When the muddy water clears
ಕದಡಿದ ಸಲಿಲಂ ತಿಳಿವಂದದಿ
ಲೇಖಕ: ದಿನೇಶ ಕುಮಾರ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ತೆಕ್ಕಟ್ಟೆ
ತಣ್ಣಗಿನ ಮಾಗಿಯು ನಿಧಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಕಳಚುತ್ತ ವಸಂತ ಆಗಮಿಸುವ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಸುತ್ತುಮುತ್ತಣದ ತರುಲತೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಚಿಗುರಿ ಸಂಭ್ರಮಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಒಂದು ಅಪರಾಹ್ನ, ತಿಳಿಯಾದ ಸರೋವರದ ಮೇಲಿಂದ ಸುಳಿದಾಡುತ್ತ ಮಂದವಾಗಿ ಬೀಸುವ ತಂಗಾಳಿ ಹಿತವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನನ್ನಾವರಿಸುತ್ತಿರಲು,ನಿದ್ರಾದೇವಿಯು ನನ್ನ ಚಿತ್ತವನ್ನಪಹರಿಸತೊಡಗಿದಳು. ಕಿವಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಬೀಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ, ಉಡುಪ ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರು ಬೋಧಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ‘ಪಾಯಿಸೊನ್ ಡಿಸ್ಟ್ರಿಬ್ಯುಶನ್’ ಪಾಠ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಒಳಗೆ ನಾಟಲು ವಿಫಲವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಆಗ ಎಡಭಾಗದ ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತ ನಾಗವೇಣಿಯು ( ನಾವು ಹೃಸ್ವವಾಗಿ ಕರೆಯುವ ನಾಗ್) ಮುಡಿದ ಕೆಂಡಸಂಪಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ಸ್ಪರ್ಶಿಸಿ ಸುಳಿದು ಬಂದ ಮಂದಮಾರುತನು ನನ್ನ ನಾಸಿಕವನ್ನು ಹೊಕ್ಕಾಗ ಮತ್ತು ಆ ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲೇ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂತಿದ್ದ ರಾಧಾ ನನ್ನ ಪಕ್ಕೆಗೆ ತಿವಿದಾಗ ನಿದ್ರಾದೇವಿಯ ಮಡಿಲಿನಿಂದ ದೊಪ್ಪನೆ ಜಾರಿ ಬಿದ್ದಂತೆನಿಸಿ ತಡವರಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಕಣ್ಣು ತೆರೆದೆ. ಪಿಸುಮಾತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಗೆಳೆಯ ರಾಧಾಕೃಷ್ಣ (ನಾವು ಹೃಸ್ವವಾಗಿ ಕರೆಯುವ ರಾಧಾ) - 'ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರು ನಿನ್ನ ತೂಕಡಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದರು' ಎಂದ. ಆದರೆ ‘ಪ್ರಾಣಿಹಿಂಸೆ ಮಾಡಬಾರದು' - ಎಂಬ ತತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರು ಸುಮ್ಮನಿದ್ದರು. ನನ್ನನ್ನು ತಿವಿದು ಎಬ್ಬಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ, ‘ ಬರಡು ಇಂದ್ರೀಯಗಳುಳ್ಳವನು , ಹಿಂಸಕ’ ಎಂದು ರಾಧಾಗೆ ಬೈದುಕೊಂಡೆ. ತರಗತಿ ಮುಗಿದ ಮೇಲೆ, ಗಂಗೋತ್ರಿಯ ಹಾಸ್ಟೆಲ್-ಗೆ ಹೋಗುವ ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೀಬೆ ಮರ ಹತ್ತಿ ಎರಡು ದೋರೆಗಾಯಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಯ್ದುಕೊಂಡರೂ ರಾಧಾಗೆ ಕೊಡದೆ ನಾನೇ ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತಾಹೋದೆ; ನನ್ನ ಸಿಟ್ಟು ಇನ್ನೂ ತಣಿದಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ.
ರಾಧಾ ನನ್ನಆಪ್ತ ಗೆಳೆಯ, ನಮ್ಮೂರಿನ ಹತ್ತಿರದವನು. ಆತನ ತಂದೆ ಕಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ಹೊಲದಲ್ಲಿ ದುಡಿದು ಈ ಹಿರಿಯ ಮಗನನ್ನು ಓದಲು ಕಳಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಂಸಾರವುಳ್ಳವರು. ಆತನ ಮನೆಯ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ನಾನು ಬಲ್ಲವನಾಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಹಾಸ್ಟೆಲ್ ಮೆಸ್ಸ್ ಬಿಲ್ಲು ಕಟ್ಟುವ ಬಲವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ಅಕ್ಕಿತಂದು ಹಾಸ್ಟೆಲ್ ರೂಮಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲೆಕ್ಟ್ರಿಕ್ ಕಾಯ್ಲ್ ಒಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಜಿ ಬೇಯಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ತಂದ ಉಪ್ಪಿನಕಾಯಿಯೊಡನೆ ರಾಧಾ ಊಟಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿ ಕುಳಿತು ಪಾಠಕೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ರಾಧಾ, ಸಮಯ ವ್ಯರ್ಥ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಶಿಸ್ತಿನ ಹುಡುಗ. ರಾಧಾ ಜನಪದ ಗೀತೆಗಳನ್ನು, ಶರೀಫರ ತತ್ವಪದಗಳನ್ನು ಸುಶ್ರಾವ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ; ಗೆಳೆಯರ ಸಹವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ನಗರ ಲೋಕದ ರೀತಿರಿವಾಜುಗಳ ಪರಿಚಯವಾಗತೊಡಗಿತು. ನಮ್ಮಂಥ ಗೆಳೆಯರಿಂದ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ, ಕಲೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅಭಿರುಚಿ ಬೆಳೆಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾರಂಭಿಸಿದ. ಇಷ್ಟಾದರೂ ತರಗತಿಯ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿಯೇ ಅಂಕ ಗಳಿಸಿದ್ದ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸ್ನಾತಕೋತ್ತರ ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಳ್ಳಿಗಳಿಂದ ಬಂದ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಅರ್ಧಾಂಶದಷ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಉಳಿದ ಅರ್ಧಾಂಶದವರು ಪಟ್ಟಣಗಳಿಂದ ಬಂದವರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಲಾಟೀನು ಬೆಳಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿ ಬಂದಿರುವ ನಾವು ಹಳ್ಳಿಗರು ಅವರನ್ನು ಸಿಟಿಲೈಟ್ಸ್ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆವು. ಅವರೆಲ್ಲ ಟಸ್ಸು ಪುಸ್ಸು ಎಂದು ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ, ನಾವು ಹಳ್ಳಿಗರು ಅವರ ಸಹವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಲು ಹಿಂಜರಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆವು. ಅದರಲ್ಲಂತೂ ಸಿಟಿಲೈಟ್ಸ್ ಹುಡುಗಿಯರನ್ನು ಮಾತನಾಡಿಸಲು ಭಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿಯರು ಬಂದು ಏನಾದರು ಕೇಳಿದರೆ ತಲೆಯಲ್ಲಾಡಿಸಿ ಮಾಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆವು. ಸಿಟಿಲೈಟ್ಸ್ ಹುಡುಗರು ಸಲೀಸಾಗಿ ಹುಡುಗಿಯರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹರಟೆ ಕೊಚ್ಚುವುದು ನೋಡಿ ನಮಗೆ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಕಿಚ್ಚಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು, ಕ್ರಮೇಣ ಹೊಕ್ಕುಬಳಕೆಯಾಗಿ ಭಯ ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾಯಿತು. ಕೆಲವು ಹುಡುಗಿಯರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿತು ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ ಮಾತನಾಡಲು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದಾಗ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ನಿರಾಳವಾಯಿತು. ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿಯರು ಲೆಕ್ಕ ಕಲಿಸಿಕೊಡಿ ಎಂದು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ ಹುಮ್ಮಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಟ್ಟೆವು.
