CHITHAPPAN; THE MAN OF MANAKKODY……
It was a rainy day, sreedhar was shivering with acute fever. his mother was hold him in her bosom tightly. Whenever sudden thunder flashes across the sky, her hold tightens further. But it didn’t help sreedher’s fever to come down…….
Sreedhar is now chithaappan (59), a blind man with a sharp ears, he is the man of the village , he brings grocery for the villagers, he goes to ration shop for kerosene. He is the helping hand of all the families who don’t have male son to perform those duties.
Everybody in the village beckons him ‘chithaapan’. His daily routine starts with the daily morning bath nearby the back waters, he knows every nook and corner of the village, no every nook and corner knows him. After the shower he reaches the teashop, where all the old ones have their first puff in the morning. He then listens to the news being read in the shop. After a cup of tea he is ready for his the days work. Each household gives him some amount back for his daily expense. Even though if it is a 5 rupee note or 10rs note he is never unhappy.
Every marriages, house warming, funerals of the village is attended by chithaapan. After the lunch he dozes off for a while, then some music and then to the street waiting for his evening calls. Most of the days at evening he is busy in ration shops. He always wears a smell of kerosene.
He is now 59, un married. He is now with his brother. His only mother died ten years back; she was the real light in his life. It didn’t stop him from living his life.
Whenever anyone gives him a puff, he is too happy the whole day...but he promises he never takes more than three or four puffs. He is satisfied with that...
He recognises the person from a long distance with his sharp ears. Then he will start speaking loudly. He is one of the story tellers of the village, according to him he has seen a lot than all other villagers. He is happy, always welcomes us with a smiling face
On that rainy night, that fever took his sight, took the colours of his life, but it couldn’t take his life, his passion for life….
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