“AWARD” Story by Kadayam Balan Translated into English by N.Senganithene

It is just after his school time. He walks back home hurriedly with his heavy school bag admiring the students getting ready for their evening games.

’’Hey, Saravana , Shall we play Chillankutchi [gilli] ?’’ . Leave your bag at home and come back soon.’’ One of his schoolmates invites Saravanan to play. Stopping for a moment he responds..

‘’Sorry,I can’t come today’’.

When he walks through the next street…Another friend stops him.

‘’Hello! Saravana, Come, Let’s play Carom Board.’’

This yet another friendly request makes his childish heart crave for the momentary happiness and he is unable to say ‘no’. When he is torn between his desire and his responsibilities towards his family, the latter propels him towards home.

‘’I’ll come another day.’’

Denying that friendly request, he moves fast.

At a distance he happens to see a group of kids playing a game with the marbles. He enjoys seeing how a kid with a marble at his finger tip, aiming at the scattered marbles in order to push them inside one of the holes dug straight on the ground. Saravanan who is studying in seventh standard loves to play with those boys of class four or five. But….something stops him.

‘’Bro, Have the new marbles arrived at your shop?’’

‘’Yes, Guys plenty of marbles in multi colours are recently arrived. Some are very big in size and strong that it will break the smaller one into pieces when being hit; alright, come and purchase them from the shop.’’

When he has hardly moved twenty steps ahead, a beautiful cinema wall poster slows his brisk walk. He looks at it immovable like a setter at the sight of a bird. Master Mahesh is smiling at him. Saravana is a huge fan of this child artist. Many a time he wonders at his excellent performance in different movies as the protagonist of the stories. His stylish pose, the charming smile in his face lure his little heart. His eyes steadily gaze at the poster with a peculiar feeling.

‘’When the school gets over, come home directly. Don’t stop here and there. There is no substitute in the shop …’’, his father’s words quicken him back with his unwilling heart to the shop.

Within a few minutes he reaches the shop.

‘’Come Saravana, How is the school today?’’

‘’Take care of the shop. Let me go home to prepare the gruel to your mom. I won’t take much time. I’ll be back soon.’’

‘’Ok dad.’’

Subbaiah leaves the shop to Saravana’s custody and goes home carrying his son’s school back.

The moment Saravana enters the shop, the customers will flock in like birds. Saravana can manage them with ease and efficiency. Like magic, the cash box fills with coins and cash as fast as it can. Another one or two hours, his left hand is busy in handing over the things asked for and his right hand collecting money from the customers.

‘’Pearandi [affectionate way of calling a small boy], Give me a small pack of pepper and a piece of chukku [dried form of ginger]. Let me make a glass of warm water adding the powder crushed of and I’ll be free from my head ache within five minutes. Hey, you are a lucky charm not only to your father but to me also.’’

‘’Children should be like him.’’ Many openly appreciate.

‘’Studying in the school and supporting his father in the shop as well ’’, some wonder about his duty to himself and to his family.

But Saravana is too innocent to be attracted by this applause.

Even at this tender age, Saravana knows how to handle things very effectively whether it is wrapping things in paper as the shop shuns polythene carry bags or calculating amount for the sold items without paper and pencil .He has a unique way of wrapping the things in paper without using threads and twins. The best part of it is that it can’t be that easily unwrapped by anyone. As he is good at mental arithmetic he can calculate the total cost of different items while handing them to the customers. This paves the way for him to get centum in maths in school exams and his IQ level also enhances.

Subbaiah does not like to utilise saravanan in the shop .But at present there is no other way…

Subbaiah Annachi’s [respective form of addressing elders] shop is very famous in the locality. He sells quality goods for reasonable rate. He is a man of self-discipline and hygiene; he is humble, hardworking and sincere. Never does he open the shop without taking bath whether it is summer or rainy. The incense stick that he lights in the early morning mostly awakes many in that locality. He is neither rich nor greedy.

His wife, Valli is always supportive to him in his business. As the shop is nearer to their house, the shop is easily accessible. As a result she takes care of the business while he has his breakfast or lunch or when he purchases goods for the shop from the nearby town. It is only at the supper time Valli serves him. This supper time is the most important time for the couple as they indulge in conversation or discuss the important issues like their son’s education and the ways for developing their business. This lovely conversation takes the form of an argument at times.

As it’s their customary practice to close the shop only after 10’o clock, Saravanan mostly sleeps before his father’s arrival. Like all normal boys, he loves to imitate his father in all aspects whether it is his father’s way of dressing, hairstyle and his mannerism. He accompanies his father to shop only on Sundays. As Subbaiah is so keen on his son’s education, he rarely encourages his arrival to shop. But he knows that his son’s presence in the shop earns both fortunes and good will of the customers.

Years roll by peacefully until Valli has developed a stomach pain. She has ceased to be her usual self. She has tried some homemade medicines and even some tablets to overcome the pain. Finding the pain not subsiding, they have decided to consult with a doctor who after examining suggested them a surgery in her small intestine. Valli has been so adamant not to go for a surgery fearing about the cost.

‘’See, you needn’t spend unnecessarily for the treatment. Let me live how long my body withstands…’’

Subbaiah, in anxiety, speaks.

‘’what do you think about me?’’