ಮೊದಲ ದಿನ ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಳ ಜಡೆಯ ನಾಗವೇಣಿಯ ಹಿಂದೆ ಕೂತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಆಕಸ್ಮಿಕವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಕಾಲು ಆಕೆಯ ಜಡೆಗೆ ತಾಕಿದಾಗ ಆಕೆ ಹಬ್ಬುಗಂಟು ಹಾಕಿದ್ದಳು. ಪುಂಡ ರೋಡ್-ರೋಮಿಯೋ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡಿರಬೇಕು. 'ಸಾರಿ' ಅಂದರೂ ಸಮಾಧಾನವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಆಕೆಯ ಗೆಳತಿಯರು ನನ್ನೊಡನೆ ಲೆಕ್ಕ ಹೇಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಾಗ, ಅವರ ಶಿಫಾರಿಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದಾಗಿ, ಅಕೆಯೂ ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡು ಸಲಿಗೆ ಬೆಳೆಯಿತು. ಕ್ರಮೇಣ, ನಾನೂ ಬಳ್ಳಿಯಂತೆ ಬಳುಕುವ ನಾಗವೇಣಿಯೂ ಜೋಡಿ ಹಕ್ಕಿಗಳ ಹಾಗೆ ಸರೋವರದ ಬಳಿಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದ ಬಳ್ಳಿಮಾಡದ ನೆರಳಲ್ಲಿಯೋ, ಕುಸುಮಭರಿತ ತೂಗುಮಂಚದ ಮೇಲೋ, ಬಯಲು ರಂಗಮಂದಿರದ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲುಗಳ ಮೇಲೆಯೋ ಕೂತು ಸಲ್ಲಾಪಿಸುತ್ತ ಕುಳಿತುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆವು. ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಲ್ಲಾಪಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಆಕೆಯ ಗೆಳತಿಯರಾದ ಗಾನವಿಶಾರದೆ ಮೀರಾ ಮತ್ತು ನೃತ್ಯವಿಶಾರದೆ ಡಯಾನಾ ಕೂಡ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಆಗ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಲ್ಲಾಪಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹಾಡು ಕುಣಿತಗಳು ಸೇರಿ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ರಸಮಯವಾಗಿರುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ನಮ್ಮ ರಸಿಕತೆಯ ಕಡಲು ಉಕ್ಕಿ ಹರಿಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು! ಅದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ರಾಧಾ ಕಸಿವಿಸಿಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ರಾಧಾ ಹುಡುಗಿಯರಿಂದ ಮಾರು ದೂರ ಇರುತ್ತಲಿದ್ದ. ಗೆಳೆಯ ಸೀತಾಪತಿ, ರಾಧಾಕೃಷ್ಣ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರು ರಸಿಕನಾದ ನನಗೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅನ್ವರ್ಥ ನಾಮವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು, ಅವನಿಗೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ದಂಡ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ನನ್ನ ಸಲ್ಲಾಪಗಳ ಕಾಲಕ್ಷೇಪದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ರಾಧಾ ಆಕ್ಷೇಪಿಸಿದಾಗ ಆತನಿಗೆ ಸಮಜಾಯಿಸಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೆ - 'ಶಿವರಾಮ ಕಾರಂತರು ಹೇಳಿಲ್ಲವೇ - ಮನುಷ್ಯ ತನ್ನಇಂದ್ರೀಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬರಡಾಗಿಸುವುದರಿಂದ ಏನನ್ನೂ ಸಾಧಿಸಿದಂತಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ - ಎಂದು . ಅದಕ್ಕವನಂದ – ‘ಕಾರಂತರೇನು ದೇವರೇ?’ ಕಾರಂತರ ಬರಹವೊಂದನ್ನು ಉದ್ಧರಿಸುತ್ತ ನಾನಂದೆ - ಹೌದು , ‘ನಮ್ಮ ಅಳತೆಯನ್ನು ಮೀರಲಾರದ ದೇವರು!’
ರಜಾದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿಹಾಸ್ಟೆಲ್ ಗೆಳೆಯರೆಲ್ಲ ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡು ಕಾರ್ಡ್ಸ್ ಆಡುತ್ತಲೂ, ಕ್ರಿಕೆಟ್ ಆಡುತ್ತಲೂ ಹೊತ್ತು ಕಳೆಯುತ್ತಲಿದ್ದೆವು. ಕಾರ್ಡ್ಸ್ನಲ್ಲಿ 'ಲಿಟರೇಚರ್’ ಎಂಬ ಆಟ ನಮ್ಮ ನೆನಪಿನ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವನ್ನು ಒರೆಗೆ ಹಚ್ಚುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ತಡರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆಡುವಾಗ, ಹಲವರಿಗೆ ಮಂಪರು ಕವಿಯುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ನೆನಪಿನ ಸರಪಣಿ ಕಡಿಯುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗುತ್ತಾ ಹೋದಾಗ ಆಟದ ಗತಿ ದಿಕ್ಕುತಪ್ಪುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಆ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಧಾ ಮಾತ್ರ ಹದ ತಪ್ಪುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಟದ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಸೀತಾ (ಸೀತಾಪತಿ) ಜೋಕು ಸಿಡಿಸುತ್ತಾ ನಮ್ಮ ಗಮನ ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿ ಗೆಲ್ಲಲು ಯತ್ನಿಸಿದರೆ, ರಾಧಾ ಮಾತ್ರ ಏಕಾಗ್ರ ಚಿತ್ತನಾಗಿದ್ದು ಹಳಿ ತಪ್ಪುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಟಪಾಠಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮೊಳಗೇ ಹಲವುಬಾರಿ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ, ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ, ಕಲೆಗಳಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳಾಗುತ್ತಲೂ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಸಣ್ಣಪುಟ್ಟ ಜಗಳಗಳೂ ಆಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ಆದರೆ ರಾಧಾ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸದಾ ತಾಳ್ಮೆಯಿಂದ ಶಾಂತನಾಗಿರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ನಮ್ಮಉತ್ಸಾಹೀ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಪ್ರಸಾದ(ಗಂಗೋತ್ರಿಯ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲೇ ಅವನ ಮನೆಯಿತ್ತು ) ನಾಟಕ, ಸಂಗೀತ, ನೃತ್ಯ, ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಕ್ರಿಯನಾಗಿದ್ದ. ಆತನ ದೆಸೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ನಾವೂ ಅವುಗಳ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರಾದೆವು. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ನಾವು ಗೆಳೆಯರೆಲ್ಲ ಸೇರಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದನೊಡನೆ ಒಂದು ಡಾಕ್ಯುಮೆಂಟರಿ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡಲು ಕೂತಾಗ, ನಮ್ಮಸಿಟಿಲೈಟ್ಸ್ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಮದನ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯಿಂದ ಮಾಡಿದ ಉದ್ಗಾರಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಧಾ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಹುಣ್ಣಾಗುವಷ್ಟು ನಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಏನೆಂದು ಕೇಳಿದರೆ ಮದನನು ಇಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೂ ಸಸ್ತನಿಗಳು(ಮನುಷ್ಯರನ್ನೂಸೇರಿ) ಗುದಧ್ವಾರದಿಂದ ಮರಿಹಾಕುತ್ತವೆ ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದನಂತೆ! ಅವನ ಅಜ್ಞಾನಕ್ಕೆ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲಬೆರಗಾಗಿದ್ದೆವು. ಆತ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ ಪದವೀಧರ ಹೇಗಾದನೋ, ಎಂಥಾ ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಗೆಳೆಯರ ಸಹವಾಸ ಮಾಡಿಬಂದನೊ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡೆವು. ನಿಸರ್ಗದ ಪರಿಚಯವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಬದನೇಕಾಯಿ ತಿಂದು ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಕೆಲವು ಸಿಟಿಲೈಟ್ಸ್ ಹುಡುಗ-ಹುಡುಗಿಯರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ರಾಧಾ ಕನಿಕರಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದ. ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ರಾಧಾ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಬರುಬರುತ್ತ ಪ್ರಣಯ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳನ್ನೋದುವ ಗೀಳು ಹತ್ತಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ.
ಗಂಗೋತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಹುಡುಗಿಯೊಬ್ಬಳು ಗುಡುಗುಡು ಸದ್ದು ಮಾಡುವ 'ಬುಲ್ಲೆಟ್ ' ಬೈಕ್ ಸವಾರಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತ ಬಂದಾಗ ರಾಧಾ ಬೆಚ್ಚಿ ಬಿದ್ದ. ಹುಡುಗನಾಗಿದ್ದೂ ಇಂಥ ಸಾಹಸಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಿಂಜರಿಯುವ ತನ್ನ ಗುಣವನ್ನು ಹಳಿದುಕೊಂಡ. ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ದಿನ ಕ್ಯಾಂಟೀನ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಬುಲ್ಲೆಟ್ ಹುಡುಗಿ ನಮ್ಮಹತ್ತಿರದ ಟೇಬಲ್ ಬಳಿ ಬಂದು ಕೂತಳು. ರಾಧಾ ಪುಳಕಗೊಂಡ. ಸೌಮ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುವ ಮೈತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡ ಬೆಳ್ಳನೆಯ ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆಆಕರ್ಷಿತನಾದ. ರಾಧಾನನ್ನು ಛೇಡಿಸಲು ಹೇಳಿದೆ - 'ಆಕೆ ಕದ್ದುಮುಚ್ಚಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಕಡೆ ಕುಡಿನೋಟ ಬೀರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಳೆ ’ ಎಂದು. ಆಗ ನನಗೆ ಕುರಿ ಇಷ್ಟು ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಹಳ್ಳಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಳುವುದೆಂಬ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮುಂದೊಂದು ದಿನ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾನು ಪರಿತಪಿಸುವಂತಾಗಬಹುದು ಎಂದೆಣಿಸಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಹರೆಯ ಎಂಬ ಹುಚ್ಚುಕುದುರೆ ಎಂತೆಂತಹರನ್ನೂ ಮರುಳುಗೊಳಿಸಬಲ್ಲುದು. ರಾಧಾ ನನ್ನ ಮಾತನ್ನು ನಂಬಿದ. ಎರಡು ದಿನದ ನಂತರ ಸಂಜೆ ಹುಮ್ಮಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ವಿಶಲ್ ಹೊಡೆಯುತ್ತ ಹಾಸ್ಟೆಲ್ಗೆ ಬಂದವನೇ - “ಆಕೆ ಲೈಬ್ರರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದಳು, ಬಯೋಕೆಮಿಸ್ತ್ರಿ ಡಿಪಾರ್ಟ್ಮೆಂಟ್ ನವಳು, ಹೆಸರು ಮನೋರಮಾ” - ಅಂದ. “ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮರ್ಲಿನ್ ಮನ್ರೋಳನ್ನು ಹೋಲುತ್ತಾಳೆಂದು ಹುಡುಗರು ‘ಮನ್ರೋ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ” - ಎಂದ. ರಾಧಾ ಪತ್ತೇದಾರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಣತಿ ತೋರಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ‘ಭೇಷ್’ ಎಂದೆ. ಈ ಅಡ್ಡಹೆಸರು ಇಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಹುಡುಗರು ಸಿದ್ಧಹಸ್ತರು. ಎದುರು ಕುಳಿತವರ ಮೈಕೈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಒದ್ದೆಯಾಗುವಂತೆ ಎಂಜಲು ಉಗುಳುತ್ತಾ ಪಾಠಮಾಡುವ ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೆ ‘ಮೈಖೇಲ್ ಎಂಜಲೋ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆದರೆ, ದಪ್ಪವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಗಾಢವಾದ ಸುವಾಸಿತ ಬಳಸುವ ದೀಪಾಳನ್ನು 'ಧೂಪ' ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅದು ಆಕೆಯ ಪರಿಮಳದ ಸೂಚಕವಾಗಿಯೂ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಗ್ಗುಳ ಧೂಪದ ಮರದ(Boswellia serrata) ಹಾಗೆ ದಪ್ಪವಾಗಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಸೂಚಿಸುವುದೆಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು! ಹೆಸರುಗಳ ಲಿಂಗಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವುದು ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಗೀಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಹುಡುಗರಿಗೆ. ಉದಾಹರಣೆಗೆ ರಾಧಾಕೃಷ್ಣನಿಗೆ ರಾಧಾ , ಸೀತಾಪತಿಗೆ ಸೀತಾ , ನಾಗವೇಣಿಗೆ ನಾಗ್ , ಕೃಷ್ಣವೇಣಿಗೆ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ನಾಗರಾಜನಿಗೆ ನಾಗಿ, ಪ್ಯಾಟ್ರಿಕ್ ಗೆ ಪ್ರೆಟ್ಟಿ, ರಮಣಿಗೆ ರಾಮ್ - ಹೀಗೆ ಲಿಂಗಾಂತರಿಸಿ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.
