Red over tomatoes

Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsShanta cleaned the rice and put it in a vessel to boil. Today she is preparing kanji for dinner. Not that they have anything different every night. Yesterday too they had kanji. The day before too.

Even the rice she had at home , she got it after much begging at the local shop. Now, she owes the shop owner Rs 600. Every month she plans to repay all the debt, but it is never easy. Earning money that is, and saving enough to repay the debt. In her profession, there are no annual pay hikes, no casual leaves, no earned leaves, no sick leaves. She goes to houses to wash dishes, sweep floors and wash clothes. And anything else she is ordered to do.

By the time the kanji got ready, Shanta's husband was home. Bhaskar is a daily wage labourer. He works at construction sites. He goes to work every morning and returns late at night. He earns enough money, but he drinks. This means not much is left for expenses at home. He never told her how much he earns. But yes, he gives her money every day. Sometimes in 10 rupee notes, sometimes even a hundred rupee one.

Shanta laid out the lavish spread on the floor. Kanji, papad and achar. Her children sat in a line. Bhaskar wants food after his bath. And he can't stand any delay.

"So what's there to eat today? Don't tell me it's kanji," Bhaskar came and sat with the children. That's how they have dinner. The father and children together. The mother waits for their dinner to get over.

"Yes, it's kanji," Shanta's reply came a little late.

There was silence all over. They were resigned to their fate. The children looked at the mother accusingly.

"Why can't you make sambhar and rice, or rasam, or thoran, or avail? You never make any of them," Ram complained.

"She doesn't make payasam either. She always says she doesn't have money," Rani chipped in.

"Arrey, give them what they want. Can't you do at least make sambhar?" Bhaskar scolded Shanta.

This is what happens every night. 'They need only complain. Do they know how I got what they are eating now? Not at all.'

"You people should thank you stars, that you have this to eat. Do you know about the Nairs, where I work," Shanta asked.

"Yes, what happened to them," Bhaskar turned his head in rapt attention.

"They have this huge car and a bungalow."

"Yes, I know, so what?"

"Yesterday, they were on TV. I was there when it happened."

"And..."

"Priyaji was at the vegetable market. The TV wallah asked her about the prices. Do you know what she said?"

"What?"

"That tomatoes have become so costly. So costly that they have stopped having soup. And her daughter, Rema, said she has stopped eating. You people should thank you stars. You are lucky that you are getting kanji to drink."

And they all went to sleep, knowing the Sarmas are having nothing to eat, as they can't afford food. Happy in the knowledge that they can at least afford kanji.first published:June 29, 2006, 20:32 ISTlast updated:June 29, 2006, 20:32 IST
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