Red Mammoths (story)
The cemetery is shaped like a coffin. Whitewashed wall. I was on the window seat and looked out as the Jasmine bus started to enter the cemetery. A white arch with the word ‘Svargavadam’ written in blue. Beyond the arch rest the dead in black granite tombs. My father along with them.. I let out a deep breath. I am the famous p. Working in the company of D Marbles. My company is in the heart of the nearest city, Iriti. Wholesale of Marbles. Marble slabs were stored in a long refrigerated warehouse behind the company. Sales and Service. That’s my job. You have to complete the monthly target of the company by riding around the country on the company bike. They will increase the target by the end of every month. Last month’s target was thirty five lakhs. Thirty five lakhs! “If you work for thirty years, won’t you see the sum perfectly?” Last month, as I was not a target, my dead father came and scratched my ear when I heard the boss’s mouth in the AC cabin. “Don’t listen and tell me four good ones.” My father must not have noticed that I kept silent and collected everything in his mouth. I know very well that I won’t open my mouth even if I need it, so why not? No matter how much he gets, the grizzled, gray-haired boss with a thick bracelet on his wrist won’t go away. “Don’t go to work as a sweeper, you sad one.” When I can’t bear the pressure of work and sweat in the scorching sun and drink lemonade, my mind will advise me again in my father’s voice. I couldn’t quit easily. This is now the fourth company after BBA completed with twenty six ‘supplies’. How can I get a job easily when I start shaking when I meet people? I still remember how the boss of the petrol station, who took the accounting job saying that he was a BBA, threw away the ‘balance sheet’ that I had drawn. “Go to Hell!” You can’t even read what I wrote. “That’s what I’m telling you to pick up. This soil will give you what you need to live on.” Kailiel, who folded his slim hand that was dirt, said father.
Dark red shirt and white pants. That is the company uniform. If not, a shoe on the foot. A black tie around the neck. This dress doesn’t suit my slim figure. I have a great reluctance to talk to people. shame fear Very complex. As soon as I start talking, I can feel the Fevicol sticking to my thin cheeks like glue. My words will break. The voice will stutter. Can’t do this job. To be successful in sales, you need a pleasant voice that can capture customers. Must have a thick moustache, clean-shaven, mirror-like cheekbones and white complexion. “Martin.. you are totally unfit for this company. You should look elsewhere…” the boss would call him to the cabin from time to time. “Sir please.. next time I will be the target no matter what.” I will bow in front of the fat man in shame. Father would laugh in his ear. “I’d better put you in this costume and put you in front of the chimney sweeps.” The boss can be tolerated again. The itching of father’s place and place is unbearable. I gritted my teeth and looked out. Jasmine bus is now stopped near Aralam bridge. He saw a tall man getting into the bus. Slim but straight chested walk. Our eyes locked for a moment. A needle-like look. Suddenly I felt like my father. Double bell rang. Jasmine started moving slowly. After passing the bridge, the bus turned around and slowly entered the Ayyappankau road. After another four kilometers, it will jump on ‘Haji Road’. Soon I got up.. I felt my chest pounding as I got closer to the office. Even today you have to listen to what is in the boss’s mouth for whatever reason. You think that my poor reserved nature and trembling at the sight of a man is a license to leave. The smothered laughter of my colleagues fell in front of me and burst like rubber beans. I gritted my teeth again. The bus is now moving along a black road shaded by trees on both sides. The sides are mostly rubber. Their crowns towering over the hills stretch to infinity. It is the rubber that my father put. Aralampalam did not come that day. Kunnu Kerum Appan passed through ‘Kadatu’ in the morning. “When I live, I must live with dignity. Like my father.. I must walk with my head held high. No matter what the work is..” The words my father said to me when I was sweating on the platform carved on top of the hill during some summer vacation.
“Payancheri nook.. Payancheri nook.” The sound of the conductor calling. Are you here so soon? I jumped out of my seat. The office is near the Christian church in the city center. He started walking slowly. My heart prays that I will never reach the office even though I walk and walk. I realized that the kind of fear that fills my mind just before the English period on the day I missed homework was growing inside me with every step. Even though we know it will never happen, we often pray in life. But God never hears our prayers. Malayalam period can. The Englishman will come with a stick in his hand! To reach the office. I saw mammoths on ‘display’ outside a hypermarket on the opposite side of the road from the office. New model red colored Mammoths. That hypermarket has opened recently. I remembered my father again. “Don’t be afraid like this.. My father was not afraid of any human being.” Appan says in a firm voice. Did the mind deliberately show those red mammoths to listen to his father’s sarcasm? A special sight that has never been seen before! I slowly entered the office with my hair on the shoe rack. He has forgotten to leave his shoes for the time of trouble. If the boss sees it, that’s enough for today. I signed the attendance register and went to my cubicles. Started feeding sales information into the computer. Once the feeding is complete, go to the root. “Why don’t you buy it?” Damn it! Father will not give peace even in this. “Martin is called sir.” Ramya is standing with her head inside the glass door. A sneer tugged at the corner of her lips. Now what comes to my mind is a movie where Dileep commits suicide. ‘Don’t you laugh?’
“Sir” I called slowly. The boss looked up from the computer monitor and stared at me. In that look, I knew that my body was starting to tremble. “Martin.. What are you doing in this office? Why are you working in this office? Just tell me who hired you. The contract you took with the sales order was canceled the other day.” His cheeks are quivering with anger. I felt dizzy. “Sir, I knew that..” My voice faltered. “No more explanation..” He raised his hand to stop me and continued shouting. Colleagues peer from outside. I knew my body was sweating. My eyes closed for a moment as I felt like I was going to fall to the ground. Then I felt as if my father was standing in front of me. “My father was not afraid of any human being.” Angeru wipes his sweat-soaked lungi and says ‘Don’t bow your head in front of anyone.’ “Father, don’t stop..” My head raised. I yelled out loud. I saw that the boss was shocked. “I don’t want to work in your cop..” I pulled the tie and threw it in his face. Then I opened the door of the cabin and went out in front of my colleagues who were surprised. It is unlikely that it was the father who scratched his ear this time. It will be the father’s father’s child. A long time ago, you shot someone at the intersection of Velimanam. A smile spread across my lips when I thought about it. I slowly walked to the hypermarket. Red mammoths filled my eyes. “I want a mammothumpa.” The shopkeeper was busy. I said in a firm voice ignoring it.
Content Summary: Malayalam Short Story ‘Chuvanna Mammattikal’ written by Grince George