Summer evening. 5 PM. Barber Bhagwan Dass closes down the shutters of his shop. He would see his friend Ram Dass today he decides. He would tell him everything, frankly. His every dilemma.
Oh! Is today not Tuesday? He puzzles to himself. Ram Dass might think that he has come to him to get his beard shaved. Would he let him do his job today?
No, no, no. He doesn't want to make his shave. No shave- no shave- today. He needs money and hopes into Ram Dass. Might Ram Dass borrow him ten thousands for six seven months to manage the marriage of his daughter?
Ram Dass is gentle he thinks. Very gentle. And he respects his barber friend also. His daughter-in-law also respects him, calls him ‘good-master-connoisseur' Why shouldn't she call him master connoisseur? He trims her silky hair tresses adroitly. He hopes that she might also come forwards to help him.
When he visits his home, he sees Ram Dass standing in the veranda. Uncalled visit. His heart pulsates in fear. With large difficulty, he makes an obsequious bang mildly on the door.
"Ram Prasad Ji" And shouts into the gate.
"Come, come, yaar" Ram Prasad, wearing a dhoti and chappal, greets him from inside and noses up his specs. Bhagwan Dass folds his hands sycophantly.
"Come, sit here" He offers him a sting chair. Sinking into chair, Bhagwan Dass remembers- how humanely Ram Prasad would have helped him at the time of his need. At the time of his elder daughter's marriage, he had borrowed him twenty five thousands with a very small interest. So kind-hearted he is!
"Why not, why not; you're my childhood chum, yaar. I'm especially here to see you" Bhagwan Dass remembers- how they cared for each other when they were in DPS (Delhi Public School) in Delhi. Then they both had the same financial status. How naughtily- they together flirted with the fashionable, arrogant girls. Ha, ha, ha; now gone are the days.
"Really? Really?"
"Hundred percent really, yaar" Bhagwan Dass guffaws and claps onto friend's hand. After a short chat, Bhagwan Dass whispers humbly.
"Yaar, I've come to you with a hope" "Hope?" Ram Prasad scrutinizes his expressions. Smile on his lips evaporates "Yes, I need some money for the marriage of my daughter" "Marriage?" Moneylender Ram Prasad thinks for a while then denies forthrightly.
"Sorry yaar, you know- I'm badly off these days" And he makes his grimace. Bhagwan Dass disappoints. He does not expect this type behaviour from childhood chum. Moreover, except Ram Dass- none in the village is able to live up to his hopes. He is the only moneylender in the village who can lend money to everyone. Why he refuses to his chum? Bhagwan Dass badly hurts. Astonishes. Does he want high interest from him also? Fleece him?
"Is your shop not good running, yaar?" Ram Prasad feigns humbleness.
"Not is this reason, sethji?" He casts down his eyes, humiliates. Begging money is really humiliating.
"They people demand dowry" Bhagwan Dass winces. And eyes fill with tears. Ram Prasad's daughter-in-law comes with two cups of coffee holding in a tray.
"Namaste" When she buzzes, Bhagwan Dass hopes into her eyes also.
"Chacha Ji, why are you sad, today?" Bhagwan Dass, answerless- shoots a look into setting sun. When she goes, Ram Prasad utters.
"I think- you're angry with me, Master. Aren't you?"
"No, no sethji- how can I be angry with you?" And his eyes release drops of water abruptly. Moneylender moves to emotions, humbles out. Everything is clear. He understands.
"Master, how much you need? I try to arrange, yaar" He speaks less professionally more politely - "You're my childhood chum, yaar"
"Ten thousands- at least" Bhagwan Dass utters suddenly.
"Ten thousands...huu...they might get high interest" Moneylender tries to fleece him.
"High interest, I shall pay, I shall pay" Bhagwan Dass speaks loudly as if making a promise. But he senses that his friend is trying to cheat him. How far much his childhood chum has changed? He is now utterly a different guy?
Then conversation takes a turn, Ram Prasad enquires snobbishly.
"Master, what about groom? Is he a good guy?"
