Chapter 3: New Horizons: Building a Life Away from Alleppey
Recap: The story is about Achuta Pai, who remarries his late wife’s friend, Dindakka, after her death during childbirth. Dindakka takes on the responsibility of raising their children with unwavering determination, efficiently managing the household and inspiring her daughter Nirmala to become a doctor. Achuta’s sons take different paths, with Nagendra entering stock trading and Damodara/ Vishwanath embracing travel.
Now Read on……
It was a fast-paced world, and Dindakka’s children were growing rapidly. They were intelligent and energetic and looked up to the sky. They were eager to learn and explore and were constantly pushing their boundaries.
Nagendra/Bangarputhu managed the shop whenever Achutha came home or went out for purchases. His schooling ended with his tenth grade. Everyone was encouraged to study but Vishwanath and Ramdasa also followed suit. Their English was excellent and they were just 10th graders. They were eligible for government jobs like the bank jobs but none of them wanted to study further. They were happy managing Achutha’s shop.
Sarvotham was an ambitious young man who always had a thirst for knowledge and self-improvement. He was diligent in his studies but felt that his duties at the shop were monotonous and lacked any real purpose. However, everything changed when a new family moved into the area with a stunning daughter named Susheela. Her beauty and charm immediately captured the attention of many eligible bachelors, but it was Dindakka who recognized her as the perfect match for her son Nagendra. Within just a few months, Susheela became the family’s first daughter-in-law, bringing everyone joy and happiness.
Although Susheela was a young girl, she was fully devoted to the family. It was as if Dindakka didn’t have to do much more as Susheela took care of everything efficiently. She carried out every task with dedication. Vishwanath was the next one to get married. He tied the knot with a lovely girl named Leela who was from the Quilon district. Dindakka and the whole family changed their maiden name to Vatsala, which means a gentle and loving person. Kamalavathi the eldest daughter of Dindakka was blessed with three daughters and visited them regularly.
Nagendra worked at a shop where his job had become monotonous and uninteresting, as he spent most of his time selecting and tracking stocks and shares. His father, Achutha, was strict and as the boys grew older, they became more rebellious. Ramadasa was a kind caretaker who looked after everything with dedication. Jainni had become confident in her milk business, but Sarvotham disliked working in the shop. His responsibility was to measure the amount of oil for customers in litres and decilitres. Although he had passed his intermediate exam and graduated in commerce, he was looking for continuing education opportunities. He earned money through his Hindi and English language tuitions, which provided him with the flexibility to pursue a post-graduation from a prestigious university.
One of the days, he heard about the Benares Hindu University and its specialised courses. The day had brought in many unfortunate moments of lowness that day. Sarvotham decided to take a train to Varanasi and enrol himself for a post-graduation in commerce. He began to draw his plans for his post-graduation at the Benares Hindu University. He did not dare to inform Achutha or Dindaakka. It was a secret desire to run away from the grocery business. He dreamt of an office and an elite post that followed a good education. After registering himself, he set out for Benares on a summer morning. Though the journey was long and tiring, his spirits remained high. Upon reaching the place, he found it to be a hub of education, which further motivated him to pursue his studies. He learned everything that he could with the zest of bettering his life.
Dindakkka and Achutha were getting older and becoming more accustomed to life’s uncertainties. The family was alarmed when Sarvotham left the safety of his home. They were left with nothing but their prayers, hoping that he would return safely. Sarvotham was responsible and sent them a postcard informing them about his education and his stay, this helped them come to terms with the truth. Sarvotham had worked hard and was declared a gold medalist in his post-graduation in Commerce. All of the anger and pent-up feelings turned into pride for Dindakka and Achutha.
Sarvotham began looking for a job, but he soon realized that jobs were only available through recommendations, and even if one was qualified, job openings were rare. He spent his time helping people, participated in political campaigns and worked hard for the upcoming leader of the local congress. The leader ultimately won the post. It also led Sarvotham to appear for an officer’s position after an interview with the central government. Sarvotham did not need another recommendation throughout his life because there was never a more charismatic leader than him. He participated in business ventures, and storage, wrote articles, and wholeheartedly contributed to growing the organization.
Dindakka and Achutha were keen on getting Ramdasa married. However, Ramdasa declined the proposal for the time being. Dindakka and Achutha began looking forward to Sudhakar and Nirmala settling down.
Nirmala and Sudhakar were eager to do well in their education. Nirmala completed her intermediate and appeared for an interview at the Trivandrum Medical College. Dindakka had inspired her and mentally prepared her for her journey. Nirmala faired well and was glad to know that she had been selected by the authorities to be admitted as a medico at the Trivandrum Medical College. This called for a hefty fee, a stay at the hostel and travelling expenses. It was a great amount but Dindakka supported Nirmala’s decision. Soon it was time for Nirmala to begin her studies at Trivandrum. She bid goodbye to Mulakkal
Nirmala lived in a private hostel called the Vanithasamajam hostel during her first year of pre-medicine at the university. It was her first experience of hostel life, but she had a close friend named Kanchanibai who was the daughter of Mullakal priest Vashishta Bhatmaam. They provided each other with solace and were close friends.
The hostel had dormitory-style accommodation with cots for everyone. Luggage had to be stored under the cots. There were two washrooms, a common dining space, and a dressing room. This accommodation was the best as it was close to the medical college.
Dindakka sent Nirmala 75 rupees every month, of which 60 went towards accommodation and mess, and the remaining 15 rupees were for personal necessities. The college fee was 240 rupees, along with a few miscellaneous charges.
The college had an excellent library, and Nirmala would borrow books and return them after her exams. It also had a good space for studying and preparing for her exams. Nirmala would walk to college with Kanchanibai. She managed the first year with guidance from her teachers and great support from her family.
Sudhakar was intelligent and ambitious, he had his heart set on studying engineering at one of the prestigious colleges. However, when he sought financial help from his family, they could not provide it due to the expenses incurred in Nirmala’s studies. The family felt the pressure of running the grocery business and raising a large family. It hurt Sudhakar the most. He worked hard and eventually made it towards the Institute of Chartered Accountants and began with his Chartered Accountancy in Chertalla. He was determined to make something of himself and to make people appreciate his knowledge.
Achutha fell ill and this time the situation seemed serious. Nirmala was called to visit him and provide her medical expertise. Achutha had suffered a stroke and was in a period of convalescence for some time. Many people were consulted, but KN Pai, the medical professor, advised them to wait as nothing more could be done. One evening, Achutha passed away, leaving behind Dindakka and the rest of his family.
Bonds of family and love can withstand any storm and then life, even with its trials, can still be a beautiful and meaningful journey.”― Jyoti Patel
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