SAMUDI/2
Samudi had very old tie of relationship with Harshad’s family. Samudi’s father used to supply milk to Harshad’s place prior to Samudi’s birth. Therefore, Samudi used to address Harshad’s moter as ‘Shonta Faiba’ (i.e. Shanta Aunty). As Samudi used to address like this even small children of that locality used to address in the same way ‘Shanta Faiba’ was know all the throughout the village. Thus people had almost forgotten her old name, as she had acqualine shape of nose, she was known as ‘Shonta Bhendi’. Many people of the village knew her by nickname only. Chandubhai right leg was club-footed, therefore he was known as ‘Chandu Shuttle’ Maniben used decorate on ‘tevare’ (i.e. festivals) she was known as (the Queen of Cinema) Tevarni Rani. Kantilal was known as ‘Kanti Dokla’ due to his long neck and oblong face but Bhagvanlal was known as ‘Khalchitro’. Harshad couldn’t make out, why he was nicknamed like that. But Samudi’s ‘Shonta Faiba’s name ‘Shonta Bhendi’ people had almost forgotten. Generally, if villagers give such nickname is hardly forgotten. Shanta Aunty did not treat Samudi as just a maidservant, she used to treat her as if she were her daughter. In case of any heavy workload, in rinsing utensils or washing clothes, she used to help her promptly. Initially, whenever Samudi used to go to bathroom. She used to inhale smell of a soap for a longtime, and would put it back in the soapcase. Sometime she used to pick up a wrapper of the new soap and would take it to her home. Once she boldly asked – ‘Shonta Faiba’ may I tell you something? ‘What is it!’ ‘Kaoo Shonta Faiba’ (May I say, Shanta Aunty) She said with a little hesitation (mare navoo ha) i.e. I want to take bath.’ Shanta Aunty had a roaring laughter, quite difficult to balance. Thus, Samudi had been permitted to take her bath as and when she desired. The poor one had no soap at home. She used to rub a piece of tile. Her fingers of the feet had layers of dirt which could be removed if she were to rub on a piece of tile at least for five days to remove it. But as she had got a permission to take bath at Shanta Aunty’s place, she used to quite tidy. She had just unusual attraction of the bathrooms showers. Once she asked Harshad, ‘hain Harshadbahee, these sova is thosi thosi with vadla has’ (i.e. It is these showers seem to be heavy stuffed with clouds.) Thus, Samudi used to take shower bath, none could trace the original colour of her hair. Her hair used to be upto the waist slightly yellowish but dusty stuffed with countless lice Shantaba didn’t like it. Once- Shantafaiba scolded and said: ‘mathu bathu kaidfade dhoves k nai! gandh maras.’ (i.e. Do you even wash your hair! It gives awfully bad smell!) Soon after that Samudi went to take bath just to wash her hair she look handful of Nirma Powder. ‘ali gandi, mer moore’ (i.e. oh you madcap, blockade) Shanta foeee garjya (i.e. Shanta Aunty shouted) ‘aah ooo karas (i.e. What are you doing?) Samudi said : ‘baoo melu ha k! te meek u navana habuthi zat n dhovay.’ (i.e. it is too dirty, so I thought that it couldn’t be washed quickly with a soap.) Kapdaon dhovani bhuki laoo to zat daine dhovaijay ne fen thay. Tamo hetaknibhuki dhabh gai (i.e. If I take washing powder there will be quick foaming, to wash clothes. You have put in too much of powder.) Shanta Aunty had no daughter so she loved Samudi too much. Even Samudi was very lovable. After cleaning evening utensils, she used to do massage to Shanta Aunty. She used to rub hair oil also. She used to rub ghee Shanta Aunty’s feet with a small cymbals bowl, till it would be blackish. In case of Shanta Aunty’s sickness she used to give medicine on time and would never think of attending other. She would look after all work Shanta Aunty, even cook for her. As and when Shanta Aunty’s mother-in-law was alive, would never allow even a child to enter into kitchen or even by chance touched to a big vessal…. Alas! All that was cooked, turn out to be useless for them, it was to be thrown away? Samudi’s cooking was not acceptable as they were Brahmin, but Shanta Aunty didn’t think of it. Samudi used to cook delicious. As and when Samudi used to be in-charge of the kitchen, she would ask: “Shantafaiba, dalthodi vadhare on daao! Puranpoli karoo on thodi lachko dal banavoo. Kadhhi an tamara mate thodi sikhichadi mekoo! (i.e. Shanta Aunty may I cook little more pulse? May I prepare sweet wheaten pancake stuffed in with mash of jaggery, and loose pulse curry and for you a little hodge-podge. Shanta aunty said anguishly ‘Mer mooee’….. (i.e. you blacky maid) ‘maru daktare khavani na padi s tamoo puranpoli banavanoo hoohjass!’ (i.e. Doctor has asked me not to eat anything and do you want to make Pancake.) ‘No, Shanta Aunty, Harsadbhai likes it too much.’ So far Samudi was incharge of the kitchen she would cook only such items which Harshad would love to eat: ‘Handvo, dhokla used to be quite delicious. Ofcourse, she had learnt cooking from Shanta Aunty! But roti used to be of a little thick leyer. She would say, roti used to be little thick, she would say, ‘amar gher jadoo velan ha, tame tamaroo aa zenoo velan favtoo je nathee.’ (i.e. We have at our place a thick rolling pen and yours is a quite thin one, I don’t find it convenient and then she would entertain all with dinner. ‘aaj to mee randhyu, ha chevoo thau khav, khav-’ (i.e. I have cooked today, how does it taste, please eat freely.) She would insist on very warmly. While looking at a pickle pot, she used to take it as a big surprise. Her mouth watered. She would open that pickle pot carefully while opening it, her nostrils used to be quite wide open. She would pick up one piece to taste it there and then. Then she would lick it with her forefinger and ask: ‘Shonta faiba, may I take some pickle to my place?’ During Mango Season, Samudi used to pick up. Even if, someone else might have picked up mangoes yet people would be quite suspicious about Samudi only. But Samudi used to pick up only for her. Ofcourse, she used to share it with Harshad. There is no need to mention its. But she never thought of selling it. By chance, if she were caught while picking up mangoes, she was often abused by the farmguards. But Samudi didn’t take it seriously. Some time she had to give up to the guards only, it used to be a matter of great regret for her. But generally, it didn’t happen. So Samudi could foresee guard’s presence and in such care she would be disappear quietly. Shonta Aunty used to scold her, persue also, she used get money from Shanta Aunty. But Samudi would love to have her practice of picking up mangoes. She was never afraid of any farmguard, even Harshad also enjoyed such way of eating mangoes. Her observant eye, could keep a note whose mangotree had good deal of mangoes, whose mangotrees turnout to be fickle due to cyclone, or damage done by the groups of monkey. She knew that whose mango-trees would be full of fibres and even she knew size of those mangoes. She had lot of updated information, ever since the beginning of spring season. She could foretell about the very blossoming of mangotrees easily. As soon as the mango season is over Shantaaunty used to say ‘Aamar to koi athanoobathanoo kartoo j nahi.’ (i.e. None used to prepare pickle at all.) Harshad often remembered Samudi’s mangoes. Teeth used to be acheing and then it was very difficult to eat anything else. Once it so happened that whatever Samudi had picked up mangoes were cut into small pieces and made it little spicy to eat, then there was terrible pain in both the knees. The village doctor Narbheram had given some reddish ointment mixed with turmeric applied, it relieved my pain. She used to often assist me incase of severe headache also. As Harshad passed through such memoirs, he forgot to think of break-up of his betrothal with Nayna for a while.