Stories / Novel – The Halo Reams      
The Journey
by TA Ramesh

The days rolled on without the notice of Kannan. His mind was filled with the new suspense of the office of The Treasure. He was under the grip of journalism. He would be relieved of the suspense and everything would be revealed to him only when he met the proprietor of The Treasure. The day – the particular Monday had come!

The time was 03.30 hours. He woke up from his bed. He had his shave and brushed his teeth. He opened his leather suit-case, which was containing all his dresses required for an indefinite stay anywhere and placed his tooth brush, razor packet and after shave lotion in the corner gaps. After having a hot bath, he cleaned the soap box and dried it well; then he combed his hair. Whistling a tune he stuffed the leather suit case with the soap box, towel, well sealed hair oil bottle and locked it. Then he took out a brief case from his wardrobe, kept some documents, and checked it. Then he took out the other contents of the brief case and with a satisfied gesture, he locked the ward robe. After wearing his black shoes he went down to the street.

The man, who was going to look after the house was standing there; he said a few words to him, handed over a few letters to him and said “Good Bye!” to him.

As the luxury bus started moving Kannan saw that the time was nearing 05.05 hours. He relaxed himself well and lit a cigarette. Outside the bus the place was still dark. The Sun had yet to come. He slowly visualised what had happened when he was to leave for Bangalore from the Mysore Railway Station a few months back. A flash back of what had taken place at that time appeared on the screen of his mind…

The incidence started in the Mysore Railway Station. The Mysore-Bangalore Passenger Train had not yet come to the Platform No. 1. After taking a cup of hot milk, Kannan stood near a Book-Stall. Various periodicals, magazines, newspapers, novels, etc. were exhibited there. Among them he chose a fortnightly magazine, THE TREASURE. The train came to the first platform at 21.05 hours. He got into the II Class compartment and settled himself by the side of the window.

Opposite to him a middle aged man with a well grown moustache sat by the side of the other window. Kannan was already going through one the articles of THE TREASURE. The middle aged man casually looked at the people in the compartment and curiously observed Kannan while he was silently reading the magazine. Then the man bought a newspaper from the paper selling boy and started going through the current events of the day.

At 22.00 hours, the train started moving from the station as slowly as possible. Kannan closed the magazine and looked at the moving scenes of the stalls, people, the changing railway tracks, the signal post, the goods train standing in the other tracks, the locomotive sheds, the hissing engines, the fly over road bridges and the dark sky with sparkling Stars for a considerable time.

When he was turning over a page, a sheet flew away in the wind to the side of Kannan. The middle aged man received it from Kannan with thanks. Then he offered a cigarette to Kannan and he introduced himself to him that he was the proprietor of THE TREASURE.

“My name is Janakan,” said the proprietor of that magazine. For this Kannan said, “It is a surprising thing to see the proprietor and the magazine at the same time. My name is Ananda Kannan. You may just call me as Kannan.”

“May I know what you are doing Mr. Kannan?”

“Yes, by all means!” said Kannan. “I am one of the partners of General Electrical Equipments Limited. Just two days back I attended one business conference in Bangalore. I came to Mysore with a sales representative of another firm just to see Brindhawan Park. Now I am returning to Bangalore...”

With this introduction, Kannan gave to Mr. Janakan one of his visiting cards and requested him to pay a visit to his office if he gets any opportunity to go over that side.”

Receiving the card, Mr.Janakan said, “So, we are both close neighbours!”

“How?” asked Kannan.

“I am in Madras,” said Mr. Janakan; “the office of THE TREASURE is in the Mount Road near the LIC Building. I also invite you to pay a visit to our office one day and see how our office functions. It will be interesting to you being a business man, because you have to advertise your products in various magazines and papers. Please don’t forget THE TREASURE, If you have an idea of that sort. Our rates are very meagre!”

“Sure,” said Kannan, “I will avail myself of your magazine for advertising our products one day.”

Putting out the fire of the cigarette by his boot, Kannan turned the pages of THE TREASURE. Again the conversation resumed between them.

