The Wheel by My dear Jayu
Translation: Harish Mahuvakar
Nobody of the village knew him as Gilo; always
said the Wheel. It is a three wheeler carrier. Just you say the
Wheel and they would think of Gilo. And yes, Gilo too never took
the Wheel as the wheel but something beyond it. He didn’t know
on which good day he held its handle, and rode it. Then it ran
across the villages Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….and
Bhavnagar. And now who takes the village of Bhadi as a separate
one? Up to its Lower Bridge the city of Bhavnagar has been
stretched up. The urban houses have enveloped it. As you reach
to this Lower Bridge you are at the Toll Tax Point. And Toll Tax
Point means it is Bhavnagar.
Gilo would place his hands over the Wheel and and you feel you
are transported to Bhavnagar in a blink. And you leave behind
the villages of Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….(and now why
should we consider Bhadi in this run up?) Gilo himself too never
paid attention to these villages on the way. For him he would
start the Wheel and you are at the Toll Tax Point Bhavnagar. It
halted only there as the Stick Holders in Khaki –traffic police,
didn’t allow such vehicles. The rule’s a rule. Whoever he may
be, even one may be the Emperor’s son, he has to halt at this
Toll Tax Point. For Gilo it was that once he took the Wheel,
there was no stopping: Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….(and
now why should we consider Bhadi in this run up?) and it would
be the Toll Tax Point. The Wheel was no more a wheel but a
beast, a living being. As a trained horse stops at its marked
place, the Wheel always stopped only at the Toll Tax Point after
it left the Lower Bridge. May Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi fall on
mid-way but the beast has no halt anywhere even though anybody
asks for lift to Bhavnagar. Others may pick up them but not
Gilo. For him he started the Wheel and…
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….(and now why should we
consider Bhadi in this run up?). You cross the Lower Bridge and
it halted at the Toll Tax Point as if something is nailed to the
ground. The Wheel is not a wheel but a creature, a living
identity. It was the reason Gilo didn’t take it as a wheel. He
talked to him like a beloved one. He washed him, cleaned him
like a mother to his baby. After proper cleansing, follows its
makeup. A splendid look it would hold. Many followed Gilo and
ran the three-wheelers but none matched to Gilo’s. If you name
any three-wheeler then you only imagine Gilo’s wheel. He didn’t
know on which good day he held its handle, and the three wheeler
was no more a carrier. It turned into a busy road -continuously
running one. A flying horse. A terrible creature chasing
something. And then the villages Jambala…. Khopala…. Tagdi….and
Bhadi….(and now why should we consider Bhadi in this run up?)
He didn’t know on which good day he thought of buying the three-
wheeler. He thought: if I continued to work with my cousin
Kana’s carrier there would be no going beyond the little
trifling that can purchase only living. How it would be if I
purchase one myself? The work I know. Kano‘s carrier picks up
vegetable load at midnight, halts at many midway villages and
reaches to Bhavnagar market yard at four in the morning. On
return he transports passengers on the way for little money.
With only a ferry he runs. With it he not only runs his home
very well but has also bought a neighbouring old house, and
built a new concrete pakka house replacing it. Because of it one
of his house walls also got stronger as it was the common one.
His Oldie gazed it day and night and gave pang to him. We know,
brothers are to be like this. Jealous of each other. He would
tell to himself: But my brother’s son Kano has started doing
well and mine…
He didn’t know on which good day he thought of buying the three-
wheeler. And he let out his mind to his Oldie. The Oldie brought
out something wrapped out in a cloth piece that was hidden at
the bottom of the old wooden treasury box. The thing contained
three golden articles – earrings and a nose-ring, which were
removed from her when the Oldie’s woman passed away. ‘This is
all what I possess’, said he and looked at Gilo. Gilo was
excited the way he was motivated. Without wasting any more time,
he rushed to Bhavnagar. Made a down payment, and fixed the
instalments and there the Wheel was in his hands. The Wheel, the
Beast, a living one for himself. He knew his work. If nothing,
at least there would be a ferry early morning taking vegetables
to market yard. Kano leaves at midnight and many late comers are
left behind. Such farmers can reach to Bhavnagar only when they
get something by chance. Kano stops often on the way and reaches
very late. But Gilo’s carrier started once, and then…. the
villages Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….(and now why should
we …..?) and Bhavnagar. No more it started then it reached to
the Toll Tax Point, and Toll Tax Point means it is market yard,
Bhavnagar. The vegetable vendors began to love this, and as they
love this, the passengers also began to love this as they
reached Bhavnagar at the rates of the Government run State
Transport buses. But there is more to Gilo’s Wheel, as the bus
continued to pick up the passengers on the midway villages,
often the driver would love to have tea and stopped for a while,
but there’s nothing like this to Gilo’s carrier. No sooner it
starts and then…. the villages Jambala…. Khopala…. Tagdi…. and…
Bhadi….and the Toll Tax Point.