ದಿನಗಳೆದಂತೆ ರಾಧಾ - ಕ್ರಾಪು ಬಾಚಿಕೊಂಡು, ಪೌಡರ್ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡು, ಇನ್-ಶರ್ಟ್ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು - ಲೈಬ್ರರಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ತಾಕಲಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಯಾವುದೋ ಮತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿತೇಲಾಡುವವನಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. 'ಒಲವೇ ಜೀವನ ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ಕಾರ' ಎಂದೆಲ್ಲಗುಣುಗುಣಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ ಪುಳಕಗೊಂಡು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ 'ಲೋ, ಇಂದು ಮನ್ರೋ ಸ್ಕರ್ಟ್ ನ ಬಣ್ಣ ನನ್ನ ಶರ್ಟ್ನದ್ದೇ ಆಗಿತ್ತು' ಎಂದು. ಒಂದು ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನದ ಎರಡು ಪಿರಿಯಡ್ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲ ಪಿರಿಯಡ್ ತರುಣ ಅಧ್ಯಾಪಕ ಮನೋಜ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ ದಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಬಳಿಕ ಉಡುಪರ ಸಂಭವನೀಯತೆ (ಪ್ರಾಬಬಿಲಿಟಿ) ಕ್ಲಾಸ್ ಇತ್ತು. ನಮ್ಮ ಹುಡುಗರಿಗೆ ಮನೋಜ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅಸಡ್ಡೆ ಇತ್ತು, ಯಾಕೆಂದರೆ ಆತ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಪಠ್ಯಪುಸ್ತಕ ಹಿಡಿದುಕೊಂಡು ಓದಿ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಹಾಗಿರುವಾಗ ನಾವ್ಯಾಕೆ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ರೂಮಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬಾರದು ಕ್ಲಾಸಿಗೆ ಬರುವ ಬದಲು ಎನ್ನುವುದು ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವರ ತರ್ಕ. ರಾಧಾ ಆ ಸಮಯದ ಸದುಪಯೋಗದ ಲೆಕ್ಕ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡು ಲೈಬ್ರರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮನ್ರೋ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಾದು ಕುಳಿತ. ಎರಡನೇ ಪಿರಿಯಡ್ ಶುರುವಾಗುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ತರಗತಿಯ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಬಂದ . ನೋಡುತ್ತಾನೆ - ತರಗತಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಉಡುಪರು ಬೋರ್ಡ್ ಒರೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ರಾಗವಾಗಿ 'ಮೇ ಐ ಕಮಿನ್ ಸರ್ ' ಎಂದ. ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರು ತಿರುಗಿ ನೋಡಿ 'ಯಸ್ ' ಎಂದರು. ರಾಧಾ ಒಳಗೆ ಬಂದು ಕುಳಿತ. ನಾವೆಲ್ಲ ಗೊಳ್ಳೆಂದು ನಕ್ಕೆವು. ರಾಧಾ ಕಕ್ಕಾಬಿಕ್ಕಿಯಾದ. ಕರುಣಾಮಯಿಯಾದ ಉಡುಪರು ಮುಗುಳ್ನಕ್ಕು 'ಬೆಟರ್ ಲೇಟ್ ದ್ಯಾನ್ ನೆವರ್' ಎಂದುಸುರಿ ಹೊರನಡೆದರು. ಆದದ್ದಿಷ್ಟೇ! ಉಡುಪರು ತಮ್ಮಕ್ಲಾಸ್ ಮನೋಜ್ ರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆದಲುಬದಲು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರು. ಈ ಸಂಭವನೀಯತೆ ಅರಿಯದೆ ರಾಧಾ ನಗೆಪಾಟಲಿಗೆ ಈಡಾದಂತಾಯಿತು.
ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಸೀತಾ ರಾಧಾಗೆ ಹೊಸ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟ. “ಸಿಟಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಮನೋರಮಾ ಹೋಟೆಲ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಮನ್ರೋ ನೋಡಿದೆ. ಅದು ಆಕೆಯ ತಂದೆಯದ್ದಂತೆ” ಎಂದ. ರಾಧಾ ಜೇಬಲ್ಲಿಕಾಸಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ಗೆಳೆಯರಿಂದ ಸಾಲ ಕೇಳಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಿ ಮನೋರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಡೀಲಕ್ಸ್ ಊಟ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದ. ಮನ್ರೋ ದರ್ಶನವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ , ದುಡ್ಡು ಖರ್ಚಾಗಿದ್ದೇ ಬಂತು! ಕೆಲವು ದಿನ ಲೈಬ್ರರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮನ್ರೋ ದರ್ಶನವಾಗದಿದ್ದರೆ ರಾಧಾ - 'ವಿರಹಾ, ವಿರಹಾ, ನೂರು ನೂರು ತರಹಾ ' ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಲಾಪಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ರಾಧಾ, ತನ್ನ ಹೃದಯಕಮಲದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಪ್ರೇಮಮಕರಂದ ವನ್ನು ಮನ್ರೋ ಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಮೀಸಲಿಟ್ಟಿರುವೆ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ‘ಮನ್ರೋ, ತೇನ ವಿನಾ ತೃಣಮಪಿ ನಚಲತಿ' ಎಂದೆಲ್ಲ ವಟಗುಟ್ಟುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಬರಬರುತ್ತ ನನಗೆ ಇದು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅತಿಯಾಯಿತು ಅನ್ನಿಸಿತು. ನೋಡೋಣ, ಈತ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂಮನ್ರೋ ಸಖ್ಯ ಬೆಳೆಸಿದ್ದಾನೆಯೇ, ಆಕೆ ಓಗೊಡುತ್ತಿರುವಳೇ ಎಂದು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ಲೈಬ್ರರಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ನೋಡಿದೆ. ರಾಧಾ ಆಕೆಯನ್ನು ದೊರದಿಂದ ಎವೆಯಿಕ್ಕದೆ ನೋಡುತ್ತಾ ಗಂಟೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಕೂತಿದ್ದರೂ ಆಕೆ ಒಮ್ಮೆಯೂ ಈತನ ಕಡೆಗೆ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ! ನನಗೆ ಮನವರಿಕೆಯಾಯಿತು, ಇದು ಬೀರ್ಬಲ್ ಅಡುಗೆಯ ಕಥೆಯಂತೆ - ಮರದ ಮೇಲಿನ ಮಡಿಕೆಗೆ ನೆಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಲೆಯೂಡಿದಂತೆ - ಎಂದು. ರಾಧಾ ಭ್ರಮಾಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ತೇಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ನಿಧಾನಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಧಾಗೆ ತಿಳಿಹೇಳಲಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ “ಮನ್ರೋಳನ್ನು ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಹಚ್ಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದನ್ನು ಬಿಡು. ನಿನ್ನಮತ್ತೆ ಆಕೆಯ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಕೆಮಿಸ್ಟ್ರಿ ಕೂಡಿ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ” ಎಂದೆ. ರಾಧಾ ಕೇಳುವ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ.
