The Jasmine : Wild Fragrance

by Venkat Bathini

  I came to know it was the same blood group as mine. I donated my blood and it was timely used to save Vishu. Muthappan’s family arrived at the hospital on learning about this incident. Vishu’s condition improved and utmost care was taken. Muthappan consoled his family members and had actually suspected it as an act of his enemies. Muthappan ordered his aides to find out the truth behind the accident.

  Some villagers have noticed the registration number of the vehicle and people who travelled in it. They confirmed the vehicle belonged to the neighboring state Kerala. This made things difficult for Muthappan to go deep into this issue and many had actually convinced Muthppan that it was an accident.

  There were heaps of dry grasses which were used as fodder for cattle. We (Myself and Pandi) used these heaps as our venue. I was drinking more often and Pandi was my regular partner. Looking at the blue sky with moon and stars, the Venue reminded me Open Terrace garden of Star hotels. We started our First round…Cheers!!!

  Richard: The Fresh Air, Calm environment, Open Place, Spicy chicken, Imported Brandy and great friend …I think this set up is the best one can have to enjoy alcohol.

  #Pandi used to call me DORA (which means Sir).

  Pandi: I am very fortunate to get your company. I think my prayers have been addressed.

  Richard: What do you think about the Vishu’s accident?

  Pandi: It is unfortunate. I think their family is cursed. First they lost their child and now this accident.

  Richard: The road where it has happened is state highway which is 100 feet road. There was a not a rush of vehicles as we noticed and it was daytime to rule out that the driver was drunk atleast. I feel there was sufficient space for the Vehicle to pass without mowing down Vishu’s vehicle. Why don’t you think it was a planned move?

  Pandi: The time period really does not matter to Indians especially tamilians. There are lot of people whom I know start their day with a peg of brandy or whiskey or local alcohol. We can’t rule out that it is an act of business rivals. The biggest rival as everyone knows is Mr. Ramaswamy. His business literally got affected because of Ayya’s financial growth.

  Richard: Where does Ramaswamy stay?

  Pandi: Why? Do you want to continue our boozing session at his Place or you want join him with us.

  #Pandi has a good sense of humour and it comes out naturally when he is drunk.

  Richard: Just out of curiosity, I asked you. I have no personal interest about him.

  Pandi: No Problem, I will take you tomorrow morning while going back to home.

  #Our topics of discussion moved to Politics, Films, Food and it went on.

  Next day morning, we had tea outside Ramaswamy house. There were large followers outside his house to meet him. Finally, I got a glance of him. His physical stature was huge like a Wrestler and had Piercing eyes. As suspected, I felt the accident could be an act of Ramaswamy.

  Chapter 14

  It was just another day at hospital — Myself and Michelle have attended patients. We needed the much required break and wanted to move around. Just then Pandi arrived the hospital who was assisting one of his relatives. I shared my concern that we wanted to see some places in and around Madurai.

  We went home back and got ourselves fresh. We visited the famous Shiva temple. It was crowded with devotees. They were offering special flowers which were unique in its shape.

  Richard: Is the temple crowded daily in the same way?

  Pandi: No. Not every day. Today is a Monday. Lord shiva is prominent god for Hindus and they worship the god exclusively on Monday by offering prayers at the temple.

  Richard: Oh is it. I see devotees offering curd, milk and those unique flowers. I have never seen them.

  Pandi: Oh those flowers are known as ‘Nagalinga Poo.’ If you carefully notice, they resemble the Lord Shiva in its Lingam Form. It looks similar to the one which you see inside the temple.

  #Michelle picked up some flowers from the Vendor and we took it with us.

  #Nagalinga flower – it is a flower from the cannonball tree. The scientific name is Couroupita guianensis,

  This tree is considered to be sacred and is grown at most of the Shiva temples. The flower Nagalinga resembles the Naga – the snake which is abode around the neck of Lord Shiva.

  I picked up jasmine flowers from the vendor and offered it Michelle. She had firmly placed the flowers in her by looking at other women. She was being looked strangely by local women.

