Life, a glass vessel

It is 11 p.m. ….

Ranga entered into the house pushing the gate silently.

Because he is more doubtful against his wife’s character.

Gently came to the door like a cat.  Heard a noise.  What is it? 

A male and a woman are murmuring with low voice.  They are expressing lovely feelings each other with passion.

The woman is saying “ I would not be alive without you, I can dare to come with you where ever you go.  I will not care any body in any way.  Please …. tell me”

The man consoled  “ Don’t be hurry, I am also thinking the issue.  If any thing happened in this regard  we would not be put in troubles.  I am not ready to face such sufferings.  I am waiting for appropriate time for this purpose.  First of all we have to quit your husband by  planning murder.  But we should not be blamed in any way.  Keep quite..  I will decide… Be calm as usual  with your husband” .

Ranga heard all the conversation and got angry.  “Yes, it is true that  I have noticed against my wife.  How can I punish them.  No time to spare… Before their plan I will kill them…But….  If I was caught by the cops I would be imprisoned.  With some fearsomeness ,  No… I can’t do this.  They have to be  punished legally.  I will report it to the Police then they will arrest them on brothel activities   and take them to the police station.  If they did so…. I can’t be wandering with up-headed.  But… What can I do ?   His mind is being melted  with various thoughts…  How?…. How?…. How?.  Finally he decided to show this to his father-in-law who is residing adjacent to his house.  He ran at once to his father-in-law’s house and reported the issue.

Soon after  the complaint his father-in-law came to his daughter’s house and he is also heard such love conversation  and knocked the door.  The door is opened at once. 

What Daddy? .. what happened ?  why did you come here this time?  asked his daughter

Raga’s father-in-law asked loudly with utmost angry, “ Who is with you in the room?….Who is talking with you till to 11.30 p.m. …  You don’t know your husband arrived to the home?  Are you plunged with romantic discussions with some body ? Who is murmuring with you till now?  … Tell me ?  He rebuked.

Meanwhile his second daughter came out of the room.  What … What happened?  I am accompanying   my sister since 8.00 p.m.  Sister asked me to be with her as brother-in-law went on tour and will return by late hours at night.

Ranga and his father-in-law astonished at once.   But… who is the male with you till now?   asked  Ranga.

Oh… that is the  T.V. serial we are watching  until your arrival.   It is very interesting one…The conversation is between the  Villon and his lover, ..   said Ranga’s sister-in-law.

Ranga regretted himself for  misunderstanding and apologized   and never minded the rumors.

   *Life is like a glass vessel. But it should not be broken in our own safe hands.*

Real Ghost Part 2

Continuation of part 1…

One of the shadows came forward towards me.  I stood there like a statue with panic condition.  Even in such condition I saw clearly that the shadow was the  person in naked position only with under-ware  .   He asked me for match-box.   

‘No’   I replied. 

I Could not speak any more than that.  

He again  said , “ I threw my empty match-box just before “.  

I  confirmed that it was not ghost.  I restored my energy a little more and asked

‘Who are you waiting here in the darkness ?  

He told that he was a Toddy maker. 

Some thieves were stealing toddy regularly resulting heavy loss to him.   Hence he was keeping watch to catch the persons and punish them.  Watching in darkness would be convenient for this purpose.  On hearing that  I got a sigh and felt free as usual.  

But no answer to why the cycle stopped suddenly and not moving.   Meanwhile I observed that a light focus was seen from a distance.  That might be a vehicle coming on the same road towards the town.   It was right expectation.  The vehicle came and  crossed us.   In the lighting I found that there was a thing between the back wheel and free-wheel of  my cycle.  I picked out of it.  That was the empty match-box thrown by the toddy maker.   My cycle moved freely as well as my heart without any rumour against the ghosts.   Such  things of fearsomeness  which are happening in our life often  may be supposed as ghosts or devils but certainly not.