ಮುಂದಣ ಸೆಮಿಸ್ಟರ್ ಪರೀಕ್ಷಾ ಫಲಿತಾಂಶ ಬಂದಾಗ ನೋಡುತ್ತೇನೆ - ರಾಧಾ ಫೈಲಾಗಿದ್ದ! ನನಗೆ ಗಾಬರಿಯಾಯಿತು! ರಾಧಾ ತಂದೆ ಕಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ದುಡಿದು ಮಗ ಮುಂದೆ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಓದಿ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿ ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಬಡತನದ ಪಾತಾಳದಿಂದ ಮೇಲೆತ್ತುತ್ತಾನೆಂದು ಕನಸು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ, ರಾಧಾ ಪ್ರೇಮಪಾತಾಳಕ್ಕಿಳಿಯುತ್ತಾ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿರುವನಲ್ಲಾ ಎಂದು ಕಳವಳವಾಯಿತು. ' ಅಷ್ಟು ಚುರುಕಾಗಿದ್ದ ಹುಡುಗ ಫೈಲಾದದ್ದು ಹೇಗೆ' ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದರೆ ಆತನ ತಂದೆಗೆ ಏನುತ್ತರ ಕೊಡಲಿ ಎಂದು ಚಿಂತೆಗೊಳಗಾದೆ. ಪಾಪಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಕಾಡಿತು. ಮ್ಲಾನವದನನಾಗಿ ಕೂತಿದ್ದ ರಾಧಾ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ 'ಏನು ಹೇಳೈ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಚಿತ್ತಗ್ಲಾನಿ ಯಾವುದು' ಎಂದು ಸಮಾಧಾನಿಸುತ್ತ ನೀನು ನಿನ್ನಪ್ರೇಮವೆಂಬ ಭ್ರಮೆಯಿಂದ ಹೊರಬರಬೇಕೆಂದೂ ಮನ್ರೋ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಕನಸು ವ್ಯರ್ಥವೆಂದೂ ಆಕೆಗೆ ನಿನ್ನಬಗ್ಗೆಆಸ್ಥೆ ಇರುವ ಯಾವ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳೂ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದೂ, ಹೋಟೆಲ್ ಸಾಹುಕಾರರ ಮಗಳು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ವರಿಸುವ ಯಾವ ಸಂಭವನೀಯತೆಯೂ ಕಾಣುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದೂ ಪರಿಪರಿಯಾಗಿ ವಿವರಿಸಿದೆ. . ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನ ಹಿತೈಷಿಯೆಂದು ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಒತ್ತಿ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾ ನಾನು 'ನಿನ್ನ ಅಪದೆಸೆಯ ಬಯಸುವನಲ್ಲ ಕೇಳು ಮಿತ್ರಾ’ ಎಂದೆ! ನಿನ್ನ ಊರಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ನೀನು ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಉದ್ಧಾರ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೀಯ ಎಂದು ನಂಬಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ನಿನ್ನ ತಂದೆತಾಯಿ, ತಮ್ಮಂದಿರು, ತಂಗಿಯಂದಿರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಯೋಚಿಸು - ಎಂದೆ.
ರಾಧಾಗೆ ನನ್ನಉಪದೇಶ ಪಥ್ಯವಾದಂತೆ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಗ ಕನಲಿ ಕೆಂಡವಾಗಿ - ನಿನ್ನ ಕುರುಡುಪ್ರೇಮವೆಂಬುದು ಪಾತಾಳ ಬಿಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬಾಗಿಲು ಮತ್ತು ಘೋರಾಂಧಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡಿದ ಕೂಪವೆಂದೂ ಅದರಿಂದ ಹೊರಬಾರದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವನತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಾಣಬೇಕಾಗುವುದೆಂದೂ, ಈ ಕಲಿಕೆಯ ಆವಧಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಬದುಕಿನ ದಾರಿಯನ್ನೇ ಬದಲಿಸುವುದೆಂದೂ ಆವೇಶಭರಿತನಾಗಿ ದೂರ್ವಾಸರಂತೆ ಘರ್ಜಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಪರಿಪರಿಯಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಯಹೇಳಿದೆ. ಊಹೂಂ! ಅಕಟಕಟಾ! ಗೋರ್ಕಲ್ಲಮೇಲೆ ನೀರು ಸುರಿದಂತಾಯಿತು!
ಮುಂದಿನ ಸೆಮಿಸ್ಟರ್ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಆತ ಸುಧಾರಿಸದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅನಾಹುತ ಕಾದಿದೆ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡು ಗೆಳೆಯ ಸೀತಾನೊಡನೆ ರಾಧಾನ ಉದ್ಧಾರಮಾರ್ಗದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಿದೆ. ಗೆಳೆಯ ಸೀತಾ, ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ತಾನು ದಾರಿ ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತೇನೆಂದು ಭರವಸೆಯಿತ್ತ.
ಕೆಲದಿನಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ರಾಧಾ ವ್ಯಗ್ರನಾಗಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದೆ. ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದರೆ ಹೇಳಿದ ನಮ್ಮ ತರಗತಿಯ ಸಿಟಿಲೈಟ್ಸ್ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಪ್ರೆಟ್ಟಿ(ಪ್ಯಾಟ್ರಿಕ್) ಮನ್ರೋ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಹರಟೆಹೊಡೆಯುತ್ತ ಕೂತಿದ್ದನಂತೆ! ಆಕೆ ಕಿಲಕಿಲ ನಗುತ್ತ ಗಂಟೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳಂತೆ! ನಿಷ್ಠುರನಾಗಿ ಮೌನವಹಿಸಿದೆ, ರಾಧಾನ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗೆ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯ ತೋರಿದೆ. ಒಂದೆರಡು ವಾರ ಆಕಾಶ ಕಳಚಿ ಬಿದ್ದವನಂತೆ ವರ್ತಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರಾಧಾ, ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯದಿಂದ ಅಸಹಾಯಕನಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಕೆಲ ದಿನ ತರಗತಿಗೂ ಬರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದ್ದಕ್ಕಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಪ್ರೇತಕಳೆಯ ಮುಖಹೊತ್ತು ರಾಧಾ ತರಗತಿಗೆ ಹಾಜರಾದ, ಮೌನವಾಗಿ ಕೂತ. ನಾವು ಅವನನ್ನು ಅವನಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟೆವು. ನಿಧಾನಕ್ಕೆಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ತರಗತಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಾಜರಾಗತೊಡಗಿದ.
ಮತ್ತೆಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿ ಪಾಠ ಕೇಳುತ್ತ, ಓದುತ್ತ ಹೋದ ರಾಧಾ, ಮುಂದಿನ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉತ್ತಮ ಅಂಕ ಗಳಿಸಿ ಪಾಸಾದಾಗ, ನನ್ನ ತಲೆಯ ಭಾರ ಕಳಚಿದಂತಾಯಿತು. ಸೀತಾ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿಟಿಲೈಟ್ಸ್ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಪ್ರೆಟ್ಟಿಯ ಉಪಕಾರವನ್ನು ಸ್ಮರಿಸಿದೆ.
ಗಂಗೋತ್ರಿಯಿಂದ ಸ್ನಾತಕೋತ್ತರ ಪದವಿ ಪತ್ರ ಪಡೆದು ಹೊರಡುವಾಗ ರಾಧಾನನ್ನು ಆಲಂಗಿಸಿ ಕವಿ ನಾಗಚಂದ್ರನು ತನ್ನ ‘ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ ಚರಿತಪುರಾಣ’ ದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾವಣನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದ ಸಾಲನ್ನು ಉದ್ಧರಿಸಿ 'ಕದಡಿದ ಸಲಿಲಂ(ಕೊಳ) ತಿಳಿವಂದದಿ ತಿಳಿದ..' ಎನ್ನುವಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಧಾ ‘ಅರ್ಥವಾಯಿತಯ್ಯಾ, ಥ್ಯಾಂಕ್ಸ್’ ಎಂದ. ಸ್ಫಟಿಕದ ಒಂದು ಬಿಂದು ಅವನ ಕಣ್ಣಿಂದ ಜಾರಿ ಮರಳೊಳಗೆ ಇಂಗಿ ಹೋಯಿತು.
“ಗೆಳೆಯಾ, ನಿನ್ನ ಮನೆಯವರ ಬಗೆಗಿನ ಕಾಳಜಿ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಮರೆಯಾಗದಂತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೋ, ಜನ - ನೀನಾರಿಗಾದೆಯೋ ಎಲೆ ಮಾನವಾ - ಎನ್ನುವಂತಾಗದಿರಲಿ” ಎಂದು ಬೆನ್ನು ತಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಆತ ಮುಗುಳ್ನಗುತ್ತ ಹೊರಟು ಹೋದ.
ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರುಬಿಡುತ್ತ - ಅಮಾಯಕರನ್ನುಛೇಡಿಸುವುದರಿಂದ ಆಗಬಹುದಾದ ಅನಾಹುತಗಳಿಗೊಂದು ಉದಾಹರಣೆಯಾಗಿ ಹೇಳುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಅನುಭವಬುಟ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರಿಸಿಡಬಹುದಾದ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಕಥಾಪುಷ್ಪವಾದರೂ ದೊರೆತಂತಾಯಿತು - ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡೆ.
(A version of this was told to limited audience at Minnimane Kathaavali Edition 8)
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When the muddy water settle
(Author: Dinesh K Shetty T.)
It was an afternoon of a bright day. The cold air of winter had just turned warmer announcing the arrival of spring. The creepers & trees around were e brimming with tender leaves & flower buds as if they are expressing their happiness. The breeze passing over a crystal clear lake was soothing me. It took me under the influence of the sleep goddess.
Mr. Udupa was teaching us about 'Poisson Distribution' in the classroom in which I was sitting. It wasn't penetrating my mind. Then the breeze passed over the 'Champak' flowers worn by Nagaveni - who was sitting on the left side - and brought the intense fragrance to my nose and at the same time 'Radha' poked his fingers on my ribs. The dual events resulted in me slipping from the embrace of the sleep-goddess. When I woke up with a jerk, my friend Radhakrishna (in short Radha) whispered in my year - ‘The teacher noticed your sleep’! But the teacher is a strong believer of the theme 'Animal rights shouldn't be violated'. Hence he ignored my sleep. "You are a sadistic torturer and an insensitive impaired person," I cursed Radha, for disturbing my heavenly sleep. When we got out of the class, while returning to our hostel in the Gangothri campus, I climbed a tree and plucked two guava fruits. I didn't care to share it with Radha. I was still angry with him.
Radha is my close friend. He hails from a village near to mine. His father toils in farm and with his savings from selling farm produce and borrowed money sent this eldest son for higher studies to Gangothri. He has a big family to feed. I was aware of their hardship. Since Radha didn't have enough money to pay the hostel mess bill, he cooks his own food using an electric stove. He uses the rice and pickle brought from his home. Radha is a serious student in the class, a disciplined pupil, not wasting time, concentrates on his studies most of the time. He is a good singer. He often sings folk songs and Shishunala Sharifa's 'tatvapada's which are endearing to hear. In Gangothri, he slowly learned city-life etiquette from friends. He also developed liking towards art and literature. That was mainly due to friends like us. Still, he could score good marks in class-exams. In our post-graduation course, half of the folks have come from villages including me and the rest half are from cities. We, the village folks - who studied with the help of Lanterns, called the city folks as 'city-lights'. When those city folks talk 'tuss-puss' in English, we hesitated to interact with them. We, the village boys were scared to talk to the 'city-lights' girls! When any of those girls came near us and asked for something, we used to nod our heads and disappear. We felt jealous of the city-lights boys when they were having prolonged conversations with those city-lights girls often! Over a period of time, after a prolonged period of familiarity, our scariness came down. When some of those girls learned Kannada and started talking with us in Kannada, we felt very comfortable with them. When some girls requested us to teach them maths, we were more than willing to help them!
During the first day of class, when I sat behind Nagaveni, the girl with a long braid, my leg accidentally touched her braid. She frowned on me. She thought I am a Roadside-Romeo. She wasn't satisfied even after I apologized. Eventually, when her friends were taking maths help from me and gave recommendations about me, she also sought my help. Slowly, we developed intimacy. We often started roaming together in the Gangothri campus. Often, one can see us engaged in long conversations under the garden arbour along the bank of the lake, or on the swinging bench of the garden or on the steps of the open-air theatre. Sometimes, her friends, Meera - who is an expert singer and Diana -who is an expert dancer, join us. Then, our meeting blended with songs & dance turn more colorful, vibrant and juicy. When Radha sees this, he feels uncomfortable. Radha always keeps his distance from girls. Observing this, my friend Sitapathi commented that I should have been named Radhakrishna rather than him. The name suits me well (since I exhibit some of the attributes of mythical character Krishna like wooing girls)! When Radha advised me to refrain from flirting with the girls, I justified my behaviour quoting writer Dr. Shivaram Karanth. I told him that Karanth had said - We don't achieve anything by restricting human senses. Radha retorted - "Is Karath a God?" I told him 'Karanth is - a God who is not beyond our measure' (quoting one of Karanth's articles)
We, the boys in the hostel, like spending our leisure time playing cricket or playing cards on our holidays.
The card came 'Literature' is our favourite game, which often utilizes our memory power. Sometimes when we play the game late night, when we feel sleepy, there is more chance of our memory chain breaking, thus resulting in our defeat. But Radha has excellent memory power, he could concentrate on the game even at midnight. Even when our friend Sita tries to distract us with his jokes, Radha wouldn't get affected. Though we all get excited sometimes during our discussions about science, literature, and arts and end up quarreling with each other, Radha doesn't lose his cool. There is an enthusiastic local friend named 'Prasad' (whose home was nearby to Gangothri). He is active in drama, music, dance, and cinema. We also became the audience for those events because of him. Once Prasad took us all to a documentary film. During the show, when one of our city-lights friend Madan Kumar exclaimed and whispering something with Radha. Radha laughed uncontrollably! When we enquired, he told us that so far Madan was of the impression that all mammals (including humans) deliver their baby through anus! We were all stunned! How could a science graduate wasn't aware of this basic knowledge? We wondered what kind of teachers and friends he had! Radha was pitiful towards those city-lights boys & girls who grow up away from nature and just come up by hearting the books. Of late Radha was showing more interest in literature. Over a period of time, he started reading romantic novels.
One fine morning, Radha saw a girl riding a 'Bullet' bike making loud 'Doug Doug' sound in Gangothri campus. Radha was ashamed that being a boy he was hesitant to do any adventure! After two days, when we were sitting in the canteen, we saw the 'Bullet girl' coming and sitting on a table near us. Radha got excited a bit. Radha seemed to be a bit attracted to that soft-looking beautiful, well-shaped, fair girl. Just to tease him, I told Radha - "the girl is stealing glimpses of you." I didn't expect the fish to catch the bait so easily. I also didn't realize that I may have to regret for this on a future day. Love-bug can bite anyone. Radha believed what I said about that girl. One evening, after two days, he came whistling in a cheerful mood and said - ”Met her at the library. She is from the Biochemistry department. Her name is Manorama. Since her look has some similarity with Marilyn Monroe, our boys have given her a nickname -Monroe." I appreciated Radha's detective skills.
Our boys are good at assigning nicknames. We have a teacher who often spits while talking. Students sitting on the first bench in the class used to get wet with his saliva! Saliva is called 'Enjalu' in Kannada. Hence the teacher was given the nickname 'Michelangelo'. A fat girl named Deepa who often uses fragrance was given the nickname 'Dhoopa’, since 'Dhoopa' in Kannada represents the fragrance and also there is a tree named 'Guggula Dhoopa' (Boswellia serrata) which grows quite a fat trunk. Our boys enjoy changing the sex of names. They call Radhakrishna as Radha, Sitapati as Sita, Nagaveni as Nag, Krishnaveni as Krishna, Nagaraj as Nagi, Patrick as Pretty. Ramani as Ram, and so on.
