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| Pa. Singaram |
Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam.
Chapter 5: Moski Straat
The Tamils who were running pawn business entered
Medan City* which was once known to them as Maidan. The different types of
attendant boys were sitting at the cash section and were flipping the pages of
accounts books and loan receipts. But the persons who had to repay the loans
were not found anywhere around.
The Chetti Street, known as Moski Straat, was on its
gradual decline losing its sheen. They were wearing dirty cloths as the daily
washing service had long ago been stopped. Only one question was frequently hitting everyone’s brain sitting in the cash section – it
was a three dimensional question of their livelihood- When would the war end?
How to manage filling one’s tummy till the day war got over? And how long
more they would be able to sustain with the available ration?
The street that was once brimming with pride had now changed into nearly nothing.
In those days—
Every morning fragrance of jasmine, frankincense and
paste of Aragaja used for daily puja would be wafting through the
godowns. The attendants wearing washed cloths, with liberally applied Vibhoothi
on their forehead would be busy flipping the pages of loan receipts and
account books sitting behind the tables. The person at cash section sitting
erect, stiff along the cash locker with his legs folded would be busy counting
the cash and wrapping it in transparent polythene bags for depositing them in
bank.
While doing their work the cash section boys used to fantasise
the day when they would become attendants so that they could go out for “cash
collection” and the attendants would fantasise to become supervisors so that
they could wield ‘enormous powers’ to make everyone dance at their whims.
The attendants would stretch their legs straight and
find time to take rest when the supervisors were snoring cuddling the bunds and
‘Honest’ Soona Paana** was busy playing cards upstairs of the godown. The frail back of the boys sitting at the cash
section would also lean a bit behind for want of some rest. They would
recollect their past and chatter incessantly how the car agents Junior Ibrahim
and Samikkanu were wrestling on a petty issue in front of ‘vande Mataram’
Aiyar’s hotel, the scuffle between the gangs of Puduppatti and Tiruppathur in
the matters of some women when Sundaramabal drama was run in Valamburi Theatre,
and how the Vallalapatti Aiyan challenged taming of black colour bull of
Mariyoor in a bet and tamed it in Siravayal Bull Taming arena.
The village would wear a festive mood during the
arrival of letters by post. They would read them out to each other, and happily
disclose its contents to each other.- ‘Brother, this time the village tank
is full. So no need to worry about food this year. Maple, you are aware
of a guy sitting in the cash section of Mr Seena Vaana Koonaa. Aren’t you? That
single jawed guy, Nallamuthan, has stabbed his wife, killed her and committed
suicide. Moona Roonaa, the son of our Periya Aiya is coming as supervisor to
your shop. The salary bill has already been prepared. It is a secret
information…’
The attendants were busy tallying the accounts with
their account books sitting either upstairs or somewhere in the corner downstairs.
‘The borrower number one- Padmavathi, the wife of
Yavarkara Kasaabaviro working as cook in Senior Sir’s house at number eighty
eight, Manga Lane in Davros. Debtor
number two - the clerk working in lawyer Kotkens’ office. So the total stands
with two persons, ten months instalment along with interest at two hundred and
forty Rupiah (Dutch Guilder) ”
“mhhh”
“The interest received from the said person is forty
rupees. The amount of debt on account of mortgaging a gold chain by the Chinese
man, Dalbhushim staying at number ninety four in Teppang Straat Kederamba along
with collateral security provided by Dav Lee Bhun, the sari shop keeper in Straat
Market with twenty months instalments along with interest amount stands at
Thousand two hundred and fifty”
“mhhh”
“The interest amount received from the said party is
rupees Two hundred and fifty”
“mhhh”
“Anna! Yonder, that seventh godown bald headed man is
walking with his legs spread. Is anything wrong with him? Had he been
punctured?”
“He has some men’s disease. See…You mustn’t be frugal while
whoring around. Mustn’t you? A British lady is whoring in Achin’s hotel. Isn’t
she? It may be a wholesale procurement from her. Mmhhh”
“Two months of instalment amount is needed to close
the account of Panajarkara Abdul Suber residing at number 119.”
“mhhh”
“The amount given to the said party after deducting
the sundry expenses is rupees two”
“mhhh”
“Amount in debt for purchasing sowing machine is
rupees three thousand”
“mhhh”
“This one is also in debt. The unrealised cheque on
the date of debt for rupees eight hundred and ninety six paise”
Mhhh”
“Ok. Unrealised cheque for the amount to be received
from Tibur Garden credit collector Maruthamuthu on his current account is rupees
eight hundred and ninety six paise”
“mhhh”
“This one is related to procurement of Indian currency
notes from Holland Bank. Hundred Five Rupees notes, hundred and fifty ten
rupees notes totalling Indian currency notes valued at Thousand and Two hundred
seventy five in the ratio of sixty three and three quarter to two thousand”
“Mhhh”
“In addition to it, the arrival of seeds worth Indian
rupees four hundred fifty five in the ratio of six hundred fifty to seventy”
Mhhh”
“The credit from Holland bank and Indian currency
notes procurement stand at Rupees Thousand two hundred and seventy five”
“Mhhh…Let me have a cup of coffee at Fat Goose’s shop.
You may leave once I am back”
…
Some traders started their grocery business in their
shops. They started procuring condiments like coffee seeds, nutmeg mace,
cinnamon bark, tamarind, pepper and frankincense and selling them.
Exporting certain goods to Penang by wooden ships
after obtaining a permission letter from the military government and importing
certain types of goods permitted by Malaya customs officials to Sumathra were
in vogue. There was a rumour floating
around that some Chinese traders were already into Penang merchandise.
Even the Moski Straat traders evinced some interest in
business with Penang. Talks were under way. The renovation contractor offices
became busy again with contracts.
