New Crossroads
By Suhail Ali
()
About this ebook
ONE THING IS CERTAIN IN LIFENO ONE CAN ESCAPE THE WAVES OF SURPRISE AND CHANGE. IN NEW CROSSROADS, SUHAIL ALI OFFERS A DELIGHTFUL COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES THAT PROVIDE INTERESTING GLIMPSES OF THE LIVES AND EXCITING TIMES OF A NEW GENERATION IN INDIA.
Julie is the prettiest nurse at a research hospital in New Delhi, but she desperately wants to lose weight. When she learns that patient Babu Ram lost twenty pounds in ninety days, she begins an inquiry that leads her to discover the shocking secret that instigated Babus journey to a special diet. Mohan Rao is a retired professor of history at a leading university in Hyderabad. When his son refuses to honor his wishes, Mohan must face the reality of his own past. Bhakteshwar Prabhu is a hostel warden and an important man to everyone associated with New Engineering College. Now, he must interview his successor - and finds a surprising candidate in the process.
The short tales in New Crossroads capture the mood of a society in transition and reflect on an emerging consciousness shaped by rapid and fascinating social changes.
Suhail Ali
Suhail Ali was born in India and obtained his bachelor of arts and master of business administration degrees from Osmania University. He currently lives in California with his wife and son. This is his first book.
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New Crossroads - Suhail Ali
New
Crossroads
Suhail Ali
iUniverse, Inc.
New York Bloomington
New Crossroads
Copyright © 2010 Suhail Ali
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:
iUniverse
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ISBN: 978-1-4502-4367-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-4502-4368-1 (ebk)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2010910203
Printed in the United States of America
iUniverse rev. date: 10/5/2010
For my family and friends
Contents
Preface
A Special Diet
The Result
Defeated in Love
Suitable Friends
An Evening at the Paan Shop
The Project
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
End Notes
Preface
It is always interesting when we look at past events in retrospect. What was the most unanticipated moment in life that surprised us? Was it getting the dream job? Or was it receiving our first expression of love? Or was it getting a sudden fortune? Or was it seeing an innovative gadget? Any or none of these can be true for different people. But one thing is certain: nobody can escape the waves of surprise and change in life. Unless one was to lead a life of splendid isolation, events beyond individual control can change the lives of people in a society. In a society full of different people and different ideas, it is unlikely that one can have a stagnant life. With the passage of time, the forces of change become too strong to resist and life starts generating one surprise after another, like the lustrous streams of lava spewed by a newly awakened volcano.
For the people living in India, the recent past has been an eventful journey. India has witnessed tremendous change in the recent past. I am sure that living in such a dynamic environment must be a fantastic and insightful experience. I have been a passive observer of this change ever since my work brought me from India to the United States a decade ago. I have visited India periodically on my vacations, and on every visit I was surprised to see the progress and change. The new jobs, roads, malls, luxury cars, super-specialty hospitals, and common use of mobile phones were all changes from the India I had grown up in; but more significant than the material changes were the social and lifestyle changes I witnessed. Economic prosperity amplified by technological innovations has set social change into motion at a scorching pace. Changes in lifestyle that once took generations to come into effect are now happening in a space of a few years.
New Crossroads is a collection of short stories set in India that reflect the observations of a new emerging consciousness shaped by these rapid and fascinating social changes. The book deals with different themes through tales about everyday life. While the stories are fictional, the themes are based on the real changes occurring in different areas of people’s lives. I have tried to create characters who are strongly rooted in their present society, one of the fastest changing societies in today’s world. Since I have been an observer from a distance, it is possible that my perspective is different from that of the participants, the same way that the audience that witnesses an event from a distance in the theater or a stadium has a different view than the performers.
The pace of social change in today’s world is constantly increasing due to economic reasons and the many technologies that connect people. The future pace of change may be even faster. Social networking and the Internet are revolutionizing lives. It does not take long for ideas and news to travel and to shape lives in today’s environment. The stories in the book illustrate how things can change in the lives of individuals under different circumstances of a changing society. I hope readers will enjoy reading them.
A Special Diet
Julie was the prettiest nurse at the research hospital in New Delhi. As she was getting ready in the staff room to assume her duties in the hospital that day, she glanced at the long rectangular mirror hanging on the wall. The mirror faithfully reflected the image of a tall and charming woman in her late twenties.
