The Frozen Legacy

By Meera

Fate and luck play crucially and miraculously in Charus life, who is taken out from her squalid conditions of life and put in a heaven of love and fortune, which make her a doctor. After many twists and turns, she gets legacies from her old landlords, her reformed father, who was a gangster once, and her stepfather, Gerard, and thus fulfills her ambition of building a hospital.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Mar 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482818031

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Copyright © 2014 by Meera.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4828-1802-4

                Ebook            978-1-4828-1803-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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CONTENTS

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This book is dedicated to Lord Krishna!

1

S ynchromedia Printers, New Jersey, USA

The Managing Director of Synchromedia Printers, Gerard Williams, was addressing his employees for their upcoming project of setting up grand advertisement hoardings for a big Consumer Company. It was a fine beautiful sunlit morning. The company was on the highways leading to the main city. The city was bustling with activities and many people were on their commutation to their offices.

Gerard was a tall man in his early fifties, strongly built with wide shoulders and his complexion was not quite swarthy but slightly fair. He had his black curly hair closely crop-cut to his scalp and his eyes were big and black, and his nose and lips were thick. He was clad in a neatly tailored black suit and tie. He was happy over the oncoming big project that his Company had recently taken and was explaining their course of action to carry out their task within a stipulated time.

He was very humorous and witty by nature and there was always a mocking tint in his eyes and he did have a remarkable and comical body language which was idiosyncratically projecting his character. Always he’d be in a group as he was never left alone because of his jesting and easy going character and people would be eagerly waiting for his jokes and jests and would love to hang with him endlessly.

There always existed a funny tint of humor on his broad lips and his eyes were always glittering with a comical smile. His body language also added flavor to his overall personality of a comedian. He was equally good at his work too. Though he was jocose in nature, he never had mingled with girls so closely. After his graduation, because of his father’s death, he’d to inherit his father’s printing company and run it. When he got engrossed himself in work, he totally forgot about his marriage and it was obsolete when he’d to take care of his sister’s kids in loco parentis.

That day also, in the assembly hall, as usual he was elaborating their modus operandi, but jocosely to his subordinates and engineers who were working under him. The convener and also Gerard’s assistant, John Frederick, reluctantly tapped Gerard from behind and whispered in his ears, I’m sorry, Mr. Williams, I’ve to disturb you as the matter is important and urgent too. Just now I received a message that your niece Janette has met with an accident.

With a slight frown in his face, Gerard bent down to listen to John. It was quite evident from his face that the news he heard from John’s mouth just shattered him. Gerard’s brows knit and he asked hurriedly, Is she okay?

John told, Yes, Sir. She’s fine. You go see her now, Sir. I’ll take care of this. Gerard could notice that the hall had suddenly become filled with a heavy silence. Quite relieved from the stress of his work, but annoyed with a newly added stress of his niece’s accident, Gerard hurried to his car with laden heart to see his niece.

Only after seeing his niece Janette Brunnell, who was waiting for him in the hospital, he breathed freely. Janette was lying on the bed with a small bandage around her right toes.

Gerard hugged her and kissed her forehead. He whispered, My God! Jane, you know how much I was shocked to hear the news? I already warned you not to speed up when you’re still learning driving, honey…

Janette patted him and told, No worry, Uncle! I’m alright. It wasn’t my mistake. You know, the small boy in our neighborhood, who’s very naughty at times… . he simply came in front of me daftly with his bicycle from nowhere. My God! Had I not hit the brake, I’d have smashed him, but I smashed my toes instead. Oh, the pain is crushing me! The nail of my small toe has been ripped off, Uncle! All because of the goddamned stupid boy!

Gerard patted her cheeks and told, Anyway, be careful, my dear! Wait, I’ll meet the doctor and come.

Later Gerard helped Janette to get in the car. She was settled comfortably in the back seat and in no time she dozed off due to the effect of tablets.

Gerard lowered the window glass and gazed at the setting Sun. The breeze was cool and refreshing. He was ecstatic at once on seeing the scarlet fire ball on the western sky, and he enjoyed seeing the crimson horizon, aflame with Sun’s brilliance. In a few moments, the night would fall and there’d be darkness everywhere as the curtain of night would be pulled along the windows of the earth! What a fantastic balance, the nature has!

Like the darkness engulfed him many years ago when he lost his father and also when he lost his sister and her husband in an accident! He thought philosophically about the uncertainty of human life and invariably how one must sail through all the intricacies of life. How many successes and how many failures in one’s life! He thought that nothing could be permanent on earth and every moment of the universe should change no matter what the hindrance would be. No power to oppose the nature except the nature herself!

His thoughts got slowly entangled into the sad corners of his mind and the memories about his sister started uncoiling. On that fateful day also, he was addressing his employees, many years ago, on the same dais in his office!

"M r. Williams, I’m very sorry to say that your sister and her husband met with an accident fifteen minutes ago and were spot dead. This is the info from the cops just now we received. I’m terribly sorry, Sir".

John Frederick only was there that time also! What an allegiant staff he’s been so far! He tapped Gerard’s shoulder and whispered those words in his ears. Everybody around the dais could see the contortion on Gerard’s face which could erase the ‘always present’ humorous and alluring look from his face and they all inferred that there must be some awkward news that he might have heard from John. When Gerard couldn’t speak, John expressed the sad news to others and the meeting got postponed indefinitely.

Controlling his tears, thoughtfully Gerard asked John, Has my mother been informed?

No. Not yet, Sir. I’m yet to. As soon as I received the call, I rushed to you. I’m very sorry, Mr. Williams.

Gerard struggled hard to control his emotions and he felt giddy but managed to utter the words, That’s alright. I’ll inform. I need to be with the kids and my mother. Let me go home first. Having directed his assistant to take care of the office in his absence, Gerard hurried back home.

