Good People: Chapter 19: Prejudices and Conflicts

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 19

Medhavi’s wrote her diary day wise:

Day 1:

This is the first day of my life when I thought of writing a diary for the first time. I am not a diary freak but today’s incident disturbed me beyond my imagination and I need to vent them out somewhere. 

So what if I ate omelet in the company of my closest friend Anji? 

Don’t eat this. Don’t eat that. Eat only these things. What rubbish! Funny- yet every religion prescribes such unreasonable permissions and restrictions. What’s the harm in eating whatever one likes? Why and how does any religion enter into such a personal issue? 

I hated Samskara commenting on my eating an omelet. I do not eat it normally. I am still not used to eat other non-veg stuff. But omelet, I have started liking its taste and so I ate. Is it any sin that Samskara made a mountain out of a molehill?

Day 2:

I hate this shuddhikaran (purification) process that Samskara carries out every time I am done with my periods. 

He also did it when I ate omelet as if I became impure after eating an omelet.

I feel terribly violated when he does that act of sprinkling the Ganga water all over me and the house and the fridge.

My mother used to perform similar ritual. Now I remember that even when my mother did this shuddhikaran business on me, I used to get worked up.

I never questioned her thinking that she was an elder and knew better than me. But today I really want to ask myself, “Has this shuddhikaran any meaning in it at all?” My answer is, “None.” So I do not wish to be violated by Samskara any more.

It’s all about hygiene. Modern accessories take care of it.

And I guess such or similar unreasonable rituals must be true of every other religion and community. I have come to realize that all of that is no good irrespective of whichever religions prescribe such or similar things.

Day 3:

Is doing frequent poojas (prayers and worships) and that too over long and odd hours really all that pious? I am religious too. But I do not perform the poojas as frequently as Samskara does. Am I a sinner or degraded person?

And why does he have to get up at an ungodly hour of 5 AM every day and also disturb my sleep in the process? He never has time for a quiet breakfast with me, not even on the weekends. 

I have started missing the companionship I had expected from my husband in marriage.

Today as I am writing this I am remembering Shaan. He was such a great company always. What I knew of him he hardly spent time in any poojas or service or any other kind of worship. Every time I asked him the reason, he told me, “Medhavi, if there is a god, he or she resides in you and thus you are alive. So I silently salute him or her every now and then and no one even comes to know of it. Isn’t that wonderful?”

I have started seeing some point in Shaan’s philosophy. 

………………….

Before reading the diary of the fourth day, Samskara wondered about the mention of Shaan in the diary. Medhavi never spoke of him earlier, Samskara thought.

………………….

Day 4:

I am repeating here in my diary exactly what Samskara uttered the other day. 

He said, “Oh these people of other communities can be a bad influence on our children. And I am quite serious about it. Our samskaras (cultural heritage and upbringing) are far more superior to the samskaras people of other communities give to their children. We do not want our children to pick them up.”

And then he asked me to cut down on my relationship with Anji since she is a Christian. 

I got quite shocked at such utterances of Samskara and I am certain that he is not quite correct. There are good and bad people in every race, religion and community. You cannot rule out any community with such sweeping statements.

But it is not just Samskara who thought lowly of other communities or races. On rethinking I find such statements being made by many people of various communities about the people of other communities, races and religions. But doing that is not correct in any way even on their part. Does their religion allow it? No good religion teaches it.

I will never break my friendship with the people of other communities who are already my friends. And least of all Anji- she is my best friend, so what if she is a Christian. And after all I am not marrying her.

I agree that one should marry in the same communities. I am still fussy about it or I would have married Shaan. Imagine I have problems with a person of my own religion and sub-caste, what kind of problems one might face in marrying a person from other religion or race?

Day 5:

Samskara believes in each and every religious diktats that some people of ancient times passed on to the next generations without checking their veracity. At times even to a somewhat religious person like me those diktats seem quite unreasonable and particularly in the present times. 

