Master Mason Ramadeekshithulu, BA

They have encountered each other at the bank of the Godavari.

Which village do you belong to? asked the dark woman.

Konaseema, answered the woman in reddish complexion, and asked back, and you?

Jalliseema

Whats your name?

Raththamma

Do you belong to the Vaidika sect of Brahmins?

Yes, whats your name?

Sundaramma

Do you belong to the Niyoga sect then?

No, we too are of the Vaidika sect

By then, both of them descended the Kathiri bank.

Why are you staying here? asked Raththamma.

To look for a job for my son.

Has he found one?

Not yet

How long have you been here?

We came here yesterday itself. And why have you come?

We too have come for a job for my sonyesterday itself. Have you got a house for rent?

Yes, a ghettoised room and the porch attached to it were given for rent, for eight rupees.

We too got one. A bathroom and a porch to store dung cakes and such things, for six rupees.

Sundaramma has pressed her own cheeks in amazement, moving her hands slightly, making her
bangles jingle.

The bangles jingle-jangled and scintillated. Raththammas eyes dazzled on seeing them.
Four pairs of golden bangles and what else are the jewellery she has? A well-born woman she
thought.

How many are you? she asked at last.

My two sons and me. The elder one is a BA and we have come for his job. The younger son is
nine years old.

I have a son and a daughter Raththamma followed suit.

My son is also a BA, and we should live on his labour. My daughter will have been ten years
old by the coming Kaarthika Punnami.

As she heard these words, Sundaramma has loosened the throw of her sari, pretending as if it is
tight around her neck.

This has dropped her sari slightly below her neck.

Her double-strand, Govardhanam gold necklace sparkled at once.

Raththamma was enthralled on seeing that.

Sundaramma has stretched her spine on observing this.

Is your son married? asked Raththamma.

Yeah, he is married even before he is sixteen. My daughter in law is already in her third month
of pregnancy.

Thats good. He will have a son by the time he gets a job. Lucky fellow.

Then, what about the marriage of your son?

Its not done yet!

Not yet done means?

At first, his father insisted that he wouldnt marry him until he finishes his BA. Later my son
himself vowed that he wouldnt get married until he gets a job.

In any case, marriage is easier said than done, said Sundaramma, rolling her eyes, and looking
at her ring with precious stones.

Raththamma caught sight of the ring also.

The master of my house yearned to buy a single pair of such bangles for me and a ring like that
for himself, she thought.
Both of them reached the washing ghat by then.

Raththamma took out the clothes from the pitcher, soaked them, tossed them on the boulder, sat
at an accessible distance to the water, and started washing the pitcher.

Sundaramma has positioned her pitcher upside-down, seated on that and asked suggestively,
any lands or something for you

We have no lands even in those days. I have sold our house outright for the education of my
son, replied Raththamma.

Of course, we have some lands. But we cant live like sedentary parasites. Therefore we have
come in search of a job, said Sundaramma, turning her head aside and rolling her eyes.

The next moment she looked this way and asked, how long have you been undergoing this
predicament?

For three years. Cholera has claimed the life of my lord. He used to offer private tuitions to feed
us.

So did it happen to me. The hospital has swallowed him.

Having finished washing the pitcher by then, Raththamma started washing her loincloth as well
as her sons loincloth and her daughters half sari.

In no time, Sundaramma started taking a dip in the waist-deep water, splashing water with both
of her hands, plunging up to her neck, washing herself, exclaiming my God, my God, its
freezing cold and I always had nothing else than hot water until recently.

Sundaramma stumbled across her at the Electric Corporation and asked you are going to a film,
arent you?

She donned a new Glasko sari, combed her hair properly after applying perfumed hair oil, and
wore her hair in a loose chignon.

Raththammas clothes were also immaculate but there was nothing extraordinary about her loin
cloth.

She also combed her hair, and wore it in a loose chignon.

No, given the plight I am in, how can I go to a film? I am going to the temple of Lord
Markandeya.

Your son has got any job...

Not yet! But he lost the hope of a job. Has your son got the job, then?

He has got umpteen offers. But he hasnt accepted any.

Why?

They are all slovenly jobs, moreover these employers seems to have only the need and no
intelligence.

What happened actually?

A zamindar saidfor the fifteen rupees he paysthat the job involves attending to him day and
night, serving him with cigars and cigarettes. As if this is not enough, he is told not to ask for any
hike in his salary for two years, and to execute a bond in writing to the effect that he would work
for a period not less than two years.

