Varsha visits Vidisha - 13

 When Varsha was getting ready for the college his sister Manjusha  stopped his way and said " we must go to Subbavaram and it is very important." Varsha said" I guess that there is a function in Vidisha's family.    I should not be accompanying you for ladies functions.  

                                         

Ask mother, she will go with you" Manju insisted that Varsha followed her. Varsha looked at Manili for her " yes I will " response but Malini demanded that Manju be escorted and Bairreddy be reprimanded. Bharatavarsha was bewildered at his mother's orders. Mother's word is an apex court order to any righteous son in India. That is essence of  holy literature of India which has been transformed into tradition. Yes this knowledge is practiced by righteous men handed down to generations and generations of men until the modern day cinema attacked the tradition with a trend of parents going over friendly and boozing with adult children advcing them in love matters. The cinema goers are  infected with the trends. They are the tradition - booers but Varsha is a cine goer nor a tradition booer. He is a scholar of Telugu a language filled with rich manners that honours parents and elders and unflinching devotion to the nation. 

Mom, but it looks odd and grotesque if I attend the ladies function. Let kesava go with her. before Malini responded Kesava said " I am ready " with boyish enthusiasm. Malini smiled at Kesava and fondled his head. She said to varsha " There is no party and no fun at her place, Bairreddy is besotted with Vidisha  in Buhuvanavijayam program he lost his heart to her. in spite of her stiff resistance he is persuading her , wooing her hand. He is hellbent on marrying her. Vidisha is very much worried about it.  

Varsh "How did you know?"

Malini " Manju told me and Ahalya confirmed it " 

"Oh ! It's awful! But I am going to college by the by I must make arrangements to Mysore Literary program. I have been invited as the chief guest I should not baulk way"

Why Mysore! you start to Manhattan with wind speed if there is a literary program. 

Varsha smiled sheepishly while Malini shouted "  Hell with your literary programs. Cancel all programs , take leave from the college and go to Vidisha. After all she is your childhood friend is in a helpless condition." Varsha spoke no more. He turned to Manjusha and said " Let us take the bus." 

                                                                   ***

Dwaraka bus station in Aseelmetta  is called DBS  Complex. The central bus station remains busy as 1,900 buses including 904 city buses and 1,000 rural buses to various destinations pass through the complex  every day.  DBS complex handles 60,000 passengers each day.

 Bus no 28p crossed the outskirts of the city. The green fields on either side of the road were delightful. Varsha and Manju sat at the window. Manju's mind is preoccupied with the visions of evil deeds of Bairreddy. Varsha closes his eyes now and then. Varsha 's mind had the flashes of his childhood. He remembers the games he played with Vidisha in the green fields., under trees. Manju was five years younger than him. The bus was moving steadily. Cool air was touching both their faces. Manjjusha said " The green fields are dwindling day by day, we see buildings in place of fields. "  Varsha smiled and said " we must call this development "Manju was seemingly upset. She is always so from her childhood. if her mother or brother doesn't agree with her she will be upset and she needs lot of cajoling. How can you smile? Don't you have concern about the dwindling greenery?" "I have  concern about our over population." said Varsha and  closed his eyes. "At least don't you think about Vidisha's predicament with Bairreddy? It seems that you are not in this world" complained Manju. Yes, I was in the world of imagination. I collect the  passing visuals through the window with my eyes and combine them with my words. " said Varsha. 

 You are always in imagination, not always but mostly.  people go to movies to forget the stress of their  humdrum life. That is also a world of imagination for people with creativity disability. I open  the door to  a different world with the power of my imagination. Creativity is everlasting joy and unparalleled satisfaction.  When Varsha finished Manju asked him "Tell me what you have imagined?"  Varsha " The sweetest part of our life, our childhood. It was the time Vidisha's family lived near Anandanilayam. Her father used to work in Visakha.  

Manju : We all used to go to school together.  Agastya used to come from Aseelmetta.  mother  Aruna also lived  with mother Damini when she had bad time. 

Varsha :  I still remember how we played together

Manju:  I remember how  we quarrelled together.   Vidisha had bitten your hand when you called her black girl.  She was such a rebel in her childhood.