I realize now that we should always find the scientific reasons before following any diktat of any religion. Samskara’s opinions on this do not match with mine. He takes every written and spoken word of the religious teachings and preaching as a gospel truth and hundred percent sacrosanct.

Day 6:

Samskara has started imposing some more new whims lately. He handed me a chart the other day. It is called ‘Rahu Kalam’. As per him it is very useful as it prescribes the inauspicious period of the day when one should never undertake any auspicious activity. The duration of this period is one and half an hour every day. For example 7.30 AM to 9 AM is inauspicious on all Mondays, 3 PM to 4.30 PM is inauspicious on Tuesdays, 12 noon to 1.30 PM is inauspicious on Wednesdays and so on for the rest of the days of every week. 

I remember that my parents are also ardent followers of ‘Rahu Kalam’. They refuse to carry out any important job during these hours. Though I am religious, I am a bit of rebel too at times and so I used to ask the rationale behind it to my parents. 

I used to argue, “Mom, if I am writing a university examination paper during this ‘Rahu Kalam’ should I stop writing the paper? And my experience so far shows that many a time when I wrote the exam papers in ‘Rahu Kalam’, I even got centum marks.” My parents won’t have any answer to this kind of questioning of mine. 

Many times we are engaged in very important tasks during this period because some one else with no knowledge of ‘Rahu Kalam’ had planned that activity during this inauspicious period. And I have seen that nothing went wrong in doing that planned work.

I have not argued on this aspect with Samskara for fear of getting into yet another conflict but I definitely do not like such restrictions.

One more thought came to my mind, “Are radically religious people superstitious too? Are they more superstitious than the people who are less religious or not religious at all?”

Day 7:

Today I read an article on the Internet about a group called  ‘Humanity Forum’. I was impressed by their work.

The group consists of persons of all kinds of faiths and also the people not having affiliation to any organized religions and yet all of them work together seamlessly.

‘Humanity Forum’ assists the entire humanity as per its requirements without any consideration of any kind of boundaries drawn by physical or political boundaries of nations or any other kinds of boundaries drawn based on race, color, religion, caste, sub-caste, language, gender etc. 

There was a mention of Shaan in the article and descriptions of the projects that he undertook during past few months for the benefit of the humanity.

After reading Shaan’s accomplishments I could not but admire Shaan. 

I lost a great friend like Shaan due to my immaturity, stupidity, over-ambitiousness and jealousy. I should meet him soon and apologize.

………………….

Samskara stopped reading the diary for a while after reading the mention of Shaan and now the mention of ‘Humanity Forum’ of America. He recalled hearing the name of ‘Humanity Forum’ this morning on television. What was it? Yes, the members of ‘Humanity Forum’ were the first rescue team to reach Japan from outside of Japan.

………………….

Day 8:

I am writing diary after a gap. 

In the mean time I have remained terribly disturbed by what I now call as ‘overdoing of religiousness’ by Samskara. He is trying to impose his ideas on me and now I am the last person to buy his ideas.

I am tired of Samskara’s weird ideas and wish to stay away from him at least for an year. I must save my marriage. My boss has confirmed about my deputation to Japan. That will help.

During this one-year’s time I will give some more deep thought to this matter between Samskara and me and see if Samskara will like to moderate his views and actions. I am all for saving my marriage.

Lately after checking the vast literature that is available on the Internet and also studying the objectives and the type of work ‘Humanity Forum’ does I am getting convinced of the futility of too much of religiousness bordering on fundamentalism or extremism.

I wonder if I am becoming like Shaan myself.

Why do I remember Shaan so very often these days?

Am I falling in love with him? Did I fall in love with him when I met him for the first time?

Oh, why am I thinking all this nonsense? 

I must save my marriage.

………………….

That was the end of Medhavi’s diary. Medhavi forgot to keep the diary with her while she traveled to Japan. She inadvertently left it on the table at home.

Samskara’s senses became numb on reading the diary. For a few minutes he remained still and his brain stopped thinking.