After shopping people came to the Bus Depot, and if the bus is
running late they will have to kill time and be bored. Better
you walk a little and reach to the Toll Tax Point. There’s the
guarantee to catch a three- wheeler. Just be in and you will be
at your door. And this is how Gilo became free from the trouble
of not getting passengers. The village knew the heart of Gilo.
Whether it is bitter cold or hot day, once you are at the Toll
Tax Point within twenty minutes you see your village. To or fro
journey duration is same: twenty minutes. Bus often delayed one
hour or more than that and if the driver belonged to this side
he would leave the bus, go home and return at ease. What can be
done to such a situation? Only God can be saviour. But no such a
situation takes place in the case of Gilo. He would soon fly the
Wheel though the passengers are few. And then villages
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….(and now why should we …..?)
The folks now know Gilo closely but Gilo knows only the Wheel
and the Wheel knows well the road. And now it happens that
whether Gilo holds the handle or not the Wheel would go like a
rocket. The one who sees it from the distance would also
recognise Gilo’s three- wheeler. Levelled pace that matched with
the machine sounds. Just it starts and
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and…
Within no time the Oldie began to see the outer world. After his
woman’s death he remained locked in the home. Full life he did
nothing except resting. Landed his hand to seasonal work on the
farm that fetched the whole year’s bread. Except this he did
only smoking pipe. Sometimes kept a few goats and lead them to
the farms. He never had any fortune of having cash money. In
such a situation Gilo now began to pour out his pocket at the
end of the day, and the Oldie began to see the outer world.
After his mother’s death Gilo joined Kano’s carrier and started
hard labour to earn. Even took meals there. The Oldie would be
left behind alone. If he wished to have something he himself
prepared a loaf otherwise at the God’s mercy. And thus he
remained in the home doing nothing except smoking pipe. He
hunched while walking. The Oldie’s one house was almost in
pieces. It breathed air only and possessed no belonging. The
goat moved in the courtyard and bleated. Save to this there was
nothing only the house breathed air. Say it’s a cemetery with
deadly silence. Gilo in such a situation began to pour out his
pockets in the evening and the Oldie too began to see the outer
world. Walked upright and straight now. This is how Gilo’s
wheel…. villages ….Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….and
Bhavnagar.
This is how the Oldie saw good days and began to see the outer
world. On one side the instalments of the wheeler were paid and
on the other side the Oldie will have fancy for newer things.
And so it began with the house. It was renovated and was made it
pakka. When its walls, windows, and gates were painted, it
matched with Kano’s house. The house colour came over the Oldie
and he glowed. He began to talk to others now. Kano possesses a
certain type of belongings so we also must have. Kano has this
thing and so should have we. Kano leads that sort of life so why
shouldn’t we… and the things flowed in the house one after
another. Hardly they realised they passed a couple of years and
everybody began to give respect in the community and in the
village. Hardly had he tailored a pair of trousers together but
now with new clothes he went to any errand job. And when he just
let out his Gilo’s engagement talk, a score of offers poured in.
The Oldie himself selected a nymph-like bride and fixed the
relation.
This and all is the luxury depended on the three- wheeler. This
is how Gilo’s spirit was revived. Day and night nothing came
before him except the Wheel .
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….and Bhavnagar.
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi…. ( And now who takes the
village of Bhadi as….)
Following Gilo’s example, the village had now many
three-wheelers but none matched with Gilo’s. The others after a
few rounds to Bhavnagar tired and rested but Gilo was tireless.
Continuously he ran the Wheel…. Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and
Bhadi…. ( And now…)
I never found Gilo doing any other thing. Day or night he worked
and worked. When the last bus in the evening from Bhavnagar left
and if anybody’s trapped in the market shopping, he has hope of
getting Giol’s carrier. The road too slept when the Wheel
stopped at the last round. Though the road slept like a man
pulling his body on a side but Gilo wouldn’t. If anybody has
hospital emergency at midnight, Gilo would be there. Never
refused to such a thing. Many believed after marriage he would
be little laxity but everything went against them. Gilo’s wife
found to be more than him. She thought herself a queen. She
wished honour and pomp. When Gilo married it was the first time
that the street saw crackers. The old women were quite amazed at
the show. Gilo’s woman was again the first one to fetch water in
stainless steel pots. Everybody watched her carrying them. She
knew all this and realised her place and importance. So when it
came that anybody at midnight called him to go to Bhavnagar Gilo
would be out of the bed the very next moment and the woman too
never grieved as she knew everything is because of this three-
wheeler. If it runs their fortune also runs. They have become
somewhat prosperous because of it only. Whatever is demanded the
next day it is found in the home because of it. Nothing is
missing now. Thus the Wheel….jambala… Khopal……Tagdi…and…
Now a pair of steel chairs graced the decorated home passage.
