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Stories / Novel – The Halo Reams
The Reconciliation
by TA Ramesh
If the public
holidays were many, thought Kannan, it would be better for him to devote
willingly his mental energy to work of art he enjoyed most. He felt
happy that such an opportunity was waiting for him within his reach.
Since the Saturday happened to be a public holiday, he was very much
pleased to utilize it along with Sunday also for indulging himself in
his favorite art. To start with, he went through the reviews on various
books in the weekly newspaper. He felt he should have a second thought
on his idea of writing the history of the Halo friendship. He came to
the conclusion that it would be better to express the matters he had
conceived earlier in his mind. But he could not willingly let die the
experiences he had gained whether they were useful or wasteful,
reputable or disreputable and good or bad in the brief period of his
Halo friendship with his Haloens.
He thought and thought as to how he had to give shape to his
imperishable reminiscences, heart felt experiences and indelible
episodes. He felt justified that all those stuffs could be expressed in
the form of a novel totally with the aid of his imaginary power alone.
With that final resolution in his mind he went to his study room to
collect whatever materials he could to prepare the first manuscript of
the novel he wished to put into the print. He searched in the nook and
corner of his table drawers and from top to bottom of his bureau for the
Halo magazines of the past and the manuscripts of his old writings. What
he got was only a few old manuscripts of the editorials he wrote for The
Halo, articles and poems and two Halo Reports without the date, month
and year indicated on them. So from his memory he started trying to
arrange them in a chronological order.
At that time he heard the foot steps of some one coming to his room. He
placed all the papers on the table with a weight on them. He wondered
who it could be. Immediately a familiar sketch of a personality came to
his mind’s eye with in a second. The personality contained the
descriptions such as a naturally combed hair, close-set eyes, a long
flat cut nose, fleshless cheeks, long face, lean body due to improper
nutrition and a little bit above 5.5 feet high in stature; morally
sincere in approach, kind and mild in talk, scholarly understanding of
things and expressing views under the light of Tamil culture. A
congenial person to all! Yes, that was Balu, who was standing near the
entrance door.
“Hello Balu! Please come in. Have a chair. How are you?”
Sitting on the sofa near Kannan, Balu said, “Fine; is not my visit
surprising to you? I am very happy to see you. How are you?”
Kannan felt happy too. He said, “Your visit here is not surprising to me
because I came to know from Gopal that you would be coming here in this
week. I am as usual well.”
“Is there any new news?”
“As far as my business is concerned I am relieved off from all debts
left out in pending by my late father. At home myself, my father-in-law
and mother-in-law are doling well. This news you may be aware of. But
personally I have nothing new to say to you. Intellectually, there is
quite a lot I have to improve. Merely reading books won’t do good. Many
things I know and have experienced I have to analyse in discussion with
friends like you to ascertain the truth in them. Such truths would
really be useful to me and others. But I am helpless like a scientist
entangled with his own inventions or creations. What shall I do with the
Frankenstein monster like friends, Balu? That is the new problem with
me.”
“I know who those Frankenstein monsters are. You write what you feel and
publish it. That is the way you can develop yourself.”
“In the leisure time that is what I am doing so to say. You are in New
Delhi. How are you passing the days without a friend by your side?”
“I don’t have a single person to consider as a friend there. It is quite
dry there. Your letters are quite thought provoking and encouraging me
to pull on the days. From your letter only I come to know about our
friends. Gopal is now and then writing to me. Selvam very rarely writes
to me. But there is no word from Vaithianathan. This is how the days are
going on for me.”
“Then, why have you gone to Delhi, man?”
“I felt I had been neglected by all at home. I wanted to get rid of all
the confusions, contradictions, jealousies, partialities, etc. of my
relatives so that I could develop myself. I had a lot of worries due to
those facts. I had consolation, comfort and encouragement in the circle
of my friends. I had the ambition that I would be nonattached and
detached in life…… and I liked to take nothing from others. That was why
I left for Delhi.
I feel proud that I am in the Capital of our country. I earn the salary
that guarantees the security of my life. I had the opportunity to join
an institute for getting sound coaching to pass in the IAS Exams. I was
able to concentrate on my studies without any attachment to anyone and
worries. Yet I have not become an IAS officer because I was not able to
fair the exams perfectly well. I have one more chance to write the IAS
Exams as I have the age in the coming November. In the meantime, I have
come here especially to see you and have a nice time in the circle of my
friends for one or two days.”