However, soon the writing of Medhavi started sinking in and he started realizing the enormity of the turmoil that was taking pace in Medhavi’s mind. And he felt that he was the reason for the turmoil. First he got enraged but sanity set in soon and the first thing he thought was how to contact Medhavi and save her life.

He must take immediate steps, he decided.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Good People: Chapter 18: Tale of Disaster and Anxiety

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 18

Every television channel all over the world was telecasting this breaking news:

“The most powerful ever known earthquake of magnitude 9 hit Japan for six minutes. It is one of the worst five documented earthquakes. It’s epicenter is approximately 40 miles east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tohoku. It’s hypocenter is at an underwater depth of around 18 miles.

The earthquake has triggered the worst tsunami after the tsunami of Indonesia of 2004. The tallest tsunami waves reached a height of approximately 120 feet in Miyako. Average height of tsunami waves remained at approximately 30 feet in most of the affected areas while it’s ferocity lasted. The waves travelled inland up to more than 10 miles even in Sendai area, which is some 80 miles away from the epicenter.

Rescue teams from all over Japan and a few from the rest of the world are rushing to the affected areas. The first team to reach from outside of Japan is ‘Humanity Forum’- a well known and competent group of volunteers from USA.”

Kelly and Shaan had already reached Japan. They along with a team of their other colleagues from ‘Humanity Forum’ were assigned Sendai area for the rescue operations. 

“Three areas have been worst hit by tsunami- Tohoku, Miyako and Sendai. Therefore setting up three rescue camps, one in each of this area was a good decision,” Kelly was in conversation with Shaan the night they reached Japan along with a planeload of other group members of ‘Humanity Forum’.

Shaan added, “We have adequate sets of equipment, tents, water, oxygen and medicines to setup the three camps simultaneously.”

“And yes, we have a good number of doctors and nurses. Also we have a large contingent of competent rescuers- the front liners- who matter a lot under such horrendous circumstances.”

“Let us tighten our belts and start the rescue operations from three in the morning. All of us need a couple of hours of rest right now so that we can start working non-stop for next couple of days. We can then take our turns of rest and work. Let us sleep now, it’s already past midnight.”

Before going to sleep, Shaan sent an email to his parents Yusuf and Alice in India, “With my colleagues of ‘Humanity Forum’ I am in Japan now to undertake the rescue operations. Do not worry about me. All of us are safe. Take care.”

………………….

In San Diego Samskara was trying to locate the address book in which Medhavi had written down her address and phone numbers of Japan. Her company had made arrangements for her stay in Sendai in an apartment few miles from her office.

No sooner Samskara heard the dreadful news of tsunami in Japan he started getting worried about Medhavi. He faintly remembered Medhavi telling him that she would be putting up in the city of Sendai in Japan. That made him all the more worried. Sendai was one of the worst hit tsunami areas.

Yet he wanted to be sure that what he had heard Medhavi saying was the city of Sendai. He prayed fervently that what he heard was not Sendai but some far away city of Japan where tsunami did not affect at all. 

Despite his religious differences he cared for Medhavi.

He wished to speak with Medhavi over the phone. He tried Medhavi’s cell phone but he could not get connected to her cell. Obviously the cell phone lines were out of order due to the earthquake and the tsunami and were not working.

He thought that perhaps by some miracle landlines might be working and he could contact Medhavi on her landline. So he started searching for the address book frantically. He remembered to have seen it in their bedroom on the bedside table. He rushed into the bedroom.

He saw a diary on the bedside table and it gave him hope.  He opened it to locate the landline phone number of Medhavi.

What he saw in the diary were not any phone numbers. It was a diary similar in looks to their address book but the inside of it did not contain phone numbers. Instead it contained some notes Medhavi made.

The first page contained remarks of Medhavi on the incident that took place in their home when Medhavi’s friend Anjali had visited them a few months ago.

