The Patriot

It was the beginning of June, 1955. The colleges had not reopened yet. So I was at home.

In the morning around 10 am, I opened a drawer of the chest, picked up an issue of LIFE magazine and got into the easy chair.  On the front page, there was a picture of a new American luxury liner. I saw it carefully. It was very beautiful. But the stamp of the issuing library spoiled the grace of the great ship. Meanwhile, Ramesh from the neighborhood came to the front yard to dry his clothes in the intense sunshine. He looked at me reading a magazine. “Reading some French magazine?” he asked.

“No Yaar!  Just because I have completed a course in French, does it mean I will be reading only French? I am reading LIFE. The issue of this month is very good.”

“Ok. Forget it. Are you coming to a movie with me? A good picture is on for the matinee show ‘THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI’.  William Holden is the hero.  At Central cinema. Are you  coming?”

I closed the magazine. Thought over it William Holden was my favourite hero. Had heard about the picture is good. I was also free. But then I realized, my wallet was empty. At the most one rupee may be there. There are still 8 days for the father to get his salary. Till then no movie. I told Ramesh  ”I have seen a movie just yesterday. I don’t want to see any more immediately. Will see sometime later.” Ramesh fixed the clips on the clothes he put to dry and got back in his house. I opened the magazine and started reading. My mother called me. “Satish, bring peanuts worth 8 Aanaas from the shop urgently.”

“Ok. I am bringing. Should I take money from your purse?”

“My purse! It is already empty. Nobody will give you even  8 Aanaas if you sell it. Better take money from your wallet only.”

I was shocked. Anyway, without any further argument, I went to the shop and got the peanuts. I was wondering why did we have to eat peanuts in bhaji if we do not have enough money? I opened the magazine and tried to read the article. But my mind was wandering somewhere else. “If today only money in the house is finished, how are we going to pull on the rest of the month?

But why am I worried about such a situation? This month will go as all previous months have gone. Coming months will also go the same way. No relief. One month my college fees will take a good share of my father’s salary and some other month the expenses for clothing. Something or another spending. Never any month goes smoothly without tension. But how can I put all the load on my father’s shoulders? Two more years to complete my graduation. Till then the situation is not going to change. I must hunt for some source of money. I tried for a job during vacation. But I am not that lucky enough to get a summer placement. I must start taking tuitions for French. I must use my extra quality to earn some money.”

While thinking about money matters, with the magazine in front of my eyes, I dozed off without my realization. Mother’s call for lunch woke me up. After lunch, I decided to take a walk instead of worrying about house conditions. I pulled out my outgoing clothes from the hanger, put them on and went out. They were not even ironed. But that being a regular affair, it did not bother me.

That was a hot afternoon. Not much movement on the road. I was walking on the footpath. Suddenly one luxurious Mercedes car passed by me without making any sound. I recognized it was Seth Lilachand’s car.

Seth Lilachand was a big name in our area. He was the richest man in our district. I remembered he had started some chemical factory a few years back. He was an ordinary person then. But in 5-6 years he became a millionaire. No. By calling him a millionaire would be insulting him. He was a BILLIONAIRE. All the luxuries he was enjoying.  His life must be without any worries.  Can I become as rich as him? Will I own such a luxury car? Suddenly I tumbled over some stone on the road and I got pushed back into the real world from the imaginary. I saw the Mercedes returning.  But this time it did not pass by me but stopped close to me.

Some person got down from the car. He came straight to me. “Sethji is calling you.” He said. I was confused. I went near the car.

Sethji was relaxing in that air-conditioned car. A nice scent fragrance greeted me. Sethji moved his hand and told me to get into the car. I was perplexed. “Why? What is the matter?” I asked.

Again he told me to sit next to him. “I have some work.” 

“What?” I said.

“First come inside the car.” Saying this Sethji pulled me inside the car. I sat next to him. Not scared but surprised and felt uneasy.

The car started. I noticed the car was well decorated from within. Sethji took out some medicinal tablets and threw them in his mouth. Then he sipped water from his nice bottle. I was getting impatient.

I again asked. ”Tell me what I can do for you.”

Sethji waved his hand and said “What is the hurry? Let us first go to my house. We will relax, have some tea and biscuits. Then I will tell you how important you are for our business.”

The car stopped in front of one mansion. We got off. Somebody from the house rushed towards us. He opened an umbrella and held it over Sethji’s head to protect Sethji from the hot sun. We entered the house.