However he struggled hard to control his emotions, his mind deliberately started rewinding his past. He thought about how happy he’d been with her sister’s family and his mother.

Gerard’s younger sister Marriott, who got married to Gerard’s friend Jackson Brunnell, besides being humorous in nature, at times would turn out to be serious too.

Their joy was added when Marriott delivered a girl, Janette Brunnell and after a few years, a boy, Tim Brunnell. Janette was fond of her grandmother Nancy Williams and both were together always. When both kids were put in the school, their grandma was very happy to teach them their lessons as she’d worked as a lecturer in New Jersey University earlier. All were living together and Marriott, Jackson and Gerard were happily concentrating in their printing firm while Nancy took care of the kids.

They lived in a big house at Jason Villa in New Jersey for the convenience of their business in the same city. The house was surrounded by a beautiful garden with flowering plants. There was a big hall with a staircase in the far end. There was a kitchen and two big bed rooms in the ground floor. They had a nice and spacious balcony in front with a beautiful colonnade of trees in the frontage.

Gerard preferred to stay in one of the bedrooms in the ground floor in which, right from his childhood he’d been living. Marriott and Jackson lived in the big bedroom in first floor and Nancy stayed in the room adjacent to Marriott’s and their house was always engaged by frequent parties and functions.

Nancy lost her husband when Gerard had just finished his college, so the scenario in their house did change to a remarkable extent. It took nearly a year for them to recuperate and come back to normalcy after the demise of Nancy’s husband and everybody felt that the life wasn’t as vivid as before, as Gerard’s father had been very hilarious and scintillating with energy always and also entertaining like Gerard. Though striven with agony himself, Gerard tried to make everybody in that house cheerful by his pranks and funny body language.

A loud siren at the back of the car brought him to earth. He was driving with shaking hands and he was debating within himself as to how to face his mother and his sister’s kids. He plunged into abysmal despair and was unable to digest the fact that the two kids were deprived of their parents suddenly and unexpectedly, he couldn’t control his tears. He didn’t know how his mother would digest this matter. He was afraid as to how he was going to tackle the tears of his mother and the two kids. He started praying God to give him enormous strength and bravado to face them. Who’s free from the powerful clutches of the fate?

When he entered the house, he noticed the two kids were playing in their room and Moritz, their housemaid who’d been living in their house for long, was in the kitchen and he was annoyed of the thought that in spite of telling Moritz several times to keep the main door closed always, she’d kept it ajar that day also. But then there was no time to discuss things like that, he hurried to Nancy and when he saw her, already she was in tears. She burst out on seeing her son. Gerard embraced her but fumbled for words to mitigate her agony.

Nancy frantically cried and told him while shedding tears, The police had already called me to tell that fateful news. When I called you, Mr. John too told me about the bad news and that you’re coming here. I’m waiting for you only. I’m afraid to go down and see the kids, Gerry.

Gerard eyed his mother with a lugubrious expression, held her hands and told weakly, Mom, I’m terribly sorry about the bad news. It’s our fate. What to say? I’m very much worried about the kids. May be, the bodies might have been sent to the hospital. I’m taking the kids with me. Would you come with me, Mom? Gerard managed to tell those words to Nancy soberly and intermittently.

Nancy looked at him with a concern and told, Why kids, Gerry? Let them be at home. It’ll be terrible for them to see their parents, dead and she wept uncontrollably.

Gerard thought for a while and told, No, Mom, it’s also a part of our life. They’re very strong like you. But I feel if they’re alone here and somehow, if they hear the news through someone, the situation would go very bad then. Let them be with us. It’s better.

When she nodded her consent and told she would get ready, Gerard went into the kids’ room and called them, Janette and Tim. Get ready. We’re going out.

Janette enthusiastically asked Gerard, Where, Uncle?

Gerard nodded his head and told, I’ll tell you where to. First get ready. Come on.

Without knowing what for, the children got ready with the help of Moritz and boarded the car. While driving, Gerard and Nancy were silent and were contemplating for words to tell the small kids about their parents’ death. Gerard decided not to tell them until he reached the accident spot. But when the kids saw their grandma crying, they asked why. Gerard only spoke, Kids, don’t disturb her. She’s got some pain. That’s why we’re going to the hospital.

When he arrived at the spot of the accident, he could spot the traffic police Edwin Francis whom he’d known already and asked him what happened. Edwin replied, I’m terribly sorry about your loss, Mr. Williams. It seems it was a hit and run case. Just now the bodies have been taken to the Pacific Hospital for formalities.

Just then Gerard could hear a voice from behind Edwin, Can I be of help, Mr. Edwin?

When Edwin turned around, he was surprised to see James Stevenson, the Special Agent of FBI, he asked him, Hello, Mr. Stevenson. I’m surprised as you act very fast as usual! and he introduced him to Gerard and briefly explained about the accident.

James put the same question to Gerard, I just happened to pass by. Can I be of help, Mr. Williams?

No thanks, Mr. Stevenson. It’s nice to know you. I’m on my way to Pacific Hospital where the bodies had been sent.

James lowered his head and peeked inside the car and he could see the kids and their granny. James lowered his voice and asked Gerard, Have the kids been informed?

Ah. Not yet, Mr. Stevenson. I’m quite agonized and am afraid to see them cry. I don’t know how to handle them as they’re very much attached to their parents.

Mmm… . quite naturally! In that case, I think I must come with you, Mr. Williams, if you permit me. I can handle the kids. James asked him earnestly.

Gerard got affirmed of the reassuring face of James and he thought that the kids could be handled by James tactfully than him and also he himself needed a shoulder behind him, he told him, with still a surprise in his eyes, Get in, Mr. Stevenson, please. Thanks.