He went on reading the entire diary Medhavi wrote.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Good People: Chapter 17: Romance and Tough Decisions

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 17

On one holiday when Shaan and Kelly were together and generally chitchatting, Kelly shifted closer to Shaan, such that Shaan could feel the warmth of her entire body, she said, “I am in different mood today. I feel like getting more personal with you. Will you answer one very important question I am going to ask you?”

“No problem.”

“But you have to be absolutely frank with me. If you feel like answering only then answer but do tell me the truth.”

“I am always truthful to you, you know about it.”

“I know that. But my query is going to be a bit sensitive and that’s why all of this prelude.”

“Now please keep this prelude aside and come to the point. The mystery is killing me. So please hurry up and shoot your question.”

“I know that you are not a married guy. But do you have any girl friend?” She was pretty nervous; she did not know what Shaan’s reply would be.

“No, I don’t have any.”

“Did you love any girl before?”

“Yes and no.”

“Shaan, that’s why I asked you to be truthful. Now I see that you are dillydallying. Come straight or forget about my curiosity. Just don’t answer.”

“I am being absolutely truthful. I did love a girl immensely once upon a time. But I stopped loving that girl completely quite long time back. She has no place whatsoever in mind and heart now.”

“Who was that lucky one whom you loved so much and why is she so unlucky now that you do not love her at all? How is that possible? Is it that easy to do so?”

“Kelly, I will tell you everything. First let us order a pot of hot coffee. It’s a bit longish story. I need to tell you over a cup of coffee.”

They ordered a pot of coffee between two of them. Kelly was still close to Shaan and she adjusted herself closer to him. Shaan felt a bit different today about Kelly’s overall behavior towards him. But whatever was happening between Kelly and him he liked it.

The coffee came and he started reeling out the entire story. He told her how he met Medhavi after colliding with her in the college corridor and instantly fell in love with her. He told Kelly each and every detail of the things that happened between Medhavi and him.

Kelly heard the entire story non-stop. At the end of the story she became quite sentimental. Her heart went out to Shaan and she found it natural on her part to plant a kiss of mixed emotions on Shaan’s lips. She said, “Don’t tell me any more.”

Then they sat together for a long time holding each other’s palms without speaking a word to each other.

Afterwards they walked back to Kelly’s home hand in hand. No one spoke with each other. Silence suited both of them under the given situation. After bidding good night to her at her doorstep, he retreated to his apartment. 

Shaan felt released of his pent-up emotions. 

Kelly felt satisfied learning Shaan’s story. Why? She was not aware of.

………………….

Medhavi came home from office. Samskara was home too. 

He enquired matter of fact, “Hey you got late from office? More workload?”

“No, the usual. But today boss requested me to stay a bit late. His entire day was crowded with one meeting or the other. But he thought that my meeting him was important.”

“Anything really important?”

“Yes. A new project is coming up in Japan. He wanted a few persons from here to join the Japan team. So I have been earmarked as I have all the skill sets that they need there. I will have to shift to Japan for an year or so within next one month or earlier. The company will make every bit of arrangements for me there.”

“But don’t you think one year is quite a long period?”

“But I may travel back and forth between US and Japan during this period as per the company’s needs. So it should be OK, I suppose.”

“OK. Let us see how this whole thing takes shape.”

Medhavi was happy to notice that Samskara did not object to her shifting to Japan. Perhaps because she would be able to travel back and forth between US and Japan and one year will not feel like a long period.

Medhavi was happy that she was finally getting her private space away from Samskara. She needed it badly. She needed to think over the issues that were creating some serious problems between her and Samskara. She needed clarity on them. She thought that she could do so by being away from Samskara for some time.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Good People: Chapter 16: Dilemma and Solutions

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 16

Kelly once said, “Shaan, with the world becoming a global village people seem coming closer to each other when it comes to business and making money. But socially people have remained as backward as they were hundreds of years ago.”

“Yes Kelly, grouping together only on the considerations of race, color, religion, caste, sub-caste etc still remains dominant socially. We cannot deny accepting that these considerations also enter the professional and political domains.”

“You and me and our parents are miniscule minority.” 