The discussion was heart-warming Manju forgot her melancholy. Her mood was elevated and enriched with the thoughts of childhood.  suddenly the bus had a jerk.  she was dragged into present. just then they saw a dilapidated house 

The House 

We always saw the house from distance

we never crossed it without assistance

Nobody has ever its door  knocked 

for it's always with a padlock locked

The iron fence around is rusted 

the windows are broken and dusted

The garden is full of weeds over grown

the purple stemmed flowers often groan

The house was a terror 

the sight of it brought to mind horror 

It looked like an weird child crying

or some secret shadow spying

When I was young it looked paranormal

when I grew out of fears it looked normal

Manju was a bit surprised how her brother was able to tell her a sonnet instantly on the house. The bus stopped at a small village. A woman passenger looking so weird got into the bus. She has the air of a witch. She sat behind the driver. Varsha and Manju are three seats behind her. Manju looked at Varsha. Varsha understood what her looks mean. She is just like the witch who lived near their house. Varsha got it and said

The witch

In the shanty town near the tank

where people usually drank

Beside the cinema there is a  hut

There sits a woman who looks like a slut

She is a rich witch with a terrible face

In  weird ways she treats each case

When I saw her " Is witchcraft a reality?"

I instantly thought of practicality 

A boy victimized by black magic was brought

by a group of people who the remedy sought

She stuck needles to the boy's body, began chanting

Her gold chain was stolen by somebody who's missing

the needles dropped down on their own, the boy's pain fled 

Outside the hut the thief found dead in a pool of blood

Manjusha felt that her childhood incidents and stories were plying live in front of her. Her blood chilled with the sonnet  on the witch they had seen in childhood. Before the bus reached Sabbavaram Varsha had seen many such spectacles and presented a sonnet each time when he saw something.  Manju was bewildered. She could see a different person in her brother. They got down from the bus the first word she spoke was  "You have feet on the earth mind in stars. They started walking towards Vidisha's house.

                                              ***

After a long walk in the foot path across the paddy fields Varsha and Manju reached Vidisha's house. Amid the vast green fields the house looks like a boat in the ocean. The distant hills look like pyramids and the tall palmyra trees look like soldiers.  Varsha and Manju opened the small wicket gate and entered Vidisha's compound. It was 500 square yard area around. There are plantain trees and many plants. It was a pleasant sight. 

  Vidisha and her Mother Ahalya came out to receive Varsha and Manju. Vidisha smiles and invites them in. Manju was touched by the nature. She was transfixed to the country side view for a while. The scenery was amazing. The fields are lovely.  I remember Thomas Hardy's "Far away from the madding crowds" said Manju. Ahalya laughed and said "  Umm I don't understand what you youngsters have in mind. Varsha said " It means a small rural resort like this house. The end of noise and strife." Ahalya laughed more loudly and said " Go the the Well wash your feet and get in." They both walked to the well to wash their feet. The well is wide and deep. There is a round platform around it. just beside the well there are a dozen plantain trees. In the cool shadow of the banana trees slept a cow. "Her name is sita." said  Ahalya went in to prepare coffee. While vidisha brought a towel and stood beside Bharatavarsha and Manjusha at the well. 

 It is a part of Indian culture and a mark of respect to wait on guests and give them water to wash feet and towel. Do you sell milk? asked Manju. No we serve the cow. It is It is my second mother. said Vidisha.  Varsha was pleasantly surprised to see the cow and her her words. He said" Good to hear that you serve cow. A few lucky people have this chance. In India a cow not only respected but also worshipped.  Cow was held sacred by Vedas. The Rig Veda refers to the cow as being “aghnya” (not to be killed or injured) To the people of the Rig Veda, a cow was identical with wealth, and there was no Lakshmi-worship in those days. Nature and creation were worshipped said Varsha. 

Manju and Vidisha walked to the cow. The cow stood on its legs.  Manju was fondling her dewlap. It was soft and silky. Suddenly from behind the haystack a baby calf came running to the mother. Oh you got a haystack! in the back yard?! we got a cow shed too! said Vidisha and took Manju to the back yard. Hibiscus, marry gold chrysanthemum   plants are all over. They were bearing flowers. When they came back the calf was drinking mother's milk from the udder. The mother was licking the baby. 

Manju washed her feet. while taking the towel from Vidisha she said " I know why your mother laughed when Varsha explained the meaning of Far away from madding crowds as calm and peaceful rural resort.  Is Bairredy getting bad?" He is getting worse" replied Vidisha. Tears rolled down from her cheeks. When vidisha and Manjusha were talking Bharatavarsha was doing  sandhyavandanam. Manjusha explained that it is a daily routine to her brother that he offers prayers to the Sun three times a day.   She wiped her feet  and said "Don't worry. We came here to end your problem. My brother knows Bairreddy's brother Nagireddy." Vidisha smiled and said "  let us go. " 

 Bharatavarsha got into the hall  where the three ladies are sitting. I am quite please to see your farm house. said Varsha. Ahalya offered them coffee. " Manju and Varsha were sipping coffee. " I don't want coffee! " refused Vidisha.  Take it I have already prepared for three. her voice sounded serious.  Vidisha took the glass and reminded her Mother" Children should not ask for coffee. This is what you used to say when  I was insisting on coffee "  Manju and Vidisha are close friends. They studied in the same class. Manju fondly remembered the childhood memories. 