How Gerard would’ve known then that James Stevenson was going to be a biggest part in his life?

A fter a month or so, when Gerard was sitting in his cabin in Synchromedia Printers, James called him by phone, Hello, Mr. Williams, James here. Your sister’s case has been closed as it’s proved that it’s a clear hit and run case. As the driver in the opposite car was drunk on that day and out of fear he drove away from the spot and now he’s surrendered himself. By the way, how’re the kids?

Gerard answered, Thanks, Mr. Stevenson. I’m grateful to you for your tactful maneuver with the kids. Somehow they’ve got accustomed to the situation now because of you, though initially they were in utter shock and dismay as you know, but my mother is still in pangs.

In the past one month a beautiful friendship had started flourishing between Gerard and James. James had started admiring Gerard’s humorous nature that he was portraying in spite of all his agonies. By that time, Gerard had come to know about the glorious accomplishments of James and had started liking James.

Gerard was impressed by the handsome physique of James as James appeared to be very young and energetic though he was in his early thirties. He was six feet tall and very fair and he had a broad waist and strong hands which showed his gym body. The shining hair on his head looked black and straight and he had sparkling sea blue eyes which were sharp. His thin lips wore a constant smile. The strands of hair which always swayed on his forehead gave him a stylish charming look. His dress sense was amazing. No doubt Gerard just admired him for his alluring personality and also his affectionate and reassuring words. When Gerard was lost in thoughts of how he met James first, James continued talking, Don’t worry. I’ll deal with her also. Call me just James, Okay my dear friend?

Thank you, James. You told you’re stationed at San Diego. Are you there or here now? By the way, I’m Gerard for you, may be Gerry! and they both laughed.

Ah! Yeah. I’m in New Jersey only now. Tomorrow I’m leaving for San Diego. I just came here for some investigation. I’m happy that I’ve got your friendship. I’m working on a serious case there. I’ll catch you later. Take care. Bye!

After James disconnected the call Gerard finished his work in his office and headed back home.

J anette was eight years old and Tim was five years old when they lost their parents. As they grew, they both exhibited amazing character of self confidence which they’d have inherited from their grandmother Nancy. For them, everything was their Uncle Gerard and Grandmother Nancy only. Their world revolved around them and now James also had come in to shoulder them. Sooner James turned out to be their friend, philosopher, guide, mentor, and of course, a father figure too! Under the tutelage of Gerard and James, both the kids faced their days with utmost joy and vigor. Though James had to travel between San Diego and New Jersey very often for his work, he allotted maximum time possible for the kids. Nancy used to tell, James, you should stay with us only. You’re also a part of this family now. James stayed in their house when he’d to come from San Diego every now and then.

Nancy was happy on witnessing a deep and beautiful friendship flourishing between Gerard and James. When the kids grew up, James too gave his hands in rearing the kids in loco parentis in addition to Gerard. When Janette grew up, Gerard noticed her strong liking towards buildings, constructions and architecture. At the same time, she liked medicine also, but Gerard encouraged her to study architectural engineering when she was done with her high school. She happily joined in the five years degree course of Architecture in New Jersey University with utmost zeal and zest.

Gerard had already noticed Tim’s keen interest in Criminology studies and Investigative adventures as he kept himself clung to James always and he was quite sure that Tim missed James very much when James had to go to San Diego for his work and was unable to stay with Tim for long.

Gerard had understood that at the age of ten, Tim showed interest in reading and talking about crime stories and detective stories, and he used to play with his friends ‘thief and police’ very joyfully. When Tim was in the high school, he was always seen with detective novels in his hands and he was interested in taking over adventurous expeditions. He showed no interest in his Uncle’s printing firm and also in his sister’s career but was very close to James and wished to be with him always.

Whenever he got a chance, Tim wanted to be with James and as James also was very fond of Tim, he used to tell him about his younger days and his interesting missions and adventures.

When Tim had finished his high school, he showed interest in doing criminology studies and he preferred to go with his friends to San Marcos near San Diego, so that he’d be able to see James frequently. Though initially Gerard was hesitant to send him to a far off place, James encouraged him that he’d take care of Tim as he was stationed in San Diego only. Though University of Montreal was recommended initially to him, Tim opted for San Marcos as he wanted to be near James always and also he wanted to do the course with his friend Jack Damien in San Marcos, he went there fervently with utmost joy. Along with three of his friends, he rented a house nearby his college and stayed there.

When Janette wished to do her one year internship of her graduation in ‘The Ultimate Shelters’ owned by Damari, a friend of Gerard, he didn’t demur at her desire, but only encouraged her and assured her that he’d definitely take her there. Gerard had thought that at least one of the two kids would run his printing firm after him, as they were the ultimate incumbents of all their properties. But he didn’t object when they both selected different fields of their choice. As usual he was with all his wits and wags to entertain his family members and others around him. Nancy too didn’t object her grandchildren’s option of their career, only thing she wanted was their happiness alone.

A sudden downpour of rain disturbed Gerard’s thoughts and hurriedly he closed the car window and looked at the back. Janette was still sleeping. Gerard just shook off his head and started noticing the nature’s sudden fury around them. He was surprised to realize how deeply he was engrossed in his reminiscence without even thinking about his driving and the world around him. He wondered how did he miss to see the Sunset and when did the Sun sink down and when did the dark nimbus clouds gather above their head. Nature takes a moment to change her profile!

A dry smile crossed his lips. He switched on the wipers and started driving slowly, thinking about the past as well as enjoying the nice climate. He’d already decided to take Janette with him that weekend to his friend’s famous construction company, which had bagged many awards for their elegant and magnificent buildings and their architecture. Gerard was glad that Janette could start realizing her ambitions in such a brilliant atmosphere. But now her injury could delay that program!