The Oldie would now occupy one and enjoy his pipe. This is how
the Wheel ran and…. Now there was a tape recorder and he
listened to Morariapu kathas, the Ramayana stories. If liked
there would be Kag, the great narrative poet. The cracking
sounds reached up to Kano’s house and he heartened himself. The
house once like a graveyard turned into a throbbing place now.
The oldie had a new life. He witnessed goat bleating once but
now there is hustle and bustle day and night. When the tape
recorder played, he found almost the whole village flocked at
his door.
Add to this is the arrival of the TV. When Jagabhai Soni, the
Goldsmith brought it first, the whole village again flocked to
see it. Then the TV was found at a couple of Baniya and a half a
dozen Kanbi Farmer houses. He was heedless to such a luxury. But
once a big box was lifted down from Kano’s carrier and the Oldie
gazed and gazed it. He also noticed some women carrying their
children went to Kano’s house in the evening for the TV shows.
He switched off his tape recorder, became silent and smoked his
pipe.
It’s impossible for Gilo not to find his Oldie sitting
speechless for a couple of days. The next day the mind is
revealed and the thing is in the home. But this time it was
little beyond capacity. But Gilo is one who never gives away. An
intrepid one. In any case comes out with the flying colours. And
on the third day it happened that he managed some cash money and
others on instalments and pushed his Wheel at his threshold with
the TV. On finding a big box, someone asked about it he said,
’It’s a colour TV’. We must have honour, and should stand taller
than Kano. While explaining to the Oldie he added, ‘Only
Jagabhai is one having it and we are the other. The rest have
black and white. They have only one channel. But this one has
many. You just have to press the button and can scan many
channels. Plus we have Bhavnagari local news in the evening. The
Oldie and the other listeners were amazed to this.
Real exciting thing took place when with his wide open eyes, he
really watched the local news that began at 09.00. A young boy
was reading the news of the day and also showed video footages.
Everything looked as if it happened before your eyes. The Oldie
had no interest in meeting, processions, and other such things
but he liked to see Bhavnagar. At noon Dharamshi’s wife was
scalded. She was soon taken to Bhvanagar Civil Hospital. He saw
her now before his eyes. The camera focused Dhama’s wife,
doctors treating her, and then at the outer side Dhamo sitting
almost coiled, his father, a constable and Khodubha, the
Sarpanch- the Head of the Village. Everyone was seen. He was
amazed the way the world moved. He couldn’t believe that so
small a person like Dhama’s wife would reach to every home
watching TV.
After this, he became habitual of news. Anything that happened
around in the District you see on TV at night. Once he saw
Khodubha in the District Panchayat meeting. He thought how good
it would be if he were on the TV. It would be a great thing. His
brother, Kano’s father wouldn’t believe it all!
After some days it happened to Gilo, but not to himself. On that
day Khodubha after getting ready in the morning, stood there at
the precincts of the village, to go to Bhavnagar. He was in a
hurry as the Chief Minister was to come. The CM was to be
welcomed at the Toll Tax Point. All the village Heads were
invited. And now the arrival time was closing by. Khodubha
waited for the Government jeep that of the T.D.O. His heart
throbbed heavily. And there came the Wheel. Khodubha asked him
if he crossed the Toll Tax Point and people over there. Gilo
said, ‘Like a bee hive people are there. Somebody said a
minister was on way to be there.’ Khodubha lost his soul now. On
any normal day he avoided the three-wheeler and never sat but
right now he had no time to think anything and he jumped in to
Gilo’s wheel. He ordered, ‘Go quickly otherwise only I would be
missing.’
And then the Wheel moved… Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and
Bhadi….and comes Toll Tax Point. But it was impossible to reach
the place. There was the sea of people. Giolo slowed down the
Wheel and asked him, ‘You get off here. The Stick Holders won’t
allow us to go to the right point.’ But Khodubha had lost his
mind. He angrily said, ‘Hell to the Stick Holders. Let me see
whose bloody stops me. You carry on… Take it up right to the
Toll Tax Point. I’m there to meet any consequences.’ And the
Wheel went. He went across the crowded people and stopped it
right before the President of the District Panchayat. The
cameras were on at that time. Gilo forgot everything and stared
at the cameras. He knew he would be there in the evening news.
