Scattered Fates - a novel on the second partition of India

by Ram Garikipati

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  ‘I never knew that beef curry could be so tasty. I just loved it,’ Maya said, settling down on the sofa at home. Ruby and Mathew had just left after a cup of coffee.

  ‘We tend to make curries of everything. The Kerala beef curry is unique. In the west, they just make beefsteaks, but here we have different ways of optimizing their taste,’ Naga replied.

  ‘In Corea we also normally grill the marinated meat. Bulgogi is one of the most popular dishes among foreigners.’

  ‘You mean white folk. Dravidians do not have the concept of grilling meat, we always need to have curry with rice. That is why I said we cannot be the same race.’

  ‘I explained to you at the restaurant, it has nothing to do with the color of our skin or looks. The evolution of our languages clearly show that there was a mixing of blood sometime in the past.’

  ‘It is a theory that was abandoned years ago.’

  ‘I heard they are doing some genome project at Harvard. Professor Ganapathy's friend will send him the results, and then you can have the proof, I somehow believe it.’

  ‘Lets wait for the results then.’

  ‘Fine. Hey, what about that interesting news that you wanted to share. Why couldn't you tell it in front of Ruby and Mathew?’

  ‘I had my reasons. Want a drink? I feel like a scotch.’

  ‘I could do with some white wine.’

  ‘As you wish’, Naga said moving towards his small bar. A few minutes later, he was back with the drinks trolley.

  He poured her drink and headed towards the bookshelves next to the television. From a hidden compartment near the bottom of the one on the right, Maya watched as he pulled out a small package wrapped in a plastic sheet. Without saying a word, he sat next to her and carefully started unwrapping it.

  ‘What is that?’ she asked, taking a sip from her wine glass.

  ‘My father's memories,’ his eyes turned misty.

  He separated the contents of the package- a small handwritten diary, a wristwatch, newspaper clippings and an old photograph.

  Raising the old photo in his hand, he pushed it closer to her eyes. ‘Do you notice anything?’

  Three young men standing below a huge painting hanging on the wall, the painting is ugly and makes no sense.

  ‘Is that your father in the middle? He looked a lot like you when he was young.’

  ‘Yes, you are right, my mother always says that I remind her of him. In fact she was the one who took this photograph.’

  ‘Where is she now?’

  ‘In Hyderabad, my hometown. She doesn't want to stay here with me as she blames Madras for my father’s disappearance. She will only miss him more.’

  ‘We should visit Hyderabad someday.’

  ‘That is the plan next week. I have fixed some interviews for a story about the IT industry. Now take a closer look at the photograph, can you recognize anyone else?’

  She squinted her eyes, stared at the photograph and gasped.

  ‘Isn't that Professor Ganapathy? He looks so young.’

  ‘Exactly. I cannot make out the other guy on his left. The face is a bit fuzzy.’

  ‘That's because the photo is worn out, it may be another professor.’

  ‘Could be, but he is quite short with light skin. I think he is Ganapathy's son.’

  ‘So he was lying, he knew your father.’

  ‘That's what I told you. His face seemed very familiar. I saw an old photograph of his during the civil war in my newspaper archives, that’s when it hit me.’

  ‘If he was your father’s friend, maybe your mother will know. Why don't you talk to her?’

  ‘I already did, but she doesn't remember anyone by that name. She is 72 years old, and her memory has started slipping.’

  ‘Then you have to show her the photograph once again. She will surely remember the face.’

  ‘I could easily scan it and send her an email, but her computer has conked out, too many viruses, damn Microsoft. Unless I personally go there and check, she won't call the service center.’

  ‘So, what will you do?’

  ‘Nothing, we have to wait till we go to Hyderabad. In the meantime you should try getting the information out of Ganapathy. There must be a reason he is behaving this way.’

  ‘Maybe he fell out with your father. At the conference, he kept saying that Arayans and Dravidians are the same race. If that was so, then the whole idea of a different nation based on race would not be justified. Wasn't that the whole basis for the civil war which our father fought for?’

  ‘It was, we are different races, and there is no doubt about that. He is just saying it because he is a leftist Iyer.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Tamil Brahmins can be broadly classified as Iyers and Iyengars, although there are more sub-divisions within these categories. Iyers worship Shiva while Iyengars worship Vishnu, two popular gods in Hindu mythology.’

  ‘What has that got to do with race?’

  ‘Patience. The two groups of Brahmins believe they were originally Indo-Aryans who came down to the south thousands of years ago and settled. For this reason, many of their rituals and legends are similar to North Indians, that is why they have an air of superiority.’

  ‘Why is Professor Ganapathy against this theory? He is a Brahmin.’

  ‘That is because he is a leftist. There is a section of our society that believes we are the same race and should therefore be united into one country again. Our present President belongs to this group, and they are trying to reconcile with Hindustan.’

  ‘Anyway, he had the same opinion 20 years ago in his article that I collected at the library.’

  ‘What does he say?’

  ‘You won't like it, he concludes that capitalist societies like Dravida will ultimately collapse because they were built on a false sense of identity. He analyzed the economic indicators of England, Dravida and Canada and found similarities.’

  ‘What kind of similarities?’

