That Thin Line Between Sin And Salvation

It was three in the early morning when the driver stopped the bus for a break. Govind woke up from his seat. He needed a puff; he wasn’t sleeping all the night. The business proposal from his client was worrying him much. He walked down to the hotel across the small ground. It was crowded, yet he made his way into the counter boy and got one cigarette.

“Yevalavu Vila Aachu” – Govind asked the cost in the little Tamil he knew. It was somewhere on the Tamilnadu –Kerala Border that the bus has been stopped.
“Randu Roopai”

Govind gave him the two rupees and walked to the Public Phone kept near benches. He dialed his friend’s number. It was one of his hobbies to call his friends in the midnight. He was feeling bored, and also he had to inform his friend about his arrival.

At the end of the 4th ring some one picked up at the other end.
“Machcha, Govind Here”.
“Who? Which Govind?” Answered a feeble voice
“Abhey Saale, The Same Govind who baptized you on the rocks.”
“Oh Machcha, tell me, Where are you?”
“I am on my way to Calicut, Thinking of dropping at your place, will you be there…. around.. at ..” . It was then he noticed the fragile old man who was making the tea.
“…..”
“Hello, Machcha, You there”
“Kich, will call you later”, and Govind hung the phone up.

He walked up to the tea maker. The tea maker, when he saw Govind asked.
“You need Tea?”
“Sir, Aren’t you Vijayan Sir?”
“I’m sorry, you need tea?”. Replied the old man
“Sir, Aren’t you Vijayan Sir, who taught us Economics at the engineering college.” persisted Govind with his question.
“If so, who are you? And why are you disturbing me? Can’t you see that I am doing my work?” asked the man impatiently.
“Sir, I am Govind, Govind Ramesh. You taught us Economics in S5 at the college. You remember?”
“No, I don’t and I don’t want to remember anything.” The old man threw his kettle to the table and walked out angrily to the dark.
******
Years before that man was Vijayan Sir, the most famous and affectionate teacher of a lot of students in the campus. Govind Ramesh was one among them, so were his gang of four – Ravi, Akki and Kich. He was the one who bought life in to their ever-boring techie classes. He elaborated them about the Demand and Supply philosophy of Economics in a witty, simple way. In short he took them in his hand and soon his classes were mostly full. But the relationship deteriorated one day.

It all started with Vijayan Sir, catching Govind doing malpractice during his exam. He couldn’t tolerate this childish act. Even though Govind said sorry, Vijayan Sir was furious about it. He couldn’t stand it and got him a two weeks suspension. Slowly the frustration was building up in Govind’s mind. That turned into a kind of revenge. The lesser marks in the economics papers later in the year rubbed salt into his wounds. His mind was seeking only one thing. Revenge.

He waited for two more years. The gang of four made the master plan. They had noticed Vijayan Sir’s walk back to the staff quarters. He used to take the narrow by-lane, across the Hostel Mess, straight down under their hostel terrace, to his house across the college ground. It was a shortcut and was dangerous too. But still he used that, for he loved that walk across the grounds watching students play.

And the day came, the second last day of his hostel stay. When time came, four of them went to the terrace with a bag full of cow dung. The plan was to throw it at him, call him all the filthy, unnecessary words in the world and vanish. They could see Sir, entering the by-lane from the ground and he was coming towards the hostel.

“Eda, Vijayaaa, You idiot …” and a big chunk of dung followed. It fell on master’s backside of the shirt. When Vijayan Sir looked up another one was thrown to his face. He didn’t know what was happening, all he could hear was the scream – “You would suspend me, you idiot, you … , you …you will learn one day... you will.. ”. It was getting dark and from the ground he couldn’t see who all were there. Yet the topic of suspension should have ringed the bell for him.

Nothing happened. After that Govind is meeting Vijayan Sir now, after 12 years. He has grown up into a mature architect and working hard, have his own firm, friend circles and a family.
******
On that cold night at the shady joint in National Highway No 47, Govind watched that old man sitting under the tree in the dark. He was wearing a slack sleeved shirt, covered up with a sweater that looked old. His pants had stains caused due to the tea dusts. It seemed he had only that piece of cloth for his entire living.

“Sir, You didn’t recognize me? What happened to you Sir?” Govind approached Vijayan Sir and asked.
“...”
“Sir…”
“…”
“Sir please…”
“…”
“…”
“I haven’t forgotten you Govind. How can I? How is your Gang of Four? Is Ravi, Akshay and Krishnan all fine?” – answered Vijayan Sir
“Sir, Krishnan is here in Malappuram; working with a civil firm. Akshay is in US and Ravi.. Ravi, Sir is no more. You know sir he had that problem with heart valve. He died 4 years back.”
“Oh, He was the brightest amongst you”. Vijayan Sir recollected. “And what about you, are you married?”
“Sir, I have my own firm in Calicut. Manju Developers. Manju is my daughter’s name. I married Smitha, who was our junior in college. You remember her sir?”
“Was it that wheatish, fair slim girl of S3 batch?”
“Sir .. Your memory is perfect”
Vijayan sir smiled a smile that had no vigor in it.

They sat quietly for a while under the tree. Then with much reluctance Govind asked.
“Sir, what happened to you? Why are you here? If you don’t mind …”
“..”
“..”
“… I left GEC a year after you people passed out. It was a Government transfer to the Engineering College in Idukki. That was a horrendous experience. No students, most of them were criminals, I tried to be honest there and I got the reward. I caught some students red-handed copying during University Examinations. They had political backing and came from big houses. They trapped me in another incident, said I misused funds during the college annual functions. They made false proofs against me. I was first suspended and then dismissed.”
“Sir, you didn’t join any other private colleges?”
“Who will take a teacher who have served 3 years imprisonment?” A high voltage shock passed through Govind’s mind. It made him feel numb; he wanted to lie down somewhere. He couldn’t believe his teacher was behind the bars once. A sudden thought went through him.

“Was it my curse that caused Sir’s downfall? Was it my revenge that was carried out by GOD in this way?”

He had no answer. His mind had no answer. Nor he could ask his father, who always helped him in tight situations. He was alone there. He couldn’t face Vijayan Sir at that moment. He sat face down.

“… and then I left my home town.. came here .. worked in a hotel then after some time I started this tea-stall. After all I too have to live. I too have a family. Here I am fine, there is nobody to ask about my past, nobody to enquire about me and I am earning for my daily livelihood. I am happy here.. You are the first person I am meeting after I left home.”

Vijayan Sir started back to his workplace; he walked slowly. With a deep sigh Govind called, “…Sir…” his voice was trembling. He wanted redemption, and that was his last chance.

But Sir didn’t look back. He walked away, slowly and resumed his job amidst the new crowd of passengers. He was busy serving them tea.

A bit far away, the driver of the bus in which Govind came was honking the horn for the passengers to come back.

Vijayan Sir waited for the next bus.