The teashop was ideally situated along the road across Kaddachery village. Actually it was a little too big for a teashop, but then its owner Kunjan Nair lived in it. Its mud walls, thatched roof and the small signboard, everything looked as if it had been that way for a very long time. From early dawn to late night, Kunjan Nair had his shop open and served customers.
It was occasionally crowded, particularly in the mornings and evenings with more people traveling on road. Discussions, spreading rumors or casual chat; the teashop was the best place. Kunjan Nair was too friendly with his customers, with who he loved raising and answering queries.
It was eight in the morning and Kunjan Nair was very busy. All the four tables were occupied. “Here’s your strong tea”; Kunjan Nair passed a tea to a customer when a bullock cart pulled up to the shop.
“Hello Ramu anna, welcome, welcome”; Kunjan Nair shouted as the man alighted from the cart; “What a coincidence, you won’t believe, I was just thinking about you, Ramu anna”.
“Why, any need for my cart?” Ramu asked.
“Exactly, I have to bring a table and bench from Kaddachery market”; Kunjan Nair told him.
An elderly couple, who had finished their tea, got up from the bench. Ramu was selecting a ripe banana hung from the roof and was not interested in occupying the seat. Everyone seemed to be engaged in some conversation or other. A small group was discussing the upcoming panchayat elections, while some were sharing domestic problems.
Kunjan Nair was describing the table and bench dimensions to Ramu. Only one man with a green shirt looked isolated. He had a very depressed face on him and did not talk to anyone, nor did anyone talk to him. Not once did he look up from the table and he seemed totally ignorant of the talk around him.
A few minutes later, two young men came dashing in. They spoke very loudly and it was evident that they were having an argument. Each was addressing the other as ‘friend’. They occupied the two seats left vacant by the old couple.
“Look here friend”, one said to the other, “This is not at all good, you promised to return the money today”.
“Yes I did, but what can I do, if I don’t have it”; the other replied.
“I lend money to many people, but you are the only one who don’t return on time”.
“That is because I am the only poor fellow, you lend to”.
“Its not that, its because you are drunkard. You said you wanted money for medicines, but when I lent you, you had gone for arrack”.
The one who had to repay, thought for a while and said; “For five days I was suffering from sleeplessness and thanks to your money, I slept well the last two days, now what do I call it, if you call it arrack”.
The argument slowly got heated up and the one who had lent the money got frustrated. He looked around for help, when he saw the man in the green shirt, seated in the next table. He spoke to him, “Look here sir, we have a problem”.
By then the other man looked up with a sad face; “Please leave me alone, I have bigger problems”. Very soon, all conversations came to an end and everyone was looking up at him.
Kunjan Nair turned towards him and said, “Sir, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to say something. People do believe that one’s burden gets reduced when he shares it with others. I mean, if you would like to”. Kunjan Nair stopped, looked around at others and from their expressions judged that what he had just said was right.
At this the depressed man brought his palm to his forehead and said; “What shall I tell you, my wife had delivered her second child and it’s a girl this time too”.
Immediately, the one who had lent money sighed and said, “Two girls in a row!, that’s a big problem. You know, my uncle too had two daughters. That fellow had twenty thousand rupees with him, but you know what he was left with when he got them married? ─ a five thousand rupee debt”.
Everyone started laughing and one who had just sipped his tea was nearly choked and started coughing.
“Enough, enough”; Kunjan Nair shouted as he faced the young man who had just spoken; “If you can’t console anyone, please don’t injure them anymore”. He then addressed the saddened man, “Sir, boy or girl, nothing is in our hands; we are all bound to accept it as the almighty’s gift. A girl is in no way inferior to a boy, and it all depends on how their parents raise them”.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man came to the teashop in a cycle. He walked towards the table where the men were discussing the panchayat elections, and recognizing someone in the group, said; “Eh Sekar, what are you doing over here?. Haven’t you got the news? Gayathri has delivered; it’s a female this time too”.
At this one of them got up with a very happy face; “Thank you God, thank you very much; a female this time too, just as I prayed”. He then left the tea shop in a hurry.
Meanwhile the man who had brought the news ordered a tea and occupied a seat near those quarrelling young men, and was soon listening to their disagreement. Kunjan Nair gave him a tea and looked at the depressed man; “Seen that sir, how happily he had received the news, that’s the spirit; you should also be like him”.
The depressed man nodded his head and smiled for the first time; “I’ve learnt something very important today. If there is a man who prays for a second daughter, I shouldn’t lament over mine. There must be something good in it, and I’ll soon discover that. It’s my duty to raise them well. Thank you for trying to make me understand, good bye”. He walked out with a happy face and head, held high.
Very soon, the quarrelling men too left the shop, arm over each other. Kunjan Nair smiled at the middle-aged man who had settled their quarrel and said; “Looks like you’ve pacified them. They have been quarrelling for a very long time”.
“Yes, yes”; the middle-aged man replied; “They are fools; but what were you trying to explain to that man in a green shirt, who had left before?”.
“That gentlemen”, Kunjan Nair replied proudly, “Was very disappointed at the birth of his second daughter. I explained to him and made him realize his folly in assuming things”.
“Poor fellow”, the middle-aged man cut in; “Two daughters in a row, that’s a really sad position”.
“Oh come on, you just saw your own friend, wasn’t he happy?”; Kunjan Nair asked him.
The middle-aged man had the last sip of his glass, wiped his lips and said, “Well yes; but that was only Gayathri, his cow”.
