Sun, Jun 4, 1995
Rangayya is a menial labourer, whose earnings hardly suffice to make both ends meet. Over and above, Rangayya's family is indebted to a local landlord. Rangayya religiously pays some amount every year towards the loan taken by his forefathers. This is a never ending story. One day, the landlord, out of his greed, asks his servant to bring Rangayya's oxen as payment towards his loan. The servant obeys his master and brings the livestock in Rangayya's absence. Rangayya is so infuriated on learning that his oxen, to which he is so attached, has been taken away, that he makes a march to the landlord's place. The landlord is frightened at the roar of Rangayya, and returns the oxen to Rangayya. At this, Rangayya melts like butter and praises the landlord for his magnanimity. He assures him of the repayment of his debt. This story shows what happens to the oppressors if the oppressed rebel and demand justice. It also shows how small their wants are.
Sun, Jun 11, 1995
The whole village is agog with excitement. For the first time a bus is to come to the village. All the villagers dress up in their best clothes gather in the main street to wait for the bus. The bus finally arrives and everyone is amazed, impressed and awed by this modern wonder. Ramakrishna is the owner of a private bus service between Amaravati and Guntur. The bus first goes to Ramakrishna's house to pick him up. By the time Ramakrishna finishes his bath and the day's briefing session with his wife, the sun is quite high up in the sky and the passengers are perspiring. Finally, they are on their way. Sitamma, who is in the last stages of pregnancy, goes into labour. The bus is stopped and older women gather around to help her. The men arrange to heat some water. Finally, the cry of a baby is heard. This little boy is born neither in his father's home nor in his mother's home, but he is the adorable nephew of all the men in Amaravati.
Sun, Jun 18, 1995
Polaiah and Ramaiah hate each other. It all started when the barber told Polaiah that Ramaiah thought that he (Polaiah) had a moustache that looked like a cat's whiskers, Polaiah of course was not amused. The barber also told Ramaiah that Polaiah thought that Ramaiah's moustache looked like a prawn's feelers. This established a deep hatred between the two. Polaiah's men burnt down the barber's hut because he dared to use the same razor to shave their master and that upstart Ramaiah. It was Diwali and the entire village is aglow. In the light of a sparkler, Polaiah's son Sambaiah sees Radha, Ramaiah's daughter. She too notices him. The battle outside is hotting up. The crackers have all been used up so the men use their lathis to beat each other. Into this gory scene step the women folk. In their midst are Sambaiah and Radha holding hands.
Sun, Jun 25, 1995
The "Tulsi" or Basil plant plays an important role in the Indian Hindu households. Every household has one planted in their backyard, and it is worshiped and watered daily. No religious ceremony is complete without Tulsi leaves."Tambulam" consists of betel leaves with lime, arecanut and many other ingredients and is often chewed after a good meal as digestive and mouth freshener. Tulsi leaves are never used in a Tambulam. The unusual title of the story is explained clearly at the end in a poignant way.
Sat, Jul 1, 1995
Sundaraiah owns a little restaurant in Amaravati, but his wife is the one who really runs the place. Sundaraiah is merely the waiter. One day, a group of youngsters come to the restaurant and get into an argument with him about the quality of the food. One of them even whips out a penknife and threatens Sundaraiah. Panicking, he accepts whatever they pay and gets rid of them. A disgruntled Sundaraiah goes to cool off by the river. There he sees Malli, a young woman. He stops to say hello and invites her to the restaurant. Of course she misunderstands and creates a racket. Sundaraiah is marched down to the police station and is locked up for one night. After promising the policeman free breakfast at the restaurant for a whole week, he is set free. The next day he meets Ramaiah and tells him his sad tale, and also requests him to keep this matter a secret. Similarly, he comes across many other villagers and does the same thing. By the time he reaches home, his wife too, has heard of this. Sundaraiah is demoted to dish washing and sits in his backyard wondering how the news spread so far and so fast.
