Rich and poor is a relative term. I believe rich is the one
who despite modest living is in a position to lend articles of domestic use to
those who are in wanting of the same. My maternal grandmother would often say ‘Bud dedh ghaie so yemisunz bud lokhra kheie’
( Rich is the woman whose big amount of cooked rice others may eat)
Possession of three things in the family had given us the
feel that we were from the HIG, a privileged class. One of the three, I already mentioned was ‘My
bicycle’. The other two were one pair of grinder called ‘Gretinie’ and half kg
weight iron that had the capacity for 250gm of charcoal to work.
Because of its smaller size, the grinder looked very cute
and assumed the female name ‘Gretinie’. It had maintained its weight like a
damsel to around 5 kg. Heavier and bigger ones are called ‘Grutea’ and it is
masculine in gender.
The Gretinie offered her free services to all our neighbours
around at Zaindar Mohalla. Most of the beneficiaries were from nearby pujie
Mohalla. Zoonae, Fatea, Rajea, Zohera and many others used to come to grind
roasted broken rice. At times, they would carry the Gretinie to their home. For
its light weight, it would often visit different household in the mohalla.
While making mention of Zoonea, Fatea, Rajea and others, I remembered their
mothers Aez Dedh, Rahat Dedh, Dolaut. They were always with a smile on their
faces. Their laughter used to be thunderous. They were past masters in cutting
jokes that would blush others. Most of the beneficiaries of the Gretinie were
Muslims by faith.
The half Kg. wt iron was palm sized with broken sieve
assembled together by binding wire. Its area of operation was within the radius
of 1.25 kms. Main beneficiaries of the iron were from my community. It used to
make a complete round of the area from the epicenter M Dass Swinging palace
that used to swing whenever any cyclist would pass by to Kathihal, Watalkhod, Dadikadal etc.
From the first borrower, it would go ahead to the next and from the next to the
other in the queue. I believe its area
of operation was unilateral in upstream direction. I don’t recall any in the
downstream direction.
One of the two maternal uncles was relatively richer. Though
he did possess neither bicycle nor Gretinie not to speak of the iron to press
clothes, but the family possessed one carom board for the only son, one
glittering kerosene stove and one heavily mended truck tube not worthy to fit
even the spare wheel.
We often used to borrow the mended tube and enjoy floating
ride from Kathleshwar ghat to Purshyar ghat with an air of a relation of the
one from the privileged class. Maternal aunt was nice enough to lend us her
kerosene stove to be special on a school excursion. She believed in Dr.
Manmohan Singh policy of first come first served. Among all her relations from
our school, it was the first aspirant who was obliged. For her benevolence I
salute my Mami and pray her happy and an excellent life style free from any
ailment and anxiety. I pray peaceful life to her.
Brijdass te Girdass chu
venan lasiv te basiv
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