Karim

“Karim, what are you up to”. “This place is very pious and divine, how dare you put up a mutton stall in front of a holy temple.” “Krishna, Krishna what is happening in presence, these butchers are going to rot the divinity and sanctity of this place”. The secretary of the famous Krishna temple was yelling at the butcher Karim who was trying to put his stall in front of the divine dwelling of the Lord. ““Sahib, I have bought this shop and I am putting up a stall of my choice”. “ How dare you say that to me, you dirty fellow, don’t you know that we are pious people and pure vegetarians. You cannot start a mutton shop in front of our temple. So just be gone with your stuff else you have to face the consequences”. Karim was out of hearing; he didn’t heed to the temple secretary and continued with his work”. His behaviour truly annoyed him. But nothing could be done else it would trigger communal riots between the two communities. He just ran to inform the temple’s main priest who were staying on the other side of the temple. The temple priest was out of station to attend his niece’s wedding along with his family. He had just handed over the duties to the younger priests of the temple. When the secretary found out that the main priest was away, he sat down with a shock ,” Oh, my God, what do I do now, the main priest is away, and I can’t take any decision because he is also the president of the temple”. The Secretary Mr. Shanbhog was truly worried but he had no option but to wait for the main priest to return. After a few days, the main priest and his wife returned. They were given quarters by the temple authority which was quite a huge house though old fashioned but had a large verandah, 3 rooms with a kitchen and a bathroom. The priest Mr. Krishnan and his wife kamala were living in the town for many years. Krishnan’s father was also the temple priest of the temple; hence the genre was passed on to Mr. Krishnan.  Mr. Krishnan was a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna and he would perform the Pooja of the lord with love and chastity. He would not even let his own wife into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple where the idol of Krishna dwells. He just went to clean himself before entering the temple” kamala, please make the hot water ready so that I will take a bath and go to the temple”. Kamala the noble wife of Krishnan was also a staunch devotee of Krishna and she was perfectly made for Mr. Krishnan. Krishnan would never take a sip of water before performing the pooja of the lord. But now because of  growing old bones he would just take a cup of hot water with honey and lime before going to the temple. He finished his bath and taking the blessings of the lord sipped hot water. “Kamala, I leaving to the temple, I will late be today for breakfast, don’t wait for me finish yours as you are on medication”. Krishnan took the keys and left. The temple was just next road yet he had to walk a bit to reach there. When he just entered the street, there was a lot of commotion in front of the temple. When Krishnan reached the premises he was shocked to see a mutton stall right in front of the temple. There was a mob of Hindus and Muslims one supporting Karim and another against him. People were throwing stones at each other. Krishnan couldn’t believe his eyes, just a week before everything was so peaceful. Today everything looks wrecked. Krishnan couldn’t control himself he fell unconscious in front of the temple. By God’s grace Mr. Shanbhog was just there to control the mob. He took Mr. Krishnan to the nearest clinic. At the clinic Krishnan regained his consciousness, his hands were shaking. Shanbhog held his hands tight and said,” Krishnan Sir, this is truly shocking for all of us. I just can’t imagine that Karim could act heinously. I think someone is behind him. He is just a simple butcher and he would not dare to do such a thing all by himself, I feel something fishy”. Krishnan calmed his nerves and said,” I know the reason for all this, its him that dirt Sheshanna who has created all these, It’s because the temple authorities have appointed me as the President that devil has taken revenge by spoiling the sanctity of the temple”. Shanbhog was a bit worried by the sudden change in Mr. Krishnan he was a pious man and he never spoke rudely to anybody but today he was so frustrated that he spit venom on Sheshanna. Sheshanna was also a candidate for the President. But the temple authorities selected Krishnan unanimously. Sheshanna was a crooked and shrewd person who was always eyeing on the treasury of the temple. When Krishnan was appointed, Sheshanna was in fury and he always wanted to trouble Mr. Krishnan in some way and today he had achieved it.  Krishnan and Kamala couple had a son who was working in US as a software engineer in a very reputed company. When he heard about the incident which deterred his father, he just took off from his work for a few weeks and came back to India. He advised his father “, Dad, please listen to me, you have worshipped the lord for so many years and its time you take rest, you don’t need to stay here and slog, Please come with me both of you so that you can stay a comfort life with me”. “How dare you say that , this is my land and Krishna is my lord I can’t adjust to your High –fi society .You know that I am a simple man from a small village, so don’t try to convince me.”. Krishnan’s son Raman couldn’t convince his parents to accompany him but in turn he decided to stay back for few weeks to look after his parents. One day it so happened, that Raman was driving his car which he had hired and unknowingly he hit a scooter which was ridden by a young doctor Shaina. It was love at first sight. Raman and Shaina met without knowing their actual religions. But their love affair opened up to the whole town and this irritated Mr. Krishnan very much. A staunch Hindu Brahmin boy falling in love with a Muslim girl. This was truly a state of devastation between the communities. Krishnan yelled at his son,” Raman do you know our culture and do you know who we are, how could you choose a Muslim girl to be your partner”. “Dad, I like her and she is very good human, caste is no bar for love and affection, I don’t believe in your caste and creed.” Days passed but Raman was adamant about his relation. One day it so happened, that Krishnan fell very ill and there was no clinic open as it was a strike among the medical practitioner, hence Dr. Shaina the same Muslim girl saved Mr. Krishnan at the crucial hour. Unwillingly he accepted to be treated by a Muslim girl. Though Krishnan came to about the goodness of the girl his son had chosen he didn’t accept their relationship. Krishnan recovered gradually, and felt better. It’s so happened that Lord Krishna’s Janmashtami celebrations were on go. People forgot their enmities to perform the grand car festival of Krishna. Everything was under control but a person who had to Chant the Shlokas of Bhagavad Gita was missing. He couldn’t join the troupe of singers due to some unavoidable circumstances. There was a lot of chaos as he was the best among the lot. Then everybody looked at the dais when they heard a sweet voice chanting the Shlokas of Bhagavd Gita it was none other than Shaina. Krishnan couldn’t believe his eyes “What a divine voice, I have never heard such a lovely chanting of the Gita, it’s fantastic”. He was overwhelmed tears rolled down his eyes and Krishnan went up to the dais to bless the girl. “Child, you have proven that caste is no bar for devotion, your chants have transformed me”. “Papa,” Raman, said” Do you who she is She is none other than Karim’s daughter” Karim ran and fell at Krishnan’s feet saying”, Sahib, please forgive me, I shouldn’t have done this to you, I just got carried away by the crooked Sheshanna’s plans, Please forgive me, I will shift my shop elsewhere ““Don’t worry, Karim you are also a part of our family now”. They could hear Shaina singing Vasudaiva Kutumbakum.

“The whole world is one family”