“O, I see! Preparing yourself for the IAS Exams is most important. If
you have finished your preparation works well before the time to write
the exams to the best of your satisfaction, you need not bother about
the exams in the last minute. So, first and foremost I wish you every
success in your preparation work. Then, further what’s there?”
“Now I have to pass in the proper IAS. If I become the IAS officer, I
can settle myself in the place I like. Once I am settled in one good
place, I can have the necessary surrounding, people and friends. Once I
am settled in life, I can explore many things in our religion and can
understand the Ultimate Reality. That is the goal of my life.”
“Your thoughts are clear. Your plan is also clear. Make use of your time
to the best you can without bothering about anyone in this world; you
shall achieve a good position and shine well in life, my friend.”
“Thank you very much. Now what are you writing, any poems and essays? I
am very eager to see that you should come up in this line.”
“Never mind. Though slowly yet steadily I am going on in my own way to
achieve that ambition of mine. Writing is quite a time consuming work.
It requires a lot of patience, painstaking efforts to overcome
stagnation and leisure time to think as freely as I can. Very recently I
thought of writing a short history of our Halo friendship, actually a
souvenir especially for your remembrance of our past good times and for
your encouragement to overcome your loneliness or home sickness if you
have any wherever you work in our country or abroad. After a second
thought I have decided to write a novel using our own experiences so
that when it is published it could be shared by a large number of
readers though in my heart of heart I write this especially for you. I
hope you will cooperate with me in this venture.”
“I am very much interested to see that the first novel of yours gets
into print at the earliest. I shall do my best to cooperate with you in
this work of art. I am really very happy that you have not drifted away
from your good ambition. I wish you full success in your venture.”
“Thank you very much, Balu. Okay, what do you like to have – a hot
coffee or a cool drink?”
“I like to have a few glasses of ice water and nothing else.”
“Okay, as you wish! But please don’t be nonattached when you are here!”
It was a great joke for both of them. They laughed to their hearts’
content after a long time. There was real joy in it. Kannan left the
room to fetch ice water for Balu. In the meantime, Balu started looking
at the contents of the manuscripts on the table. After a few minutes
Kannan brought there a bottle of ice water and two empty glass tumblers.
He opened the bottle and poured water in the glasses. Balu drank three
glasses of ice water and let a sigh of relief.
“What’s all these, Kannan? What have you been doing with these papers?”
“They are all the old manuscripts of the articles, poems and editorials
I wrote for the Halo magazines. I am going to use them for the novel I
am going to write on the Halo friendship. By the by, I have a
questionnaire to be answered by you, my dear. You may write the answers
for the questions on a piece of paper when you are free and hand it over
to me at the earliest. I can make use of your points too for this
novel.”
“Then please give that questionnaire to me. I shall do the best I can.”
“Here is the questionnaire,” said Kannan handing it over to Balu.
Balu went through the questions very keenly for a few minutes and kept
the paper in his shirt pocket with a smile on his face.
“Have you met our friends before you have come here today, Balu?”
“I tried to meet each one in the house. But I found Gopal only at home.
Anyway I have informed in their houses that we shall meet in the park
today morning between 10 to 12 hours. So, I think we two can go and meet
them in the park now as the time is almost 9.45 a.m.”
“What did Gopal say to you yesterday, Balu?”
“He told me about everything going on here. He told me about your idea
of writing the history, which you have decided to write as a novel.
Okay, we shall meet our fellows first and then talk about other matters
there. Come on, let us make a move.”
“Yes, as you please. We shall now make a move!”
Kannan quickly changed his dresses, closed the door of the room and
started a brisk walk with Balu. First they made a move to the park. None
of the Haloens was found in the park. They sat on the grass at an angle
facing the Lions Club building and the Ashram Mess. The shades of the
trees behind them gave protection against the hot Sun. The four feet
high fence on either side of the path concealed them from the view of
the outsiders. People were seen going to and fro on the path between the
fences across the place they were sitting on the grass. For a
considerable time, the faces of the Haloens did not appear on the path.
They waited for them with their eyes on the path.
Somehow one hour had gone by. Then there appeared a figure on the path.
He had curly hair, broad forehead, thin but fully grown brows, cool
black eyes, hook like nose, high cheek bone, chin rim closely set with
the mouth, more or less round face, above 5.5 feet in height. No doubt
that was only Gopal. He was scientific in approach to matters, kind in
enquiry whether the matter is trivial or terrible, casual in narrating
incidences but deep in thought on all matters. In short, he was a man of
information and a friend to all!