She turned around and looked at Sheela, a fellow nurse and a friend who was about the same age. Do you know? I weighed 166 lb. this morning!
Oh my God! That is 10 lb. more for your height than the weight range guideline given by our favorite health guru! How did it happen?
asked a surprised Sheela.
I have been on an eating spree. There were so many parties last month and I was careless, but I never imagined it would affect me so quickly,
replied Julie remorsefully.
Hmm, don’t lose heart. You can lose the weight too. Besides, you are tall and athletic, so it won’t look as bad as it would on someone of my height,
said Sheela.
Thanks for the kind words, Sheela.
No, I am being honest, dear. How I wish I were as tall as you are. I have to watch each and every pound at my height,
said Sheela with a tinge of sadness.
I can understand. I am thankful to my ancestors, who were hardy farmers with good genes, but now I have to figure out a way to lose this flab soon. I am getting depressed just thinking about it. I need a special diet. I am wondering, should I try one of those low-carb diets?
asked Julie.
Hey, I just remembered something. Do you know Babu Ram, the patient in room number 13?
asked Sheela.
Of course, who doesn’t know him? That fat guy! The oldest patient of the hospital. He has been here for forty years!
replied Julie.
Ha, ha, ha. You won’t believe it, but he is no longer fat. He lost twenty pounds in the last three months. All because of a special diet, I hear.
Special diet? Please tell me about it. It might just be the thing I need!
I don’t know exactly since Babu Ram is not in our wing, but I can find out. He is Dr. Kumar’s patient,
said Sheela with twinkle in her eye.
Oh, I see. So all the time it was about you finding ways to meet the handsome doctor; my diet was just an excuse,
said Julie laughing.
No, no, no. The thought came to mind only because of the diet, I swear. Let’s go together,
said Sheela.
Okay, if you say so. Let’s go and see Dr. Kumar. We still have time before our shift begins,
said Julie.
Sheela and Julie left the staff room for Dr. Kumar’s office in high spirits, laughing and joking all the way.
Julie and Sheela knocked on the door and entered the office to find Dr. Kumar, who was seated on his desk having his breakfast.
Oh, did we disturb you? I hope not,
said Sheela.
It is okay. Please come in.
Sorry to bother you, but we just came to enquire about Babu Ram. I hear that you have prescribed him a special diet that is working very well,
asked Sheela.
You are the seventh person in as many days who has asked me about Babu’s diet. I haven’t prescribed him any diet. It is a complex and mysterious case.
It sounds interesting. Can you please tell us more?
asked Julie.
Sure. Have a seat. Care for a coffee?
asked Dr. Kumar.
Sure. Thanks. I will help myself,
said Sheela. She got up to pour a cup of coffee from a thermos placed on a table in the corner of the room.
Thanks. I will get a cup too,
said Julie, getting up and following Sheela.
After a few minutes, Julie and Sheela returned, took their seats, and eagerly waited for Dr. Kumar to speak.
Dr. Kumar had finished his breakfast by now and was sipping his coffee. He opened his desk drawer and took out an old file. He glanced at a yellowed page in the bunch of papers it held.
He had a grave expression on his face as he looked up and said, Do you know? Babu has been in this hospital for the past forty years. He was admitted in 1955. Unbelievable, but true.
He paused, then continued. He was referred by the local hospital of a remote village, where he had been admitted after suffering severe head injuries. He was twenty-three at that time and was injured in a conflict in his village. Babu was in coma for a few months and when he regained consciousness he had lost his memory. It was deemed to be an unusual case because the loss of memory was selective—very selective indeed. He did not remember anything except that he had a son, and he could recognize his face. Various doctors tried many things but success always eluded them. The hospital decided to keep him admitted since it was an unusual case and would be helpful in researching selective memory loss from trauma. Babu’s family , too, felt that it was in Babu’s best interest that he stayed.
Dr. Kumar took a pause to take a large gulp of coffee from his mug, as Julie and Sheela listened intently.
"The question before all doctors was why did he remember only his son? His son was just three years old when the accident happened. Nobody could say for sure. No therapy could improve his memory, and with the exception of one memory everything else was blank. The doctors decided to preserve the one memory he had so that he could have the chance of retaining the other memories by association. His wife and son were invited to visit the hospital to see him every month. And for the last forty years, they have been visiting the hospital at least every month to see him. Babu’s face lights up when he sees is son but soon afterwards he goes back to his reclusive self. He remained physically active all these years and he still takes good care of the