A fter about fifteen days or so, Janette came back to normalcy from the bad injury of her toe, she urged her Uncle to take her to his friend. As Janette had already discussed with her Uncle about her career goals and Gerard had already promised her to meet his friend Damari, he didn’t want to disappoint her. He noticed that the wound in her toe had healed leaving only a light scar. On seeing her enthusiasm Gerard took her to his friend Damari Pios in New Jersey.

Gerard and Damari studied together up to high school. After that, Damari had to go with his father to South Africa and he continued his studies in Civil Engineering. After his college there, he struggled a lot to settle in a job. But after his father’s brutal murder, he couldn’t stay there peacefully, so he migrated to New York. He specialized in Architectural Engineering too and worked in many companies tirelessly and gained a vast erudition in architecture and construction business and finally settled to begin his own company.

He started ‘The Ultimate Shelters’ in New Jersey as per the wish of his beloved wife. In a short period of time, he was able to set up an efficient team and started hitting his targets quite unimaginably. Their company was the ultimate desire of the seekers which resulted in many beautiful buildings with ornate finishing. They could spread their wings overseas too.

Janette had heard of that company too and had seen their beautiful buildings in the city around. She wanted very much to unite herself with that company. When they arrived at Damari’s office building, Janette couldn’t believe what she saw. Yes! The building was sparkling with its ‘grey’ beauty with an elevated front and silver fittings. It was surrounded by emerald green trees, which instantly made Janette feel at home as she was fond of trees and plants too.

Gerard led her inside the building and took the lift to the first floor where Damari Pios had his office. Gerard saw Damari’s secretary, Evans Kimberly McKinsey, who was talking to someone on the phone. She put down the receiver and smiled instantly and greeted Gerard with both her hands stretched out. Gerard too wished her and hugged her briefly. He introduced Janette to Evans and told that they’d come to meet Damari. She looked like a doll in her bob cut silky hair. She was short and lean and was wearing a black velvet gown. She looked agile always but with a constant smile on her face.

Evans told with a smile, Mr. Williams. Boss is waiting for you only. Please come in. She led them inside the cabin and after informing Damari, she left the room.

Damari was very glad to see Gerard, Ah! Friend! How’re you? Long time no see!

Sorry, Boss. I was too much held up with my work. By the way, she’s Miss Janette Brunnell, my niece. As usual Gerard’s funny body language and his intonation made Damari laugh. He turned to Janette and his eyes widened with utter surprise and he told grinning, Yeah! Little lady, how’re you? I’ve seen you when you were just a kid.

Janette too smiled with a slight reddening of her cheeks while she shook hands with Damari. Gerard added, She’s in her final year in B. Arch and for the internship I thought she could be with you. As a part time job, she worked as a freelancer for some time to gain experience. She’s more for buildings and the like, just like you. You might have gone through her resume which I’d sent you a few days back. Evans brought biscuits and coffee, kept on the table and left.

Damari looked aged because of his hard work and unpleasant family scenario as his son, who was insane congenitally, had been put in an Asylum in a place near New Jersey. His face was pinkish and was of round shape and looked like a wrinkled orange which gave a reddish nature to his graying hair. His eyes were very small and green in color and he had a purse-like lips. He was short and hefty and looked bulgy with his wide shouldered suits. But all the more, he looked quite convincingly very friendly and kind.

Damari told, I’m delighted to see you, young lady! It’s my pleasure to have you here. I’m really very sorry that you lost your parents at such an early stage of your life. What’s your Uncle doing? Always making you people laugh, ah? We were class mates when we were in high school, you know? We all were mad of your Uncle as he was a damn comedian in our class and he’d kept our school days memorable which we could cherish as long as we’re alive.

While talking Damari was eagerly looking at Janette as she seemed to have a resemblance of her Uncle. She had a curly hair which was long and thick in beautiful golden brown color. Her eyes were big and black and her long eyelashes fluttered when she spoke excitedly! Contrasting to her white skin, her thick lips looked reddish and attractive. She had a small flat nose and she looked tall, thin and slender. She looked attractive in her jeans and red tops. She seemed to be a dazzling beauty altogether!

Yes, Mr. Pios. I’m glad to see you too. It was because of my Uncle that we were able to surmount the agony of having lost our parents when we were very young.

Gerard, our company’s honored to have this beautiful bubbly damsel. Miss Janette, you’re part of us from now onwards. We’ll train you effectively and assist you in reaching your goals. Welcome to ‘The Ultimate Shelters’! Damari shook hands with Janette and Gerard very happily.

The three had a talk on various matters for some time and later Gerard and Janette thanked Damari and drove back home.

In the following days, Janette got immersed herself in her work very enthusiastically in a congenial atmosphere of her company. Janette had a determination of becoming an architect and completed her studies in flying colors.

J anette was very much excited to be a part of the construction company. She was quite engrossed by Damari’s virtuosity and at times found herself spellbound by his timely strategic measures. She got convinced why everyone called him as ‘The Boss’. She’d gone through the history of ‘The Ultimate Shelters’ and when she saw repeatedly the photo albums of their exquisite buildings and other constructions, she was enthralled and she heartily thanked her Uncle for having brought her there. She considered Damari as a treasure of speculations!

Though young, Janette appeared to be more experienced in designs and plans as she worked intuitively and innovatively and grasped the exquisite workmanship so easily and accurately. She was appreciated for her novel ideas and her performances. The striking thing was that her ideas perfectly matched with that of Damari and they excelled in their architecture congruously. Janette longed to speak to Tim about her office and whenever she got a call from him, she spoke at length enthusiastically.