“Mr. Janakan, in your magazine also I find a page allotted to the Horoscope. Is it really a believable one?”

Janakan smiled and said, “Horoscope is just for fun and encouragement to our readers Mr. Kannan. Our motto is service to humanity. This Horoscope, Reviews of Cinemas, Caricatures, Jokes and Political Articles attract many people. But the Short Stories, Articles on Current Affairs and General Topics and Poems serve the interest of intellectuals, learned and literary readers. Our articles reflect the social malaise, struggle and progress. We have introduced Travelogues, Biographies and Historical Literatures too for developing optimistic and advanced citizens.”

“Yes, that is there. They are the vital things necessary for the development of minds and for healthy out look of the world. Everyone talks about humanity. Actually, what is humanity? This question often crops up in my mind when I see articles preaching about it. What do you say about this Mr. Janakan?”

“My dear Sir, you are asking me a simple but at the same time a vital question. Man is yet to learn to be humane… then only he will be called as a human being. Our job is to preach what is civilisation, culture, etc. to make people feel that life is not much hard. Out of necessity man has become hard and even heartless at times. He has to learn that he cannot live by food alone. His heart and mind require suitable food so that he would feel free and try to share his materials with others – love others by that way, move like a man with other men. By being so he would become a human being rather than a social animal always. To put it plain humanity is mankind endowed with kindness, love, sentiments, concern for others and so on. Our duty is to put it more precisely than before to remind the people of these noble habits people have to cultivate in them.”

“Your interpretation about humanity in general is thought provoking, Mr. Janakan. Now that the War between India and Pakistan – both East and West is over, a new nation called Bangladesh is born. India has waged this war on humanitarian ground. But the world is not at all aware of the humanitarian implications behind this war – a moral war so to say. What explanation do you give for the issue, Sir?”

“Our involvement in this war was an integration of morality, humanity and politics. The other party in this war was not bothered in the least about morality and humanity. They were concerned with politics alone. And most of the countries in the world were also so. That was why our efforts were bitterly criticised by the Western countries. They understand our intentions, no doubt, after every country in the world understands!

Russia supported us. It was a different matter. This does not mean that morality or humanity is in Russia. That was also a political manipulation. In view of such intentions, expectations of all countries, we can have the satisfaction that India is the only country which believes in humanity rather than any other orthodoxies of Religion or any political ideologies like communism or capitalism. We are quite clearly out of these spheres of influence.

We are lovers of international peace, non-alignment and non-aggression. These noble ideas take a long-time to get into the heads of other nations. Yet there are exceptions. Their voices are not heard in the bombarding noises of Big Powers! Our intention is great, our pursuit is noble and we have to pursue according to our policies. That is the thing I can say for the present.”

“This means unless one loves one’s neighbours and cooperates with them in good deeds man cannot become a human being but only a social animal. Even though we love others unless there is reciprocation from them, peaceful co-existence is not fully possible. Please recollect what the Chinese did when our country extended her hand of friendship to them. So, what is required first is understanding before anything else. Therefore unless we understand the nature and tendencies of our neighbours we cannot make a positive move or do anything constructive towards the development of humanity as a whole.”

“As far as you know, by what means mutual understanding can be developed would you explain, Mr. Kannan?”

“Yes Mr. Janakan, it is a simple one. By way of communication, trade and cultural activities understanding between nations or men could be improved.”

“In this respect both business people and we are sailing in the same boat. This really gives pleasure for us to do our activities with much more interest than in anything else. I really feel proud to say so! I am happy to say so to you Mr. Kannan!”

“Mr. Janakan, when we are seriously going ahead in our tedious professions, our interests happen to get dissipated, you see. This sort of conversation in train or in any get together stimulates our intention. That is what I feel and I fully agree with you, Sir.”

There was a satisfied smile in both of their faces. The passenger train stopped in a sub-station, because a goods train was slowly approaching it in the same track. The Railway Station was dull with dim lamps burning here and there. A steam engine was letting out the steam from the barrel. There was rustling of tree leaves. Darkness was found everywhere outside the station. The time was 12.40 or so.

