SIREN

The thought of it came all of a sudden.

By now the Siren would have blown. Presently, with a huge roar the factory would come to life and would seem to laugh at his own. He never detested the work. He is made that way, very soft. But hard labour never repulsed him. Lunch will always be had amidst banter and laughter. He always sat besides the door. The crows would assemble near his seat. The moment they do, smile would spread on his lips. He would spread rice on the floor to see the joy with which the crows scramble for food!

Alas! Over the past four months, he had worked on different jobs. Only his sense of self-respect got hurt. Not even for a single day could he eat stomach full. He even thought of ending his life just as Dharman had done. Parvathi, who with her soft hands playfully pulls his moustache, would come to his mind. The siren would rise to a crescendo again. From the day he was driven out of work owing to lock-out, the sound of the siren would blare on his ears time and again.

Brooding over all the events which have happened, he almost reached his destination. He shifted the child to the other shoulder. Look, how life takes a sudden, dramatic turn? When he thinks about it, the hairs on his body stand erect. His face turns bleaching white. The dishonour of it, sends the eye balls up and the head crash in shame.

It was a Friday. He thought of sending Parvathi with her grandmother. Just a few moments after he reached, Kandaramu Thevar alighted from his by cycle panting for breath. He could not look at Thevar on his face. Thevar burst into volcanic fury.

“I let out my house on rent to you thinking you are a nice person. How stupid I was! You have been dodging me for the past three months giving lame excuses. Now you think you can escape easily! You have shown your true colours. Now I ask you in front of all these men. If you have any degree of self-worth, let me get the rent by this evening. Otherwise, I will not let you live in the house tomorrow.”

He was completely shaken. It seemed all the people were staring at him. He lifted his head to see if someone known to him was around watching. There was none. Still he cursed himself. For the first time in his life, he had to receive such brutal and nasty words from the mouth of a total stranger, that too in front of a crowd. There were tears in the eyes of Parvathi. They started walking back home. He had borrowed 600 rupees from Ramasami to pay the rent. Though this incident happened two days back, he still felt the verbal lashes.

He could not go for work yesterday and remained at home. Today, the child fell ill. Who is to be approached for medical expenses? he wondered. He had borrowed money from Ramasami only a couple of days back. But no one else would lend money to him. But how many times could he trouble Ramasami? Still who else can help? Whatever be the reply, there is no alternative but to approach Ramasami. He started walking to Ramasami’s house.

Fortunately, Ramasami was at home. Ramasami let out a troubled smile at him. “The child has got fever. Please don’t mistake me for troubling you repeatedly. I have no other way. Give me 50 rupees more and I will return it alongwith the 600 I borrowed earlier.” He submitted to Ramasami.

“Oh! Just now I have returned from the Police Station. The Policemen took me there to get the “weekly collection”. They took the 200 rupees I had. I do not have anything now. How could I help you?” Ramasami replied.
He almost cried.

“How could such a thing happen to you. You, a man who would not even think of harming an insect. It is very said, really!”

Tears welled up in his eyes.

Ramasami uncorked a bottle and poured it into two glasses. “Drink, at least you can forget your worries for some time.”

“No Ramasami. I had given up this habit long time back”

“Come on! A Quarter wouldn’t harm you! Hey, little boy! Bring some fried Crab!”

He thought for a moment. “Are you a man! If you have any self-worth, pay the rest by the evening!” Tears in the eyes of Parvathi! Siren blowing from the factory.

The boy places the fried crab in front. “Why do you think so much about it. Did you come walking all the way? Take five rupees and go by bus on the way back. Ok, now take a drink.” Ramasami prodded.

He took the glass and shook it. Again the blare of the siren. He took all the liquor in one gulp. Ramasami smiled. He smiled in return.

“I am going Ramasami”

“Yes. Please be careful. Don’t worry. These problems will be solved someday soon.”

The bus had started to move. He leaned at the window and slept. How could he sleep with a starving stomach. The liquor inside has had its impact. He held onto his head so as not to hit the window.

But this time he fell onto the well-dressed man besides him. The man threw a hard look at him. “Why man! Drunk right here in the morning! Scoundrel, sit erect! “ He tried to be careful, but again fell on the man. The man angrily sent him crashing on the window. After a heated exchange, they came to blows. Some tried to intervene to prevent the situation worsening. Some scolded him. There was a huge uproar. “Idiot, get lost!” shouted the man. “Making other’s life hell.”

“Conductor. Send this man out; otherwise I will!”

“You consume and take liberties with other passengers?” shouted the man.

A child woke up and cried. The bus stopped. Before the Conductor could ask him to get down, four or five passengers gathered around and pushed him out.The bus left him behind. The giddiness induced by the liquor stayed.

He tried to get his feet right, but couldn’t. He had fallen at a very congested place. The child lay beside him.

Even now he seemed to hear the faint sound of the factory siren. But it was the blare of a vehicle.

A heavily loaded lorry was speeding towards him.


(This was a story written by Mr. Vetri Selvan, who is based in Nagapattinam)