‘’Will I leave you as such?’’

‘’I won’t hesitate to borrow money for the operation to be done.’’

‘’Don‘t behave like an old woman.’’

Though Valli has undergone a surgery in the government hospital, there has been a little expenditure…As per the doctor’s advice she has been on the bed, resting not doing any heavy work.

As he is deprived of her help, the days bring him tougher situations, he starts borrowing money to buy goods.

‘’I needn’t disturb my son, if I’m not burdened with all these things’’.

His thoughts turn to a soliloquy.

Saravanan is able to understand his father’s pain and problems. He doesn’t consider his father’s request to assist him in the shop as a burden. Besides the encouragement from the customers makes him do the work enthusiastically with the ready heart .But today…he likes to ignore his father’s plea.

‘’Dad, I won’t come to shop today evening. I like to watch the award ceremony to be held in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The child artist Master Mahesh is going to be honoured with an award for his recent movie by our President. I’ll come to the shop just after the programme gets over.’’ Saravanan’s voice echoes his happiness.

‘’Ok, Saravana, you needn’t come. I’ll manage ‘’.

Subbaiah voice is tinged with sorrow but Saravana is unable to grasp it.

‘’Ma, Why is father down like this?’’

‘’I too can’t understand and he is not letting the reason out .He has been looking abnormal since yesterday night.’’

“I think the goods in the shop are getting reduced day by day.’’

‘’Amma, tell dad not to worry about anything. My Quarterly exam holidays are fast approaching. I will definitely be in the shop the whole day in order to multiply his income. Sure, we can repay the debts in course of times.’’

‘’Cheer up ‘ma.’’ ’’Don’t lose heart’’

Valli with seeping fondness patters her son’s head and her eyes brim with tears reflecting her pride.

In the evening, Saravana comes home directly, as he wishes. His vibrant voice reflects his spirit. He is an ardent fan of master Mahesh.

‘’Ma, only ten minutes is left for the programme. Please watch the programme with me. They are going to telecast some of the scenes form his recent film. Watching them, you will get fresh energy.’’

These encouraging words of her son fill her heart with fresh beat of life. The image of Rashtrapathi Bhavan in the TV screen indicates the start of the programme. The majestic entrance ushers in the Prime Minister, the other Ministers and the leaders of the opposite party . Cameras focus the main event. Master Mahesh was at the height of his happiness, full of smiling. That smile is so contagious that the mother and son start smiling.

Their happiness is stemmed by the abrupt yelling and galloping of some strangers rushing inside the house, followed by Subbaiah

“Sir,please don’t remove the TV,I will somehow pay the amount

‘’Sure, You can’t pay the instalment.’’

‘’Your shop is also almost empty’’

‘’Besides, you are going to be imprisoned sooner or later”.We cannot remove the TV in your absence.

‘’Nothing doing’’, Saying so they switch off the TV.

‘’Sir, please leave it here for only one hour. My son wants to see a particular programme .Please sir. I’ll….’’

As the words choke him, He is speechless.

‘’Okay, you are given only one hour time‘’, we’ll be back after having tea in the nearby shop.’’

There is a pinch of humanity in their stony heart.

‘’What is happening? They are telling many things’’

Valli’s trembling voice announces her fear and she is in tears.

‘’Appa, what is the problem?’’ ’’They have said about jail and other things.’’

‘’I don’t want to watch any programme, Dad.’’

‘’Please tell me ‘pa’’.

He looks at his dad with his rainy eyes

‘’Nothing is serious Saravana.’’ ‘’As I haven’t paid the amount they are threatening me.’’

‘’ First you see the programme and I’ll tell you later.’’

Saying so, he switches on the TV

‘’Appa….’’

‘’Please, share your thoughts’’, Valli’s words break the unusual silence.

‘’Okay. I’ll say afterwards. No one can arrest me. I’ve already set the things right.’’

‘’ Chill every one. Let’s see the programme’’

‘’Saravana, Look here, Master Mahesh is receiving the medal from our President!’’, ‘’How happy he is!’’

‘’See, how his parents are proudly admiring their son’s achievement.’’

Subbaiah becomes the live anchor for his son who in return is watching the event only for the sake of his father. Valli too is pretentious to please her husband and son. On the whole all the three are trying to dupe each other. At the end of the programme, TV has silently bid them bye.

‘’Tell us everything’’, demands Valli.

‘’Listen both of you.’’

‘’Someone who does not like our happiness has informed labour officer that I’ve employed an under aged boy to assist me in the shop. On the enquiry I’ve told them that he is none but my son. I’ve tried my level best to convince them explaining our family situation including your sickness .But it has fallen on their deaf ears. They have threatened me either to pay a fine of Rs.10000 or for the possibility of getting arrested followed by the imprisonment and the trial in the court. As it has been very complicated I’ve preferred to pay the fine borrowing the amount to clear the situation. Consequently, the monthly instalment to our TV loan has not been paid. So they……

Ok, we’ll manage somehow…’’

Saravana in pathetic tone

‘’How Dad? If Mahesh acts in the silver screen for money, he is applauded as a celebrity and is honoured by our President. But I am in my own shop…, How can I be a child labourer ?’’

‘’Award for his labour ….’’But

‘’Punishment for my labour ….’’