Real Ghost Part 1

When I was at the age of thirteen I had to come to Kavali to see movie and taken ticket for first show.  There is a special that I dared to come to the town by bicycle having   learned  newly the riding. Some of our villagers were working as clerks, helpers  in shops, stalls,  some of them  as tailors, as masonry and  labour.  They will return to home to night.  The shop workers normally leaves the shops at 9.00 PM and will leave the town at the time of ending the first show every day  along with persons who came to see cinema.  With the hope of company of such persons to return to our village  I dared to see first show.  If not I never thought to come cinema lonely at night from our village because there would be dark and scaring situations way-long.   And some body says that there were ghosts at graves nearby the trunk road situated at  turning of our village road.  This was also one of the causes that the shop workers were waiting for company up to first show ending.  

Unfortunately due to power-off the ending of cinema was delayed half an hour.   As I was not having a wrist watch, I could not know the exact time of ending cinema.  I asked some body to know the time and on hearing from him I trembled and rushed to main road by taking  bicycle from the stand.  No body was seen at the place of waiting the shop workers normally.  On enquiry it was known that they have already passed just before my arrival.  I ran to the town limits at the northern side for them and despaired.  They were no to my sight and could not be identified in the darkness.  I felt very tension and made up my mind to go forward and to face the troubles if any  happens there to. 

The road was also single way with ditches here and there.  I begun to ride my cycle with high speed and ringing the bell continuously.   There was a distance of 2 KMs to the turning road from Kavali.  I has already passed one and half KM.  But  my cycle stopped suddenly.  I got down and pushed forward.  But no use the cycle  rasping the road.   I got sweated.  How  can   I overcome the problem.  ‘ God save me’ prayed to God.  At that moment I observed my surroundings and known that I was very near to the graves where the ghosts might be there according to the speaks of some body.  Meanwhile I felt very nervousness and I could not move my legs even a little  step.  Stayed there as an useless being.  There I saw  a pair of   human beings.  They  were seeing like shadows.  I abused my self for the non-sense action I had done.  Thought that this was the correct punishment to me for my inaction.  I did not believe the words of well-wishers and alertness against the ghosts there.  It might be my fate that I had to sacrifice my life this way.  No more thoughts to restore.  I had lost my energy until bottom of  my  capacity.   The  two shadows were coming forward towards me.  I frightened very much  ……  we will meet later on for the remaining.

Continued in REAL GHOST part-2

బడిలో దెయ్యం

           నేను యస్.యస్.యల్.సి. చదువుకొనే రోజులవి.   మా ఇంట్లో కరెంట్ లేనందున స్కూల్ హెడ్మాస్టర్ వారి సలహా మేరకు పబ్లిక్ పరీక్షలు జరిగే రోజుల్లో  హై స్కూల్ నందే లైట్లు వేసుకొని చదువుకొనేవాళ్లం.  స్కూల్ వెనుకనే మామిడితోట వుండేది.  స్కూల్ కి తోట కి మధ్య పెద్ద కర వుండేడి.  కరంతా ఎత్తైన కరతుమ్మ చెట్లు, సరస్వతి చెట్లుతో దట్టంగా చూసేందుకు భయంకరంగా వుండేది. రాత్రులేకాదు పగలు కూడా స్కూల్ వెనుకవైపుకు వెళ్లాలంటేనే భయమేసేది.  అక్కడ పాములు తిరగడం సర్వసాధారణం.  కొందరైతే అక్కడ దెయ్యాలు కూడా వున్నాయని చెబుతుండేవారు.  ప్రతిరోజూ రాత్రి 12.00 గంటలు వరకు చదువుకొనేవాళ్లం.  రాత్రికి అక్కడే పడుకొని తెల్లవారుజామున ఇంటికి వచ్చేవాళ్లం.  కానీ ప్రతిరోజూ  సరిగ్గా 12.00 గంటలు సమయంలో స్కూలు  మిద్దెమీద ఎవరో పరుగెడుతున్నట్లు శబ్దాలు వినిపించేవి.  మొదట్లో రెండు మూడు సార్లు తోటలో తిరుగుతున్న పిల్లులు అయివుంటాయిలే మేతకు అటుఇటు తిరుగుతున్నాయనుకున్నాము.   మేము మొత్తం 5 మందిమి  వుండేవాళ్లం.   ప్రతిరోజూ ఇలానే జరుగుతున్నందున  క్రమేపీ మాలో భయం చోటుచేసుకోసాగింది.   రాత్రి 12.00 గంటలు అవుతుందంటే చదువుపై మససు లగ్నం కావడంలేదు,  భయం తప్ప . 

