A Patchwork Quilt

Original Konkani Story: Kapyallem

Author: Sudha Kharangate

Translator: Rashmi Rathi

I had resolved that I would get up only after being done with designing this patchwork. If I can tack it together today, I will be able to lay it out in the morning. Then in a couple of days, finish stitching the layers together. Beenu has sent me word that she must have Aaii’s designer quilt.

There was the sound of a car having stopped outside the door. Promptly, Soltaire, Hedgo and Gharsul– all began to bark in self-orchestrated chorus. Then…there were noisy sounds from Vilu-Shaku…and the guffaws of Prashant …it relayed the happy tidings that my grandson-in-law had come visiting.

But I didn’t get up from my seat…Now I will rise only after finishing the patchwork design…But my ears were straining…tuned in to the sounds outside. Prashant’s asking for a re-fill of his cup with the compliment of “first class tea.!” … his fond query of ‘who’s made the laddus…?’ …This is typical of him…! He will completely win over anyone,who serves him delicacies… ! He will relish what is served… yet make the one who serves it feel satiated…Even now I could visualize Vilu’s face…it must be beaming like a sunflower at noon …with sheer contentment…. After all it is a compliment from the son-in-law…!

Presently, I overheard him ask loudly “where is Maii?”, Now, let him come …my patchwork is done too.

“Maii, what are you upto? It’s past half an hour since I’ve arrived! Forget me, but how’s thatyou didn’t make an appearance even to enquire after Beenu and our Bai, our darling baby?”

“I was certain you wouldn’t leave without seeing me… It’s just that I had resolved to get up only on having complete the patchwork quilt.”

“Why are you bent on doing such tedious and exhausting work…it’s harsh on your back and neck, don’t you know? Now, we get everything…patchwork, quilt, cover…everything can be purchased for a price! Can you manage all this at your age? Just tell me. I’ll get a designer patchwork quilt for you… Then you can give it to Beenu…!”

“Look Son, there’s a lot of difference between things created by our own hands and those that are bought! You won’t understand that…!”

Saying this, I bit off the final strand of the patchwork thread, pressed the needle into the thread-reel and opened out the patch works lowly spreading it in front of his eyes.

“See, how does it look?”

And then— Prashant’s appreciation burst out in the form of a forceful “WOW”!

“I knew that the things made by our own hands have the warmth of our love and affection…But only on seeing your beautiful ‘kapyallem”, did I realize that there can be such a beautiful expression of Art…!

He began admiring that patchwork of nine sunflowers made by me, tacking together little bits of various colours. Soon after, Vilu-Shaku who had followed him into the room, glanced at the patchwork and exclaimed in unison— “Oh, how very beautifully you’ve conceived it Maii!”

And promptly went to complain, “The one you made for me had the simple pattern of lotuses…”

“And mine…! It was also ordinary…of the ‘phirkimphulam’, threaded flowers…”

“So what? This one’s pretty special. It’s been created for my pantee, my great-granddaughter! Mind you, Beenu’s baby has made me a great-grandmother.”

“Has Prashant told you Maii? They have invited us in the morning itself for the naming ceremony of their baby.”

“Why me…the old mother Hubbard…should go there? If you all go, it’s like I’ve been present symbolically…That’ll suffice for me…”

Prashant burst out into laughter! Knowing fully well that you’ll have this pretext, Beenu has especially dispatched me here. If you don’t come on your own, I’ll come in my jeep … pack you into it like a gift wrapped parcel and take you along…Now decide… what you’d  prefer…!”

And…with that infectious laughter of his …Prakash was gone…

I had to attend Beenu’s baby’s Barso, her naming ceremony.Already, I’d got hera golden chain…with atiny gold pantee…a teeny-weeny oil-lamp just made for it. It seems in olden times people would light a golden oil lamp and see the countenance of the great- granddaughter in it. What an outlandish custom…! But so be it! The important thing was that Maii’s patchwork quilt held the day at the Barso…!So many asked for the pattern…for demonstration…and Shaku generously promised all of them of providing one…!

Vilu and Shaku are going to leave for Pune directly. Shaku’s son Saurabh is due to appear for the S.S.C. examination. She had somehow managed to pack off just for two days only to see me and attend the barso as well! …Of late, Vilu’s health hasn’t been quite up to the mark. So, she needs some company during the journey!  Taking care of health has been her life’s target these days.

But just to see the grandkid and meet Maaii, she had thrown herself into this visit. She was delighted, that Beenu had given the baby her favourite name—Prajakta.