"Now you are not a child. you are a marriageable girl. That is apple of discord." said Ahalya. Whatever be the topic it goes round and round and finally reaches there. Bharatvarsha said " Where is Vidisha's father?" He is not seen here! " He is now a fruit contractor. He employs workers and overseas the fruit picking. He stays here only a few days in a month and rest of the days he roams all over the state." said Vidisha. Ahalya's eyes got wet.  Her tone blurred. She said " This is a family without a male support." Who said there is no male support. Don't ever forget that we are there for you." Bharatavarsha consoled her. "

It is lunch time you have to eat" said Ahalya.  She forced them to take lunch despite Varsha's resistance he had to obey when Manjusha yielded. Ahalya spread mats on the floor. Vidisha brought fresh banana leaves. Later Vidisha, Manjusha and Varsha sat in a row. Ahalya was delighted to serve the guests. Vidisha was happy to eat with her friends. Ahalya started telling " You know that this family is poor.  Her father is not steady in any job since her childhood. Vidisha stopped studies after her tenth class. After her father getting into contracts our financial position is okay.  She draws portraits" Manju said "I know she was a good artist." Varsha added "She proved herself  by drawing my pictures." Vidisha knew  that it was a satire. Vidisha drew the pictures of Varsha badly with horns when they had a fight. Vidisha understood what Varsha actually means. She glanced at Varsha with a smile.    

After they finished the lunch Vidisha started showing the house. You came to our house for the first time. come on let me show the house to you. said Vidisha and took Varsha with her. Manju followed. The house is tiled but very well ventilated with large windows and ventilators. A living room with village cot and two large bed rooms.  One is for parents and the other is for the daughter. Vidisha's bedroom is her studio. It was richer than  any room in the house with rich colour paints of nature portraits of men and women. Vidisha put more pictures from the cupboard on the tripod stands. Varsha turned round and round to see the pictures all over. He was abstracted from the world and the room transformed into a beautiful kaleidoscope. 

Varsha was tired of watching the beautiful pictures. He sat on the wooden chair. His senses were benumbed. He saw Vidisha's portrait on the wall. It was stunning. Oh what a beautiful face she has. He never new that one day time will bring him to see her beauty. His mind could not focus on her beauty. He sees her only as a child, rather his eyes don't go beyond or his mind doesn't go beyond her child-image. The picture of Vidisha shook him. Yes, Art is immortal. Art can speak with heart. For a few seconds he forgot why he came there and relaxed languidly on the chair. Vidisha walked to the opposite wall and peeled off the paper on the picture.  Next moment Bharatavarsha felt that a fireball was catapulted at him. It was his image with veena in the hand" He was playing the veena at Bhuvanavijayam show at Municipal auditorium. His face was bright, the colours were splendid. Perhaps the image has life!   He quickly regained his senses from the shock  and said" what exactly is the problem with Bairreddy? 

Manjusha came close to Vidisha. she laid her hand on her shoulders. Vidisha continued " Bairreddy He came to me like a protagonist of art. He asked me to draw this parent's pictures, later he asked me to draw his brother and sister in law.  Very frequently he used to come. Gradually I understood that he is not coming for pictures but for me.  He offered more money than I take for a portrait but I refused. He found out that money doesn't work. He changed his tune and now offers to  marry me."  Then why don't you marry? May be he is serious. said Bharatavarsha. Just then Ahalya came with fruits in a tray. He tells the same words for every girl. He has a bait for every girl.  She stopped and looked at Manjusha. she spoke with her eyes and prompted her to tell her brother something. Manju was nodding her head. Varsha understood that she was hiding something. He looked at his sister sternly and said with a commanding tone " What are you waiting for, tell me the truth!"  Manjusha said coolly " Bairreddy also proposed me" Varsha was speechless. 

I will talk to Bairreddy's brother Nagireddy. I am sure he will scold him. While going home I meet him  said Varsha. Hardly did he know what shock is waiting for Manusha and Varsha.   Ahalya was quite convinced with his words  "  I must look for a suitable boy for her and see that she is married as soon as possible." she said with a light heart without knowing what pity is in store for her. 