"Good guy? Yes, yes" Bhagwan Dass says confidently.
"How much he earns?"
"Sethji, to applaud him perhaps would be a big talk from a little mouth. He is rumoured to be a good earn" Confidence mixes up with proud.
"Does he run business?"
"No, he is in government service, sethji, works in DEO office" "You know, he is Diwan Chand's son" He adds.
"Diwan Chand?" Ram Prasad feels a bitter taste on his tongue.
"Diwan Chand?" He sees his picture floating before his eyes.
"Diwan Chand?" He disgusts, grows confused.
"Diwan Chand?" Perspiration resorts to his forehead.
"Diwan Chand?" He shouts impolitely.
"Fie! Fie! Fie! You choose Diwan Chand's stupid son for Madhu daughter? Is Madhu beti going to be married with that idiot?" "He is not a bit idiot, sethji" Bhagwan Dass says as if defending himself.
"Huh! Not a bit idiot" Ram Prasad tosses his both hands upon windowpanes and pouts.
"I know better to Diwan Chand, Master. Better to forget this matrimony otherwise I would not give you money for marriage with that monster" Bhagwan Dass does not react. Mutely, he stands from chair (as if a royal prince) and folds his hands.
"Namaste" He reaches at the door. Moneylender amazes. Should he let his client go unfleeced? No, no, no.
"Where're you going, yaar? Hold, hold" A smart embrace stops him.
"I would not let you ruin the life of Madhu beti" He yells artificially. "Yaar, try to understand me. I'm far much worried about Madhu daughter. Diwan Chand is a cunning man I know and his son Shyam too following his ways. Yaar, you're my childhood chum. Can I deceive on you?" He tactfully tries to persuade him. Then he pauses for a while. Bhagwan Dass sits on chair again. He sulks.
Next day, horrified Bhagwan Dass enquires about the boy. Does his childhood chum speak truth?
No, no, no. He listens to different accounts of enmity between Diwan Chand and Ram Prasad. They both had established a milk diary years back. He hears. When any cow died in cold, they accused each other for the loss. When the dairy closed, they both joined in a factory where they again could not see eye to eye with each other.
Later, Ram Prasad was removed from factory on the charge of embezzlement. But he had tried to entangle Diwan Chand in the trap. Diwan Chand was an honest man. Nothing had proved against him. He had heard all these things from genuine folks.
Then, Ram Prasad started lending money on interest and later it became his occupation and began to flourish day by day. As against, Diwan Chand completed his service in factory honestly and earned enough. With hard earned money, he got education to his son Shyam and adjusted him in DEO office as a junior clerk.
Indeed, Bhagwan Dass had heard everything about Diwan Chand and his son positive.
He was assured by himself that daughter would be happy with Shyam. Moreover, they people demanded small dowry.
Again, when Bhagwan Dass meets Ram Prasad in gurudwara, he asks.
"Master, have you ever met Shyam Lal personally" "Ji, sethji" He expresses with delight.
"Does he not seem cunning to you?" He asks further with a slight twist of mocking smile on lips.
"No, sethji" Taking prasad from him, Bhagwan Dass says proudly.
"Sethji, he is a gold, pure gold"
Fie, fie, fie.
"Fie on you if you think so, master? You are absolutely a foolish man" Bhagwan Dass, in response, speaks nothing.
At evening, Ram Prasad visits Bhagwan Dass.
"Master, forget him, forget him" He cries in an ebullition of displeasure. Bhagwan Dass- horrified- begins to wince.
"Don't be upset, master" Ram Prasad placates him- "Don't be upset" "I shall meet you another handsome guy. A well established business man. And I am sure you would be glad to have that boy your son-in-law. Would you want to see him?" "Sure, sure. I'm indebted to you, sethji. Really- you've a boy for my daughter? Really?" Master barber crouches down obsequiously.
"Stop, let me show you his photograph" Ram Prasad smiling egoistically thrills. He shows him photograph fishing out of his pant pocket.
"See, see, how smart a boy is?
"Jagmohan?" Master barber at once recognizes the boy.
