Arul and Ram-Part 1

 

That city held within itself scenes of exquisite beauty. It had also multiplied its economic and industrial growth many times over. Everywhere in town stood towering industrial buildings, grand temples, charming parks, and lofty apartment complexes—nothing was lacking, each sight befitting the city’s name and radiating luxury.

It was the season when the rains were about to begin. The month of Purattasi was ending, and Aippasi was waiting to step in. At that moment, the gathering clouds in the sky added yet more color to the city’s splendor.

Despite the grandeur of the mighty buildings and the tall apartments, for arul, the shadows scattered here and there, the half-built structures, the shopfronts, and the undersides of bridges were more than enough to make a home. Having suffered a loss in business and an accident that claimed his right leg, such places gave him all the comfort his heart sought.

For almost a year and a half, Arul had been accustomed to this life.To meet his daily needs, he would roam the streets and roads, collecting plastics and bottles, and sell them at old goods shops for money.With whatever little he earned, he fulfilled his necessities.

Arul always held firmly to one vow — never to beg for a living from anyone, and never to deceive others.Despite working like this for a long time, he never had a permanent place to stay.And so, a strong circle of friends never formed around him either.

Feeling the weight of having no one he could truly call his own,one day, while out on the streets picking up plastics and papers,he brought back one of the puppies that wandered there.At first, he didn’t even name the puppy.He simply thought — it’s enough if the little one just stays with me.

As days passed, the tiny dog clung to him with a quiet, steadfast affection.From then on, the dog and Arul went everywhere together, never apart.Later, he gave the dog a name — Ramu.

Three months ago, Arul had moved from where he was previously staying to the bus stop where he      now lived.He made the bus stand his home.

There, he earned what he could by cleaning buses, sweeping the bus stand, and keeping the place tidy.With the money he got, he fed himself and raised Ramu, giving him his share of food.Ramu was a handsome little dog, wagging his tail and happily circling around anyone who fed him.

At the same bus stop, a 10-year-old boy named Jeeva would come with his father every morning and  evening for tea.Since they came so regularly, Jeeva’s father slowly grew a small circle of friends there.Their routine never changed — they always came for tea, morning and evening.Whenever they came, Jeeva would feed Ramu bits of biscuits with joy.Ramu would playfully circle around Jeeva’s legs, and watching them, Arul would laugh to himself and say,"Ah, look at that! I thought I brought you here to keep me company, but here you are making so many friends on your own!"

Even when Jeeva’s father had work, Jeeva would insist on coming just to see Ramu, dragging his father along.

Compared to all the places he had stayed before, this bus stand gave Arul a rare feeling — a closeness, a reason for happiness.But such happiness did not last long.It ended the moment a piece of news began to spread across TV channels and social media.

The announcement was:

"Warning! Warning! The Meteorological Department says unprecedented rainfall is expected.

Everyone is advised to stay indoors and remain safe," the government urged.

As soon as they heard this, the people of the city rushed to the markets to stock up on essential supplies.Those who had native towns requested leave from work and travelled back to their hometowns.

Jeeva’s father was no different — he took Jeeva and returned to his own village.But for Arul and Ramu, who had nowhere else to go, the bus stop remained their only shelter.

As the Meteorological Department announced the exact date, even the shopkeepers at the bus stand closed their shutters and left.Public transport in the city came to a halt.Buses stood in long rows, lined up in the bus stand.Arul had already bought a few items in advance for himself and Ramu to eat.

Soon, rain began to fall softly from the sky.He ate some of the food he had kept aside and gave the rest to Ramu.

Meanwhile, far away in his hometown, Jeeva’s thoughts — morning and evening — were only about Ramu."Where would Ramu be now? Has he eaten? Who is feeding him?"These questions pierced Jeeva’s mind like tiny needles.

But here in the city, the rain kept pouring without pause.The drizzle and cold grew harsher, making it impossible for Arul and Ramu to sleep.So Arul took Ramu along and climbed into one of the buses parked there.

After sleeping through the night, Arul slowly opened his eyes.When he looked outside, the rain was still falling.Noticing it had turned into a light drizzle, he thought,"I should go down, pick up a few things to eat, and come back."

Taking his walking stick in hand, he prepared to step down.But an unexpected sight was waiting for him.In the floodwater from the rain, all the items he had left outside had been swept away.The water level reached up to his knees as he stepped down.

Arul knew very well that the bus stop had a drainage system — if the water rose above knee level, it would eventually flow out.That was why he had felt safe leaving his food bundles there.Now, seeing what had happened, his eyes filled with sorrow.He had never expected this.

"All the food has been carried away… What am I going to do now? How will I eat? How will I feed Ramu?"Thinking this, Arul quietly stepped back into the bus.

After climbing into the bus, Arul sat for a while.Then he began searching his shirt pocket and trouser pockets, hoping something might still be there.His fingers brushed against something in his trouser pocket.

When he pulled it out, it was a cigarette packet — one he had already used before.Inside, there were three cigarettes left, along with a box of matches.Only then did he remember, "Ah, I was the one who kept this here."Thankfully, they hadn’t been soaked by the rain.

If they had gotten wet, even the matches would have been useless.He thought to himself, "I’ll smoke one cigarette at a time, three times a day. If the rain stops tomorrow, the shops will reopen. I can buy food for Ramu, and then eat something myself."Whenever Ramu felt hungry, he drank only from the rainwater streaming below.