The moment he saw Kannan and Balu sitting on the grass under the shade
of the King trees, he raised his hand in a most cheerful salutation to
them. Within a second he cut across the path, reached them and shook
hands individually.
“Bon jour, Monsieur Balu!”
“Bon jour! Where are they?”
“They are coming at a slow speed. Bon jour, Monsieur Kannan!”
“Bon jour, Monsieur Gopal! Comment allez vous?”
“Fine! And what about you?”
“Tres bien! Merci Monsieur,” said Kannan and gestured at Gopal to sit by
his side.
Gopal also made himself convenient by sitting near to him.
“Why have you taken so much time to come over here, man?” asked Balu.
“When will those punctual and dutiful guys come here?”
“Please wait, Balu,” said Gopal. “If you are so harsh they may turn away
and fly away to their houses. They are already feeling much about
themselves. Why do you also prick them with your special pins? They will
learn and become all right in the days to come.”
“You give guarantee for them?” said Kannan.
“You should not have said “Get Out” to them, Kannan. You know pretty
well what their standard is; whatever be the thing you should have
mildly admonished them rather.”
‘I had been very much considerate to them for a longtime, man. I would
not go on adjusting myself to their tunes. Already we had wasted a lot
of time. So, when the time came I gave a shock treatment to them. If
they have realized by it, it will be well and good to everyone. I did
not mean otherwise like the small kids do. If the hen presses her chicks
within her, it does not mean that she is harming them; rather she is
protecting them from outside enemies. As an elderly friend I had
actually did so on that day.”
When Kannan finished his argument, Gopal pressed his hands with a slight
smile. Then he said, “Please don’t take such a harsh measure on them in
the future.”
“Don’t worry, Monsieur, I shall take care of myself whenever I have to
deal with them here afterwards. I shall restrain myself to the extent I
can whenever I have to move with them.”
“That is it,” said Gopal.
There was pause for a moment and they three looked at the path for the
arrival of their friends. Then came at a distance on the path two
figures like two kids as if coming out of an hide out after the hide and
seek game was over! The first figure had a well oiled and combed short
cut hair, small forehead, protruding nose, narrow face with a mouth
exhibiting front teeth. He was active like a naughty boy, bound to talk
more than he could using oratorical words when allowed, bound to laugh
innocently to trivial matters and capable of dissecting dry matters to
the utter boredom of the listeners. He was just 5.3 feet in height. In
short he was a short man producing humour to the occasion. That was
Selvam.
The second figure had thin and curly hair, one piece forehead, thick
brows, all round gazing eyes, square face, short nose, broad chest, lean
body, long legs. He was just 5.6 feet tall. He behaved in a preplanned
way, was artificially mannered, talked with memorized words and was
hungry for news. In short, he was a man of no news and that was
Vaithianathan.
When Selvam reached them first he shook hands with Kannan and Balu
respectively and sat in between them. Then Vaithianathan shook hands
with Balu first and gave his hand back ways to Kannan who shook his hand
with his in the back ways with a cool smile on his face. There was
silence for sometime. Then it was Vaithianathan who after sitting on the
left hand side of Balu started to recite from his memory what he had
prepared before hand.
“Yes, it gives me great pleasure to see that we have got together at
last after a longtime because of the arrival of Balu from Delhi. Let us
say to each other the information about what we did in the meantime
between the last meet and this meet as for as our professions are
concerned. To start with let me say about myself in a nut shell.
First, I joined as an inspector of Tax Office in Coimbatore. I had a
terrible time with my seniors. I could not find time to think about my
personal matters or friends. After a long period of suffering I have
come to Cuddalore on transfer. This place is quite contrary to that
place. Even though Cuddalore is very near to this place I am staying
there itself along with other colleagues of my office in order to create
good impressions to my seniors. If I get a chance I shall transfer
myself from that place to this town itself. Till then friends have to
bear with me.
Once I come here there cannot be a person happier than myself. Then I
shall be often meeting our Halo friends, discuss upon all the matters in
the world about the custom, manners, ambition, character, arts,
philosophy, religion, God and so on. Then I shall write pages and pages
about my heart to the astonishment of everyone especially to Kannan, who
will be the critic to judge our matters and lead us to the constructive
path in life. I feel that day is not far away and forgive me if I go in
the wrong direction till then. Yes, now, Balu you can say about your
matter to us. And we are very eager to hear your views.”
“I have been continuously writing to all of you. So, I need not once
again say about that here. Except you, all the other friends were
responding to my letters. Kannan was the only friend who responded well
to all the letters. In fact I was late to drop him replies. Next comes
Gopal. Afterwards I can say Selvam. But I cannot say you are next to
Selvam even.