“Our parents united together despite all these considerations because they were satisfied with only one thing and that one thing is ‘goodness of human beings’ irrespective of these considerations.”

“If two good people like each other they can as well unite together irrespective of their other affiliations. Such an action will be more conducive to make the human race as one single race.”

“But it’s a long shot. It’s a distant dream and one cannot be too sure of it becoming a reality even in next hundreds of years.”

“Shaan, let us not be too philosophical about it nor too pessimistic about it. Let us be happy with the fact that you and me and your parents and my parents form a pretty decent group of human beings of diverse considerations. That’s good start in a good direction.”

“And hope other people learn to do similar things.”

“Shaan, our group members of ‘Humanity Forum’ also are great examples. They have already achieved what we are discussing. So the numbers are increasing.”

By this time Shaan’s parents Yusuf and Alice had visited America and met Kelly and her parents Arun and Yin. They spent some real good time together. Thus Christians, Hindus, Muslims and persons not affiliated to any organized religion from India, China and USA had become closely knit family friends. 

Arun and Yin often remembered Christie, Kelly’s real mother. Thus this member, an African American, also became a part of this wonderful fellowship in absentia. They had a special place for Christie in their hearts. 

Kelly and Shaan gradually became very good friends in addition to being good colleagues of professional and human activities.

They clicked together because basically they were good human beings though from very diverse backgrounds.

………………….

But Medhavi and Samskara were getting drifted away from each other despite having absolutely identical backgrounds.

On their first marriage anniversary they decided to eat out in some top-notch restaurant of the city. 

Medhavi suggested, “Let us go to ‘Thai Fest’. They serve authentic vegetarian Thai food and the ambience of the restaurant is absolutely amazing. I love Thai food; I have not eaten even once after our marriage.”

“I can’t stand any restaurant where they also cook non-vegetarian food. So, let us stick to a pure vegetarian Indian restaurant.”

“But none of the Indian restaurants here provide the kind of ambience I want for our first marriage anniversary. And this Thai restaurant I am suggesting does not mix non-veg stuff into the veg stuff or for that matter any other restaurant too. They must be cooking it separately. Or you suggest where we can have nice ambience as well as good food.”

“Let us not get into any argument. You know my views. Only Indian restaurants and only a few of them cook exclusive veggie stuff.  Let us choose one of those. Ambience is secondary.”

Medhavi did not argue. She did not want to make it worse on her first marriage anniversary. 

Medhavi’s first marriage anniversary was thus a washout right from the word go. The dissatisfaction lingered on till late that night. 

This dissatisfaction remained a permanent scar on Medhavi’s mind then on. She started judging every word, gesture and movement of Samskara with a jaundiced eye.

One day Samskara instructed Medhavi, “Our religious doctrines do not allow consumption of onion and garlic from July to September, the typical rainy season. So avoid using them during this period.”

“I did not know about it that this matter was so important. We knew this kind of restriction but my mom did not follow it strictly. In fact she thought it was always healthy to consume garlic in all the seasons. Now you tell me why this restriction?”

“I don’t know that. But we follow many traditions and regulations prescribed by our respective religions. It is true of every religion, not only of Hindu religion. People of each religion are supposed to follow such prescriptions, rituals and commandments decided by that religion. They are not supposed to ask questions.”

“I was like this before. I never asked any questions on religious rituals earlier. But now I feel like asking questions.”

Medhavi was assertive.

“Don’t do it. It will do more harm than good. It’s almost a sin to argue about the commandments of any religion.”

Medhavi did not utter a word. She preferred silence. Her arguments could have resulted in more flare-ups between them. One or two such weekly discussions bordering on serious disagreements had become a habit between Medhavi and Samskara. If it continued it could become a threat to their marriage. Medhavi wanted to save their marriage.

But soon Samskara’s repeated staunch religious behavior started getting on her nerves. At times she felt humiliated and other times she felt utter frustration.  Sticking to too many religious rituals too often was harassing Medhavi beyond her tolerance. She started to think that his behavior was getting more and more weird.

