BLOOD

Pakkaran lived in a small country side of the Travancore kingdom. He was a pulayan which meant he went to bed hungry while working for the upper caste family. He was so talented in cooking that his masters The Namboodiris let him cook food despite their sacred untouchability!

 

Pakkaran lived in a shaggy old shed near the pristine cow shed of the Illam. He often wished he could trade his life with that cow! But unfortunately he was just a lower caste nobody! Pakkaran never understood the logic of untouchability. The Namboodiris seemed to use it as they pleased! They always commanded him not to 'decontaminate' them, they often harassed him while self proclaiming themselves “pure bloods”. “Then how come they could devour the rice that he washed with his bare hands after cleaning the cow shed! How could the younger Namboodiri do all those things to Nalini?” Pakkaran’s crude brain always burned out in exhaustion. Pakkaran dared not raised his voice against it. Because he never realized he had a voice! He lived in the tiny bubble of serving his masters!

 

It was on one usual day. Pakkaran was removing husk from coconuts in the afternoon heat when elder Namboodiri called him to the veranda. The elder Namboodiri was so full with rice and sambhar with kaalan that his belly was about to burst! Pakkaran’s stomach growled at the sight. The master ordered,” Hey! Pulayan! Get some tender coconuts right now! You can eat the scraps left in my plate if you bring them quick!” Pakkaran’s stomach was delighted, his brain rejoiced finding a way to make his master and his own stomach happy!

 

Pakkaran bowed a little further down and started his walk to the south yard. He was so focused on his mission that he forgot all about the mango tree under which younger Namboodiri was cremated! Pakkaran’s eyes glistened with satisfaction at the sight but his brain didn’t clearly understand why! Maybe it was because of his love for Nalini.

 

Pakkaran walked past the tree and entered the south yard where all the Illam’s coconut trees were. He looked up avoiding the blinding sun and found his master’s drink! There it was shining in the gold light a tender coconut! In the scorching sun, despite his empty stomach Pakkaran started climbing. He skillfully climbed up fast and plucked the fruit. Unfortunately the sun was too hot and Pakkaran was too weak! Well who could blame him he haven’t had a full meal in ages! Pakkaran lost  consciousness and fell down with a loud thud!

 

The elder Namboodiri heard the noise but didn’t bother. He retreated to his bed for an afternoon nap knowing that he won’t get his tender coconut. Pakkaran’s lifeless body lay under the tree covered in blood and mud just like his sister’s. The orange husk of the coconut was covered in his “dirty blood” when the other workers came running!

SAANIKA S LAL