My God! What lovely the living room was! Luxurious furniture, nice artefacts, well-positioned lamps over few great paintings. Everything was chosen with a sense of beauty. Fully carpeted floor. A well-chosen tapestry was used on the windows and walls. I was awed by the display of wealth.

I moved in carefully. The carpet itself was so soft. We came near to a sofa on which Sethji indicated me to take a seat. I sat on the sofa and was almost sunk inside the cushion. I managed to sit upright, carefully. Soon some plates of good snacks were arranged. Sethji now came close to me. Offered delicious snacks. I controlled my temptation. Had just a little and said, “Tell me what work I can do in your factory. What do you manufacture?”

“We manufacture gold.” Smiling Sethji murmured. “Have you understood manufacturing of GOLD?. Youngman, see. This wealth, this bungalow, this car I am having because of Gold.  Don’t you think that you also should own such luxuries?  Such a big house, a wonderful car?  Naturally, you will want to have such things. Even if you do some job for ten generations, you will not get such a comfortable living style. You can fulfil your dreams in this life, in just 5-6 years.  You can own such a bungalow, such a car if you join us. If you help us, all your worries will be taken care of. You are a young man. If you step into this business, you will have many such bungalows, many cars and all the things of your dream. Otherwise, your dreams will remain only dreams. They will never be fulfilled.”

In my huge mansion, a caravan of luxury cars started appearing in front of my eyes.

“But what kind of job I will have to do?” impatiently I asked.

 “I understand you have learnt French. “ Sethji said.

“Yes. I recently have acquired a diploma in French” I said.

“See young man, what is your name?”

“Satish.”

“Yes Satish, so long, our partners were from countries who spoke English. We did not have any problem with them. But our new partners are from France. They do not understand English. They speak only French.  So we have a problem communicating with them. Here comes your role. You act as our interpreter. Whatever we want to tell them, you translate it in FRENCH and convey it to them. Whatever they speak, you translate for us. This is an important job. No mistake is tolerated.  A very crucial task! But then you will be paid also accordingly.  When the ship, fully loaded with gold biscuits comes within our vicinity, they will contact us. Immediately we will have to make further arrangements. So translating the French message is extremely important. For every successful unloading of ship, you will get” and Sethji stopped.

After a pause, he continued “Can you guess, how much money you will get?”

I remained silent.

“Come on. Guess what amount you will get.”

I could not guess anything.

He exclaimed, “Not 5,000, Not even 10,000 but solid 25,000. Can you imagine what all you can do with Rs.25,000?”

I was floored by hearing the figure.

Extremely delighted I said,”I am not a fool to reject such an offer.”

Then I got up. Sethji told the driver to drop me at my house. While I was leaving, Sethji got up. He took out the costly wristwatch from his wrist and put it on my hand. I looked inquisitively at Sethji.

“A small gift from me. You have to be present here tomorrow at 4 in the evening.” He almost ordered.

“Okay, Sir,” I said happily.

The driver opened the door of the car for me. I sat in the car. Noiselessly the car departed from the bungalow. As we reached close to my home, I told him to stop the car, and I got off.

I looked around Nobody had noticed me. I walked briskly and reached my house.

When I entered, mother immediately asked me “Whose wristwatch have you put on?” 

“Think it is mine.”

Mother said, “Do not joke.”

“My friend bought this recently. So he has given it to me for two days. I will have to return it the day after tomorrow.”

“Son, You should not borrow such costly things. If they get lost, we will spend your entire life repaying.” The mother expressed her worries.

“But if I buy this?”

“To buy these costly things, one needs a lot of money. We don’t have money to buy even peanuts. How can we afford this?”

Now to divert the attention, I looked for the issue of LIFE.

Mother understood what I was looking for and said, “Ramesh was going to the library. So I returned LIFE to get some Marathi books. Ramesh got this one.”

And she handed me over a small book. I looked at the title. “SHAHID BHAGAT SINGH”.

My hand writhed. I felt uneasy. I threw the book away. Picked up the newspaper. Tried to read it. But could not. Again and again, Bhagat Singh’s face came in front of my eyes. Tried to think of my cars, my bungalow. But Bhagat Singh’s face did not move away from eyes. The three young men embraced death to free our country. And here I am, ready to help smugglers harming our country to get out of poverty. I was ashamed of myself. I took out the wristwatch and hid it in the drawer deciding not to join the group of anti-patriotic smugglers team.

(Written in Marathi sometime in 1961. Translated in December 2020)

Vijay Likhite