Now she was not willing to overdo the religious rituals as well as look down upon the people of other religions as Samskara normally did.

She thought, “I wish I had married any other decent man but without any religious tie-ups. I can now also imagine the people of other religions who overdo their religions and so are inflexible. I have no opinion of them too.”

In the mood of examination that she was in, it also occurred to her, “Why can’t the people simply concentrate on the good aspects of their religion and shun the retrograde aspects of their own religion? Why can’t they stop doing or overdoing the ritualistic and non-value adding chores after examining their utility as well as futility? Why can’t they appreciate the good aspects of other races, religions and communities and stop hating or looking down on them?”

She wanted to find solution to her problems with Samskara.

Then a little bit of wisdom started dawning on Medhavi under the tyrannical situations created by her husband. She decided to move away from him.

She thought, “A few months separation from Samskara might facilitate getting over their strained relationship.”

She decided to approach her boss in the office to request him to recruit her for the new project that was about to start in Japan. Early next morning before anyone else could step in, she entered the boss’s cabin. 

She put up her case to her boss, “The other day you had announced that you needed a few persons from our US office to join the team in Japan for the project there. I wish to volunteer my candidature. I fill the bill pretty well from all the angles. I have the requisite qualifications and skill sets to handle that kind of job. I am sure that I can contribute a lot.”

The boss said, “Let me go through your resume one more time. Prima facie you seem to be the right person. Give me a couple of days to finalize your name. Is that OK?”

“Thanks boss. I will wait to hear from you.”

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Good People: Chapter 15: Story of Human Paradigms

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 15

Medhavi and Samskara got settled in San Diego after their marriage. Both of them got pretty decent jobs. They were quite compatible from various angles: same country of origin, same city of origin, same religion, same race, same caste, same sub-caste, same mother tongue, similar educational background, similar professional background.

Samskara soon set up his routine of getting up early at 5 o’clock in the morning every day irrespective of weekends and holidays for worshipping the god in an elaborate manner after compulsorily taking a shower.

Medhavi was not far behind him in reciting her prayers if not from 5 AM, it was invariably between 6 AM to 7 AM though she was not comfortable with the early morning shower as her husband did. 

By 7 AM both were free from their religious chores to eat breakfast and start for their offices. 

So they had every reason to be satisfied and happy and they were quite satisfied and happy for almost first four months. Then something happened.

After passing out from the university, Medhavi and Anjali did not keep in touch with each other. All Medhavi knew was that Anjali took up a job in LA and Anjali knew that after marriage Medhavi settled in San Diego. They had each other’s phone numbers and email addresses. Yet they did not exchange any communication with each other for all these days.

Then one evening while Medhavi was driving, she got a phone call on her cell from Anjali.

“Hi Medhavi, am I disturbing you in your office?”

“Anji, hi, what a surprise! I am driving home. I am so happy you rang.”

“Guess what? We will meet soon. I am reaching San Diego for a day’s conference next Monday. And I have decided to stay with you. I am sure that your husband will not mind my one night’s stay with you.”

Medhavi laughed heartily. “I am going to shift to the guest room with you that night. It will be like old times. We will talk and talk. There will be so much gossip to share. I am so excited about our meeting. And let me assure you my husband will not miss me for one night. You can as well plan to stay longer. I will love it.” 

Medhavi heard Anjali’s chuckle. “No. Thanks. I can’t stay longer this time. I will email you my flight details. Pick me up from the airport. Will you?”

“Sure, I will. I am excited.”

“I am excited too. See you soon then.”

That evening Medhavi informed Samskara, “Guess who is coming to our place next Monday?”

“No. I can’t guess. You tell me.”

“Anji is coming. You know her well. My roommate. You met her many times.”

“Yes, I know Anjali. But I cannot say if I know her very well. Since she shared your apartment in LA, I met her on many occasions but frankly I did not get to know her much. But I am happy she is coming. After all she is your good friend. Will she stay with us?”