Sat, Jul 8, 1995
This story reveals the life of Nabi Saheb, who was a tiger dance performer in Amaravati. Nabi, in his cot now, remembers his days of glory when he was young. He was a master dancer. Everyone used to appreciate his dance. He did not know anything other than the tiger dance and so, all that he could earn, he did during "Dussera". Rest of the year, no one cared for him. Nabi, tiger to the village, was virtually a cat at home. His wife used to taunt him all the while and curse his inability to earn money. This used to pain Nabi a lot. Finally, Dussera arrives again. Poor Nabi wishes to bring back the glory of his past. In the bed, he feebly moves his limbs to the rhythm of the drums. Ameena, his wife, from a distance, sees the plight of her husband. Instantly, she is moved to tears and consoles him with her soothing words. Nabi looks into her eyes and says, "If you were this kind to me before, I would have been a tiger everyday, and not just once in a year." Thus, the story highlights the delicate and emotional aspect of a poor, talented village performer.
Sat, Jul 22, 1995
Subbamma garu is an orthodox Brahmin lady. Her orthodoxy extends the daily routine considerably, as she has to personally wipe the floor, do the "Rangoli" and set off for her bath in the river Krishna. On the way, she even goes to Ramaiah's backyard to be blessed by his cow. Her bath in the Krishna is a long drawn ritual complete with prayers to numerous Gods and Goddesses. After this, she brings home some water to proceed with the cooking. It is well afternoon by this time and her poor husband, Satyanarayana garu, is weak with hunger by then. One afternoon, both of them are resting after their lunch. Subbamma garu goes into the kitchen for some water and finds a little fish at the bottom of the pot from which she drank. Pandemonium reigns as she remembers all that she had used the water for. Her husband tells her a few home truths about the impracticality of most of her rituals. "Purity should be within you, silly!" he sermonizes.
Tue, Aug 1, 1995
Chalapati is the clock repairer of Amaravati. He hires out the watches that come to him for repair. Chalapati loves buying things at auctions. He has a pair of khaki shorts, which he purchased at a police auction. He feels completely invincible when he wears his khaki shorts. However, a customer who has been shuttling for his watch for a couple of months arrives and proceeds to thrash him. A disgruntled Chalapati shouts after the retreating customer to try the same stunt when he is wearing his khaki shorts. The next morning, people from the town arrive to auction off Chalapati's belongings. As his belongings are being auctioned off, a broken Chalapati collapses muttering that this wouldn't have happened if he had worn his khaki shorts.
Tue, Aug 15, 1995
Jogarao, the tailor looks out of his shop. Baabigadu, a dark boy is still there leaning against a lamp post, and looks about fifteen and has hunger written all over his face. Jogarao gives him what is left of his lunch. The boy works himself into Jogarao's confidence, and soon, Baabigadu is Jogarao's youngest assistant. One day, Baabi meets Poli, a fourteen year old girl, who like him, is an orphan. One day, Baabi asks her to call him "mama". Shyly Poli does. Baabi takes out his measuring tape and carefully takes her measurement. A bewildered Poli receives no explanation. Baabi plans to make a blouse for her, and begins to work on it, and by the end of 6 months, the blouse is ready. An eager Baabi rushes to Poli with the blouse. In the past six months, Poli had grown, and the buttons do not meet across her chest. Seeing the disappointment in Baabi's face, she consoles him by saying, "My mistress has asked me to start wearing half saris, then I will wear this underneath and fix it with pins. Don't worry. Baabi's eyes light up with hope.
Tue, Aug 22, 1995
It is the annual festival of the Goddess Mutyalamma and the entire village is agog with excitement. Ten years old Polaiah's father had vowed to sacrifice a lamb to the Goddess for saving his son from a serious illness. The father and son pair goes off to inspect the lambs. Polaiah recognizes one of the lambs as the one he used to play with everyday, and is instantly plunged into deep sorrow. The rituals and fire walking begins. As the mass hysteria reaches the peak, Polaiah slowly slips out and sets the lamb free.