Stories / Novel – The Halo Reams      
The Painted Veil
by TA Ramesh

The showrooms, the cloth shops, the footwear marts and the Big Market Complex shops were closed at that hour. One or two grocery shops and fruit stalls only were kept open. The heavy rush of men and vehicles used to be there near the Eastern gate of the Big Market. But in that hour that area too remained quite vacant and desolate! So, it was very free for Balu, Selvam, Vaithianathan and Gopal to walk by that way.

They went straight to the beach after they made up their mind to do so at the last minute. Near the play ground they sat on a cement bench. Balu and Gopal were looking at the calm beauty of the sea; but Selvam and Vaithianathan allowed their eyes to measure the dimensions of the weaker vessels passing that way!

“Little chiselled statue moving with an exquisite grace,” described Vaithianathan!

“No, it is an unpainted moving picture,” described Selvam!

“No, what I say is appropriate,” attached Vaithianathan.

“Whatever be your view, what I say is apt,” finalised Selvam the matter with a thump on the cement bench by his clenched fist!

“What the hell are you doing men?” questioned Gopal to both of them by looking at the fair sexes going at a distance.

“You yourself tell me, Gopal,” started Vaithianathan. “Look at the sight going under the third mercury lamp. Is it not right on my part to describe them as statues not chiselled out! But Selvam says that it is an unpainted moving picture!”

“Come to your senses men,” snapped Gopal. “They are neither statues chiselled by anyone nor pictures painted by an artist… they are simply painted veils!”

‘See Balu!” said Vaithianathan, “When we are describing the beauty we saw just now in our special language, Gopal is putting a puzzle and smashing us on our face. Do you know what is that painted veil?”

“What is the matter, Gopal?” asked Balu turning to him.

“That is the name of the novel by Somerset Maugham,” said Gopal I read recently in the Bharath Library. It is the story of a street girl. I hope you understand now.”

Balu simply laughed and kept quiet.

“Our friends are having experience in this Line also, I think,” said Gopal critically.

Then Vaithianathan said, “Gopal, you don’t know anything about this like Kannan. What is life, man if you don’t know anything about this? This is life, I say.”

“Vaithianathan, life is not this only,” said Balu. “Without work and wealth, there is no life for any person. In that circumstance, will you allow this alone as life?”

That was a critical observation of Balu. In support of that Selvam said, “What Balu says is quite correct. When we are not able to stand on our own legs, we should not even dream of this matter.”

“You can dream,” said Gopal in that place, “but not indulge and spoil your health and waste your hard earned money. That is the point!”

“I am not saying this seriously, men,” said Vaithianathan. ”It is after all a joke!”

That was an adjustment of Vaithianathan so that he could escape from further tirades. But what had happened?

“As far as I have seen,” said Gopal looking at Balu, “both this Vaithianathan and Selvam are never opening their mouths on sex matter when Kannan is present with us. Once he leaves us, immediately these fellows’ attention is diverted to these fair sexes!”

For this view Selvam spoke out his opinion. “In Kannan’s presence we are immersed in serious matters. He never loses the grip to leave anyone to touch upon other matters other than the matter he knows best. It is a great relief for me when I take leave of him.”

“Well said, Selvam!” said Vaithianathan in support of him, “What he says is quite true. That is why, to help others also to come to this world, I am trying to divert the attention of the Haloeans towards sex matter. We are young men and at this age only we can dream about this matter. Only old people will be discussing about the world matters or philosophy to spend the rest of their life. Our discussions are like old people’s talk. We should not lose the prime of our youth in this way and suffer for it later on, you see!”

Balu came forward to deflect this talk. He seriously said, “Don’t always talk like this and pull on the time. Do you think Kannan doesn’t know anything about sex? He is a well to do person. He is interested in the high order of life. He could very well move with persons of wealth. In stead of doing that he is moving with middle class type like us. This shows his concern for our type of people. In stead of dragging us into the quagmire of sex, he is taking us to the world of intellect, humanity and humour. That shows he is a lover of peace, joy and high thoughts.”

Vaithianathan could not keep quiet and he said what he had in his mind then. “Balu you don’t understand him. Kannan is a wealthy person. Due to his family position he has become reserved. At difficult times we can rely on him. But it is not the case with us there. We are really sailing on the same boat. We know what our difficulties are. So, we can adjust ourselves accordingly. But he can’t do so because of his social position.”

In reply, about his critical opinion Balu said, “Vaithianathan, as far as I have observed he is not having the least ill will on us. If he is having a mentality as you are depicting picture about him, he would not be moving with us in this fashion leaving his social position. Difficulties are common to everyone. We cannot call a person as a good for nothing fellow, if he cannot help one in difficulty. There is limit for everyone. When a person is moving with us on good terms, he should not be rejected on a false ground. If we do so, we are not cultured. That is all I can say.”

Gopal came forward to put an end to this set back between them. He said, “Now, what has happened, men? We are actually using time for a better thought in Kannan’s company. In fact we have to learn quite a lot of things in this world. Think that we are having another sort of experience in life with Kannan.”

Selvam also came forward to give his opinion in that matter. Basing his understanding he said, “Kannan is an innocent fellow. He is having knowledge. He will learn many things from real experience. In that way he will be of great help to us. We will have to develop ourselves much to coup with his standard. If we try, we can also become like him”

In conclusion, Vaithianathan said, “Because of Balu, I am coming for the Halo meetings. I have Selvam with me. I can go ahead. Gopal can mange himself. Balu will be left alone. I don’t want him to meet with this difficulty because of us. As long as Balu wishes, I shall move with Kannan and support this Halo friendship.”

This hurts the pride of Balu. He said, “I don’t want to be a burden to others. I want to come up in life. You are all having this kind of aim too. If we all collectively discuss about the means of development basing on our knowledge, everyone can plan well, take sincere efforts and fulfill our goals. To be frank with you all, I have to say that I am happier when I am in your company than with my relatives. That is one of the reasons for my movement with you. In your own way each one of you is friendly with me. I think everyone will take these meets in the right perspective and go ahead united like gentlemen.”

With that note that day’s special meet came to an end. Then each one left for his own destination.

– Continued

November 11, 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 

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