A few days with a ghost.

Chapter 6

    Days of ecstasy

D’souza was not like other youngsters of his generation. During his school days and college days he had  participated in the SFI (Students Federation of India) student wing of the communist party. He never agreed to the hardened philosophies  of the Party nor did he wear pseudo genius look like young communists clad in dhoti, with unkempt hair, unnurtured beard and shoulder bag. There was a concept among young communists that unless they wear a detached look they would not look like a communist so called “budhi jeevigal” in malayalam.

 “enikku ithhonnum ishtalla” he said to Parvathy in malayalam “ i don’t like all this nonsense”. There was a stint of Calicut Malaylam as he had settled down in Kozhikode , North Malabar, from his father’s life time. The north Malabar people always have a different accent unlike South Kerala people. Any one and every one will be addressed by ‘Etta” and this will be suffixed to their names. 

‘ hai, why are you having a sully look” Parvathy asked.

‘ Are you like all communists, who wear nonchalant attitude as if they don’t like love, sex and materialism and or don’t have even belief in  God. These are all pretensions.  'Hippocrates’ she quipped. 

‘ I heard a cine actor proclaiming to the world in an interview that he was an atheist  and the success that he was having was only due to his hard work.’ Then how would he explain his birth, and all the accessories in his human body properly fitted and the complicated mechanism of his brain cells etc etc’  she became more talkative. 

‘ why are you bothered about some stupid remark of some body’ D’souza stopped her.

‘no, no it is not like that Stephen’ she calls him in  his first name since she thought that this would be more informal, expression of closeness  and continued ’ actually much importance is given to the politicians and cine actors wherein they have all luxuries in life at the cost of the public , whereas such importance or recognition is not given to a scientist or a renowned professional who give much more service to the society. There is no wonder why IITans and IIMies are fleeing  the country in search of recognition outside. What service  these celebrities do to the Society? nothing . This is another way of making money. It is a pity that you don’t respect your own school teacher whereas much respect is given to these celebrities. Where are we heading to ?. Like politicians, father to son or to daughter, and do not require any qualification’. playing on sentiments. We indians are worshippers, 

‘ Why are you so furious’ D’cruz asked her.

‘ I  only pity the people who elect such persons to govern the country. It can be either a celebrity or siblings of a politician and if both are not there, then people who have money to  distribute freebies’ , definition of democracy  rewritten’. She was also critical about the poojaris in Temples who were Brahmins.

‘Why other cast can’t conduct poojas in temples/ while on discussion she asked.

’No, No it is not like that’, ‘ I am also not against appointing any one as priests in churches’ D’Souza replied.

‘The reason for the age old tradition might be on two counts’ he continued.

‘one, being well aware of the dos and don’ts that they might have learned from generations might be the reason combined with superstitious beliefs that  it would displease God if the Pooja rules were not followed astutely’.

 ‘this can be easily taught ‘ Parvathy argued.

‘For any job, it is required to observe certain rules and regulations, dress code and above all mental concentration and devotion’ D’Souza continued, ‘ as there is a dress code for going to office such observances are required to be followed by Pujaris, who should strictly adhere to the code of conduct like abstinence etc.’.

‘though you are a communist, you are very eloquent on spiritualistic subjects!’ Parvathy remarked.    

‘The principle of communism is devotion to one’s duties’.

Parvathy made a hearty laugh. A normal exchanges of two young minds.

All the while D’souza  was watching Parvathy intently and his eyes glittered emanating  so many feelings, whether it was love, worship or feeling of ecstasy! Only time will answer.

 

A few days with a ghost.                          Adv. Janardhanan venkiachalam

                                                                                                                 continues