                   

          పబ్లిక్ పరీక్షలు దగ్గరపడుతున్నాయి.  మాలో ఆందోళన ఎక్కువకాసాగింది.  దీనికి పరిష్కార మార్గం కనుక్కోవాలనుకున్నాము.  హెడ్మాస్టర్ గారికేమో బాగా చదువుతున్నామని చెబుతున్నాం.   మేము  ఐదుగురం కలిసి చర్చించుకున్నాం.   ఆ రోజు ఎలాగైనా ఆ శబ్దాలు ఏమిటో తెలుసుకోవాలని తీర్మానించుకున్నాం.  అందరం వారికి అందుబాటులో వుండే  టార్చ్ లైట్లు, మంచి కర్రలు తీసుకుపోయేందుకు నిర్ణయించుకున్నాం.   ఆ రోజు రాత్రి మా ఏర్పాట్లలో  మేము వున్నాం.  మిద్దె పైకి ఎక్కేందుకు నిచ్చెన కూడా ఏర్పాటు చేసుకున్నాం.    ఎప్పటిలాగే  అర్ధరాత్రి  12.00 గంటల సమయంలో  శబ్దాలు రావడం ప్రాంభమైనాయి.  అందరం ఊపిరి బిగబట్టుకొని గబగబా స్కూల్ పైకి ముందుగానే ఏర్పాటు చేసుకున్న నిచ్చెన ఎక్కి చూశాము.  కానీ మాకు అక్కడ ఏమి కనిపించలేదు.  శబ్దాలు కూడా ఆగిపోయాయి.  మా ప్రయత్నం విఫలమైంది.  పైకి ఎక్కి చూసినందుకు  భయం ఇంకా ఎక్కువైంది.

                    

          మా పబ్లిక్ పరీక్షలు కంటె ఈ విషయమే మాకు ఎక్కువ ఆందోళన కలిగించింది .  మరునాడు కూడా  పట్టువదలని విక్రమార్కునిలా మా ప్రయత్నం మేము చేశాము.  అయినా ఫలితం శూన్యం.  ఆ మరునాడు మా స్కూల్ వెనుకవైపునున్న మామిడి తోటలోని  కాపలా మనిషి స్కూల్ లోనికి రావడం జరిగింది.  మాటల సంధర్భంలో దెయ్యాలు ప్రస్తావన వచ్చింది.  అప్పుడు ఆయనతో ఈ శబ్దాలు గురుంచి చెబుతూ,  దెయ్యాలంటే  నీకు భయం లేదా ? ఒక్కడివే తోటలో ఎలా  పడుకుంటావు ?  అని అడిగాము.  అందులకు ఆయన నవ్వుతూ  “ఆ శబ్దమా మొదట్లో నేను కొంచెం జంకిన మాట వాస్తవమే.  తరువాత తెలుసుకున్నాక భయం పోయింది.”   అని చెప్పాడు.  అదేమిటని మేము ఆధుర్దాగా అడిగాము.   “ ఏమి లేదు.  సరిగ్గా అర్ధరాత్రి 12.00 గంటలప్పుడు కావలి లో  ఏదో రైలు బాగా స్పీడుగా పోద్ది.  ఆ శబ్దానికి బడి మిద్దె మీద దనదన శబ్దం వస్తుంది.  కావాలంటే ఈ రోజు రాత్రి  నేను కూడా వుంటాను చూద్దాం రాండి”.  అన్నాడు. 