As the days passed, Janette had become the most inevitable and integral part of Damari’s office. One year had passed just like that and by that time Tim had joined in his Masters and he’d be back after a year or so.

O ne fine morning, a man was waiting for Damari in his office. When Damari entered his office, he asked his secretary Evans, who was he. She told that he’d come from India and he was the Chief of ‘Crescent Builders’ who’d come to meet him for a business deal.

Damari nodded his hoary head, Ah. Yes, now I remember. It was in the party that Mr. Rozario told me about him last week. Please send him in, Evans. Janette had completed her internship successfully under the commendable guidance of Damari and had been absorbed in the same company, who’d started working there with utmost enthusiasm.

Kadirvel entered the room and Damari greeted him and offered him a seat. Damari told, Excuse me! and attended the incoming call. While talking on the phone, he gauged Kadirvel who looked fit as a fiddle in his perfectly tailored grey safari suit, with a normal built body and a normal height. His oily hair had been combed upside neatly and he was wearing a golden framed spectacle. His face looked clean-shaven except for a white and grey mixed mustache and he was of wheatish complexion.

Evans offered biscuits and coffee to them. After the formal talks, they plunged into a business deal. Kadirvel told, Mr. Pios, I’ve taken a building contract of a five star hotel in the outskirts of Madras in India. We’ve constructed the main building but the finishing have to be dealt with. May be, it’d take nearly a year or two, for the project to get completed. When I came last week to US on a business trip, I happened to see your buildings and I really was amazed. They’re elegant and eye-catching. Your way of beautifying a building is so mesmerizing and exquisite. I’m terribly attracted by your excellence. I thought if you could be a part of our project and put your work, I’ll be very glad, Sir.

Damari didn’t say a word but was thoughtful. Kadirvel thought that might be due to money aspects, he was hesitating for. He said, All your charges will be taken care of duly, Mr. Pios.

Damari shook his head and said, No. No. Mr. Kadirvel, money isn’t a constraint. But at present I’m not in a position to take this offer as I’m already tied up with some hotel constructions at different places of this country and I’ve to finish them off within the stipulated time. May be, I can spare my assistant Miss Janette Brunnell, but that also will only be a loss for me as she’s equally adept.

But when Kadirvel was persistent in his demands, Damari had to call Janette to get her consent. When Janette came in and after formal introductions, she was told about the offer. When she was hesitant, Damari asked her, Aren’t you willing to go to India, Janette?

Immediately she retorted, No, Boss, not like that. I’m glad that you’ve considered me and given this offer. But I was thinking about our ongoing projects here.

Ah! Never mind, I’ll take care of all those jobs. I can engage a few more engineers to complete our projects, Damari assured her.

Kadirvel was delighted to hear that and he told, Thank you very much for your acquiescence, ma’am! Mr. Pios, we’ll make all arrangements for Miss Janette’s stay in a star hotel in the city and a car for her own use.

Janette asked, Mr. Kadirvel, how long will it take for completion, I mean, how long do I have to stay in India?

Kadirvel told, Ma’am, already the building construction is over, but the finishing part, which may take long, as we need high class decorations and finishing, may be six months or so, I guess.

After that, they discussed about other formalities and Kadirvel asked Damari to inform him beforehand, of Janette’s arrival in India. Kadirvel thanked Damari and Janette, and left the room without sensing that he was going to face inescapable problems in future.

Entangling ravel is on the way then!

2

S ri Rangam, Tamil Nadu, India, 1990

It was a very beautiful sunny day. Though it was summer, on that day particularly, it was cloudy and the wind was cool and breezy, carrying with it all sorts of morning aroma of that village. To avoid the sweltering inside the house, some of the habitants of the area had preferred to sleep outside their houses to enjoy the coolness of the atmosphere. In front of some houses, there were rope-cots on which elders and youngsters were squirming lazily like layabouts. They were contemplating whether to rise from the bed or not, as the ambience was cool and refreshing, unlike the other days of a hot summer in which it’d be very hot and sultry right from the dawn. They were talking indolently and watching the cocks and hens chasing one another, the dogs barking at something, village women sitting behind the cows and drawing milk from the udders into big brass vessels and toddlers crying for milk. Some girls were spraying cow-dung water in front of their houses and were drawing big Kolams with white chalk powder. They could hear faintly the chanting of mantras from the distant temple. The Sun was rising from the far eastern horizon lazily, witnessing all the wonders of the world! Lively and earthly!

Charu, get up! See, it’s going to be late to school. Alamelu was patting Charu to rise from her sleep. Alamelu knew to speak only Tamil language, so she could converse with others only in Tamil.

Charu woke up hastily and tidied up her halfsaree. Suddenly she remembered and teased her mother, "What, Amma? The exams were over yesterday only. Don’t you remember? You just panicked me!" While folding her bed sheet she asked this.

Alamelu smiled and tapped her head, then told, Sorry, my dear girl, I’ve just forgot. Anyway it’s better to get up early in the morning. Now you’ve grown up. You should start learning household works too. I shouldn’t be blamed by your future ‘in-laws’ tomorrow. Isn’t it? Alamelu was talking while she started to fire her stove in the kitchen which had some small twigs underneath.

"Ayyo, Amma! Please stop talking about my marriage now itself. Ample time is there for that". Having said those everlasting words, she went to the back of their house for her daily morning routines.

It was a very small house attached at the back, as a portion, of a big house and it was with one room and a kitchen and the bathroom was outside. The ceiling was of asbestos sheet and there was a small window in the kitchen facing the back street. There was some space between the well and the bathroom, in which Charu had kept some flowering plants of her taste.

