...whose house is not more than 200 meters from my grandmother's place. He must be 40 now and I spent at least 30 days a year in my grandmother's place for 15 years of my life but I still don't know his name. This is a little unusual because we mingle quite a bit as a community, especially in summers when you almost customarily have some or the other reason to get together.
Anyhow, I don't know his name and that may be because he was shy and he didn't like to attend these functions. I myself hated them when I was a kid primarily because I had no company. My mother abandoned me those days, being busy helping in cooking, whether it is was our house or someone else's. I didn't expect Pappa to give me company anyway and I had to suffer the ignominy of tailing my cousins(all boys) hoping they would include me in their ventures. I only remember one occasion when this guy was supposed to be part of one of our games - he had promised he would come - but finally backed off for some flimsy reason. I remember being disappointed but I also already had the impression that he was an arrogant boy.
My next encounter and I guess the only other one I remember was much later, when I was probably 20. I was returning from my uncle's house and the shortcut ran through this guy's area. The sun was just heating up and I was humming something as I was careful to navigate that rough terrain. Then I sensed someone's presence nearby and when I looked up, this fellow and someone else were digging something and they had stopped to stare at me. His companion told him something, possibly about me, and he continued to stare and I realized then he was one of the best looking guys I had seen till then - tall, tanned and lean with good features. Anyway, I let the gaze drop and continued on my way and in subsequent years, somehow forgot that he existed.
Last April, when I went to my grandmother's place again, we had a function there and the same day was his niece's wedding. So as it happens, many came to our house for dinner instead of lunch. My cousin and I were in the hall doing something and this guy entered. I think I had a moment's trouble in placing him - he had shrunk so much. He was all muscles and bones and big eyes. Actually coming to think of it, most of the people are like that around there - they work hard in their plantations and they start young. Anyway, everybody had dinner and I didn't hear him talk at all while all around him people chattered about the happenings in the world. After the dinner, he suddenly came up to me and talked - that he sometimes visits his sister in Bangalore and I don't remember what else. I think I was still feeling sorry.
Next day we again met over lunch at a function in a neighbour's place and we happened to sit opposite to each other during lunch. He kept staring at me and I was wondering if he too had an image in his head and that had changed now.
Anyhow, I don't know his name and that may be because he was shy and he didn't like to attend these functions. I myself hated them when I was a kid primarily because I had no company. My mother abandoned me those days, being busy helping in cooking, whether it is was our house or someone else's. I didn't expect Pappa to give me company anyway and I had to suffer the ignominy of tailing my cousins(all boys) hoping they would include me in their ventures. I only remember one occasion when this guy was supposed to be part of one of our games - he had promised he would come - but finally backed off for some flimsy reason. I remember being disappointed but I also already had the impression that he was an arrogant boy.
My next encounter and I guess the only other one I remember was much later, when I was probably 20. I was returning from my uncle's house and the shortcut ran through this guy's area. The sun was just heating up and I was humming something as I was careful to navigate that rough terrain. Then I sensed someone's presence nearby and when I looked up, this fellow and someone else were digging something and they had stopped to stare at me. His companion told him something, possibly about me, and he continued to stare and I realized then he was one of the best looking guys I had seen till then - tall, tanned and lean with good features. Anyway, I let the gaze drop and continued on my way and in subsequent years, somehow forgot that he existed.
Last April, when I went to my grandmother's place again, we had a function there and the same day was his niece's wedding. So as it happens, many came to our house for dinner instead of lunch. My cousin and I were in the hall doing something and this guy entered. I think I had a moment's trouble in placing him - he had shrunk so much. He was all muscles and bones and big eyes. Actually coming to think of it, most of the people are like that around there - they work hard in their plantations and they start young. Anyway, everybody had dinner and I didn't hear him talk at all while all around him people chattered about the happenings in the world. After the dinner, he suddenly came up to me and talked - that he sometimes visits his sister in Bangalore and I don't remember what else. I think I was still feeling sorry.
Next day we again met over lunch at a function in a neighbour's place and we happened to sit opposite to each other during lunch. He kept staring at me and I was wondering if he too had an image in his head and that had changed now.
