HOLY BROTHERS (Short Story)

HOLY BROTHERS

As a part of my career, we were forced to live in that small town in central Kerala for some time. Our house owner Johnychayan was quite a simple man, working as military nurse in Oman. When I met him for the first time, he was really happy to rent out his house to me. I was a Government employee and that time we didn’t have any kids. What a funny reason to select a tenant!

‘Premji, all I need from you both… just keep my house neat and tidy,’ he told.

‘Sir, what about rent?’

‘Actually, I have to pay you something to keep my house tidy!’ he said jovially. ‘Here is my account number,’ he handed over a small piece of paper. ‘Whatever amount is affordable by you, put it in my account… monthly… bimonthly or as you like.’

What an offer… God!

‘Sir… When shall we write the agreement?’

‘No need of an agreement, Premji… I know …you are a gentleman. See, I am not going to cut my telephone land-line. You can use that too,’ he told while laughing. '

He was waiting for someone whom he could believe to the core and of course, we were the chosen people. He and his family went back on the very next week. They would be back only after five years… five years… We were very happy to live in such a gentleman’s house.

♥

There was a huge picture of Jesus in the drawing room and I used to light candles on important occasions like Christmas, Easter etc. My wife used to keep candles there whenever there was a power-cut! She kept her personal deities inside another room… Hindu Gods and Goddesses…

My wife was all alone in day time, watching TV while knitting something. That was her daily routine except on holidays. Then one day, Thresya Chechi around 55, our next door neighbor and elder sister of our house owner Johnychayan, visited her. She was warmly welcomed by my wife.

‘Daughter, this is really nice,’ Thresya Chechi congratulated my wife after inspecting the small sweater my wife had knitted. ‘Expecting someone?’she started kidding.

‘No’

‘Now-a-days, every girl has infertility problems… Why girls alone? Boys too… Dirty food habits… You don’t worry daughter… He will bless you soon’… Jesus smiled at them from the picture on the wall. They talked about everything under the Sun and at last they became very close friends.

♥

My wife told me the entire episode in the evening.

‘That’s a good development… Thresya Chechi has nothing to do in day time’

‘Even I too think so, Premji’

♥

Thresya Chechi became a frequent visitor and everyday the conversation used to end up in Jesus. She had more than a million tongues to talk about Jesus and his miracles. One evening, my wife showed me a fresh copy of Bible.

‘Who gave it?’

'Thresya Chechi presented this to me’

‘This is an expensive copy. Keep it with care.’

♥

Ours is a small family and we used to complete all cooking jobs before 8’O clock. She used to make boiled rice and break-fast and I, all curries. On the very next day, when I had left for office, Thresya Chechi appeared with a pleasant smile. They both started talking casually.

‘Daughter, did you start reading Bible?’

‘I went through proverbs… read one or two pages.’

‘Praise the Lord… That’s interesting… First of all… you have to complete New Testament… That tells the life and miracles of my Lord… Jesus’

‘I will do it… Chechi’

♥

Thresya Chechi again appeared on the same time next day and she started asking objective questions based on new testament. My wife answered all as she read it the last day afternoon by sacrificing her afternoon sleep.

‘Great improvement… Congratulations my daughter,’ Thresya Chechi was contented. ‘Tomorrow Psalms’. She then gave her new home works based on Bible and my wife was fed of Thresya Chechi’s Bible home tuition!

♥

‘Premji, tell me a way out.’

‘Simple… You read ‘Song of songs’ tonight… I too want to listen.’

♥

Thresya Chechi was very uneasy on the next day.

‘Who told you read that?’Thresya Chechi asked.

‘My husband… He says … Song of Songs is the spiritual communion of the human soul and Holy Spirit’

Thresya Chechi became quite very unhappy!

♥

Three days later, our telephone started ringing in the night. Our house owner Johnychayan was on the other end, from Oman. It seems, he got a call from Thresya Chechi to vacate us as early as possible from his house. She won’t be able to tolerate two infidels staying in her brother’s house!

‘Premji, what happened? Did she start playing her cards on your wife?’Johnychayan asked.

‘Yes, Bible tuitions were going on!’

‘Then how did it come to an abrupt end?’

‘Johnychaya…What to say? My wife was really fed of her Bible tuition… So, one day, she visited Thresya Chechi’s home and presented her a copy of Hindu Scripture: Bhagavad Gita (Song divine)… A small copy worth just ten rupees! She asked Thresya Chechi to read the first chapter that day... so that they could discuss that chapter on the very next day.’

‘Premji… Your wife is an intelligent girl… please tell her my congratulations… ,’ Johnychayan couldn’t control his laughing. ‘From the past five years, my house has been closed… Only because of her tuitions… She is a member of some local Ministry now… Only one Jesus...countless Ministries! She keeps on fishing and I keep on suffering,’he laughed again.

‘Johnychaya, are you not worried?’

‘Premji… Why should I worry when Jesus protects me? In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says… perform your Karma… never think of the reward… My Lord Jesus says: 'sacrifice!' Premji… you know… ‘Good Karma and sacrifice,’ these words are synonymous! And the reward is eternal happiness! Peace! Unfortunately, my sister doesn’t understand this simple truth. Why, my sister alone?... almost everyone, irrespective of religions!’

I could feel the pain of Jesus and Krishna in his voice… Holy brothers….

Premji