  Michelle looked into my eyes and asked me: It is perfect. Does it suit me?

  Richard: Oh Yes, My dear wife. You look beautiful. This was love reinvented and we were enjoying the Indian Breeze.

  Chapter 15

  In the disguise of extending medical services at nominal prices at Meenakshi Hospital, we were actually

  Counseling the couple to retain their female baby. At times Michelle, threatened it would cause the death of the mother if baby is aborted. We have used our own British techniques to bring down the Foeticide numbers.

  Soon we became popular in Madurai through our services. Muthappan noticed that there was sharp decline in the Profits of hospital. We were questioned as why were counseling the couple and the abortions, gender scanning dropped. I suggested them to offer a discount on deliveries and advertise aggressively that doctors from London are available exclusively for pediatric consultation.

  The strategy worked out, again the hospital was witnessing profits. But this gender scanning could not be stopped. It was a open secret and was pathetic to see couples rushing even if it was their first child to check if it was a female child.

  A male child was considered a heir to their Family who can carry forward their legacy. A female child was considered as a burden who was denied of education and was meant only to get married, domestic help and upbringing of the family.

  Myself and Pandi were enjoying the spicy food at Amma Mess. Just then two men clan in white dress arrived and sat on the other side of the table. Pandi was signaled to move away as they had some confidential to talk with me. They pushed the mutton fry towards me and introduced themselves as henchmen of Ramaswamy the ruling party MLA. One of the guys Shankar who seemed like educated started converstation:

  Shankar ensured that just we were there in the Hotel. The customers left abruptly the Place, they were aware of the consequences.

  Shankar: Richard sir welcome to Madurai. Enjoy the mutton fry, it is famous at this place.

  If you want to travel and visit the entire south india, we can arrange for free of cost.

  Richard: But why me?

  Shankar: “Athithi Devo Bava.” It is a part of our culture. We respect our guests and they are like god.

  Richard: I understand, come to the point. What are you expecting out of me?

  Shankar: Doctor sir is very sharp just like the British. We need your help.

  Stop educating people on foeticide and infanticide.

  Secondly, divert patients coming to meenakshi hospital to our hospital.

  Richard: What am I earning?

  Shankar: Again I am Impressed! Always to the Point. You will make 50 percent on all the diverted candidates.

  Richard: It would be a difficult task and would easily get noticed as Muthappan’s major revenue is from Hospital and he is all eyes on the daily activities in Hospital.

  Shankar: ok, I know how Muthappan operates. Don’t worry we have plan B which is much easier to execute.

  Richard; What is it?

  Shankar: Information! Pakka (which means concrete) information on gender scanning at Meenakshi hospital. I believe it is your wife who is in the Delivery (Obstetrics and Gyanecology) department.

  Needs some photos, hospital bills, gender scan resports.

  Richard: I was wondering what these guys were upto. I was simply nodding head.

  I asked ‘what for me?’ simply to give an impression that I was interested in deal.

  Shankar: Your family will stay Alive! I mean it. You can leave to London safely. You wi
ll be rewarded life and also wealth enough to construct your own hospital in London.

  #Shankar immediately took a bundle of Notes (currency) and kept on the table.

  Shankar: It’s all yours. If you need, we can convert it into pounds.

  Richard: I need a day’s time. Need to discuss with Michelle. I will maintain 100% confidence on this.

  #I noticed a strange expression on Shankar’s face, he was in dilemma.

  Shankar: How do I trust you?

  Richard: Handover the money to the Cash counter. If the deal is okay, maybe tomorrow I will pick it from the counter.

  Shankar: My final word on the deal. Either you pick the money or die a dog’s death. No Plan B or double crossing. It’s Final. Picks up a mutton piece with knife he held in his hand and left the place.