As the days passed, daily Radha used to get ready - combing his hair neatly, applying talcum powder on his face, dressed neatly tucking in-shirt - and visit the library. He often looked to be in a trance. He often mutters a film song line 'Olave jeevana sakshatkaara' (Love is the realization of life). Sometimes, he tells me excitedly "today the color of the skirt Monroe wore was the same as his shirt!" One afternoon, we had two class periods. First was by a young teacher called Manoj Kumar & Second was a class on Probability by Mr. Udupa. Our boys weren't liking Manoj's classes, since he often holds the textbook & just reads. Our boys are of the opinion that we can read the book ourselves in the hostel rather than attending his class. Radha thought of better utilizing that time & was waiting for Monroe at Library during Manoj's period. When the second period was about to begin, Radha came to the class. He saw Mr. Udupa wiping the blackboard clean. He bowed to him and asked 'May I come in, Sir'. Mr. Udupa turned and said "Yes! Come in!" Radha went in and sat in his seat. We all started laughing loudly. Radha was taken aback. Mr. Udupa smiled and said 'Better late than never' and walked out. What happened is this. Mr. Udupa had exchanged his class with Mr. Manoj. Unaware of this probability, Radha became a laughing stock.
One day, Sita brought new news for Radha. He saw Monroe at Manorama Hotel in the city. He also came to know that her father is the owner of that hotel. Radha borrowed some money and went to that hotel and had a deluxe lunch and came back. We heard that he couldn't see Monroe there. His money was wasted! Sometimes, when Radha couldn't see Monroe in the library, he used to mutter the film song lines 'Viraha Viraha Nooru Nooru Taraha' expressing his feeling of emptiness. Radha often says - "My heart has stored love nectar which is exclusively reserved for Monroe." He often chants 'Monroe, Tena vina trinamapi nachalati' (Nothing will move without you). I started feeling that Radha is going extreme. I thought of seeing his affair progress and check whether really Monroe is responding to him. I went and saw them in the library. Radha is staring at Monroe from far for hours together. But Monroe is not at all looking at him! I realized that this is like Birbal's cooking. The story of making fire on the ground for the pot hanging on the top of a tree! Radha is floating in his own imaginary world. Gradually, I started advising Radha to bring him down to earth. I advised him to stop thinking about Monroe and told him that their 'Chemistry' doesn't match. But, Radha's mental state wasn't ready to hear my advice.
When the next semester exam results came, I was shocked to see that Radha had failed. I got worried. When Radha's father was working hard to get him educated so that Radha would be able to pull them out of poverty, Radha was sinking in his 'love whirlpool'! If his father asks me "How did this guy, who was good at studies, fail in his exams?" What explanation can I give? A feeling of guilt was embracing me. I went to Radha, who was sitting in his room in a depressed mood and asked him "Tell me. What is ailing you"? I advised him to come out of his fantasy world and told him “Its wasteful effort to always dream about Monroe, I see no evidence of her showing any interest in you, moreover, being a rich hotel owner's daughter, I see no probability of she choosing you as her life partner." I stressed the fact that “Being your well-wisher, it's my duty to advise you towards the path to your career progress”. I also requested Radha to think about his family members - parents & younger siblings who are hoping that Radha will uplift them. I told him in strong words that he is caught in a love leash that can only lead him to sink in a dark, deep swirl and lead him to an oppressed world. Much to my dismay, all my preaching was like pouring water on a hard rock!
I realized that if Radha doesn't improve before the end of next semester, that will be a disaster. Hence, I discussed with my friend Sita about the ways and means to get Radha out of this mess. Sita promised to find some solution.
Mr. Udupa was teaching us about 'Poisson Distribution' in the classroom in which I was sitting. It wasn't penetrating my mind. Then the breeze passed over the 'Champak' flowers worn by Nagaveni - who was sitting on the left side - and brought the intense fragrance to my nose and at the same time 'Radha' poked his fingers on my ribs. The dual events resulted in me slipping from the embrace of the sleep-goddess. When I woke up with a jerk, my friend Radhakrishna (in short Radha) whispered in my year - ‘The teacher noticed your sleep’! But the teacher is a strong believer of the theme 'Animal rights shouldn't be violated'. Hence he ignored my sleep. "You are a sadistic torturer and an insensitive impaired person," I cursed Radha, for disturbing my heavenly sleep. When we got out of the class, while returning to our hostel in the Gangothri campus, I climbed a tree and plucked two guava fruits. I didn't care to share it with Radha. I was still angry with him.
Radha is my close friend. He hails from a village near to mine. His father toils in farm and with his savings from selling farm produce and borrowed money sent this eldest son for higher studies to Gangothri. He has a big family to feed. I was aware of their hardship. Since Radha didn't have enough money to pay the hostel mess bill, he cooks his own food using an electric stove. He uses the rice and pickle brought from his home. Radha is a serious student in the class, a disciplined pupil, not wasting time, concentrates on his studies most of the time. He is a good singer. He often sings folk songs and Shishunala Sharifa's 'tatvapada's which are endearing to hear. In Gangothri, he slowly learned city-life etiquette from friends. He also developed liking towards art and literature. That was mainly due to friends like us. Still, he could score good marks in class-exams. In our post-graduation course, half of the folks have come from villages including me and the rest half are from cities. We, the village folks - who studied with the help of Lanterns, called the city folks as 'city-lights'. When those city folks talk 'tuss-puss' in English, we hesitated to interact with them. We, the village boys were scared to talk to the 'city-lights' girls! When any of those girls came near us and asked for something, we used to nod our heads and disappear. We felt jealous of the city-lights boys when they were having prolonged conversations with those city-lights girls often! Over a period of time, after a prolonged period of familiarity, our scariness came down. When some of those girls learned Kannada and started talking with us in Kannada, we felt very comfortable with them. When some girls requested us to teach them maths, we were more than willing to help them!
During the first day of class, when I sat behind Nagaveni, the girl with a long braid, my leg accidentally touched her braid. She frowned on me. She thought I am a Roadside-Romeo. She wasn't satisfied even after I apologized. Eventually, when her friends were taking maths help from me and gave recommendations about me, she also sought my help. Slowly, we developed intimacy. We often started roaming together in the Gangothri campus. Often, one can see us engaged in long conversations under the garden arbour along the bank of the lake, or on the swinging bench of the garden or on the steps of the open-air theatre. Sometimes, her friends, Meera - who is an expert singer and Diana -who is an expert dancer, join us. Then, our meeting blended with songs & dance turn more colorful, vibrant and juicy. When Radha sees this, he feels uncomfortable. Radha always keeps his distance from girls. Observing this, my friend Sitapathi commented that I should have been named Radhakrishna rather than him. The name suits me well (since I exhibit some of the attributes of mythical character Krishna like wooing girls)! When Radha advised me to refrain from flirting with the girls, I justified my behaviour quoting writer Dr. Shivaram Karanth. I told him that Karanth had said - We don't achieve anything by restricting human senses. Radha retorted - "Is Karath a God?" I told him 'Karanth is - a God who is not beyond our measure' (quoting one of Karanth's articles)
We, the boys in the hostel, like spending our leisure time playing cricket or playing cards on our holidays.