The proprietor of THE TREASURE looked by the window. He made his way to the toilet. After a few minutes he returned to his seat. He was sitting silent for a while. Then he approached the door and saw whether it was securely locked or not. With a satisfied look he returned and sat in his place.

Kannan resumed the conversation.

“What Sir! You have not said anything about your visit to Mysore or what is your purpose of going to Bangalore again?”

“Yes Mr. Kannan, I have to say regarding it too. We are trying to establish a branch office either in Mysore or Bangalore. We have good sales of our magazine in this State next to Tamil Nadu State. Both Mysore and Bangalore are suitable places for having our office. I would like to meet the known journalists of the leading Newspapers and then the Agents who do sales for our magazine. After this consultation, I shall decide either one of the places for our Branch Office. I may stay in Bangalore for two or three days. If you would be staying in Bangalore for a few days it would be a good company for me.”

“I don’t have time Mr. Janakan. Most probably I shall be leaving Bangalore tomorrow evening itself. Thank you very much for your courtesy call.”

The goods train slowly reached the Station. The Mysore-Bangalore Passenger Train got the green signal and started moving away from the sub-station. Both Kannan and Janakan prepared for their beds and started sleeping in their berths. The head light of the train was bright, the night was pitch dark and the train then was moving swiftly with high speed……………!

The time was 6.15 a.m. The luxury-bus left Tindivanam without a stop. The clouds in the Sky were clearing away and the Sun beams were falling on the side windows of the bus. Kannan unfolded from the cover a Sun glass and wore it over his eyes to over come the direct Sun beams falling on them. The road was broad and the bus was running with high speed.

At 7.15 a.m. the bus reached Mamondur. There Kannan also took his break fast in a hotel along with the other passengers. He bought THE INDIAN EXPRESS outside a stall there. He settles himself in his seat in the bus and started reading the paper. The bus after a twenty minute halt moved from that place and headed towards Madras.

Just at 8.30 a.m. the luxury bus entered the Mount Road of Madras city. The bus stopped before Safire Theatre. OPERATION DAY BREAK was the movie running in that cinema theatre. A brief note about the picture was written on one of the banners outside the theatre read as – Assassination of a German Chief by two young British Soldiers – And what they did when they were surrounded by the German Soldiers – A Great Decision they took – See to overcome Suspense!

“I shall see what is that operation in that Day Break,” said Kannan to himself.

Next stop of the bus was opposite to the LIC Building. He got down from the bus seeing that tall building there. Kannan entered the office of THE TREASURE. He approached the receptionist and showed his card to her.

“May I know whom you want to see and the nature of the visit?’ enquired the beautiful receptionist lady in her sweet voice.

“I want to see Mr. Janakan. Just a courtesy call!”

The receptionist lady picked up her inter-com phone and said, “Sir, Mr. Kannan wants to meet you…. Yes, Sir!”

She replaced the phone receiver on the dial. She got up from her chair.

“Mr. Kannan, he is ready to meet you. If you don’t mind, I shall take you to his office room.”

The room door of the Proprietor of THE TREASURE was opened. Kannan entered it alone.

“Hello Kannan! How are you?” greeted warmly Janakan.

“Hello Sir! I am okay and I presume you are also so.”

“It gives me great pleasure to see you again. Please have your chair.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Well Mr. Kannan, last year only we were able to open a Branch Office in Bangalore. I hope if you are given the appointment of a staff writer in our Bangalore Office, you will resume the work with us.”

“I am glad to hear this news from you, Sir. I like to join your profession there itself with great pleasure.”

“We want a gentleman of your nature and that too a person who has got experience in business line! Your duty there is to write articles as you write letters to your friends and to increase readers and buyers of our magazine in the Karnataka State.”

“I shall do the best I can, sir, with your cooperation and encouragement.”