  Chapter 16

  Michelle has completed 9 months of pregnancy and her due date was in a few days. We continued with our health camp ‘Jasmine’ travelling to various villages. The climate was hot and a temperature was high to which we were not familiar. Right from the beginning of the day, I noticed Michelle showed some signs of fatigue, though she did not express explicitly. We ended up in a village called Usilampatti. Michelle complained of Pains. I asked Pandi if we could find a good hospital nearby. Pandi said we have to go back to Madurai as there are no big hospitals around which he was aware of. He quickly started enquiring with the locals in native language.

  He informed me that chances might if we go back to Madurai as it is time consuming and also the roads are not good enough to commute back. Rather, he suggested that there are old village women who are experienced enough to take care of deliveries. I was in dilemma whether to rush to city or leave it to the women in the village believing their expertise. Pandi reassured me that everything is going to be fine as it is very traditional approach. Whatsoever the decision has to be made quickly. We rushed to a house nearby.

  There were birth attendants who arrived immediately on Pandi’s request. I felt I should have advised Michelle to take rest at home or should have taken to a hospital rather. The doctor who used to perform Delivery at KGH with state of the art infrasucture has to undergo delivery at unknown place in Madurai. May be this is what you call Fate!

  I wondered why am I going through all these when the rest of the doctors who were my colleagues are happy in UK. The Traditional approach adopted by the Birth Attendants was naïve and was relatively new to completely trust. I was Nervous and blood pressure started shooting up. Pandi kept reassuring me and suggested me we call an Ambulance from Meenakshi Hospital so that we can rush back in case there was an unforeseen emergency. It was a timely suggestion, I called for an Ambulance.

  A few minutes later, I heard the sounds of Baby cries. I got into the house. It was a baby girl.

  I took the baby into my hands. It was a great moment of Joy! I checked with the birth attendants if everything is OK using gestures. They indicated everything is fine. I came out of the house and asked pandi to check with them. Pandi spoke with them and understood the situation. Pandi told me everything is fine. “But there are large numbers of deaths reported during delivery due to blood loss.”

  Luckily, the ambulance arrived soon at the spot. Michelle was on boarded with baby in the Ambulance.

  Two Birth Attendants joined them. We rushed back to Meenakshi Hospital and admitted them. The condition of Michelle was much in control; blood was being supplied to her in the Ambulance which continued in Hospital as well. All this happened is a short time.

  I was relieved of tension. I spent the day at hospital. Muthappan and his family members learnt about this incident through Pandi. Karthik came to hospital and instructed nurses to take special care of Michelle. Also, birth attendants were provided to take care of any urgent needs.

  I was wondering in the hospital how these birth attendants who were not educated could perform a delivery so perfectly where both mother and baby are safe. It was some years of experience they carried. As Pandi confirmed, Most of pregnant women who timely can’t make it to hospitals or economically poor deliver their baby at home with the help of Birth Attendants. That is the level of confidence villagers have in Birth Attendants and the traditional methods adopted by them.

  Why KGH (King George Hospital) in London with the state of art infrastructure with specialized doctors failed to save child? The answer to this question lied within myself; Irresponsible!!! This thought kindled my guilty feeling and made me more responsible towards the society.

  Chapter 17

  Pandi and I became good friends over the time. We have planned to booze.

  Pandi arranged for the party at Muthappan’s farmhouse. I always knew Pandi had lots of information that I sought to know which could help me ravel the mystery.

  #Kallu: coconut sap which has been fermented for days and collected.

  The side dish was spicy chicken and salmon fry. I wore shorts and Pandi a lungi to ensure free flow of air.

  We started with our first round by gently banging the kallu(country liquor) bottle and gulped it.

  Richard: I always wanted to ask you something? Is Dr. bhoj some kind of relative to Muthappan?

  Pandi: No, not exactly. But once upon a time, he was more than a relative!

  Richard: What do u mean by more than a relative?

  #Meanwhile Pandi gulfed the entire bottle. Indians drink like Fish and Pandi was a fish which would deep dive.

  Pandi: I mean Ayya (Muthappan) would treat Bhoj like his son-in-law. He is from the same community, but belonged to economically poor family.

  Bhoj can never ever could dream to become a doctor in his lifetime with the kind of background he has. It was Ayya who recognized his talent and zeal to study medicine. He completely funded his education.

