As the news came that a new viceroy family is coming to the estate, Shakunthala got the entire house cleaned, furniture setup and decorations made. Shakunthala was the maid and cook for the viceroy families from the past 5 years. Her husband works as the watchman and gardener. They have a 7 year old boy named Ramu. Since they were needed in the estate all the time, they were allowed to live within the estate but in a far end. This is the best living the family could get being untouchables.
Next day, the viceroy family arrived along with several relatives. Shakunthala had the busiest of the days with all the chores to be taken care of. In two weeks, the relatives left the house which now has only Viceroy family : The Viceroy, his mistress and their young daughter.
Being a untouchable, Shakunthala was allowed to enter only the kitchen and from the back door only. Within few days, she understood that the new mistress is a good person. The new mistress had no restrictions, never bothered about the untouchablility of her servants and she event sent sweets to Ramu regualarly.
Ramu stays alone in his house. He never had the fortune to go to school or play with other kids, and he never understood why he is a untouchable.
One day he heard a girl's voice nearby. Though he was not allowed, his curiosity made him search for the source. Under the shade of a tree he saw a beautiful girl singing and playing with her doll. To his eyes, she looked like an angel. Her skin, white colored; her eyes, blue; her dress, the finest of the fiber, confirmed it.
She saw him approaching towards her and her eyes widened with a curiosity that she might get a playmate. In minutes, Ramu and Jessy became friends.
With the permission of her mother, Jessy invited Ramu to their house. The huge walls, beautifully craven wooden furniture, paintings hanging on walls, it looked like a new world to him. Day after day the visits to the house became regular and he started enjoying his new freedom. Everyday both the children would play for few hours and study together. Jessy became more than Ramu's friend, she became his teacher.
A year passed.
1947 August 14 midnight, huge sounds woke Ramu from sleep. He went running to see what it is and all he could see is everyone dancing, shouting and firing crackers. He went to an old man and asked him , "Dadaji, what happened?"
"We got freedom beta ", he replied.
Ramu never heard about this word and asked, "What is freedom?"
"Freedom means you will always be happy, like everyone now is, look around beta, everyone is celebrating, this is freedom!" Dadaji replied.
The next day morning he went running to Jessy to tell her that they got freedom and they always be happy and celebrating. As he entered the house, he observed that all servants are busy packing things. He went to Jessy's room, and asked her "Are you going to a tour?"
"Mother said we are going to home", she replied.
"But this is your home, our home, here we live! we also got freedom and you know, we can always celebrate! " he replied.
But she did not show any excitement. He sat beside her and asked, "Can i also come with you?"
"Mom said you cannot come, here is your home."
With tears in his eyes he gave her a tight hug, wishing time stops at that moment.
Viceroy's family left the estate which was now occupied by a zamindari family. In few days, Shakunthala understood that the new family is particular about untouchables and they don't want them entering the house except Kitchen.
Ramu heard that a new family came to the house. His mother warned him that the old rules are back for him and that he should stay inside their house only. Thinking that his mother told the same when the previous family came, he decided to pay a visit to the new family.
He entered the house and saw the new mistress. "Good morning madam!", he greeted her. The new mistress, quite impressed by this, called him near her and asked, "Who are you ?".
"I am Shakunthala's son ", he replied
Mistress's eyes became wide with anger and she went to the kitchen shouting, "Shakunthala!!"
"How dare your son enter my house, have you never taught him any manners? Have you never told him that he is an untouchable, that he belongs to the lowest of the human beings?" she started shouting at Shakunthala.
Shakunthala asked the mistress to forgive him, that he is just a kid and he got used to the house because of the previous family.
The mistress, outraged by the sin committed by Ramu, picked up a wooden stick and started beating him.
With each touch of the stick feeling like fire, he is shocked that even his mother is not stopping the mistress. Ramu closed his eyes. Tears flowing out, and pain all over the body, he remembered Jessy, her eyes, her smile.
It was midnight, and 6 hours passed before Ramu became conscious. He tried opening his eyes but he was unable to, he tried moving his body but he could not feel anything except pain. A few minutes passed and he felt that his mother is holding his hand, a touch which he can always recognize.
"Mother?" he tried calling but felt that his voice was not coming out.
He tried another time and succeeded to let it out with a feeble voice.
Shakunthala realized that her son finally came back to consciousness. "Yes son", she replied.
