THE VILLAGE OFFICE AND A WILL

It was the saddest moment in the lives of the family of Robert Raj. They could see that the 73 year old head of the family had very little time left on earth. 

Robert had been a State Govt employee for 30 years till he had retired at the age of 55. He had  served conscientiously all through the career. He began his official life as a clerk in the collegiate education department at Chittoor. Transfers took him across Kerala. The final halt was the Intermediate College at Trivandrum.  Time Scale promotions had taken him to the Office superintedent's post. Then he bowed out of the service and settled into the  life of a pensioner. 

As Robert's wife, Helen, was a teacher in a private school at Tiruvallom, the husband and wife had taken a wise decision to settle the family at their ancestral home at Koliyoor. The distance was hardly 4 km from Koliyoor to Tiruvallom that Helen could easily commute by the KSRTC Bus. Helen looked after their four children - two boys and two girls - while Robert's  had been moved across all over Kerala on his postings.

The children grew up to fine gentlemen and beautiful ladies. As they had studied hard, they were able to secure admission at the CET,Trivandrum. The degree in engineering had secured jobs for all of them in the Central Govt. owned companies. The only hitch was, while both the girls were employed by the ONGC at Bombay, the sons were absorbed by the Bhilai Steel Plant.

Three years after Robert had retired from his job,  Helen too retired as HM of her school.

Their pensions  provided them finacial security. As both the husband and wife were not spendthrifts, they had built sufficient savings to see them through their old age. Since the children were all away, they pulled on with their lives togther. Those were happy days. The intermittent  visits of the chidren had spiced their lives.

For a while life was placid. But nothing is permanent in  life. Sickness raised its ugly head.

Robert was stricken with a fever that refused to recede when he was 72. The visits to the doctors were daily feature, but futile.  Finally, Robert was admitted at the General Hospital, Trivandrum.

It was diagnosed that the ailment was pneumonia. Though Robert was administered the best possible treatment, his condition deteriorated. Doctors could not stablise him. 

Later, the prognosis was given and the patient was discharged with the advice, that paliiative care alone was further required. There was no neglect at the hospital.

Despite their busy schedules, the sons and daughters of Robert Raj reached their home. They looked after their father very well. But they knew it was a lost cause.

The whole family was by his side, when Robert Raj breathed his last. The funeral took place the next day. 

Life couldnot be put at standstill. The children had to return to their jobs. Helen was left alone at the house where the family had seen happy days together. The laughter resonated there even in that loneliness Helen was subjected to. She took the suffering gamely.

However death brings in its wake a host of issues. There are accounts to be settled. The Will has to be executed. The ownership of the properties left behind by the decaesed has to be transferred. 

Six months after the death of their  dear father, the children came together on a short leave to complete the legal formalities. 

The Village Office is the place where all such important matters are  finalised. But when they visited the Village Ofice at Tiruvallom they were made to run in circles. They were instructed to produce several documents. When they said they had very little time on hand the staff at the office grew in indifference. They were heckled. They were ridiculed.

At last, the official agreed to listen to them. He verified all the documents they had produced. Helen and the children were there.

After the official satisfied himself that those who were present were the sole descendants of the late Robert Raj, he advised all the children to move out of the office. He said he wanted to speak to Helen alone.

Helen who had been a silent witness to everything that had been happening there suddenly raised her voice to a very high pitch

She said in Malayalm, " Ivar aarum purathu pokan pokunnilla. Avar ividethanne nilkum.

Nee enthinanu avarodu pokan paranjatum, ennodu thanne samsarikkanamennu paranajathum enikariam. Enikku veray bhartavundo ennu chodiakkanalle. Ninnepole orupadennathine njan kandittundu. Eluppam vendathu cheyyanam. Ente pllarku avarude jolisthalathu pokanullathanu.Avarku veruthe kalayan samayamilla"

Translated into Englsh, it could be read as,"None of my children are going out. They will remain here itself. I know very well why you had asked them to go out and said that you wanted to talk to me alone. Is it not for asking me whether I have another husband. I have seen many people like you. Do whatever has to done fast. My children have to proceed to their workplaces. They have no time to waste."

The exalted Govt. Official was stunned at the outburst.  Without a word, he signed all the documents and literally pushed them all out of his divine sanctuary where he had been lording over the common man for a very long time with his antics.

The next day morning, just as the children were preparing to proceed to their workplaces, the Village Officer, Tiruvallom made visit to their house. He said he was very sorry at what had  happened at the office the previous day. He was a very good gentleman hailing from Cheruthuruthy. 

He said the official who had given them  a harrowing time was a top leader of the organisation of the Govt. employees. He was corrupt. He had no hesitation in placing hurdles at  all the vistors to the  Village Office. He said, because of the political leanings of the corrupt and inconsiderate official, no one could do any thing to correct him or initiate action agaist him.

Helen and the entire family expressed happiness over the simplicity of the Village Officer. They offered appreciation for the visit and his soothing conversation. They were grateful to him for sparing his precious time for their sake.