God bless you, have a beautiful daughter like you.". I consoled her.
Meekly she said the infertility case of her husband's medical checkup. I found the hollowness of my words.
.....,... .... .....
How do they become friends. Mrs. Lathikamenon is an intimate friend of Salini. During one of my visits to Salini she introduced her.
"Sir you know this is my dear friend Mrs. LathikaMenon. She is in your field sir, I mean she is a novelist " I saw the blushing of her cheeks and the smiling on her lips. I think she is somewhat shy and conservative.
I remembered the recent news that She is awarded by Sangeetha nadaka Accademy.
..... .....
Drove my car directly in to the courtyard of her house. As I expected Mrs. LathikaMenon was waiting for me.
"Hellow Sir I am very happy in your presence you are my only VIP guest today".. I wished her . I saw the brightness in eyes.
"This is my daughte Soorya", she said pionting the young girl coming from the hall.
Took the hands of the kid I welcomef her,
"Oh, Sooryamole very glad to see you".
She smiled. We entered the hall so decorative it was.
"In wich class you are studying", I asked Soorya.
Meekly she said, "First standered "
"Good", said I.
I noticed we the only three persons were there.
She arranged a very grand dinner there. I ate it with a great relish. Soorya stood beside me, she seemed to be happy.
. After dinner we three sat in the hall. Naturally our talk turned to literature. Soorya's song also enriched the meeting.
I visited her library a room with shelves of number of books. I felt envy to her for the abundance of book collection
"Surely a good library,"I appreciated her
"Thank you Sir", said she.
I saw all my works in the shelf. Reading my mind she said, "I have all the collection of your poems sir,"
I looked her face smilingly.
" I haven't yet read any of your novels so far. "
I said in a mood of forgiveness
"Sir I have published only three novels", said she.
I remembered her recently published novel, "Wounded women", recommended for Sahitjya Accademy Award. I have read only the review of it. As she read my mind she took a copy of that novel from the shelf. With a smile she presented it to me.
Hsving some urgency, patting on the cherk of Soorya I returned promising to visit again.
..... .... ..... continue.
Chapter 2...Visit.....
..... ...
Hearing a bell on the mid day snare I woke up from my dreams, I heard the sound of Mrs. LathikaMenon on the phone.
"Yes, Gopikrishnan how are you! Mrs . Lathika Menon"
"Fine sir, are you sleeping. Sm I disturbing you"
" No Lathika only a slight rest after meals, thats all".
"Sir I am going to Salini s house. She will come back from Madras this evening. Yesterday she telephoned me and she requested me to inform you".
"Ya, Lathika I have read your novel, really it wounded my heart.
" Thank you sir, your's is a great compliment to me".
... ..... ...Late in the evening I drove my car into Salini s house Salini arrivef so early from Madras. Before reaching there I stopped a while before the Imperial Hotel, I stepped into the A/C bar longue ordered rwo pegs of whisky.
"Oh, You are here", turned my face hearing a familiar sound, I daw Mr. RaviMenon editor of "NewIndia Daily"
" Ya Sir , ony my way to a friends house",I retorted.
We sat together a while, our conversation turned to literature and the trend of publishing companies. I gave my work to a foreign publishing company. Ravi is my friend and a well known journalist, published two about journalism. After one more peg with him I said good bye to him. Reached Salini s house, I felt that I reached in a strange place quite apart from the madness of the city.. Salimi welcomed me. She seemed so beautiful in het orange coloured sari.
"How was your journey"
"Fine sir"She shook my hands, we entered into the hall.
"Hellow, goodevening uncle", said Soorya.
I took her in my hands said, "Goodevening Soorya"
I turned to the smiling face of Salimi
"Where is Mr. Das?"
He was with me in Madras., today he has gone to Dubai", she said with a smiling face
"Any urgent matter ", I doubted
"To attend the meeting of Malayali Association ", replied Salini.
"Oh yes, Mr. Das is the secretary of the Association, I forgot", daid I.
"Sir in the nextt month there is a gulf programme, especially in Dubai. I wholeheartedly welcomed you to accompany me".
"Sorry Salini, in the next month I will be in London, a conference of international poets or otherwise I would be very happy to accompany you. I am unlucky Salini"
"Why are you smiling, ", I asked jockingly to Lathika
"Nothing sir", she replied stumping the shoulders of Salini.
"Sir want hot drinks", Salin pointingto the cupboard of Mr. Das.
"Now in a good mood, really sir", jocking Salini.
"True Salini on the way I met a friend of mine, We spent sometime in HotelImperial".
"Salini, you know Mr. RaviMenon"
"Yes sir I remember he wrote once an article of me".
Salini opened the cupboard. Looking on the dining table I wondered. Salini cleared my doubt saying, "I have a good cook here,".
"Oh yes, I asked any importance of this day"
"Ten years of friendship, ten years ago on this day I met Lathika, so we decided to join together ".
"Am I an intruder ", said I.
"No sir you are my teacher, wellwisher and a good friend. Lathika is a good fan of you so we enjoy your company".
I took a glass from the cupboard, Salini poured a peg of whisky in my glass.
"Thank you", said I. Sipping whisky I said,
"I also enjoy your company".The smiled both.
"Soorya are you playing piano ", saw that she was playing with a kid piano. She nodded and smiled. Only four and Salini s cook were there. Relishing a grand feast, I said ,"Wish your friendship be forever". I drove back late in the night. Dropped Lathika and Soorya into their house, her aunty was anxiously waiting them infront of the house.
"Goodnight uncle"
"Good night both of you"
With a sudden impulse I drive to my native village, about more than 200 miles away from the city. Driving lonely in the night, I like most in my life such travels.
. ... ... .....
Chapter ... 3...
...continue....
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