It might be the same person who said the same to my son as well.

Another merchant saidalthough he offered a pay of twenty rupeesthat my son has to keep
travelling between Secunderabad, Srikakulam, and Bunder twenty days a month. And the rest of
the days he is supposed to make copies for the letters you know?

It might be the same person who told my son that he should travel up to Kurnool on the one
hand and even beyond Bhadrachalam on the other hand.

You know what another well-off man said? He asked, do you know how to calculate the
interest?is it the right question to put to a BA? Is this possible in any other times than in our
ominous times? And after he got ready for even this.

Are you telling about the condition of working for three months without pay?

Has your son also faced this?

Of course

He also put another conditionwhether your son has told this to you or notteaching English
to his son and grandson

Do you know the reason behind this?

You see, they think that there is no point in employing an English clerk if they dont learn
English.

The rich can parrot whatever comes to their mind. What can we do on seeing that?
Did you say what can we do? Is it only they who are well-off! You know, this is all because we
dont want to lead a slothful life, or else their payment couldnt meet our expenses for coffee
alone.

Whatever may be your case, for us, it would have been a colossal support, hadnt he put the
condition of even sleeping at his place so often.

There you are! Wouldnt his eyes and legs get paralysed for that upstart fellow? A Brahmin boy
of BA acting as security to his house!

The time has been like that!

Some cinema people are there! They need the story to be narrated for both the shows. In the
afternoon, he should also go after the boys to see if they are displaying the thatched hoardings
properly from street to street. And the salary

Twenty only

Has your son also gone there?

Yes, he has gone.

A certain pleader has offered food and clothes for privately tutoring their sons day and night.
He seems to have presumed that he alone, and no one else, has a familya madcap!

Maybe it is he who said that he would pay fifteen rupees if salary mattered, but coffee should be
carried to the court every day for him.

Has he taken birth as a Brahmin?

We shouldnt just laugh at their folly and keep quite. If we do not teach a lesson to this sort of
people they would become worse.

Somebody will do that; why should we trouble ourselves?

There is another merchant. Of course, a Brahmin. He has started a new greengrocery, and he
wants the buyers of vegetables to be diverted to his shop. If this is successful and if they mention
the name of the person who directed them to go there, then the person will be paid five per cent
of the profit they get on that sale.

Isnt it better that he didnt ask for hawking the vegetables in the village by carrying them with
a shoulder pole?

Well said, then what did your son do?

He swam against the stream.

What does it mean?

At first, he expected that he could earn only one rupee a day, but he took it up one week ago
and already brought ten rupees, overflowing with joy.

You see, my son wouldnt do any odd jobs! He is born as a Brahmin. And he is a BA at that.
Indeed, we want for nothing. However long it may take, only a decent job will do.

Of course, you neednt worry as you are golden sparrows. I should go back now, after
performing the darshan of the Lord. I should cook food before my son gets home.

I should also go; if it is delayed I may not get the tickets. Some new film is screened. And the
fashions, songs, and dances in the film are quite extraordinaryoh God

Both of them met at Lord Markandeyaswamy temple.

"Are you coming from inside the temple?" asked Raththamma.

"Not at all, I went for shopping, to buy two or three Glasko saris but the shopkeeper told me to
come again tomorrow. In addition to requiring repeated visits to his shop for them, he also puts
the condition that he wouldn't offer more than one sari. It is said that they are going to be hardly
available in the days to come."

"This is unfortunate, besides the hiked prices that have already become a trouble."

"Believe me or not, initially I used to wear nothing else than the elegant saris from Madhura,
Bangalore, Kanchi, Pullampeta, and Uppaada. Since this adversity struck me, I have been
wearing Glasko cotton. I don't know what awaits me in future?"

"It seems to going to be intricate. Although I am repeatedly rejecting them, my son has bought
four frocks for his younger sister, four shirts, and three Metturu cotton saris for me. As you said,
I heard that they are going to be hardly available."

"Perhaps, he is getting handsome remuneration?"

"Yes, by God's grace. To tell the truth, my dear son has been earning two and half a day, for the
past two weeks."

"Your mentioning about getting two and half a day reminda me of something. Have you heard of
this? There seems to be a Bramhin boy. He is also a BA. But he is working as a stone mason like
a Sudra boy. My son is very sorry for him when he is telling about this. What a fate?"

".........but then, why are there only two pairs of bangles on your hands? There used to be four
pairs, didn't they?"
 "Yes, it's true, and I still have them. But I am wearing only two pairs as I think that they are too
heavy, and not to make it a daily ritual; as I have got used to the village these days."