"He is a loafer, sethji" He delivers his verdict.
"No, no, no"
"And I know he drinks also"
"No, no, no" Ram Prasad pats his chum mildly.
"Look, look at the family. He is the only son of city's richest rice dealer. Madhu beti would be happy, dear" Ram Prasad adds- "And now, he has given up wine and loafing. Barber master nods but his heart sinks. Should he marry his daughter to a loafer? No, no, no. Jagmohan is a rich. Very rich. Should Madhu not enjoy the luxury of life? Ram Dass says.
"He has given up his bad habits- wine, loafing etc." "Sethji, please don't make a mockery of me. I'm a poor man. How might I give them dowry?" Bhagwan Dass laments.
"Dowry? Forget it, forget it. They're nice people. They need no dowry" Ram Prasad says as if guaranteeing him. Bhagwan Dass does not satisfy.
"Sethji, give me time to think about it" "Ok, ok, ok" And next day, barber master directly refuses to accept his proposal. Ram Prasad feels a slap onto his mouth.
Bastard, bastard, bastard. I shall give you money! Huh! I shall borrow you money! Huh! My penis gives you money. Huh! Bewakoof. After days, when barber master begs money on higher interest, Ram Prasad cries.
"You're my friend, friend. Huh! Even foes are better than you, master" In fury, his upper lip shows the tips of teeth. Bhagwan Dass sinks into horrendous silence. Fifteen minutes after, when master barber tries to walk out of the room, Ram Prasad holds his hand.
"Tell, tell, have you trust in me? Trust in me?" Bhagwan Dass nods. Eyes shine with drops of tears.
"You think I befool you, betray you. I'm your childhood chum, yaar. Might you remember we were in the same hostel room in DPS Delhi?" Ram Prasad gushes with (fake) emotions. He takes his friend's hands into his and glances into his eyes.
"I shall give you money. How much you need? I shall arrange it. Twenty? Thirty? Forty thousands?" Ram Prasad's humility seems hypocritical.
"I want my childhood chum to be happy. Always happy" Master barber grins, fold hands, flashes eyes in adoration.
"But, it is a problem" He moves his lips clumsily.
"Problem?" Master barber amazes.
"No problem, no problem. I'm fully with you. They people might want the registry of your house...otherwise...yaar, they are hesitant to give us money" "Registry?" "I guarantee you, full guarantee" Ram Prasad presses his both hands. Bhagwan Dass- a plain man as compared to moneylender- smiles innocently.
"Would they get back my registry after I pay them?" "Why not? Why not? Sure, yaar" He says examining friend's miserable face.
Next day, Master barber submits him the registry of his house and gets twenty thousands on two percent monthly interest.
Fifteen days before the marriage, when master barber shows his inability to pay the interest on money in advance, Ram Prasad- childhood chum cocks.
"Oh, no problem, no problem. Can you milk the cow?" "Yes, yes, yes" Bhagwan Dass is expert in this subject. He too has a set of two cows at home and milks her daily. And he accepts the job of milking the cow in Ram Prasad's home happily.
Next morning, his duty starts. He emerges at morning 5 and makes satisfied sethaniji with his deftness in milking the cow. It smoothens for four five days. Then, a doom day comes when cow grows furious and hits master barber onto his right eye and makes him blind forever. Ram Prasad stuns to see the retina to his left eye badly wrecked.
A week is left to the marriage of his daughter. Ram Prasad admits his friend in hospital. Ophthalmic surgery is done. Madhu grows sad and dejected. Motherless girl has only one hope in life- her father. She hopes into Ram Prasad and calls him chachaji.
"Chachaji, please save my bauji (father), please...please...please..." "We're trying daughter...trying" Madhu remembers- years back, when her jhaiji (mother) was admitted in hospital, it was the only Ram Prasad- chachaji- who had helped his father with money. Ram Prasad is really a gentle man, Madhu thinks.
"Is it not better we should postpone the marriage for days" On the day of surgery- master barber implores his friend.