“Yes. It’s just one night. Longer stay is not possible for her this time. Don’t mind if we exclude you from our company that day. We have a lot to catch up; we will be meeting almost after six months or more.”

“Have a blast.” He smiled.

And next Monday night Medhavi and Anjali had whale of a time together. They exchanged a lot of gossip. 

Anjali said, “Hey Medhavi, the other day I bumped into Shaan at LAX. He stays in San Jose.”

“Oh I know that. And I care two hoots. Tell me about others.”

“How do you know that he lives in San Jose?”

“Just like that.”

“Oh, come on. You had no way of knowing it since you had severed all the relationships with him. Then how do you know that Shaan is in America nowadays?”

“Some common acquaintance gave me Shaan’s whereabouts,” Medhavi lied.

“No. That’s not true. But I know how you know about Shaan being in America. You met him when you travelled with him to USA the very first time. In fact Shaan dropped you at our apartment. You hurt your leg at the airport and he took care of you. But you did not tell me about it.”

“How do you know all these details?” Medhavi got curious to know more.

“I told you just now that I met him recently at LAX. During our conversation I realized that he presumed that I knew about his stay in San Jose. When I denied, he told me all about how you two travelled by the same flight, how you hurt yourself while picking up your bag from carousel and how he dropped you at the apartment. He took it for granted that you told me the entire story. Tell me why you did not tell me?”

“OK, but you know about it now. That should be all right now. Let us close that chapter and talk something more pleasant. Enough is enough.”

Anjali was in a mood of teasing Medhavi. She continued, “Do you know that Shaan goes to India on and off in connection with his business? And yes one more very important thing. At LAX, I saw him with a girl.”

Medhavi’s curiosity got aroused. Her jealousy also got aroused. She asked, “What girl?”

“I saw a beautiful girl with Shaan. They seemed quite intimate with each other. I saw Shaan holding her hands all the while I was talking to him.”

“Has Shaan married her?” Medhavi was quick to enquire. She became impatient with curiosity.

“No. He introduced her to me as his friend. Once bitten, twice shy. I think he is going to be careful about girls now on. You taught him that lesson.”

“Don’t talk rubbish. Was that girl really beautiful?”

“Yes she is but not as beautiful as you.”

On that note Medhavi felt happy and satisfied and she had no difficulty getting a peaceful sleep that night.

At the breakfast table, Medhavi, Anjali and Samskara gathered before starting for their respective venues of work.

Medhavi got busy setting up the typical vegetarian South Indian breakfast of idli-sambhar-chatni and Madras coffee for all of them. In the mean time Anjali cooked two fluffy omelets and brought them on the table for Medhavi and herself. Medhavi was unaware of it.

All the three of them sat around the table.

Medhavi was surprised to see the omelet in front of her. She asked, “Anji, when did you make these omelets? And who brought the eggs? We don’t keep or cook non-vegetarian stuff at home. Anji, did you?”

This conversation attracted Samskara’s attention.

Anjali answered, “Yes. While you did the grocery the previous evening and you were busy paying for it, I lifted a tray of eggs and paid at the other cash counter. I wanted to give you a surprise this morning. I thought why not eat eggs for our breakfast, like old times. After all towards the end of our stay together I had finally been successful in initiating you to eat omelet. Surprisingly you had started relishing omelets.” 

“So thoughtful of you,” said Medhavi. “I never thought I could ever eat an egg preparation and like it too.” 

After the breakfast Anjali was the first to leave the house. Medhavi started getting ready to go but Samskara stopped her by pulling her back in a somewhat rough manner.

He forcibly made her sit in front of him on the dining chair and shouted, “You did not tell me that you are used to eating non-vegetarian stuff. How can you eat non-veg stuff despite being a Hindu Brahmin?”

“I don’t eat any non-veg food. It’s jut eggs and that too I started eating it of late in the company of Anji. Have you ever seen me eating an egg earlier? And please don’t shout at me on this minor matter. Please leave my hand, you are hurting me.”

