One Rainy day . …

Jannamma (68 yr old), our house help and Ezekiel’s caretaker was about to finish her work for the day when it started raining , initially it was drizzle so she continued doing whatever work she was doing outside , but by the time all her work was done and she was all set to leave it started raining heavy . I asked her to wait till it stopped raining , she not having an umbrella and we having just one umbrella which could not have been spared then, decided to wait …. 

After almost half an hour I realized that she was wet with sweat and the initial drizzle.By then the whole atmosphere had changed to dark clouds, with lighting thunder and winds which were cold, I asked her to sit inside where I kept a chair for her but she insisted on sitting at the steps of work area watching rain and shivering, realizing that there was no point insisting her to sit inside with us, I went up and got one of my jersey and a light shawl for her to wear.

Initially she hesitated, but then I told her she can keep it as she would need it . She had told me earlier that when it rains, roof of her house leaks and it gets very cold inside her house especially at night , so I told her she can use it when she feels very cold …. Then I made some tea for both of us and sat with her in the steps watching  the rain and thunder and generally talking about the sudden change in climate , when she wrapping the shawl around her and touching the jersey started telling me about an incident which had happened some 7-8 years ago …

Jannamma,  has always been a daily wage worker, and few years back she used to work near Medical college . Near the Medical college hospital campus there were quite a few old destitute (probably left there by family members who could no longer take care of them)  who survived on begging or doing small odd job . There she met an old man who managed to occupy a small place (concrete slab used to cover the drain) covered it with a plastic sheet, the old man was too weak to  walk more than few steps, and somebody would buy for him tea and snacks from the money people gave him while passing by .. Jannamma also started talking and helping this old man.  Whenever she got time and chance she would check on him … then the raining season started the drain started filling up, she observed that the old man had used whatever was available with him and around him to keep him warm but he did not have any warm clothes ..

Jannamma decided that she will get a blanket and some warm clothes for him the next day. That evening it rained very hard, Jannamma got little worried about the old man and she told her partner (Jannamma lost her husband very young , later she got a partner whom she never married  – another story another time) that they have to check on the Old man next day early. The next day was again rainy day and Jannamma took a blanket and old sweater for the old man and with her partner left early to Medical college campus. She did not find the old man in his usual place and that place was all slushy and covered with water, she thought probably due to rain the old man would have moved to a better sheltered place.

But then she saw old man’s sheet and some coins and currencies in his usual transparent cover … and then she looked around and saw the old man had fallen in the drain (which was not too deep but filled with water) and was not moving ….. nobody had observed that ,she screamed but no voice came out , panicked she called her partner (another old man as she says) who came running  and realising what had happened pulled the dead man out of the drain, He then ran to call up a police man (Police station is near the medical college) and Jannamma finally found her voice and started crying loud , wrapping the blanket around the old man and crying without any consolation … When police came they asked Jannamma if she was old man’s relative – she said no, they asked her if she knew anyone who would know the old man  – she said  she did not … policeman then said they will have to shift the body from there and that she can take the money which the old man had … Jannamma cried and said she want no money , she just wanted to give the blanket and sweater to the old man …… 

We sat quietly for some time finished our tea and then Janamma left when rain stopped …. After few days I sorted  clothes from all the cupboards at home and clothes which we were not using much I gave to Jannamma and asked her to give to people she knew were in need , and for the last 3 years I have been doing that , for I am sure needy one would get the cloth …..