He informed the Oldie about it during the lunch. The Woman in
the kitchen heard it too. The Oldie was delighted. Such a thing
never took place in the family history. For the first time he
asked him, ‘Be at home in the evening. Don’t go today.’ Such a
thing never took place. From early morning to late night there
was the Wheel attached with him like a Beast. And he always rode
it…
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….and …Bhavnagar
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….and…(why should we…)
He let the Wheel be at the outskirts of the village and came to
home. After washing he stretched on the charpai lying on the
front court. He felt after a long duration his soul was at
peace. He watched the house from there. There it was full of
everything. Here was the Wheel and so there was the Oldie
demanding new things and they were brought. Nothing missing. The
Woman also stood taller than Gilo. Always believed latest should
be the belongings. So there were stainless steel pots, a raw of
Gods and Goddesses, steel chairs, tape recorder, and the TV
placed on the stand of double layer of bricks. The last thing
pinched him. Right now there’s the burden of instalments but if
things are right stainless steel stand would be better, he
thought. There would be the ceremony of welcoming the baby. The
Woman was carrying. And there would be lots of guests. We must
maintain our honour.
Somebody called him, while he was in such a mood. Immediately he
responded to it. The Oldie opened the gate. The one who came
informed, ‘The Sarpanch’s calling to go to Bhavnagar. Right now.
His buffalo is having in deep labour troubles. The calf inside
changed the position. It’s emergency case. Need to take it to
the hospital. Please go quickly.’
Whatever the reason may be, the Oldie didn’t like this call. He
asked, ‘Could a buffalo be occupied in a three-wheeler?’ The
messenger said, ’Won’t be trouble at all. Two men will hold her.
Since morning she mowed so she has turned weak. Moreover who
says Bhavnagar’s far away? It’s at stone’s throw now. In a flash
we will go and return. The Hospital’s located near the Toll Tax
Point. Let’s move quickly.’
Whatever the reason may be, Gilo liked this call. He had another
mind. He thought, if the buffalo’s returned safe and sound, the
Sarpanch definitely will please us. And on return, there he
could have the TV stand. Gilo also wished to see himself in the
evening news. He would also stand tall before his wife. He would
win her more. ‘Like a thunder I’ll return’, said he and stepped
out of the gate. For him Bhavnagar means…
Jambala….Khopala….Tagdi….and Bhadi….and…(Why should we…)
As Gilo went out, the Oldie too stepped outside. Hardly had he
talked to Kano’s father- his own brother. Brothers are like
this. Jealous of each other. They compare each other and are
pleased with their respective position. But Kano’s father was
sitting on the outer small platform at the gate. He couldn’t
control his emotions. He said, ’ You will find Gilo tonight in
the local news.’
‘Oh! Is it so?’ said Kano’s father. ’We must watch the news.
What’s the time?’
‘Nine.’ His face shone bright when he responded.
‘Splendid. We mustn’t ruin the chance. You know our TV has only
a channel that doesn’t bring the local news.’
This was more than enough for the Oldie when Kano’s father spoke
like this. The happiness washed his face. He knew brothers are
all jealous.
No sooner it was eight, than the Oldie fixed himself before the
TV. He eagerly awaited arrival of both of them: Gilo, and Kano’s
father. And soon Kano’s father occupied the next chair. But
there was no rumbling of Gilo’s wheel heard. He had no heart in
his hands. He felt uneasy. If the parents are not worried in
such a situation than they are no parents at all. ‘No, no. It’s
not late. The buffalo had the trouble, so it’s to be late’, he
explained his soul. But again the ill thoughts come in, and
again he consoled the self. He had only one delight that Kano’s
father watched now and then the rich belonging of the house.
And at sharp nine the news began.
‘Namaskar , welcome to the local news show. First of all
headlines of the day……… The CM arrives and receives grand
welcome………. The CM solved score of problems on the spot……..The
CM……… The CM……….’
The Oldie had no heart in them.
‘The city witnessed three cases of accidental deaths.
‘Now the news in detail.’
The first news brought the pictures of Toll Tax Point. Really
there was the sea of the people. The crowd ready to welcome the
CM was shown. The camera moved on the big leaders present there.
At this juncture Gilo’s wheel stood right before the President
of the District Panchayat. Khodubha got off the Wheel. He shook
hands with the President. All this time Gilo and his Wheel
remained on the screen. As if Gilo knew the cameraman’s tricks
he watched over there and continued to smile all the way.
The Oldie was so much overjoyed that he almost pushed down
Kano’s father. Only a minute’s scene filled him completely. He
closed his eyes in the great satisfaction. Now he had no
interest in the other items. He mind heard only the Wheel
rumbling. He wished his son back in the house.
Then came the news…
‘And to conclude….the City witnessed three cases of accidental
deaths. In a horrible mishap at the Lower Bridge a three-wheeled
was killed. According to the information received, this evening
a three-wheeler coming to Bhavnagar carrying a buffalo turned
down at the Lower Bridge and the driver died on the spot. The
passengers in it were saved as they were flung away. They have
been admitted to the hospital. Surprising thing is it that the
buffalo fell heavily, delivered the calf there. An eye –witness
says that had the driver freed the handle of his carrier he
might have been saved. But people say it was his soul. He was
known as the Wheel….’
The Oldie’ eyes couldn’t believe it. His was frozen.