Who's this Chandramukhi?
Who's this Chandramukhi?
(Adaptation of an old granny tale)
The green fields of Ambasamudram are swaying to the cold breeze. A huge gathering is waiting restlessly outside the Government Hospital. The police in the hospital premise have geared up heavy bandobast. The post-mortem report of Fr. Susai is expected today.
Fr. Susai, the vicar of St. Peter's Church is a well-known person in Ambasamudram. He was known for his compassionate attitude towards the needy. He almost knew everybody by name in his locality. Fr. Susai had a major say in some of the village decisions because of his sharp acumen. Fr. Joshua is the assistant Vicar and a close friend of Fr. Susai. Unlike Fr. Susai, Fr. Joshua is a reserved character but has a good rapport with the villagers.
One fine morning, when both the priests were on their way to Annai Orphanage and Seva Centre in Karthigaipatti, they met Muthuraman the son of Panchayat leader.
"Who's this Chandramukhi?", asked Muthuraman.
"You were telling its Rajnikanth's latest movie", shot back Fr. Susai.
"Yes father, it's about a girl influenced by a deceased spirit. But they say it's all about split-personality and no spirits." Muthuraman pauses for a while and asks again,"Do spirits exist and do they harm people?"
"Yes Muthu, spirits do exist, but they don't harm people as we read in books or see in movies."
Fr. Joshua who was silent all the while, "I beg to differ Father. Some spirits might harm people. I've also seen people possessed by demons."
Muthuraman had an important work and left the place, but the two ministers continued their discussion.
In the end Fr. Joshua came up with a challenge, "If you believe that spirits don't harm people, can you nail on the grave of Sahayam, who committed suicide last year, tonight?"
"That's a harsh punishment Father. But I accept the challenge."
Later that night, Fr. Susai geared up for the challenge and went to the church's cemetery. The celebrant who was brave till then started shivering as he approached Sahayam's grave. With a deep breath, he nailed down quickly on the grave and was about to rush out, when he felt that someone was pulling him back.
The next day Fr. Joshua woke up to the heavy noise outside the parsonage. When enquired he came to know that Fr. Susai was found dead on Sahayam's grave. The whole village was shocked over the incident, so was Fr. Joshua. Many stories started floating around the village.
"It was heart-attack." the inspector in-charge of the investigation came out. Fr. Joshua was enquired and he told about the challenge to the police.
"Hmmm... this could have been avoided Father. You know one thing, Fr.Susai nailed on his robe over the grave."
-Sudhin.
KARMA
KARMA
I'm back from a long and tiring day. I had travelled almost 700 km to perform the last rites for my grandfather near the banks of Bharathapuzha. With his demise, I'm left with none to care for me. My parents died in an accident in Bangalore when a lorry collided with the car they were traveling. I was just seven year old then. My grandfather and I were left alone and he took me to his ancestral home in Thrissur. None of our relatives were there to help us. Our expenses including that for my education was from my grandfather's pension, he was a retired school headmaster. The only support, which we received, was from our neighbour Thomas Kulimootil and family. Anoop Thomas was infact my classmate and my dearest friend. Shanti aunty also considered me as her son and helped me a lot. The entire family was more than a neighbour to us. Years later Anoop and I joined a law college in Salem district.
Thud!Thud! "You should be tired after the long journey. Take rest after having the food." It was the prison's junior warden. I had gone on parole for my grandfather's cremation. He emptied his tray to my plate and left. I have no company here as I'm placed in a special confinement cell. The reason is simple; I'm convicted for murdering three of my classmates and counting my days.
