Memories Never Fade.
Balakrishna pillai was an employee of KSTRTC, kerala. Gopal was one of his neighbors. Gopal belonged to a big family of six members including himself. He was the eldest brother. In those days, size of all the families were big and children were considered to be an asset. Balalkrishna pillai liked to interact with children and he used to offer toffees and chocolates to children off and on. He was philanthropic and hence very popular. He was black by color and he had curly hair, well-built, symmetrical body. He used to talk very politely to fellow mortals and was a great devotee and he used to visit temples around the village. He was very sincere and hard working. Sincerity was respected in those days.
Just like Onam, Vishu is also one of the important festivals of Malayalees.
On Vishu day, elders offer coins or Rupee notes to children as “Vishu Kai neetam” a sort of offering by hand. They believed that money offered on this auspicious occasion will ensure prosperity throughout the year.
Balakrishna pillai offered six rupees to the eldest member Gopal and five rupees to the next younger member in that order to all the six members of his neighbor Gopal and his brothers and sisters, the youngest member got rupee one. Three elder members accepted whatever was offered. But, the younger three members refused to accept the offerings and felt ashamed of accepting the tiny offering of coins of one, two and three which were prevalent in those days.
They were unaware that it was a litmus test of their reaction. Balakrishna pillai offered even bigger gifts to those who accepted the initial tiny offerings and gave nothing to the younger three who felt very bad and realized their folly of not accepting the initial offering. Had they accepted the initial tiny offerings, they also would have got bigger gifts. They repented their own actions.
Moral of the story is that if we accept tiny offerings, the same will pave way for getting colossal offerings.
Balakrsihna pilai was a bachelor. Later on, somehow he was frustrated and started drinking to forget his miseries which affected his popularity. Circumstances make a man. We cannot expect that people behave in the same fashion always. Behavior of people depends on the circumstances obtaining.
People in general focus only on negative traits of man and do not pay attention to the good deeds men do.
Gopal and family left the village after some time and they could not even keep in touch with BalaKrishna pillai. Now that they even do not know whether Balakrishna pillai is alive or not. Still, sweet memories never fade.
This is a real story. In villages everybody knows one another. People even know the minutest details about fellow mortals unlike in metros. In metros people live for themselves only and do not mind fellow mortals.
In those days since there was no computer or TV, people had plenty of time at their disposal. Today, everybody is on mobile which is as indispensable as breathing, heart beats and soul.
In those days, people used to interact socially and happiness was rampant. But, today smiling faces are rarely seen. Today, people are hyper by nature and are not receptive to fellow mortals.
Gopal and his family still reminisces the fond memories left behind by Balakrishna pillai. Time may run faster but memories never fade and remain ardent.
The End
Author : C.P.Hariharan
email id: cphari_04@yahoo.co.in