As she is telling this, Sundaramma has draped the throw of her sari around her neck, thus
completely covering.

Then Raththamma sensed the artfullness of this subtle move, and asked, "What happened?
Where is your Govardhanam gold necklace?"

Sundaramma bent her head down and said, "As my younger son fancied it, I laid it aroud his
neck."

"And your son's job---"

"His sandals are worn out walking in search of a job--of course, sandals means boots! He doesn't
put on locally made sandals, does he? there are plenty of vacancies, but none of them is decent
enough. How can he take up a lowly job, even after getting a BA?"

"How can he do that if it is not to his taste?"

"But then, it has been already two months since we come here, still....."

"Of course, it is difficult. Even salt, along with everything else, should be bought with money.
But they are all of inferior quality. Have you seen the quality of ghee and butter milk?

"I too find it difficult!"

"By the way, have you offered the custamory bangles to your daughter-in-law?"

"Have you ever heard of this? The fifth month will have been elapsed by tomorrow. We have
written to their parents as soon as she become pregnant, to share the good news. But her parents
arrived in no time and took her home. We thought they would offer her the bangles. When it
comes to that, however bad their condition is, the parents should offer the customary bangles. Do
you agree or not? tell me please."

"That is the norm in the society, is n't it?"

"My son couldn't live for a moment without his wife. Every week he goes there and comes back
after a week's stay. They would have told him at the beginning, would n't they? But they feel
ashamed of that. They sent her along with him four days ago, just before the completion of the
fifth month, and they remained indifferent."

"Why?"

"They don't seem to have that custom."

"What a pity!"

"Pitiable or not--that's what they did. We shut our mouths with both of our hands and we
ourselves have offered her the bangles. We can't evade the responsibility, can we?"

"Somehow, the formalities are to be observed."

"Not just somehow, we have met with the formalities in a royal way. We should also meet our
expectations about celebratory occasions."

"I too meant the same. What about her parents then?"

"As a matter of fact, they have come, but the moment she was presented with the bangles, they
have taken her with them again."

"My god! why should they be in such a hurry? They should have taken her today."

"Not only me, but even some of the neibours have suggested like that. But they turned a deaf
ear."

"What's about your son then?"

"Then, he followed them telling that he would also go along with them. To tell the fact, it is I
who sent him along with them."

Sundaramma said this, making grimaces with her mouth and nose, and with a glare in her eyes.

"Had I known this, I would have come to see your daughter-in-law."

"Of course, you can see her, but at a later time. They are staging the play, Chintaamani today.
So, I have come early eating a little early in the morning. My younger son has been letting lose
the lizards he caught, for the last one hour."

Sundaramma rushed away as she said these words.

Raththamma felt emberassed at first, but later she also left for the temple.

They encountered each other in the premises of the mission hospital.

"What brings you here?" asked Sundaramma.

"One of the young girls among my relations has conceived after a long time. They have admitted
her in the hospital for delivery as a precautious measure. I have come to see her."

"Has she delivered?"

"Yes, she delivered four days ago. She gave birth to a buxom boy child, and her parents and in-
laws are very elated about this, as if they have got a boon."

"Is it surprising? But one should get such good parents of their daughter-in-law for this."

"Is it so? Can there be any parents in this world who won't feel happy about the welfare of their
daughter?"

"Oh god! You should know about the in-laws of my son."

"What is the matter?"

"The matter is that my daughter-in-law's body has started retaining excessive water. And the
doctor at their place has warned them about that, and her father left her with us, leaving her to
her own fate,"

"Has the labour pains started?"

"Not yet, but her parents have thrust their presence on us, and they are asking for the curries and
pickles to be get ready for them."

"That's great!"

"The mother attends to her daughter and the father attends to the banks of the Godavari river.We
have got an unfortunate match in marriage. And it kills me to feed these sedentary people."

"And what about your son's job?"

"He hasn't got any so far. There are some odd kind of jobs. But he would take up a job at some
gentle men only--even that some job like a head clerk who supervises others' work. He also seeks
to earn some extra bucks in the job. He would take up a job only when these conditions are met."

"We can't sustain like that. Indeed, my son has decided to go against the grain. And now, he
brings home three rupees a day. There is some Reddy who is a rich contractor. He takes up big
contracts and now he is working on constructing a hospital for four lakhs. He is asking my son to
join him, to supervise the work."

"To work as a master of the masons?"