The first year in college was a nightmare. Ragging was the buzzword and the entire class was scared of the word, "seniors". Though it was fun, sometimes it used to cross limits. I even ran away from the hostel and went back to my home. After a truckload of advices from my grandfather, Thomas uncle and Anoop, I went back again. Second year was fun. I had decided not to pass on the pains to my juniors and infact saved a lot of them from the clutches of my batchmates. But Anoop was on the other side he enjoyed doing it. The room allotted to us had to house four people - Ravi, Sameer, Anoop and I. Midland theatre in Chinnakolapatti was famous for soft porn flicks and my roommates were frequents. Though I was friendly with all, I usually abstained from them when they were on the way to bars or pubs. Things started getting worse. They started drinking in the room too; Anoop didn't heed to my words. Once I was returning from the town, I saw a girl coming out of our room. When I went inside, it was in total chaos. We had a big argument that day and they promised that it'd not be repeated.
One Friday night I had to go to my home, as my grandfather was sick. My roomies had gone to the regular round up at Midland. While returning they saw a girl sleeping in a cot outside her home. They lifted her slowly without any jerk and brought her near our hostel. She was mercilessly raped and killed. Her body was thrown into a dry well nearby. After four days, the villagers found her body and they got a clue that this was done by the college students. Angered by the incident, they came rushing in and injured some of the boys in the hostel. Luckily many of us escaped as we got a hint. When we all came back, the students joined hands and had the village burned out. It took a major toll on the village. Then with the help of the government and some influential people, the matter was sealed up. Tension however still persisted.
I also took up the habit of boozing after the incident. One of the prime areas of my concern was Anoop's involvement in all these filth. I visited the hospital one day and was sickened at the plight of the villagers. Venkat a bright student of our class had lost one of his legs. A week later, we all got together for the weekly booze party - only four of us. When our spirits were on high, Sameer considered the earlier incident as an achievement. The other guys seconded it. This along with my earlier trauma provoked me to hit Sameer and this started out a fight between us. I stabbed all three of them with the broken beer bottle. Anoop and Ravi died on the spot and Sameer on the way to the hospital.
That's the reason I'm here now. My grandfather and some of my friends made me appeal to the High Court and then to the Supreme Court but it was moved away. I accepted the crime and spoke very less in the court. The final judgement was that I killed them because of jealousy and prior-hostility.
"Some visitor has come to meet you." came the junior warden again. It was Shanti aunty. I was totally shaken seeing her. For the first time after all these, I started crying. "Did you do it, Ram? Why?" was her query? "I didn't want to. It all happened...", I told her everything from the scratch. She was also devastated hearing it. She went away without uttering a single word. Next day morning, the jail warden wanted me to sign up some papers. Those were an application for receiving President's pardon. I saw that Thomas uncle undersigned the co-applicant. I didn't want to go for it, as it should get the reward for my deed. My friends got what they deserved for the crime committed and I should get for taking law in my hands. But I still signed it just to keep them happy. Its merely 20 days for my execution.
(20 days later) "I didn't receive any communication." the warden in a soft tone, "So we need to carry on the formalities." The night has arrived and the team came in for my regular health check-up and I'm being taken up to the dreaded place. I came to know that my application was turned down either. Now, I'm unable to visualise anything. I could see some familiar faces - Ravi, Sameer, Anoop, Appa, Amma, Muthachen..........
- Sudhin.
It was all over and next day his body was collected by the Thomas family and was cremated as per his traditions.
*Appa, Amma, Muthachen --> Dad, Mom and Grandpa respectively.
Though some parts are based on a true story, all the characters are purely fictional. Any resemblance is mere coincidence.
Harsh Reality
Harsh Reality:
Every word from his mouth is sweeter than the purest honey. When I was in trouble, he stood by me as a pillar of strength. He gave me the badly needed company when I was in solitude. I could sleep peacefully when he was around. He would bring down the stars for me if I ask for it. He would take me to the world's best physician even if a small thorn pricks my flesh. Had I been a normal girl, I would have never turned down his proposal. But I don't want to be selfish; there are a whole lot of my own people still suffering back home.
" Dreams never come when there's pain in the eyes,
Bonds never blossom when there's a war in the heart."
-Sudhin
Inspired by Vairamuthu's transcript for Maniratnam's DilSe.