"No, no, don't worry. We'll arrange it, yaar" Madhu, who has absolute trust in Ram Prasad assures her father that he should not worry about her at all. Ram Prasad promises him that he would do his best to make the marriage a success. Madhu visits hospital every so often to look after her father. Bhagwan Dass is unable to show her the photograph of bridegroom. He begs Ram Prasad to show her photograph of her husband.
"Don't worry, don't worry, I shall show her everything- his photo, his family photos and dowry etc. You take rest, yaar" Bhagwan Dass feels comfortable. He is assured.
The Day of marriage comes and Madhu gets married. Nurses in hospital tell him-it is a good marriage. Madhu weeps...weeps... She misses her father very much bauji...bauji...bauji...But Bhagwan Dass is happy, excited. In happiness, he begins to jump on hospital bed. His childhood chum has done a marvellous job. Thank you, friend- thank you very much. A nurse tells him that his friend has spent lavishly on the marriage of his daughter.
Two days later, Ram Prasad appears in hospital. Bhagwan Dass hugs him. Hug- hug- hug. Thank friend, thank you very much.
"No, no, no. In friendship, no thanks...no thanks at all" Bhagwan Dass smiles delightedly. Ram Prasad tells him that Madhu is happy.
"Is my daughter happy?" A beamy smile runs onto his face. Really a good fortune is smiling on him, master barber reflects.
"Oh God, you're so kind...kind. I love you God" He folds his hands towards blue sky. Really God has come to him in the form of his pal. In the form of Ram Prasad.
He had heard from different quarters that in material world, God only is realised but leave no footprints. God is invisible, performs miracles. And it is true. Hundred percent true. His surgical operation had been successfully done. God himself had made all arrangements. He is optimistic that he would see the world again when his dressing unfolds.
Optometrist promises him that he would unfold the bandage tomorrow. Bhagwan Dass begs Ram Prasad to fetch Madhu to hospital with her groom. He wants to see his daughter with husband. How beautiful she will look he thinks. He wants his daughter should be near to him at the time of his departure from hospital.
Then, hospital phone rings. It is for Bhagwan Dass from daughter. Nurse gives him cradle.
"It's for you, sir; it is for you, sir" "Yes, speaking...speaking" "Madhu beti, are you happy? Would you come to hospital tomorrow?" Daughter's voice seems him a melodious sound of a cuckoo. He is filled with ecstasy to listen to the music of heart to heart as if God is in conversation with him.
"No, no, no" Daughter denies to come to hospital.
"Why? Why? Are you angry with me, daughter?" Master barber clutches the cradle with more hold.
"I was unable to be present in your marriage, beti" "No, no, bauji" Bhagwan Dass then stuns hearing the sobs of daughter. Is daughter not happy with her marriage with Shyam?
"What happened daughter? Are you not happy with Shyam?" He asks rubbing on his binding.
"Shyam? Who Shyam, bauji?"
"Your husband? Your husband?" Bhagwan Dass grow suspicious.
"My husband?" She breaks into wild tears.
"I want to speak to Shyam. Give him receiver, beta" Madhu, unable to control her breaths throws the receiver down. There must be something wrong in the marriage. Wrong- wrong- wrong. He shrieks- rubs his binding irritably- begs nurse to call her back. Nurse dials the number. Bhagwan Dass with a surge of emotions cries.
"Madhu- Madhu, tell me what happened, daughter? Are you not happy with Shyam? Don't fear to say anything to me? I'm your father, daughter" "Bauji, I am happy. I am really very happy. Bauji now- Jagmohan is my fortune. He is my husband. Bauji- you say- my husband is a gentleman. Bauji, he smokes and burns my body with smouldering cigarettes. Bauji, he is a cruel" She again breaks into tears. Bhagwan Dass is unable to hear more.
Cruel- Cruel- Cruel- his mind echoes. He lets the receiver fall down, flabbergasts. Everything is clear like crystal glass. He remains stationary and mute.
"What happens, what happens, sir" Nurses on duty runs towards him.
"Nothing, nothing" He falls on hospital cot mechanically.