It was raining cats and dogs. Last week of August is marked for the heaviest rains in Kerala. Whenever there was flood in Kerala, it happened during August last week. Ramesh’s building at Tripunitara was a stilt building. Hence water never entered flats in his building. However Ramesh kept a watch on the water level in the area. There was water logging in the back side of his building. The space between his building and the neighboring building was flooded. He was watching the water level, when his mobile started ringing.
“Sir, I am P.S. Kamath calling. Sorry to disturb you”. Kamath was his assistant in the Plant when he was Production in charge.
Ramesh told, “No, don’t worry, tell me what is the matter?”
“Sir, I am extremely sorry that I could not come to your home and invite you. My daughter is getting married tomorrow. The Venue is Udyan Hall, Kochi. You must bless the occasion with your presence along with madam and daughter. Everything happened so fast. I needed to arrange it in such a short notice of just one week. Please do come at 12.00 A.M. tomorrow to Udyan Hall, Kochi”.
“Yes, Kamath, I will come, thanks for calling me”.
Next day was Sunday. Ramesh kept the phone and told his wife and daughter. Both of them said they are not interested to go out in such heavy rains. He was also not interested to go out in the heavy rains. But then Kamath is known to him for more than 20 years. He also worked directly under Ramesh for nearly 5 years. He invited Ramesh for his only daughter’s marriage, on phone one day before the marriage. Kamath must have scanned his memory to confirm the people close to him, whom he could not call for marriage.
Sunday morning was as lazy as it used to be. The climate as predicted was changing from moderate to heavy rains. Ramesh was sitting on his computer, not decided to go or not to go. At 11.00 A.M. his wife gave him last warning. He needs to give her, his confirmation whether he is there for lunch or not. Hesitantly Ramesh decided to go for Kamath’s marriage. He got up and started in the heavy rains in his car. He kept thinking why people get married in such heavy rains and invite people to trouble them. However the decision was taken and he started driving. It was really heavy rains. There was water logging everywhere on road.
Ramesh reached Udyan hall at 11.50 A.M. The hall was full of people. He could see Kamath standing on the stage making arrangements. After seeing Ramesh, Kamath suddenly jumped off the stage and started running towards the entrance of the hall to welcome him. Ramesh was so moved by this gesture. After seeing the happiness in his face, Ramesh felt as if his heart was placed alone in air conditioned environment. Ramesh felt it could have been a great mistake if he did not come for the marriage. He found Mr. Kamath finding way through the crowd pushing his guests around and moving towards him with full smile on his face and his hands stretching towards him to hold his hands. Ramesh also stretched his hands towards him with a smile right from his heart.
Suddenly he could see Mr. Kamath pushing him to the side as he did with lot of his guests to reach him and going ahead. Ramesh slowly pulled his hand down and the smile on his face vanished as if someone slapped him on face. He did not turn around to see to whom Mr. Kamath was rushing to welcome.
Ramesh slowly moved ahead, he could see some of his colleagues from the company sitting in the crowd. His colleague, Mr. A.K. Kaul, called him and he sat on a chair near him. Ramesh could see Mr Kamath guiding a couple towards the front row and they were well positioned in previously reserved seats for chief guests.
Mr. Kamath did not look towards him. Ramesh was sure that he did see him in his mad rush to welcome that Very Important Person. The marriage took place as usual. Mr and Mrs. Kamath invited everyone to have the delicious lunch arranged on the first floor. The newlywed couple went for changing the dress. The guests were queuing up for blessing the couple. Another group of guests were running towards the stairs to queue up for lunch as if they had never seen food before. Ramesh felt it was a wrong decision to drive in the heavy rain to Kochi to attend the wedding. Ramesh was just coming out of the hall, when he saw Mr. Kamath moving towards the first floor.
Mr. Kamath wished him and told, “Sir, nice that you came for the marriage. It is arranged in such a short time. I could not invite many of my friends. Please have food before you leave”.
Ramesh made up his decision to leave immediately. He learned his lesson. He could not tell his wife and daughter what happened during the marriage. On his way back home, he stopped near “Surabhi” hotel and had his lunch. He took an important decision on that day. Ramesh will not take pains to attend marriages of people whom he distantly knows. He understood that people want crowd for their marriages to show to the people. He will attend only those marriages where his presence is absolutely necessary. He will not sacrifice his time and efforts to become just a number in the crowd.
Dr Pozhath Narayanan Kutty 