The day of the "We Too"

THE DAY OF THE WETOO

I think, in these days, while every male is afraid someone from his past will make his life miserable saying “ me too“, the ladies are getting bored because of the numerous unbelievable “me too” stories. With too many “me too” stories around I thought you would enjoy a “wetoo” story from my past for a change.

“Sir…Sir..” I looked back hearing Thirumeni calling me in distress. My colleague Narayanan being a nice simple man, was addressed by everyone as Thirumeni, a term used for respectable high caste Brahmins of Kerala in old days.
It was only a few minutes back we parted after the long train journey. Being past midnight the railway station was almost deserted. Thirumeni had a bundle of files with him and me a small briefcase. He wanted to eat something before going home as he did not want to disturb his old mother and I wanted to get home without much delay. So we parted though we had to go by the same route.
There were no cabs or autos at the porch, so after a few minutes I decided to  walk towards the market junction nearby. It was then I heard Thirumeni.

I saw Thirumeni in the midst of a small crowd of men and a lady, who looked familiar from the distance.Two of the crowd were shouting at Thirumeni while the lady was uttering something in low voice.

“Just ten rupees?. Are you not ashamed?” one man shouted.

“Just ten rupees for spending the entire night with you. Poor creature, give her 500 at least” shouted the other.

I walked towards them. I had an inkling what was happening. So I watched the persons while walking. Something about the  shouting young man was familiar. So on reaching I told him loudly “I know you somewhere”. There was a pause. He stared at me.

There was something of a sort of recognition in his stare and I became more confident that he is crumbling. The lady  stopped grumbling. She was in the train asking for alms. At that time she was looking more pathetic. Thirumeni was ready to give her some money but my outright refusal to her prevented him from doing it.

The older man became less threatening and seemed ready to escape from the scene.I looked around. There was a police man at the gate a bit away. But he appeared to be in no “mood to interfere. “Sir” I shouted aloud and waived.

I told him that we are on duty and were travelling together till a few minutes back and have the tickets with me to prove it. The files are  very important I added authoritatively. The constable was convinced and looked at the woman and her accomplices. They had become very subdued. The police constable requested us  to the police help desk away from the crowd and asked the three to follow. The older offered to carry the bundle of files which Thirumeni reluctantly accepted with my concurrence.

It was then I felt a hand on mine. I looked back. It was the younger one.

He had a pathetic look on his face. “Sir, I am the old Kuruvilla, of the boarding…… rubber band”

His words took me back to my boarding school days. Yes kuruvilla of those days was a unforgettable character. He was junior to me.He gained our attention by reading the songs of solomon and nothing else for the entire time allotted for Bible reading, but lost his popularity on the doubt that he was a spy of the boarding master. His frequent sleeping during the study time was noticed by many. He being next to me at the table I used to wake him up when the boarding master came to check. One day the rubber band in front of him gave me an idea. I twisted it till it became a short spiral. I just put it inside his shirt. The spiral uncoiling inside gave the sensation of a wriggling insect. Alarmed Kuruvilla Jumped up crying loud. All rushed to him and removed his shirt only to find the rubber band inside. I think he was able to decipher what caused it. But he did not complain and I escaped punishment.

Theconstable was not at all interested in recording the crime. As thirumeni didn't lose anything he was of the opinion that there is nothing to gain by doing so. I could have insisted but the look of Kuruvilla and the memory of the rubber band made me decide against it.

The police man was glad I did not. More so because Kuruvilla was on suspension from railway service for something not serious and was known to him. He and the police man accompanied us to the porch.

A taxi appeared from nowhere.

In the taxi Thirumeni expressed his feelings for the woman. “May be the men compelled her to beg” he could not find fault with her.

“She was involved in a murder case and came out of jail only a few weeks ago”. Taxi driver said  without looking back.

I remembered the frequent quote from Esdras “Yea, many there be that have  run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sake. Many have perished, have erred, and sinned for women…O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus? “

“Thirumeni is not married. His stars are still searching for a match” I told the driver. He looked back smiling. “They will soon find a good Thamburatty (damsel)  for him’. He assured us in a light vain.

Within a few months I received a marriage invitation. Yes it was thirumeni’s!

I think it is dangerous to have different sets of rules for man and woman.They are equally good and equally corrupt, equally strong and equally weak and one cannot exist without the other (at least till they start cloning ).
So this 'we too' story.