BUA SARVATO; ROOKHE RISHTE - SOOKHE BER
Chhoti Bua, Sarvato, as she was popularly known, was married to Bhagwant Rai. After marriage, they lived in Indora, in their ancestral house for some time. In the meantime, Fufa Bhagwant Rai got the job. Indora residence had to be abandoned for ever because of the nature of the job in big cities. Fufa Bhagwant Rai served in Government Scientific Research and Development Establishment throughout his service career.
Once when I was in primary, Fufa came to Ladori. He used to wear coat pant with a English Khaki Hat. Since Fufaji was having white spots all over his body, children like me, in those days, used to call Fufaji as 'Pilpili Saheb' or Angrej Saheb. Many years after the marriage, Bua came to Ladori along with her two sons, Ashu-Kuka. After that she came to Ladori every alternate or after three years and stayed for approximately a month and a half.
Once when I was in primary, Fufa came to Ladori. He used to wear coat pant with a English Khaki Hat. Since Fufaji was having white spots all over his body, children like me, in those days, used to call Fufaji as 'Pilpili Saheb' or Angrej Saheb. Many years after the marriage, Bua came to Ladori along with her two sons, Ashu-Kuka. After that she came to Ladori every alternate or after three years and stayed for approximately a month and a half.
She used to bring with her old clothes, toys, shoes of Ashu-Kuka as a gift for us 'Gamri Children' and we, after having received the so called gifts, knew no bounds of our happiness and joy! We would fight among ourselves as to who is going to get which item. Bua never brought us new things. May be we did not deserve!
Ashu-Kuka used to be well dressed, little composed, disciplined with childish school manners. We the 'Ladori Boys' always smiled on their superficial conduct and they too, many a times, used to laugh loudly on our so called 'Gamri Harkaton par'. Mein, Luru, Ashu and Kuka used to go to nearby mango orchard daily in the morning for freshening out in the open. We the boys, were so 'innocent' that we used to sit in a close circle with our pyjamas and nikkars off. Haggne ke Baad, there was seldom argument among us as to whose 'Lind' is bigger and longer than all!
Not to talk of leather shoes, I had never worn any kind of shoes till then. When I saw Ashu-Kuka wearing nice boots, an extreme urge developed in me and I started asking my Dadi for leather shoes like the ones Ashu-Kuka had. Dadi sometimes got irritated and angry and would ask me that, "Apni Jammanwali se le chamre ke boot". Amma would also not listen. Now, it was the turn of Pitaji. I used to ask Pitaji everyday to get me Chamre ke boot otherwise I would not go to school. Pitaji took another three weeks to agree.
One day Pitaji took me to Moti Ram's ghar in Upla Maira. When we reached their house, Moti Motchi, head of the family, was not at home. We had to wait. There were Buffalos, cows, oxen, pony and sheep tied with wooden picquets in a row for feeding. Siblings of sheep were running and jumping around the court yard. I ran after one of the lambs in order to catch it and play with. I gave them green leaves to eat. There was also a huge Ber Tree in the middle of the court yard laden with the ripe ber and many parrots could be seen sitting on its branches eating sweet ber!
In the meantime, Moti came home and said Ram Ram to Pitaji with folded hands and asked our purpose of visit while offering charpoy for sitting. Pitaji told Moti that I want you to make my son's size Juttu as soon as possible. Moti said okay and asked me to come along. He made me sit on a slab lying there on the varanda. I started moving my legs back and forth while sitting on the slab. Moti asked me to stop doing that. He, then took out one of his instruments and took the measurement of one of my feet.
I was looking all around and not sitting properly. I noticed a basket kept nearby on the varanda, filled with something like red beans. I was attracted towards the basket and asked Moti Chachu as to what it was? "Ber, Sookhe Ber", said Moti. Hearing this, I was surprisingly happy and my eyes opened wide. I wanted to have some! I looked at Pitaji and requested that I want some sookhe ber. Moti Chachu was pleased to give me handful of sookhe ber.
Ashu-Kuka used to be well dressed, little composed, disciplined with childish school manners. We the 'Ladori Boys' always smiled on their superficial conduct and they too, many a times, used to laugh loudly on our so called 'Gamri Harkaton par'. Mein, Luru, Ashu and Kuka used to go to nearby mango orchard daily in the morning for freshening out in the open. We the boys, were so 'innocent' that we used to sit in a close circle with our pyjamas and nikkars off. Haggne ke Baad, there was seldom argument among us as to whose 'Lind' is bigger and longer than all!
Not to talk of leather shoes, I had never worn any kind of shoes till then. When I saw Ashu-Kuka wearing nice boots, an extreme urge developed in me and I started asking my Dadi for leather shoes like the ones Ashu-Kuka had. Dadi sometimes got irritated and angry and would ask me that, "Apni Jammanwali se le chamre ke boot". Amma would also not listen. Now, it was the turn of Pitaji. I used to ask Pitaji everyday to get me Chamre ke boot otherwise I would not go to school. Pitaji took another three weeks to agree.
One day Pitaji took me to Moti Ram's ghar in Upla Maira. When we reached their house, Moti Motchi, head of the family, was not at home. We had to wait. There were Buffalos, cows, oxen, pony and sheep tied with wooden picquets in a row for feeding. Siblings of sheep were running and jumping around the court yard. I ran after one of the lambs in order to catch it and play with. I gave them green leaves to eat. There was also a huge Ber Tree in the middle of the court yard laden with the ripe ber and many parrots could be seen sitting on its branches eating sweet ber!
In the meantime, Moti came home and said Ram Ram to Pitaji with folded hands and asked our purpose of visit while offering charpoy for sitting. Pitaji told Moti that I want you to make my son's size Juttu as soon as possible. Moti said okay and asked me to come along. He made me sit on a slab lying there on the varanda. I started moving my legs back and forth while sitting on the slab. Moti asked me to stop doing that. He, then took out one of his instruments and took the measurement of one of my feet.
I was looking all around and not sitting properly. I noticed a basket kept nearby on the varanda, filled with something like red beans. I was attracted towards the basket and asked Moti Chachu as to what it was? "Ber, Sookhe Ber", said Moti. Hearing this, I was surprisingly happy and my eyes opened wide. I wanted to have some! I looked at Pitaji and requested that I want some sookhe ber. Moti Chachu was pleased to give me handful of sookhe ber.
I filled them in my two pockets of my khaki school uniform shirt. Moti told Pitaji that Juttu would be ready next week. You may come and take. Next week we again went to Moti's house. This time I was less interested in chamre ke joote but more on sookhe ber!
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