It was getting dark and I decided to go and lock the main gate. Akashavani’s son kapalanga was walking up and down in front of his house reading and reciting. He must have some exam tomorrow. That is one funny way to study, I thought. He saw me and smiled at me. That was even more odd.
‘Why did kapalanga smile at me?’. He always talk in riddles to me. I wondered what lie behind the smile. He didn’t say anything and I was relieved. Without looking at him I locked the gate.
I went back inside and was going to pack my school bag for tomorrow
I heard Amma calling me
“Nina, Come here quick”
I ran to the kitchen to find my mother holding an empty rice container
“Nina, run to Anichettan’s shop before they close and buy 2 kg of rice. I forgot to buy rice today.”.
“Amma, it is very late. Anichettan’s shop would be closed by now”
“Don’t stand there and talk. Just go and see. If there is no rice, what will you take for lunch to school tomorrow?”
Amma gave me 10 Rs and I took the key from the key holder to open the gate.
“Nina, take Liza with you and be careful”
“Ok Amma”
“Liza come with me. hurry up” I screamed
“where are we going?” Liza asked me
“Rice finished and we have to buy some now”
“Nina, it is dark, I am scared”
“Why are you scared? I am with you right? After all I am the world famous Methran Thambi’s grand daughter!”
“You and your Methran Thambi” Liza was laughing.
I quickly opened the gate and I didn’t want to take the key with me. I was just putting it by the side of the gate, so when I come back I can lock the gate
“engotta? Ammente pani makkalkkum undo?”. I looked up to see kapalanga leaning on their gate and looking at me with disgust.
I wanted to go and talk to him and give him a piece of my mind. But I had to buy the rice and I pulled Liza’s hand and ran in to the main road.
I could see across the parade ground, the light from one lone street light near the lawayer’s office. I should have taken the torch. I was scared to walk in the darkness.
“Hurry Liza. let us run”
“Nina, I am scared”
“Don’t worry, nothing will happen”
I could see the shadow of someone walking towards us. I was relieved. Atleast there is another human being on the road and I am safe. The person looked at me as we crossed each other. I didn’t know who it was and I didn’t smile. I was just glad that there was another person on the road. Few seconds later I turned to look. His shadow was getting smaller and my fear was getting bigger.
The working street light was still far away. Just as we crossed the giant peepal tree, someone started walking towards us. I was so relieved. In seconds the man was holding my left upper arm. I wanted to scream. But the sound didn’t come out. Liza was standing like a rock. There was only one thing to do. I started to hit him with my right fist. I still didn’t want to let go the 10 Rs that was in my fist. Liza was crying now and we saw more shawdows approaching us. The man who was holding my hand started to run. I held Liza’s hand and started to run towards the street light. There were people who tried to stop me and ask what happend. I didn’t stop. I was worried that the man would come back.
Liza and I ran all the way non stop to Anichettan’s shop. We were gasping by the time we reached the shop. Anichettan had already closed the shutters and was bending down to lock the shutters.
“Anichetta” I called him
He turned and looked at us
“Are you ok?”
“Yes, I need some rice”. I kept looking back to see if the stranger is hiding somewhere behind and waiting to pounce on me the moment I leave Anichettan’s shop.
“Aiyyo mole I closed the shop already”
“No aiyyo Anichetta, there is no rice at home and we can’t take lunch to school. You have to give me some rice”
Anichettan showed enough signs of his displeasure to open the shop again. He was grumbling. I watched him opening the shutter a little bit up. He bend down and went in. I could see from the bottom of the shutters that Anichettan switched on the light inside his shop. I turned around to watch the road. I kept looking left and right to see if the stranger is lurking somewhere near me.
Through the gap between the shutter an the floor Anichettan placed a small bag of rice outside. He went back to switch off the light. I watched him coming out biting a huge silver torch. At any other time I would have laughed because Anichettan looked like a giant bulldog with a giant bone in his mouth. I couldn’t laugh now.
“Here” He handed me the rice.”Pay me next time”. I took the rice from his hand and I looked at him.
“Anichetta, I am scared to walk back home alone. Will you please come with me?”
He looked at me. He was not pleased at all. But I needed his help so I looked at him pleadingly.
“Ok walk. I will follow you”. Anichettan ordered. We walked in total silence. When we reached the parade ground Anichettan switched on the torch. I looked for shadows hiding near the peepal tree. My heart was beating fast. I consoled myslef by the fact that Anichettan is a big burly man. He can fight, if anyone attacks me again. I held Liza’s hand tightly. If anything happens, I can run with her.
Just as we reached the small road that leads to my house, I turned around and told Anichettan
“My house is the second one down the road. I can walk home alone now. Thank you for coming with me.”
“koche tell your mother, it is highly irresponsible of her to send her children out at odd hours. She can’t expect the nattukar(neighbours) to help her raise her daughters.”
I felt something getting caught in my throat. I was angry with Amma for asking me to go out in the night. I was also mad at Amichettan for judging my mother. I didn’t understand my own feelings.
I pulled Liza’s hand and ran down the road
kapalanga was still there, leaning on his gate.
“What did Kochu maharani pay to get that?” He pointed to the packet in my hand. I was thinking how did he know that I didn’t pay for the rice today? I wanted to tell him, Anichettan said I can pay next time.
I heard Amma shouting. She was standing near the veranda.
“Why are you standing there and talking to others Nina? Haven’t yet hatched out of the egg completely and she is standing and talking to boys in the night! Waiting for an opportunity to flirt! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself Nina?”
I walked inside and placed the rice in her hand. I marched inside. I was so mad at my mother.
I didn’t tell my mother what happend to me that day. because she wouldn’t beleive me and because she would try to justify her actions.