  #I offered him one more bottle and pushed the spicy chicken dish.

  Pandi: Thanks doctor. I never sat like this and enjoyed drinking…that too with a doctor from London. I’m sorry, initially I thought little bad about you and was also angry when I came to know that your wife was the doctor who handled Sarita amma delivery .

  #I felt Pandi was feeling overwhelmed, but I was worried that the topic of discussion was getting changed.

  Richard: Don’t worry. I am here to stay for few more weeks. We can together have more such parties. You stopped somewhere….yeah Mr. Bhoj finally became.

  Pandi: Yes, the poor Bhoj finally became Dr. Bhoj. To show his loyalty and courtesy, he started working at Ayya’s hospital i.e Meenakshi Hospital. He was just another doctor at the hospital. Over a period, he became of kind of incharge of the hospital and was reporting the finances (profit & loss) to Muthappan.

  Richard: So, everything was going good. What do u think has happened? Why did Bhoj leave india and came all the way to London to pursue higher studies?

  Pandi: That’s very long story.

  #Pandi was about to take more liquor, but I stopped him. He looked at me, sighed me as why I stopped him? I said take side dish to compensate the amount of liquor. I knew if he had gulped one more bottle, he will fall asleep. Pandi was having fried fish.

  Pandi: Once upon a time, they were like fish and water. They were inseparable. Both Ayya and bhoj mutally benefitted because of Meenakshi hospital. This hospital had the latest scanning devices and hundreds of pregnant women would end up at Hospital for scanning. You think they came for delivery or know the conditions of the child in their womb. No! They were afraid either of their husband or Mother in law and get their child scanned. They would know the gender and if gender was found to be female, they aborted the child. Both scanning and abortion was done more than delivery.

  Bhoj used to be with Muthappan wherever he would go. On a fine day, someone asked Muthappan:

  “Stranger: What Muthappan, you seem to find a future son in law? Wherever you go, you take him along with you?

  #Muthappan was angry with him and replied back in frustration:

  Muthappan: Yes, He is my son in law. Do u have any problem? He is a doctor,
good mannered and most importantly he is from my community. He has everything it takes to become my son in law.

  I was there at that time. I was shocked with this statement of Ayya and look at Bhoj who was blushing at this. We reached home that day. Sarita had prepared various dishes.

  That was the first time when bhoj came to home. He sat next to Muthappan and had lunch.

  Muthappan asked him ‘how was the lunch? To which he replied: Awesome!!!

  He was looking at Sarita and the word ‘Awesome’ was meant for her.

  After that incident, I noticed Bhoj would make frequent visits to the home indicating some work with Ayya, but he had other intentions. I guess he was in love with Sarita.

  Richard: So then, what happened?

  Pandi: Ayya’s sister came to home. Along with her, Ayya’s nephew Vishu sir came. Vishu’s mother was worried that he might fall in love with some british girl if he moves to London. She was keen on getting Sarita married to Vishu.

  Ayya also had liking for this proposal as Sarita had a liking for Vishu which was a open secret within the family members. Their engagement happened in a short time and wedding happened on the same week as it was auspicious.

  Richard: Where was Mr. Bhoj at that time?

  Pandi: I think he was in Kerala; His father was undergoing ayurvedic treatment.

  After sometime, they got married. Bhoj stopped working at Meenakshi hospital citing personal reasons. On a fine day, Bhoj came home and informed Ayya that he is leaving to London to pursue higher studies. That’s it.

  Ayya was angry on him, as he did not inform about his plans beforehand. Ayya recollected the entire past how he brought him up and how much he invested to make him doctor. Ayya asked him to leave the place.

  #I understood from Pandi’s information that Bhoj was in love with Sarita, but unfortunately could not marry. Maybe this could be the reason for Bhoj to discontinue his work at ‘Meenakshi hospital’ and head towards London where Sarita settled with her husband Vishu. Dr Bhoj was an introvert and would always speak less to the point. There was something mystic about Bhoj which he wanted to keep to himself.