“It’s not a minor matter. We Brahmins don’t even touch the non-veg, eating it is a far-fetched thing. Now I need to do your shuddhikaran (purification or cleansing) and that of our fridge where the eggs were stored.”

He opened the fridge, threw out the egg tray in the trash bin, took out a bottle filled with the water of the river Ganga and sprinkled it over the fridge and also over Medhavi.

“Now this sacred water of Ganga has purified you and the fridge. Please don’t ever do it again.” His patronizing tone sounded quite jarring to Medhavi’s ears. She hated it.

And then he walked out of the house in a hurry. Medhavi heard his car drive away.

Medhavi remained stunned for some five minutes. She felt terribly violated. She immensely despised the words and actions of Samskara. She thought, “Why is he so narrow-minded? What wrong did I do by eating just one omelet in the company of my old friend? And what did he mean by sprinkling the water all over me without my permission? I hate him.”

She also recalled from the previous incidents, “He carries out the same procedure of sprinkling the sacred water of Ganga all over the house every time I am done with my periods. And now I know why he avoids touching me during those four-five days. So he thinks that my periods make the house and me dirty. Rubbish. Now I remember my mom doing the same thing and I always hated it.”

She started feeling that Samskara had been quite irritating in many other ways too. She felt that it was very boring of him to wake up every day at 5 AM, take a shower at that indecent hour of the day and carry out his pooja (worship) for two long hours. Why can’t he windup his pooja a little quicker?Because of his extended poojas even on weekends he did not even once give the kind of company she needed from him for a leisurely tea and breakfast. 

“Excess of everything is bad. I am now sure of it. It gets on nerves,” She thought.

That evening when he returned from the office he lost no time in suggesting Medhavi, “Do not encourage your friend Anjali to come here often.”

“Just because she made me eat an omelet this morning?” Medhavi was furious.

“Of course that wasn’t good on her part,” Samskara was quite harsh.

After giving a pause he continued, “Also we should make friends with the people of our own community only. Isn’t Anjali a Christian?”

“We already have many friends who are from our community but I do not mind making friends with the people of other communities. I have been good friend from all kinds of communities from my childhood. What is the problem?”

“Oh these people of other communities can be a bad influence on our children. And I am quite serious about it. Our samskaras (cultural heritage and upbringing) are far more superior to the samskaras people of other communities give to their children. We do not want our children to pick them up.”

Medhavi got very upset hearing all of these ideologies of her husband. She thought that he carried some extreme ideas related to these issues that did not gel with her. She thought it wise to remain silent. She was already perturbed and if she spoke with that frame of mind she would surely get into a big row with him.

She accepted that she herself was quite religious and could not think of getting married to a boy of other religion. She had also looked down upon the people of other communities and castes when it came to the question of marriage. She did not consider the boys of other castes and sub-castes of even her own religion suitable for her. That’s why she did what she did to Shaan. But to her, her husband seemed to be far more religious than her. He was too much of a religious person as per her judgment. 

And she wondered how religiousness, which she thought was a great virtue, could become intolerable when stretched to extremes. She felt confused with her new understanding that religiousness could also be categorized as being non-religious, little religious, moderately religious and extremely religious. 

She further asked herself, “How much religiousness is correct, after all? And does sticking to all the diktats of an organized religion make a human being completely worthy? Are all of those diktats relevant today? Do people interpret them correctly? Were the people who made them more authentic and wiser than the modern day human beings? Haven’t many of those diktats become obsolete and irrelevant? May be many of those diktats are outright retrograde and inhuman. Do we need to review them from an open mind and modify appropriately?” 

She further probed, “And perhaps that seems true of every organized religion. Perhaps no religion may be an exception to it.” 

It was a sudden revelation to her, that too for the first time in her life.

For the first time after many months she remembered Shaan. For the first time she remembered him in a favorable manner also. Subconsciously she started comparing him to her husband. By now she was quite tired emotionally. She did not realize when she hit the bed and went to sleep.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/