She was a teen-age girl with bubbling enthusiasm to learn everything around her. She was five feet six inches tall and her complexion was very fair, rather somewhat pinkish! Her eyes were like black beetles. Her eyelashes looked like small bird’s wings and her nose was sharp and thin. Her small lips were smooth which looked like cherry fruits. Always she used to braid her long, thick and black hair into a single long plait. With her flashing cream-white complexion and expertly sculptured face, she looked dazzlingly beautiful and she was sure to knock down anyone who would lay their eyes on her! All the more, with her tall, slender figure and glowing complexion, she looked stunningly beautiful. God’s perfect creation on earth!

After freshening up, she sat on the bench near the well and started enjoying the morning charm of the environment. She told herself that nothing could beat the morning beauty of the day. Undeniable dimensions of the earth!

She saw a squirrel jumping here and there with a loud screech. She rejoiced on seeing the rustling of the cold breeze through the pinnae of the coconut trees. She felt ecstatic and overjoyed when she saw the blue sky in between the leaves and wondered what a combination of colors was that with bright green and sky blue. Around her, she could hear the chirping of birds, barking of dogs, screeching of squirrels and the voice of vendors in the street. Oh! The world never rests!

She had kept a pot of rose plant near the door and she never forgot to water it daily. She was happy to notice a bud and was agog to know what color it’d blossom into! She started speaking to it when she heard her mother calling her. She went into the kitchen and Alamelu gave her a cup of coffee.

As Alamelu was working in a nearby hotel as a cook, she was in a hurry to report for her duty on time. Soon Alamelu finished her cooking, called Charu and told, Charu. I’ll go to the hotel. It’s already late for my work. I’ve cooked for you. You can eat and take rest. I’ll come back for the lunch. Don’t forget to lock inside. Okay?

After Alamelu had gone, Charu started cleaning the house and the garden too and after gathering all the sere leaves and the rubbish, she put them in the bin and later she took bath. After breakfast, she went out to fetch the news paper from her neighbor who was very old.

What, Grandpa! Any important news today? she asked.

The old man replied, As usual my child! Take this, I read it.

She came back to her house with the paper in hand. When she saw a big advertisement in it of a big construction of a star hotel, she was wondering what it’d look like in reality when finished completely. She was just surprised to see that as she’d seen only small houses around in her vicinity. She thought if at all she got lucky enough to raise the status of their life, how nice would it be! Suddenly she thought about her exam result. She was confident that she’d definitely get more than ninety percent. She told herself, But after that, what do I do? How can I continue my education when whatever my mother earns, is meager for our survival itself? If I’m lucky enough to get the scholarship, fine, then there won’t be problem. I’ll become a doctor one day as I wish. I’ll specialize in brain surgery. I’ll treat poor people for free. I’ll make my mother rich and happy. Oh My God! Please make me a doctor. Please send me a helping hand. Tears started trickling down her cheeks and she was just staring at the sky through the window.

After sometime, she consoled herself that somehow she should be able to get a scholarship, so there wouldn’t be any problem in her higher studies. But her mother had already insisted her not to be idle at home, instead of that, she could go to tailoring classes nearby. She just brushed aside all her agonies and made herself up with a slight makeup. She picked up her only one good dress and wore it. It was a dark blue full skirt in silk with dark blue blouse and she wrapped herself up with a light yellow halfsaree. She then went to see Bala, her tailoring teacher and discussed about her classes.

At that time, how she’d know that Janette was to come to the star hotel for the Architectural work, the advertisement of which Charu just saw in the paper and that Charu would be completely transformed in future because of her? When God has decided to light up the tunnel what could stop it?

W hen Alamelu arrived at the mess where she was working as a cook, the master shouted at her why she was late as usual. Somehow she managed him and went straight to the kitchen. Normally she wouldn’t talk to anyone while cooking. As always her mind was immersed in the afflictions she’d been enduring so far in her life, she hardly talked to others and looked sullen always. When her hands were busy in cooking, her memories started recoiling one by one.

Several years ago, when she got married to Govindan, a cook basically, she started to live with him in a small house in a small village in the outskirts of Sri Rangam in Tamil Nadu and Govindan was working as a cook under the master, Sundaram then, who was a contract caterer for marriages and other functions. What Govindan was earning was merely sufficient for them, it wasn’t plenty though. They’d to subsist on his small income some way or the other.

Only five or six parallel mud roads were there in that small village, which were surrounded by slum huts and a very few concrete houses but all with clay-tiled roofs. Such houses were all similar in structure with a raised porch in front and all such old type village houses were having two bench-like daises on both sides under the porch with two pillars on them to hold the front terrace and the house entrance had been fixed in between the two daises. The entrance door was of a very thick wood which had been carved into intricate designs and also artfully ornamented with brass bells and latches. A niche on both sides of the entrance was adorned always with an Agal lamp, lit during nights. All their houses were covered by red tiles on the top of the terrace. The houses were having an antechamber leading into an open hall called Mutram in the middle of the house surrounded by verandas on all four sides which had very high ceilings and after that a few small and big rooms and a small kitchen, and certainly the bathroom was outside the house and they’d a small place at the back side of the house in which the residents planted some vegetables according to their tastes. There was no facility for lavatory, for that they’d to go to the river or lake nearby. Almost all the houses were similar in structure but only their sizes varied and all were with red tiled roofs, and the floor of the house was of rugged concrete.

As Alamelu and Govindan could not afford to be in such a big house, they’d rented a small portion which was at the backside of a big house and was having an access from the back side of the big house. Very near the road’s edge at the backside of the big house, their entrance door existed and the hall was very small with its window facing the road, and a small kitchen at the far side which had an exit. In rainy seasons it was quite horrible to live there, with water flooding inside the house and the roof also leaking water. It looked like more of a hovel which was quite oppressive for Alamelu. For them leading a life in that house was quite unimaginable, just it’d been a mere shelter or just a haven with no more extra facilities.