                    

          ఆమాటతో కొంచెం ధైర్యం వచ్చింది.  చెప్పిన మాట ప్రకారం  తోట కాపలా మనిషి రాత్రి 12.00 కాక మునుపే స్కూల్ లో వున్న మా వద్దకు వచ్చాడు.  అందరం నిచ్చెన ద్వారా మిద్దె పైకి చేరుకున్నాం.  12.00 అయ్యేకొద్దీ మాలో ఏదో తెలియని భీతి.  కానీ అర్ధరాత్రి దాటినా శబ్దం రాలేదు.  ఏమైవుంటుంది.  మాకు మా ప్రక్కన వున్న వ్యక్తి మీద అనుమానం .  ఈయన నిజమే చెప్పేడా.  అసలు ఈయన మనిషేనా.  లేక ........... .  వెన్నెల పిండారబోసినట్లుంది.   అందరం ఒకరి ముఖం ఒకరం చూసుకున్నాము.  తక్షణం క్రిందికి దిగిపోవాలనిపించింది.  కదిలాము.  అంతలో శబ్దం వినొచ్చింది.  కావలి లో రైలు  కూత వినిపించింది.  రైలు యమ స్పీడ్ గా పోతున్నట్లు అర్ధమైంది. రాత్రి సమయాల్లో ప్రశాంతంగా వుంటుంది కాబట్టి చిన్న శబ్దం కూడా పెద్దగా అనిపించడం సహజం.  ఆ శబ్ద ప్రకంపనలకు భూమి, భవనాలు అదిరినట్లు అనిపిస్తాయి.  పగలైతే  మరీ దగ్గర్లో వుంటే తప్ప దూరప్రాంతాలకు ఇవేమీ వినిపించవు.  అప్పటికి గాని మా సందేహం తీరలేదు.  దెయ్యాలు లేవు.  ఒట్టి భ్రమ మాత్రమే నన్న నిర్ణయానికి వచ్చాము.  పబ్లిక్ పరీక్షలుకు బాగా చదివాము.  మంచి మార్కులుతో పాసయ్యాము.  రకరకాల వ్యాపకాల రీత్యా మేమందరం ఉరువిడిచి వెళ్లిపోయాము.  ఎప్పుడైనా మా స్వగ్రామానికి వెళ్ళడం జరిగినపుడు మాకు ఇవన్నీ గుర్తుకువస్తాయి.   గత స్మృతులు ఎంతో మధురంగా వుంటాయి.    మా అనుభవాలు  మా పిల్లలకు చెప్పి ఆనందించడం తప్ప గత కాలాన్ని తీసుకురాలేం  కదా.

Man Inside

I would like to tell you one thing that happened during my childhood when I was studying sixth standard.

We, the class pupils were playing nearby the School in the evening.  We were quarrelling each other due to disputes arose in the game.  At that time an old man came to us and was watching for some time. After the game was over he asked us. “Who is your Telugu teacher?.

            

 “Our Telugu teacher was transferred.  Head master told us the new teacher would come today or tomorrow and warned us to be careful with him.  He would be harsh against the students”. I told h im.

             

“ Teachers are discussing that the new Telugu teacher is a worst fellow.  He will beat the students very often for no reasons.  He is also having a nick name of DKPL”.  Added another student.

             

The old man asked us “Have you seen him?

             

No,  we replied.

           

Then he went away.

             

The next day the students were murmuring.  ‘New teacher came today.  We have first period with him.  Let us be careful. ‘

             

We were very anxiety to see him.  Bell ringed.  An old man entered into our class. We astonished to know that the man with whom we talked yesterday was our new Telugu teacher.  We felt very fearsomeness. Yesterday we talked with him unnecessarily.  He saw at our bench. We bent our heads.

             

He asked me my name and also asked “ Do you know  what is DKPL?

             

No reply from our side.

