COCHIN STORIES

BY

RAVI RANJAN GOSWAMI

 

 

Translated from Hindi by the Author

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dedicated to Kesh and Divita

1-DESTINY

Madhavan Pillai returned to Kerala after working for two decades in Dubai. He thought that now he would enjoy the retired life with his family. His wife Lata, who was a professor of Hindi in a college in Cochin had retired too. While in service, the two people never lived together for more than three to four months in a year. Sometimes, Lata would go to Dubai, on vacation. Sometimes Madhavan would come to Cochin. Their only son Shashi had grown up. He obtained a civil engineering degree but was working as an Inspector in the Central Excise Department. He was happy with his job.

Madhavan was from Thrissur. He had built a house there. The house was very beautiful and full of modern amenities. Shashi's posting was in Aluva which was not far off. That's why Shashi lived with his parents. Overall, Madhavan and his family had a happy life. A few days ago, they had received a proposal for Shashi's marriage

 It had been raining incessantly for the concluding two-three days.

After lunch, the three were sitting in the drawing-room watching TV and talking about Shashi's marriage.

Madhavan asked Lata, "The girl is from Cochin and has studied at your college.  Have you ever seen her?

Lata asked Shashi, " What was the name of the girl?"

Shashi said, " Lakshmi. "

Lata said, " There were many girls of this name. I can’t guess about this particular girl.

Madhavan said, " We will go to see the girl next month in September. By then the rain will also reduce. One of my friends knows this family. In his opinion, the family is very respectable. If everything goes well, we can fix the marriage in November or December this year.

Meanwhile, Shashi's mobile phone rang. When he picked up the phone and heard the message, his face became serious. The talk ended quickly. 

Madhavan asked him, " What's the matter?"

Shashi said, " Acha, Amma, we have to leave the house immediately and go to some safe place.

Just then, a police jeep came about, their house, shouting on the mic,

" Attention, please. Water has risen above the danger mark in the nearby dams, so the gates of the dams will be opened. There is a possibility of flooding in this area. All of you are requested to leave this place soon and go to safe places.”

Madhavan went outside and saw, People were running in chaos. Water was coming in from one side of the street. His mind was filled with apprehension. He had seen the devastation of floods in other parts of the country and the world on TV and he could guess the severity of the situation.

Madhavan told Shashi, " Immediately put some clothes and rupees in a bag. We will have to find a safe place soon.

Shashi immediately put some clothes of the three people in a bag and also kept a purse of money.

Lata said, " Wait two minutes, I will find the lock and bring it. Will you leave the house open? "

Madhavan saw out of the window. Water had come closes to their house.

Madhavan said, " There is no time to find a lock. We should

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 18.06.2021
ISBN: 978-3-7487-8593-4

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