Both were after me— lock the house and go with them. In fact, Vilu has been thus insisting ever since Shekhar had gone away… But…it wasn’t a joke to close the house and just leave. Apart from the banana plantation in the backyard and the trees and plants in the orchard…there were these Sachchu and Datu, rubbing against my legs with their meow…meow…! And what about Biguel…lying down in the warmth of the fireplace? Gharsul and her pups in the backyard …Soltaire guarding the front door and the wanderer Hedgo…where will I go taking all these fellow beings? To top it all, a few days ago Manwar had thrust an injured baby squirrel with a fractured foot on me with the request to care for it until its foot heals. Looking after its cage has been nothing short of a battle of vigilance! Sachchu and Datu are not willing to let the cage out of sight! Biguel, however, keeps eyeing the squirrel barring her dietary slots of milk and fish.

How Shaku had lost her temper with Manwar for this…!

“Hey, Manohar maam, why are you putting Maii in a soup, by bringing such diverse beings to her door? All the helpless, wandering, lame creature have assembled in this household…”

“Should you of all be speaking thus, Shakubai?,”old Manwar asked as he walked away dragging one leg behind. “Isn’t it the mission of Maii’s life to gather such broken, limp and lame creatures and bring them up?”

Did Shaku not understand the sarcasm in his words? Or did she? But she smiled and without another word went inside. But I almost lost my temper with Manwar…yet, he had spoken the truth…!!

I remember the day Shaku came into my arms distinctly—

Yashwant and Anandi had set up their modest home in the shed in our backyard. Every morning, Yashwant, a postman, would leave for work in the morning and return home only in the evening. Anandi would pick her six-month old baby Shaku and come and sit by my side. Shaku was a sight to see… a tiny creature with drumstick-limbs and stomach like a drum…she’d look around with her radiant eyes, and for no rhyme or reason…just break into a bright smile… compelling even an onlooker to carry her in the arms…

And… one day …Yashwant who had gone to distribute letters…never returned home…! His body came…crushed under a vehicle… post-mortem done…! Anandi suffered a major shock…No tears… no sigh, no cry…not a word.! Neighbours tried every possible way …to console…convince …but no go…! Leaving her six-month old behind …Anandi never rose again …after collapsing at the sight of her husband…

The neighbourhood was overwhelmed with grief…felt sorry for that helpless babe…pitied her …and all went their way to do their own chores. Then I had to pick her in my arms…and that kid sobbing her heart out broke into a bright smile…Where did she have any clue at all that she has become an orphan…?

But then on she did not remain an orphan  in any sense. She became “Maii’s Shaku”. How I have raised her and how many bottles of cod liver oil capsules I fed her, only I know…!!

If a few women gathered for any work around the house and Shaku became the topic of discussion, then one or the other would undoubtedly say— “Hasn’t she been brought up with her own Vilu…?”

I would hear this …but pretend not to have heard it! Vilu…mine? –Isn’t hubby’s daughter also my daughter! My husband handed her over to me… he was not being treacherous…he came straight up, openly saying to me… “you’ve a large heart…so, please take care of this mistake of mine…she’s become a veritable orphan after her mother’s death…!

My entire life has been spent accepting everything that comes my way! Quietly I picked the little bundle in my arms…and she became mine…my own!

Shekhar’s tale is a little different! My elder sister Taii and her husband Bhaoji had gone to Panaji to buy their brand new Maruti car. Shekhar was running temperature and so he got left behind with me. Both were on their way back with the milky white car…so many plans… so much of excitement…! But Fate planned otherwise…On the way back from Panaji, near the Cross…suddenly that bus with failed breaks came charging at a scooter on the way…hitting Taii’s car…both Taii and Bhaoji died on the spot.

—Such a dire accident… whole of Goa was shaken. I fell down in a swoon …when I came to …Shekhar was sitting by my side…then my heart…had to be steely …adamantine…I told him, “Both of them have fooled us and gone to visit God…” The poor lad would sit beside the landline waiting for their phone call from God’s …

When and how they all just grew up…the world never noticed. Shaku-Vilu’s Beenu, Sanju, Saurabh came to be my grandkids…Now with the coming of Beenu’s little princess, I’ve become a ‘great-grandma.’ Shekhar though doesn’t have any issue as of now. A doctor…he’s in U.S. for further studies …has married Pam…both are doctors… people keep saying…one who goes to America doesn’t want to come back…stays on … as if enchanted … such a one… has no love left for his people…one’s land…

— But Shekhar did come down with Pam…to show her to Maii… Pam’s pretty endearing too…wearing a sari… with a bindi …speaking the few Konkani words that Shekhar had taught her…she touched my feet….and my heart! With her golden hair and blue eyes, that lass is a real doll…! How soon had that fortnight passed by …and lo!…they were gone… gone…back to U.S.

( To be continued)

—Such a huge mansion…this house of mine…! It looked so full…when Vilu, Shaku and Shekhar were here. Their games and pranks…playing with cats, mock-fights with Gharsul’s pups… their own squabbles… the day felt short in its duration…Now …I’m touching seventy…managing to work around … pulling on…only due to my resilient physique