             

He smiled. “ My nick name was given by the students of previous school. DKPL means ‘ Dokku Puli’.  I may be old in age but I am so strength like an younger tiger’.  I did not allow the malpractice of the students there and so I got the nick name.  I never feel against the issue.  It is common to the students in very generation.  Don’t fear.  I would not be with you as you heard. Some of my colleagues are jealous against me and told badly to you.  I assure my full help and dedication to all of  you .

             

On hearing that  we felt very happy and relief.  

             

During his tenure we learned very well about the Telugu.  That was the strong foundation for us in the subject.  After then we never felt fear with Telugu subject.  We were getting  above seventy percent of marks in Telugu even in higher classes.

              

Bus Travel

This the experience to share with all of you that one day  When I was going to Nellore on an important domestic work in RTC Bus the following debate was happened.

There were 20 to 22 passengers in the Bus going to various places from Kavali Bus stand.   Most of them were employees like teachers and others.  They were sitting one or two on each seat starting behind the driver seat.  All of them occupied the seats allotted to the ladies only.   

 

 One of them is questioning the other. 

 “This Government is useless.  Public have facing many troubles with the useless reforms taken recently.  All prices of the provisions, vegetables, fuel and other necessaries have been hiked.  Nobody is feeling their responsibilities.  Bribe has become compulsory everywhere.  Even a little work could not be done without bribe”.

The other person is supporting the above statement.

“Unfortunately we are having a worst CM.   He is not fit for the chair.  He is not giving the DA even after 5 months from the sanction of DA to Central Govt.  The Collector is also pressing us to send progress reports of various schemes implementing to the public.  We are also human beings not machines to do all the work at once”.

                 

Breaking their conversation the Bus stopped at a cross road.  An old woman and her daughter with a baby aged below one year boarded the bus.  According to their appearance they seem like poor tribal persons. They looked for the seats in the bus.  There were two passengers on each seat of 3 person capacity. 

                 

No body has adjusted to another seat to let them sit.   The persons were continuing their criticism against the Government and the persons whom they dislike.  They were scolding the politicians also.  The Bus was become like a conference hall at that time.  The old woman and her daughter with child were standing with the support of the seat pipes.  Even the conductor also not initiated to let them sit.   The passengers were drowned with arguments of support and oppose the Government.  But nobody cared the poor tribal passengers who were also not dared to sit by the side of the others. 

              

 Half an hour later a countryman asked one of the employees of the debate.

“Sir, what is the time now?

 He replied “10.30 a.m”

The countryman then asked

“Sir, I think that you are a teacher in a hamlet. Isn’t it?

“Yes”,   he replied.

“You have to attend the School most probably at 9.30 a.m.  But till to 10.30 am   you are in the bus.  It would be 11.00 am to reach your school.  How can you teach discipline to your students like this?  First of all get change yourself and then say it to the others.  I am hearing all the discussions of the co-passengers.  I suppose, all of you are the employees.  You have to maintain dedication at your duties.  Be prompt and punctuality.  Be kind to others”

                 

He added “Since half an hour the old woman, her daughter with child are standing there.   Neither the conductor nor the other passengers spared them seats.   There is writing in the bus that ‘Respect to ladies is our custom. Let them sit in the seats allotted to them.  But nobody including the conductor have not followed the slogan. This kind of action will suffer the helpless and poor people.   Even we have not taken initiation to solve the simple thing here, how can we criticize the others”:

                

 All the passengers were kept quiet.  One of them asked the countryman.  “You don’t know my grievances.  If you were in my place, you would not be talk like that”.

                 

The countryman replied him.  “I am also saying the same word.  The man drowned in a well can face the troubles in depth.   How can the man throwing the stones on him from the bank can know the difficulties.  

                 

There was a silence situation for a short while.  The conductor made arrangement to let the old woman and daughter sit in the seats.  Later on the countryman got down at a place.  Somebody asked the conductor.  Who is he?

                 

The conductor replied.  “He is an ex-service man”.

                 

The other passengers have got down at their stops.