                                                                    ***

Varsha took leave of Ahalya and Vidisha and started walking across the fields. He must go to the bus stand to take the bus to go to Visakha.  As they walked a few steps he saw dozens of police walking in the fields.   Inspector general of police and other high level officials were present.  Bharatavarsha was astonished. What has brought such top level officers to a small village?! Manjusha and Vidisha stood aghast while the police walked away! Manju was inquisitive and was asking one of the villagers standing around in a group about what happened. A young man said that it was a land grabbing case .. the local MLA...Simhachalam ..while he was telling something he was stopped by an old man presumably his father " Don't get into troubles. May be they are MLA's akin, who knows."  The young man said that he doesn't know much about the case.  There are many people but all had their lips closed. For Varsha and his sister were strangers to them. They were not sure whether they were MLA's kin. There was one young man boy who was sure that they were not MLA's kin. He knows them too. His name is Maridu. 

 Varsha  said to Maju" Manju, let's go I must visit Nagireddy, then we have a long journey.  When they were walking away Maridu sped towards them and greeted Varsha " Namaste Manjulamma"  Varsha was surprised. Maridu, you are here! You live in the city, don't you? How do you know my sister's name?" asked Varsha. Maridu replied " I heard you call her Manju, No place is mine, I keep moving." When Maridu finished Manju said " my name is not Manjula, I am Manjusha. How do you know my brother?" That is a long story. I always have chance meetings with your brother. I will tell you what you about the land grabbing case. " said Maridu. " It is unnecessary to know, we must go" said Varsha. and started walking faster. Maridu increased his pace and followed them.   " Is it necessary to meet Nagireddy? " asked Maridu. 

Bharatavarsha stopped and looked at Maridu surprisingly. " How do you know that I am going to meet him?" asked Varsha. You said to your sister and I overheard." said Maridu and grinned and continued "The police have come to arrest Nagireddy as per the court orders.  He has been taken into judicial custody for fourteen days." Bharatavarsha was stunned.  I thought he was a gentleman"  Maridu laughed and said " Gentleman! Nagireddy! He is a political goon!" Even his brother Ankireddy the chairman of your college is a gentleman either." Manju was perplexed at the revelations. "First tell me who you are , then tell me how you know my brother, then tell me how you know all these things ? Are you are journalist?" She asked Maridu a series of questions.  " He is not a journalist. He is a thief.     I have nothing to do with a thief." said Varsha sternly.

 Maridu qucikly responded " My name is Maridu." He told Manjush. He then told Varsha " I was a thief. Now I am not. Though I have not given you a word your personality inspires me. Now I am doing several odd jobs not stealing often. Bharatavarsha sighed. Maridu turned to Manjusha and said " Your brother saved me from hunger and gave me money to start a new life. I regard him as my Guru. His Verses are so sweet. I am now reading his Telugu poetry books " The boat in the sea and the goat on the hill" This is not the time for poetry. said Manju. They silently walked to the Bus station. 

The three reached the bus station. Visakha bus was expected in ten minutes.  Varsha and vidisha were waiting for the bus. Maridu bade farewell and turned back to go. Manju called him " Maridu Tell me about Nagireddy.  We have a problem with his brother." Maridu said " I know you want to know how dangerous is Bairreddy. Then listen to  why Nagireddy was arrested. It seems that he was arrested in land grabbing case. The young man was telling you when his father stopped him. He has several cases on him." Maridu was telling.  Manju grew impatient and asked him " Tell me about the cases on Bairreddy? I am not bothered about how many cases are there on Nagireddy." Maridu said " No one knows how many cases are on Nagireddy, No cases are registered against Bairreddy yet."  Manusha was silent Maridu told the blood chilling tale of Nagireddy.

Goon political worker Nagireddy  was arrested for abusing and assaulting a woman. He has been sent to 14-day judicial custody. A woman had objected to him planting political banners on road dividers and traffic intersections. Nagireddy grew furious for her objections  hurled expletives and assaulted the woman. Some body made a video which went viral on social media and drew condemnation, an FIR was lodged and Nagireddy was booked under Indian Penal Code section 354 (assault or use of criminal force on any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty)

Until he went underground he claimed to be the executive member of the ruling party’s Kisan Morcha and the co-coordinator of its Youth wing. He uses VVIP stickers on his vehicles to create an atmosphere of fear"  The second case on Nagireddy is that he has been protecting the land grabbed by his mentor boss Simhachalam. 

According to the police, the plots were grabbed by Simhachalam- one measuring 0.40 hectares and another measuring 1.50 hectares with estimated value of Rs 10 crores have been grabbed by Simhachalam. They were registered in the name of Simhachalam’s wife. The lands are protected by Nagireddy. They were seized by a team led by Superintendent of Police following orders issued by District Magistrate. The police had to move the earth to confiscate the lands. Maridu stopped when the bus sighted. When the bus stopped Varsha and Manjusha got in. Varsha said " I am happy that you turned a new leaf." The bus moved.