There was a pressing need to provide sufficient number
of daily wage labourers and bullock carts to Japanese contractors who were
extremely busy in constructing military bases around an airstrip by means of
expanding it. Another important task of sending sand from Arnemia River to
assist a secret construction in a forest area along the Prasthaki road was also
entrusted to them.
Pandian came out of the office and walked towards
north on the road with dead end.
“Paavanna, it doesn't look good if you don’t visit me after
coming over here. Please do come in” – senior attendant Kalimuthu called him
out from the 13th godown.
“Yes…I am coming” he went in and sat on a bench.
“Please have a seat”
“Come in brother, have a seat”- the helper boy greeted
him and ran out to bring him coffee.
“I understand Japanese men have managed entry in
India’s eastern side. Do you know anything about it?” Moona alias Muthusamy
Pillai who had spent all his life time in cash sections, computing accounts
with his arched back, asked him.
“Nothing appears like that”
“They did. It is being said that Kolkata city has been
set ablaze. The war is still on just fifteen miles away from the city”.
The helper boy kept the coffee mug in the front.
“You need cigarette? Anna”
“No…my throat hurts.”
He drank coffee from the mug.
Muthusamy Pillai moved his hand box aside, spread his
legs and started narrating the rumours about war he had collected from the
Chinese men visiting the coffee shop. “The British army reached the northern
shore of Malaya and captured the city of Alor Setar. A Chinese man disguising
in Japanese army attire killed Japanese General Yamashitta”
Other cash section men were keenly listening to Muthusamy
with their mouth wide open. Kalimuthu went very near to Pandian, bringing his
mouth closer to his ears.
“Now I feel a bit better, Anna. The irritation has
gone down greatly. But I am unable to get that medicine. Having problem in
arranging money too”
“I’ll inform Yahya. He would bring it somehow. You can
make payment later”
“Okay. Tomorrow we can meet in person and settle the
things. All what I need is just the return of principle amount” Kalimuthu raised his
voice this time.
“It is alright. I am getting late. Need to leave now.”
He rose.
“Okay. See you again”
“You are leaving. Aren’t you? Okay okay…Get going” –
Ilangamani Pillai who was sitting quiet with his ears sharpened in an ultimate attempt
of receiving at least some essence of their secret conversation as much as he
could, raised his brows and said. He was the sole proprietor, owner,
supervisor, attendant and helper of the second cash section.
“Yes sir…I will meet you all again sometime later. Now
I need to leave.”
He left the place and walked towards north. He heard
the voices of endearing greetings repeated on his way. He kept walking with courtly
replies to each query and entered fifth godown.
The cash section boy jumped off the bench and offered
him a chair. The attendant Nagalingam called out the cook to bring water.
“Eiii…I don’t need. Just a while ago I had”
“It is okay anna. Have a sip”
The cook came running from inside and extended his
hands with a coffee cup.
“Chinnaiya Anna, do you know that coffee is bad for
health? This is my sixth coffee” he received it form him and sipped it.
“Nothing will be bad for health Anna. This is the age
you can kill a snake by just stomping on it with your leg” He turned back with
the coffee tumbler, said, “Be here for some time. I will be back soon” and
left.
Pandian enjoyed certain special privileges in this
gogown by the virtue of being its erstwhile employee as an attendant before
joining renovation contractor office.
“Pandiya, when will this nonsense called war be over?”
The one who asked this was Vavanna Kenaa Vaanaa
(va.ke.va, i.e Vaazhnthu Vetta Valliyappa chettiyar- the Chettiar who once
lived prosperous but a pauper now. He could run his business as an exception to
the prevailing rule where the cash sections would necessarily function under
the aegis of Pana Zhana kana runaa (Pazhakaru). He was the only one who assumed
right over Pandian to address him in singular terms. Sitting behind the hand
box placed along the wall at the end of the bench, he asked him that question.
“It will all be over very shortly”
“What our elders have predicted are actually happening
now. You are also witnessing them happening. Aren’t you? The garbage gets to the
height, and the towers get to nadir. The one who travelled in pleasure car is
now on his foot and the ones who were on foot are now flying in aeroplanes. What
sort of a noble soul your father was! He lived for truth and never betrayed his
words. See now what had happened to him…mhhm…those who danced on the streets
with comic costumes in festivals are now sitting as big shots in the town
markets. The condition in abroad is also no way different. Nothing to be blamed
other than the time we live in…”
‘The once prosperous and present pauper’ opened
his hand box, took out a small chit of paper and put it in front as he kept on bemoaning.
Then he took out a yellow colour velvet cloth pouch from his waist, untied it, scooped
out some Vibhoothi in hand and applied liberally on his forehead and
neck with a pious chant, “Muruga, Pazhaniyappa…”
“Did you receive letter from Nachiyappan? It was
informed that two or three persons would receive letters due to the change of
boats” Pandian asked.
“Nothing I received. I don’t know why. Everything will
be taken care of by Thandayuthapani, Muruga…Pazhaniyappa…” Again
chanted.
A boy from his office came there, informed him that the
supervisor Aiyavu was waiting for him.
Pandian bid adieu and left the godown. ‘Tomorrow is
Wednesday. I will have to visit Arnemia River front frequently. Dealing with
these Japanese blokes gives me a headache. Dutch Prisoners of war are also on
the way. It is yet another nuisance.”
***Chapter 5 ended***
Chapter 6 : “Arnemia River” will be published soon.
Notes:
*This city was established by Sultanate kings from
India. It was called Medan City. Its original name was Medan Dilli. Dilli was
the capital city of Sultanate kings. Medan is distorted form of Maidan, an Urdu
word.
**Short form of names with the first letters of words to
address persons. For ex. Subbaiah Pandian as Su. Pa. (read as Soonaa Paanaa)