“Yes! This job is a promising one and it is up to you to develop it to the best you can. Coming from a wealthy family and a person having good reputation in business I trust you will do the best with that spirit.”

“I like to keep my mind free by doing the best work I can in this interesting and noble profession.”

“Okay! You have all the facilities there. We just wanted an able person to occupy it and run it to bring good reputation for THE TREASURE. It is you who has to tackle using your skill to the best you can.”

“One thing I want myself to be clarified, Sir. Why have you selected me for this responsible job though there are a lot of qualified and suitable journalists in our country?”

“One thing I want to tell you, Mr. Kannan. That is, I am a person who has a good deal of knowledge and experience in behavioural science. Though you are born in a wealthy family you have good behaviour, sincere talk, reasonably spirited expression and punctuality. These are all not an ordinary qualifications, which others generally ignore. Not only this, you are a business man and you know how to deal the matters with others. There is a special style in your approach to the matters I observed when we stayed for a few hours in Bangalore. From that day onwards I have been searching persons of your type. When you yourself wanted to join our profession, there is nothing for me to hesitate and so, I have chosen you; clear?”

“Perfectly clear.”

“So Mr.Kannan, I like to introduce you to my readers through your articles in the next issue onwards. Please write me an article or anything which gave you a firm idea you have to stick to in life or something emotionally touching to the heart.”

“Okay, I shall write a poem that has touched the heart of my friends. It was a best piece I had prepared in my formative period. Being the first article of mine let me introduce myself through this poem to your readers.”

“Please take your own time Mr. Kannan, sit comfortably anywhere in my office and finish writing what you have in your mind or develop what you have already written and give it to me. Then we shall have lunch together and let us think about the programme you have to follow for THE THREASURE in Bangalore in the evening. Please carry on with your work.”

Saying so the proprietor started reading the papers he was holding in his hand.

Kannan found a comfortable table near the window of that room. Pushed a chair near it and sat down with paper and a ball pen. With the ball pen near his chin he was sitting silent for a few minutes. The ball pen touched the virgin paper and a poem was born!

THAT MIDNIGHT STAR!

It is a lonesome lovely night;
I spend with what an awful might!
A wholesome lonely fight I do,
When my position has almost become so.
In this troublesome loosely gait I grunt,
When I happen to recollect my tragic past!

A Star appears in the midnight Sky!
And twinkles with red, white and blue light!
It stands on so in the same place
Till the red dawn appears in the East.

That midnight Star gives light to my face;
Its pleasant coloured rays come to change my mood,
When I am lonesome in my glass abode;
But that Star is also lonesome in the Western Sky!

Its brightness cheers me up,
When I lie on my bed.
It’s the time I try to forget the world;
I seek for a temporary sleep;
I try to keep up my spirit.

Indeed it reminds me of wonderful dreams!
My heart swings with new gaiety!
I feel I can fight out the mighty to the ground!
It seems I can breathe a free air!
I have suffered, after all, for a temporary sour.

That midnight Star stays alive still in my inner realm too!
My anxieties fly away to the winds!
I see brightness in the darkness within me!
I am recovered by a tinge of joy from nowhere!
I can strike off all of my baseless fears!
I know it is all happening by the spell of that Star!

Its stay there will give me great pleasure in all my dreams.
I am sure miracles will happen tomorrow also!
It is not just the effect of the ensuing slumber.
It is a prophecy that is going to happen!

Though the Cosmos engulfs all galaxies within itself
That Star stands alone representing all in a single entity.
Its silent light shines with paramount beauty!
Indeed that midnight Star is a great wonder of God!

– Continued

October 14, 2007

The Halo Dreams : A Novel 
Writing a Novel | The Park | Philosophy | The Confusion | The Conversation
The Appointment | The Journey | The First Publication | The Change
The Secret | The Painted Veil | The Halo Magazine | The Debts | The Break
A Letter | A Surprise Letter | The Literary Muse | The Souvenir | The Questionnaire
The Reconciliation | The Lake | The Final Meets | The Surprise | The Settlements
The Result 

Top | Stories