"Dadaji told me that everyone got freedom but why did not I get it?" He asked.
With tears flowing down her cheeks, Shakunthala held his hand tight and kissed on his forehead.
Next day, the viceroy family arrived along with several relatives. Shakunthala had the busiest of the days with all the chores to be taken care of. In two weeks, the relatives left the house which now has only Viceroy family : The Viceroy, his mistress and their young daughter.
Being a untouchable, Shakunthala was allowed to enter only the kitchen and from the back door only. Within few days, she understood that the new mistress is a good person. The new mistress had no restrictions, never bothered about the untouchablility of her servants and she event sent sweets to Ramu regualarly.
Ramu stays alone in his house. He never had the fortune to go to school or play with other kids, and he never understood why he is a untouchable.
One day he heard a girl's voice nearby. Though he was not allowed, his curiosity made him search for the source. Under the shade of a tree he saw a beautiful girl singing and playing with her doll. To his eyes, she looked like an angel. Her skin, white colored; her eyes, blue; her dress, the finest of the fiber, confirmed it.
She saw him approaching towards her and her eyes widened with a curiosity that she might get a playmate. In minutes, Ramu and Jessy became friends.
With the permission of her mother, Jessy invited Ramu to their house. The huge walls, beautifully craven wooden furniture, paintings hanging on walls, it looked like a new world to him. Day after day the visits to the house became regular and he started enjoying his new freedom. Everyday both the children would play for few hours and study together. Jessy became more than Ramu's friend, she became his teacher.
A year passed.
1947 August 14 midnight, huge sounds woke Ramu from sleep. He went running to see what it is and all he could see is everyone dancing, shouting and firing crackers. He went to an old man and asked him , "Dadaji, what happened?"
"We got freedom beta ", he replied.
Ramu never heard about this word and asked, "What is freedom?"
"Freedom means you will always be happy, like everyone now is, look around beta, everyone is celebrating, this is freedom!" Dadaji replied.
The next day morning he went running to Jessy to tell her that they got freedom and they always be happy and celebrating. As he entered the house, he observed that all servants are busy packing things. He went to Jessy's room, and asked her "Are you going to a tour?"
"Mother said we are going to home", she replied.
"But this is your home, our home, here we live! we also got freedom and you know, we can always celebrate! " he replied.
But she did not show any excitement. He sat beside her and asked, "Can i also come with you?"
"Mom said you cannot come, here is your home."
With tears in his eyes he gave her a tight hug, wishing time stops at that moment.
Viceroy's family left the estate which was now occupied by a zamindari family. In few days, Shakunthala understood that the new family is particular about untouchables and they don't want them entering the house except Kitchen.
Ramu heard that a new family came to the house. His mother warned him that the old rules are back for him and that he should stay inside their house only. Thinking that his mother told the same when the previous family came, he decided to pay a visit to the new family.
He entered the house and saw the new mistress. "Good morning madam!", he greeted her. The new mistress, quite impressed by this, called him near her and asked, "Who are you ?".
"I am Shakunthala's son ", he replied
Mistress's eyes became wide with anger and she went to the kitchen shouting, "Shakunthala!!"
"How dare your son enter my house, have you never taught him any manners? Have you never told him that he is an untouchable, that he belongs to the lowest of the human beings?" she started shouting at Shakunthala.
Shakunthala asked the mistress to forgive him, that he is just a kid and he got used to the house because of the previous family.
The mistress, outraged by the sin committed by Ramu, picked up a wooden stick and started beating him.
With each touch of the stick feeling like fire, he is shocked that even his mother is not stopping the mistress. Ramu closed his eyes. Tears flowing out, and pain all over the body, he remembered Jessy, her eyes, her smile.
It was midnight, and 6 hours passed before Ramu became conscious. He tried opening his eyes but he was unable to, he tried moving his body but he could not feel anything except pain. A few minutes passed and he felt that his mother is holding his hand, a touch which he can always recognize.
"Mother?" he tried calling but felt that his voice was not coming out.
He tried another time and succeeded to let it out with a feeble voice.
Shakunthala realized that her son finally came back to consciousness. "Yes son", she replied.
"Dadaji told me that everyone got freedom but why did not I get it?" He asked.
With tears flowing down her cheeks, Shakunthala held his hand tight and kissed on his forehead.
Sad that this is true even today, a very touching one....
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