Now I come to know that Kannan is going to write a history on our Halo
friendship. He is collecting points for it. He has given me a copy of
the questionnaire to answer. If you and Selvam also write your answers
to this questionnaire, he can complete this history at the earliest. I
hope you will respond to this wish at least without any excuse.”
Kannan took out two copies of the questionnaire from his shirt pocket
and handed them to Balu. Balu gave one copy to Vaithianathan and another
one to Selvam and asked Kannan for another copy to be given to Gopal.
“I have got the answers for the questionnaire from Gopal long ago. So, I
need not give a copy of the Questionnaire to him. It will be very kind
of you, if you three answer them well and your earliest response to this
matter will be of much help and use to me.”
It was surprising news for Vaithianathan, Selvam and Balu to hear from
Kannan. Gopal trimmed his moustache a little and looked at them with a
beaming smile, which made Vaithianathan to think deeply and keep quiet
going through the questionnaire. Then Balu resumed his talk with them.
“It is not at all a great problem for me. I shall submit my answers to
Kannan before I leave for Delhi. In the same way, I think Vaithianathan
and Selvam can submit their answers to him at the earliest. Then coming
to my matter I can say to you that I have one last chance left to write
the IAS Exam. The proper IAS Exams are going to start in the month of
November. This sojourn of mine here is just to get encouragement from
you.
I have got a lot of portions to complete. I have three more months no
sooner I go to Delhi. My father has started talking about my marriage
matter; I have told him that after November only I shall talk about it.
So, now I would like to get back my old spirit by having a good time
spent with you. Just two days only I stay here. After that I shall go to
Madras, stay there for one day. Then I shall catch the train and go to
Delhi.”
“That‘s it, Balu,” said Kannan. “If I get the answer for the
questionnaire from three of you sooner, it would be better for me to
start my cherished dream and complete it within a few months. Okay, Balu,
do you have any of The Halo issues of the past with you?”
“I have two last issues of The Halo with me in Delhi. Other issues would
be with Vaithianathan, Selvam and Gopal, I think.”
“I have the August issue only with me,” said Gopal.
“I have to see whether The Halo issues are with me or with Vaithianathan,”
said Selvam. “I shall find out at home what the available issues with me
are.”
“I think I have returned all the issues either to Balu or to Selvam.
Anyway let me also search for them in my house. If I get any issues, I
shall return them to Kannan so that he can make use of it to the best of
his ability and write a beautiful history of the Halo friendship.”
With that talk Vaithianathan turned to Selvam and had a secret
consultation with him for a few seconds.
“I shall be highly thankful to all of you, if the response to the
questionnaire is sincere,” said Kannan to everyone. “Anyway that is very
fine of you. So, what is the program you have, Balu till you depart us?
Shall we pay a visit to the lake?”
“It is a good idea, Kannan. Why can’t we all go to the lake and have a
joyful time together tomorrow? What, Gopal, Selvam? How about this
program tomorrow, men?”
“A fine program,” supported Vaithianathan.
“Okay, I like this program,” said Selvam.
“With pleasure I am ready to accompany you anywhere,” said Gopal in
support of the program.
“Agreed and as you all please,” finally finished Kannan.
The heat of the day was too much for them. They looked at the coconut
juice stall on the Southern end of the park. The time was approaching
noon. Kannan got up from the grass and invited everyone to accompany him
to that stall. They all followed him. He ordered for the coconut juice
to the man in charge of the stall. Everyone drank the tasty and cool
coconut juice to quench their thirst. Kannan paid the bill to the bearer
for the supply of juice to his friends.
Then they all made their way to Kannan’s house. They drank ice cold
water there. They got immunized to the head breaking Sun’s heat. They
took rest under the fan for sometime.
“Okay friends, at what time shall we start our trip to the lake
tomorrow?” asked Kannan.
They put their head together upon this point for sometime.
Then Balu said, “It would be better we start earlier from the town so
that we can reach the spot we prefer near the lake before it becomes too
hot. Say, we can start from here at 9 o’clock sharp! That will be
better, what do you say?”
They all agreed. Then they all took leave of Kannan. Once they left the
house, Kannan closed the door of the house from inside and went to his
room with a pleasant mood. He wrote something in his diary for sometime.
Then he had his lunch and a nap in his room. Indeed, it was a day he
could not forget!
–
Continued
February 3,
2008
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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Stories
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