The card came 'Literature' is our favourite game, which often utilizes our memory power. Sometimes when we play the game late night, when we feel sleepy, there is more chance of our memory chain breaking, thus resulting in our defeat. But Radha has excellent memory power, he could concentrate on the game even at midnight. Even when our friend Sita tries to distract us with his jokes, Radha wouldn't get affected. Though we all get excited sometimes during our discussions about science, literature, and arts and end up quarreling with each other, Radha doesn't lose his cool. There is an enthusiastic local friend named 'Prasad' (whose home was nearby to Gangothri). He is active in drama, music, dance, and cinema. We also became the audience for those events because of him. Once Prasad took us all to a documentary film. During the show, when one of our city-lights friend Madan Kumar exclaimed and whispering something with Radha. Radha laughed uncontrollably! When we enquired, he told us that so far Madan was of the impression that all mammals (including humans) deliver their baby through anus! We were all stunned! How could a science graduate wasn't aware of this basic knowledge? We wondered what kind of teachers and friends he had! Radha was pitiful towards those city-lights boys & girls who grow up away from nature and just come up by hearting the books. Of late Radha was showing more interest in literature. Over a period of time, he started reading romantic novels.
One fine morning, Radha saw a girl riding a 'Bullet' bike making loud 'Doug Doug' sound in Gangothri campus. Radha was ashamed that being a boy he was hesitant to do any adventure! After two days, when we were sitting in the canteen, we saw the 'Bullet girl' coming and sitting on a table near us. Radha got excited a bit. Radha seemed to be a bit attracted to that soft-looking beautiful, well-shaped, fair girl. Just to tease him, I told Radha - "the girl is stealing glimpses of you." I didn't expect the fish to catch the bait so easily. I also didn't realize that I may have to regret for this on a future day. Love-bug can bite anyone. Radha believed what I said about that girl. One evening, after two days, he came whistling in a cheerful mood and said - ”Met her at the library. She is from the Biochemistry department. Her name is Manorama. Since her look has some similarity with Marilyn Monroe, our boys have given her a nickname -Monroe." I appreciated Radha's detective skills.
Our boys are good at assigning nicknames. We have a teacher who often spits while talking. Students sitting on the first bench in the class used to get wet with his saliva! Saliva is called 'Enjalu' in Kannada. Hence the teacher was given the nickname 'Michelangelo'. A fat girl named Deepa who often uses fragrance was given the nickname 'Dhoopa’, since 'Dhoopa' in Kannada represents the fragrance and also there is a tree named 'Guggula Dhoopa' (Boswellia serrata) which grows quite a fat trunk. Our boys enjoy changing the sex of names. They call Radhakrishna as Radha, Sitapati as Sita, Nagaveni as Nag, Krishnaveni as Krishna, Nagaraj as Nagi, Patrick as Pretty. Ramani as Ram, and so on.
As the days passed, daily Radha used to get ready - combing his hair neatly, applying talcum powder on his face, dressed neatly tucking in-shirt - and visit the library. He often looked to be in a trance. He often mutters a film song line 'Olave jeevana sakshatkaara' (Love is the realization of life). Sometimes, he tells me excitedly "today the color of the skirt Monroe wore was the same as his shirt!" One afternoon, we had two class periods. First was by a young teacher called Manoj Kumar & Second was a class on Probability by Mr. Udupa. Our boys weren't liking Manoj's classes, since he often holds the textbook & just reads. Our boys are of the opinion that we can read the book ourselves in the hostel rather than attending his class. Radha thought of better utilizing that time & was waiting for Monroe at Library during Manoj's period. When the second period was about to begin, Radha came to the class. He saw Mr. Udupa wiping the blackboard clean. He bowed to him and asked 'May I come in, Sir'. Mr. Udupa turned and said "Yes! Come in!" Radha went in and sat in his seat. We all started laughing loudly. Radha was taken aback. Mr. Udupa smiled and said 'Better late than never' and walked out. What happened is this. Mr. Udupa had exchanged his class with Mr. Manoj. Unaware of this probability, Radha became a laughing stock.
One day, Sita brought new news for Radha. He saw Monroe at Manorama Hotel in the city. He also came to know that her father is the owner of that hotel. Radha borrowed some money and went to that hotel and had a deluxe lunch and came back. We heard that he couldn't see Monroe there. His money was wasted! Sometimes, when Radha couldn't see Monroe in the library, he used to mutter the film song lines 'Viraha Viraha Nooru Nooru Taraha' expressing his feeling of emptiness. Radha often says - "My heart has stored love nectar which is exclusively reserved for Monroe." He often chants 'Monroe, Tena vina trinamapi nachalati' (Nothing will move without you). I started feeling that Radha is going extreme. I thought of seeing his affair progress and check whether really Monroe is responding to him. I went and saw them in the library. Radha is staring at Monroe from far for hours together. But Monroe is not at all looking at him! I realized that this is like Birbal's cooking. The story of making fire on the ground for the pot hanging on the top of a tree! Radha is floating in his own imaginary world. Gradually, I started advising Radha to bring him down to earth. I advised him to stop thinking about Monroe and told him that their 'Chemistry' doesn't match. But, Radha's mental state wasn't ready to hear my advice.
When the next semester exam results came, I was shocked to see that Radha had failed. I got worried. When Radha's father was working hard to get him educated so that Radha would be able to pull them out of poverty, Radha was sinking in his 'love whirlpool'! If his father asks me "How did this guy, who was good at studies, fail in his exams?" What explanation can I give? A feeling of guilt was embracing me. I went to Radha, who was sitting in his room in a depressed mood and asked him "Tell me. What is ailing you"? I advised him to come out of his fantasy world and told him “Its wasteful effort to always dream about Monroe, I see no evidence of her showing any interest in you, moreover, being a rich hotel owner's daughter, I see no probability of she choosing you as her life partner." I stressed the fact that “Being your well-wisher, it's my duty to advise you towards the path to your career progress”. I also requested Radha to think about his family members - parents & younger siblings who are hoping that Radha will uplift them. I told him in strong words that he is caught in a love leash that can only lead him to sink in a dark, deep swirl and lead him to an oppressed world. Much to my dismay, all my preaching was like pouring water on a hard rock!
I realized that if Radha doesn't improve before the end of next semester, that will be a disaster. Hence, I discussed with my friend Sita about the ways and means to get Radha out of this mess. Sita promised to find some solution.
After a few days, I found Radha in a state of being furious. I asked him - "What's the problem, Buddy?" He said - one of our 'city lights' friend Pretty (i.e. Patrick) was flirting with Monroe and Monroe was giggling and having a loud laugh too for long! I kept quiet, behaved as if I am ignoring his problems. For one or two weeks, Radha was behaving as if the sky has fallen on his head. He was feeling lonely and helpless too since none of us were paying any attention to him. He didn't attend classes for some days, sitting alone in the hostel room. One day, he appeared in the classroom with a dejected face and sat silently. We just left him alone. Slowly, he started coming to the class on time and started studying seriously. When he passed the next exam with good scores, I felt relieved as if I got rid of a heavyweight hanging on my back. I expressed my gratefulness to Sita and Pretty.
When we were leaving Gangothri, after getting our Post Graduation degree Certificate, I embraced Radha and quoted a line from poet Nagachandra's ‘Ramachandra Charita Purana', a line describing Ravana's state towards the end of the story, which says "Kadadida salilam tilivandade ... (i.e. when the muddy water clears ..). Radha chipped in and said " I understood, my friend! Thanks for all the help". A crystal clear drop of tear rolled down on his cheek and got absorbed by the sand near my feet.
I patted him on his shoulder and said "My dear friend, ensure that your concern for your near & dear ones, never vanishes from your mind. Don’t ever make yourself an object of ridicule for being unhelpful to your people." Radha departed with a smile on his face.
"At least I could add a moral story-flower to my experience basket as an example to show - how a minor tease of an innocent person can also cause a disaster!" - I sighed to myself.
The End.
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