In due course, in such a poor milieu, when Govindan was marred by unwanted company of drunkards, he started losing his senses by continuously drinking all through the day and wasn’t regular in his duty. When unbearable the hardship was, Sundaram fired him out of his catering crew one day and Govindan never tried to get another job, but started grabbing whatever Alamelu was earning by working in nearby houses as a servant, and he was just meandering with no bond to his family immersing himself in the local liquor. Finding no other options, she’d started working as a cook in nearby houses, cursing her husband’s indolence, who’d been overly indulged by inertia. She many a time had cursed herself for having been married to such a slowpoke like Govindan. She wondered how the liquor had obliterated his love and affection for her which he showed a little at least when they were newly married.

It was very difficult for Alamelu to cope up with life when she was carrying her baby. Even for the delivery, Govindan didn’t assist her monetarily and mentally too. Somehow Alamelu managed to get a loan from Pankajavalli Sethuraman, a woman known to her, in whose house Alamelu’s mother had been working as a cook until her death. The loan was under a condition that after delivery she should work in the woman’s house, for which Alamelu had hastily agreed.

After the child’s birth, she started working in Pankajavalli’s house and also in some other houses as a cook for their sustenance. She somehow eked out an income by working in two three houses but as Govindan seized her money always and the remainder was very much meager for the family expenses, she was unable to nourish her child with good nutrients and always she’d to live in indigence which slowly made her heart stubborn and she learned to dump all her emotions deep inside her heart for the sake of her child whom she considered as Godsend. She was worried as to how she could continue living in such precarious conditions of life and how they could prolong subsisting haplessly. When Govindan started scrounging money from the village people, she became sturdy and she outrightly resisted giving him money anymore which again made the matters worse between them.

She made all her attempts to change Govindan but all in vain. Without knowing the inimical effects of his bad habits to his good health, he drowned himself in the liquor puddle always. To top her agonies, he even started beating her which made her angry. His nettlesome behavior made her highly disappointed and anguished. He used to come home late at night fully loaded by the local alcohol. The very smell of it made Alamelu repulsive, lose her temper and shout at him. Their nights always ended in quarrel, yelling and beating only. Her landlord who was a niggard warned her to normalize the situation lest she’d be thrown out of her house. Unable to bear the landlord’s ill-fitting words for her unpaid rent for more than six months and also for her inability to change Govindan, Alamelu, when working in the kitchen of Pankajavalli, outpoured her agonies with running tears and told her all her pathetic story.

Pankajavalli was sympathized with Alamelu and told, Don’t bother, Alamelu. In a few days, our outhouse is going to be vacant. You can occupy it if you wish to.

Alamelu got highly elated and bowed before Pankajavalli’s feet and said earnestly, What you’re doing to me is highly immeasurable, ma’am. I shall be ever grateful to you. I shall never forget your help in my life.

Pankajavalli was a kind hearted person who was highly agonized to see the ineffable distress of Alamelu and she tried placating her with soothing and encouraging words. At that time, Alamelu could never know that Pankajavalli would be giving her child a fortune in future!

O f course, Alamelu did have an outlet for all her agonies. That was her daughter Charu who brought all the happiness in her life. She was highly elated when her child prattled in Tamil . For her kid, she was ready to counterbalance any tidal waves.

As promised, Pankajavalli gave her outhouse to Alamelu, which had a hall and a kitchen and the bathroom was outside. Though small, it was very tidy and compact for her family. There was a proper ceiling in concrete, not a metal sheet. She liked it at once. After occupying the house and arranging things neatly, she started living placidly with her kid.

Alamelu was beautiful with her fair complexion and her physique was small, short and skinny. Her beauty was not visible as she was withered and fragile. Her eyes were dark and drawn inside. Even her hair had started graying incredibly at her young age. Her miserable life had made her emaciated but her mind was still stubborn to face the struggles bravely. But she had a very nice hand at her cooking and people were made as slaves for the piquant and dainty taste of the dishes she prepared. It was as if she had a magic wand in her hand which brought an awesome aroma in whatever she prepared. So there was no wonder why everyone got addicted to her foods in the houses where she worked.

As the kid Charu looked very charming and shrewd, she was fondled by everybody in and around their house which somehow gave a vent to Alamelu’s gloom.

One day when Govindan, fully inebriated, came in the late night and started giving quivering sounds and spurted abusive language at Alamelu, it was highly intolerable and disgusting for her and when she was beaten arrogantly by him, with Charu in her hands, the child also suffered the strikes from Govindan and started weeping. In turn, Alamelu started scolding him irefully. Their ruckus resulted in a clamor which awoke the landlords at midnight!

Suddenly the lights were on at the big house and Pankajavalli and her husband Sethuraman came running for Alamelu’s rescue. Sethuraman separated Govindan from Alamelu and ushered him outside the gate and warned not to see him again there, lest he’d be behind the bars. Alamelu was quite embarrassed when her landlords had to come there for her rescue and she got highly inflamed by her husband’s incivility. She was enervative when she cursed her inability to change his incorrigible character.

Pankajavalli appeased Alamelu and the kid with her kind words which somehow eased off her affliction. Sethuraman, though he was a bit annoyed of the outrageous and irksome behavior of Govindan, had a soft corner for Alamelu. He told Alamelu to take care and went inside his house.