  ‘People's class has a major impact on their opportunities; and not everyone is free to pursue their goals. People with the most opportunities are usually those who have the most capital. Equal opportunity for everyone is just a myth.’

  ‘Typical communist argument. Our system protects individual's rights and liberties and everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. In socialist countries only the powerful have opportunities,’ Naga said.

  ‘He also pointed out that consumers in capitalist countries think they have a choice, but in reality they do not. The companies decide what will be produced and there is also larger income inequality.’

  ‘Wrong again. Companies will produce goods only if there is a demand for them. I can also assure you that income inequality is greater in the communist countries.’

  ‘His study has compared the economic indicators and found otherwise. He concludes that capitalist countries will have higher economic growth in the first two decades of independence, which will be followed by a slowdown. Canada and England, both strong capitalist countries, slowed down after two decades of independence.’

  ‘That hasn't happened in Dravida.’

  ‘You are right, but I do not think he will change his opinion. I intend to find that out tomorrow.’

  ‘What time do you meet him?’

  ‘Around three in the library, he specifically told me not to bring you along.’

  ‘I guess he is pissed that I saw through his lies. Maybe he recognized me, you said I look just like my father in the photograph. I will drop you and go back to work.’

  ‘What about the morning agenda?’

  ‘I have fixed up some meetings with a few Hindustan defectors. We will go together.’

  ‘You mean they immigrated from Hindustan and are settled here?’

  ‘That's right. Not immigrated, escaped. Ordinary citizens are not allowed a passport. Only party officials and a few businessmen can leave the country.’

  ‘You are jo
king, right?’

  ‘You wish. The usual strategy is to cross the border into Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh or Burma before fleeing to a third country like Thailand. All the four countries are close allies of Delhi and refuse to grant them refugee status. If they are caught they are deported back to Hindustan where they face public execution or detention in political prisons in the Thar desert.’

  ‘What about Pakistan?’

  ‘No one dare go to Pakistan. There is a bitter war over Kashmir, and all Hindustani's are executed on the spot.’

  ‘Why does Thailand offer them refugee status?’

  ‘It has close historic relations with Dravida, since many of our ancient kingdoms had expanded to Southeast Asia. If the defectors manage to flee to Thailand they are officially classified as illegal immigrants, and the government deports them to my country after they serve their prison sentences.’

  ‘What happens after they come here?’

  ‘They are interrogated by our intelligence agency to ensure that they are genuine and not spies, and then sent to a resettlement center on the outskirts of Madras. They are thoroughly debriefed and given training to adjust to life here.’

  ‘How do they manage to live without money?’

  ‘The government initially helps them.’

  ‘Does Hindustan have the same facilities for Dravidian defectors?’

  ‘Who would want to defect to Hindustan? The government cannot even feed its own people. Do you know that 3 million people died last year because of famine, and they demanded food aid from us?’

  ‘I heard there are a few defectors living there...’

  ‘All of them were kidnapped by spies here, like my father. It is just a propaganda tool used by them to tell the world that Dravidians want to defect. No one knows what those so-called defectors are doing now. Probably in a prison.’

  ‘My Prime Minister visited Delhi last year, and they showed it on television. The country looked very developed with modern buildings and clean roads.’

  ‘It is the showcase capital, just to fool the outside world that they are developed. If you go beyond Delhi, you will be shocked.’

  ‘I hope my visa comes through. I can see for myself, how much is hype and how much reality. I planned to go to Delhi after returning back to Corea.’

  ‘You mentioned it before. I am sure you will not be able to see reality, because I heard no foreigner is allowed to go anywhere unaccompanied. You will always be followed by two minders, who will control what you see and whom you talk to.’

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘Everyone knows that. A lot of visitors have written their accounts on their blogs with secret photos and videos of people in other towns. The defectors you meet tomorrow may convince you.’

  ‘OK then, I guess it is time to call it a day. The wine has gone to my head.’

  ‘So has the scotch, I will work for sometime, before turning in, have to complete an article. Goodnight.’

  Maya was slightly tipsy as she closed the door to her room and stripped before heading to the bathroom. She had a very productive day, and learned quite a lot.

  She admired her firm breasts and naked body in the mirror, feeling a strange excitement. She was growing sexually attracted towards Naga.

  Having forced him to undergo a complete makeover, complete with a new wardrobe and a decent haircut, his sharp features now stood out. He certainly seemed more confident than a week ago, but remained a perfect gentleman and did not make any inappropriate moves. All his flirting emails were just bravado.

  I look sexy and definitely younger. I am sure he is attracted and just waiting for the right moment. Let us see...should I try something tonight? No. Both of us are drunk. This has to be done when we are completely sober.

  Feeling refreshed after a warm shower, she switched off the lights and quietly opened her door just a bit, to check on Naga.

  He was sitting on his study table, pounding furiously on his computer, with an empty bottle of scotch to his side, while a thick cloud of cigarette smoke hung over his head.

  She immediately closed the door and snuggled into her bed. It was no use jeopardizing the relationship so soon.

  As she tossed and turned in bed, her mind kept wandering from Naga to Professor Ganapathy, and finally to her 3 year old son back home, before a deep sleep overtook her.