Uma and her life

Uma lives with me now. But who is she to me ? I can’t answer that in a word. But I can only say, she is not nobody to me. But who is she ? Yes, I can tell you, she is the daughter of Vasu.

Vasu, my classmate and friend, was so close and dear to me during those school days. He was our neighbor too. Our friendship was frozen when I left my village on getting a job. Later, we had only occasional contacts. Thick friendship became very thin. However, our strong bond of friendship took a rebirth in January, last year.

Vasu’s family was well connected with my family. That’s how we developed our intimacy. In the school, we were on the same bench. I was a bit better in my studies, and Vasu was only just an average student. After schooling, Vasu’s family moved on to another place in central Travancore. This place is very famous for its Shiva temple. Vasu’s family settled somewhere near to this Maha Siva Kshetram. I had never been to Vasu since then. However, I used to get some occasional news about his whereabouts.

Vasu was working as a helper in a small nearby temple. Later, he married the daughter of the temple priest ( Namboothiri). I was aware that this marriage made a lot of communal issues, then. It was the case of a Brahmin girl eloping with a Nair boy. However, over time (years), the clouds rained and all got clear.
Vasu, (he later told me) had to struggle for his family. It was too difficult for him to manage both ends meet, with what he was earning from his helper job in the temple. Vasus were blessed with two smart children (a girl and a boy). Vasu’s wife ( Ushadevi Antharjanam) was a total housewife. Later, in 1992, she died of some serious illness. Their daughter, Umadevi, was only 14, and son Prasad was 8, at that time. Vasu had a hell of a problem managing his family and bringing them up. Years passed, and Vasu could somehow manage his children’s education. Umadevi completed her BA degree course. During this time, Vasu made a blunder (as he himself put it).. he remarried. He married a lady from the same locality. She was from a well to do Nair family. Vasu left the helper job, and started a provision shop (with the finacial help of his new wife). He started picking up financially. However, the new lady was a mismatch with his children. His home was an oven of internal fight and unrest between the children and their Kunjamma.
Inspite of many efforts and attempts to get a job for Uma, Vasu could not succeed. Neither he could find a groom for his daughter. Uma and Kunjamma kept on fighting, killing out the family rhythm. For Uma, her kunjamma was only an “achy”, and for kunjamma, Uma was an “Antharjanam”. Communal clash right in Vasu’s family ! In 2003, Vasu became father of another girl. The oven was hot, with frequent sparks and fire.

During 2007 January, I had been to the Siva Temple (I referred above), to attend the marriage of a close relative. There, I met Vasu. Even after this many years, we had no difficulty in identifying each other. The first look itself translated into an embrace.

Yeah, the story of Vasu is the life of Uma too.