Pankajavalli still holding Charu in her arms asked Alamelu, Has the child eaten anything? Alamelu told her that just then she’d been fed and she was about to sleep, but was widely awake because of the ruckus Govindan made. After that Pankajavalli gave some advice to her and went back home. Alamelu, though she felt relieved of Govindan, still had a doubt if he’d come again to hurt her. But fortunately or unfortunately he never turned back after that commotion! Nobody knew where he could have gone. But Alamelu learned to digest the fact that she was going to bring up her kid alone. Though initially she’d thought that she’d fallen into an abyss, but as the days passed, she gained confidence of facing the life in its own stride.

As the days passed, somehow she managed to nurture her kid, but when the child was to be joined in a school, she didn’t have enough money, however frugally she spent her money. Having sensed her problem, Pankajavalli helped Charu join in a reasonable good school nearby and promised Alamelu that she’d take care of all her kid’s education. Alamelu was quite enthralled and also embarrassed by her continued dependence on Pankajavalli.

One day when Alamelu returned from her work with her daughter in her hands, she was shocked to see the main door of the big house wide open. She ran inside and swooned on seeing the dead bodies of Pankajavalli and Sethuraman!

W hen she woke up, she could realize that she was in a hospital bed, with two women at her feet talking to each other about the murders. Suddenly Alamelu screamed, Oh, where’s my daughter?

The women pacified her and told that Charu was safe in their house and Alamelu had to be in bed as she got hurt in her forehead when she fell down and that’d been stitched by the doctor. Only then she felt a pounding pain in her head.

The following days were very crucial for Alamelu as she was constantly queried by the police for the events occurred so far in their house. Though she knew Pankajavalli’s brother Murthy only was creating problems to them so far, she could never believe that he’d go to the extent of killing his own sister and her husband! She told the police whatever she knew about the diseased and also about Murthy. At first, the police couldn’t find any witness as there was no house nearby Pankajavalli’s house. The villagers kept mum owing to the brutality of Murthy. After initial investigations, the police finally found out Murthy could be linked with the murders and started searching for him.

Alamelu couldn’t tolerate the death of her saviors as she kept weeping all along and she felt how she could lead her life catastrophically always. Despite her agonies, she’d been very helpful for the investigators and the police and she felt that she’d to shift her place lest Murthy would try to kill her also.

She got permission from the police to change her residence provided she was available for the query whenever required. She promised to appear before them when needed. She was able to get a small rental house in Sri Rangam, through a cook who recommended her to work in a hotel nearby. As she’d been able to save some money when she was working in Pankajavalli’s house, that money was helpful then for her to get settled at Sri Rangam town.

As she was adept at cooking, getting a job was easy for her. There was a small mess run by Manikandan where Alamelu joined as a cook and the number of people coming there increased day by day to taste Alamelu’s dishes. Manikandan became happy on his increased profits and was pleased with Alamelu’s work. He decided to help her in some respect and when she asked for her daughter’s studies, he immediately consented.

Young Charu felt excited about the new city life and was agog in seeing the things around her. As she was growing, Alamelu had to be more careful and she put all her efforts to cover Charu from the lecherous eyes of the evil men. Charu was very beautiful and was very good at studies too and she used to be the school topper always in spite of the poverty in her house.

When Alamelu thought her life had become somewhat peaceful and steady, her Tuberculosis problem started getting worse which she’d been hiding from her daughter who was in her high school then. When Charu came to know about that, she got alarmed and then scolded her mother why she was risking her life without any proper treatment and rest and what she would do if she’d to lose her mother too. Though Alamelu got treated and started taking medicine, then and there she’d to struggle for her breath and her cough never subsided as she’d to work at the hot coal stove daily. Somehow she was able to educate her daughter till higher secondary and Charu was waiting for her result. Alamelu prayed to God that somehow Charu should get a scholarship for her higher studies.

When Alamelu was totally engrossed in her past memories, she was brought to this world back by a sudden voice of her Boss shouting at someone and as she was just finishing her cooking, she hurried to complete and go home at once.

Manikandan came to her and gave the shocking news that he was going to sell his hotel and going to settle in Kerala by next month, Alamelu started worrying about sustaining her job under the new ‘would be’ Boss. She started to take long strides to go back home hastily. Charu would be waiting for lunch.

W hat Alamelu didn’t know about her landlords was that Pankajavalli’s brother Murthy wanted to grab all their properties, but she thought Murthy was querulous in nature and he was always fighting just like that. Though Pankajavalli and Sethuraman were well-off in their monetary status, they lacked a sense of binding to the earth, as they lost their vigor a few years back when in a worst condition of having no medical remedy, their five year old daughter was eaten up by an insidious and infectious disease which had been widespread those days in that area. Pankajavalli and her husband were unable to surmount the agonies as they’d got their child belated after a married life of some fifteen years, and when they were unable to save the life of their child, they both broke down to pieces.

It was a Herculean task for them to come back to normalcy after the death of their daughter as their lives were surrounded by inanition. For several years, they’d been brooding over their untimely loss and Pankajavalli started developing multiple ailments as a side effect of her agony.

In such a doleful condition, Pankajavalli felt Charu was a boon to them. She wanted to adopt her also, but Alamelu didn’t give way, as she was madly in love with her child. Charu grew up and excelled in her studies and other activities. When she was in her fifth standard, abruptly unforeseen circumstances started haunting Pankajavalli’s house.

Pankajavalli’s younger brother Murthy was a spoilt brat right from his childhood and had a proclivity for becoming a thug. Soon he’d become a ruffian in his young age and attached himself with the local perpetrators. As the days passed, he’d formed a group of such boys, who were roguish and rapacious like him and that group was responsible for most of the pillages and plunders in that village and other areas around it. With that as a background, he grew to a stormy and insolent young chap. He was short and bulky. His skin was dark and he never bothered to comb out his curly and bushy hair. His eyes always looked red and bulging.