Slim Novel 16 -http://adventuresofkimi.blogspot.com - See Homepage
48. Kolkata-----
is next stop. More usually known by its old, Calcutta. Eddie wants to review India as example of what the future holds for humans on Earth, and he chooses Kolkata because he visited it several years before and met a clerk of a shipping company. (The clerk only introduced himself "AK Hela," never saying his first name) They had kept correspondence, so Eddie decided on AK Hela as guide.
His Air India flight from Hong Kong is descending on Kolkata International Airport and as usual with Air India some sort of labor trouble has disabled the attendants.
Eddie clicks closed his seat belt and thinks a hope to his atheist goddess that the labor trouble of the airline did not extend to the pilots and that they do a good landing. And it did not and they do.
The passengers debark out on the landing field and no bus to take them in to the terminal so everyone, hefting or pulling luggage, starts on the 10-minute walk and as Eddie approaches the terminal with its big KOLKATA above the doors he notices a milling crowd of poorly dressed men.
Wonder whom they are greeting, he thinks.
A minute later, he and the other arriving passengers meet the men. Eddie instinctively holds tight to his rolling luggage and finds it is the correct response because the greeting mob is, actually, composed of beggars who snatch luggage out of a passenger's grasp, even if it is lightweight, as excuse to assist a passenger and demand a money tip for it. Not only that, Eddie sees. But once a beggar gets someone's luggage in his grasp he directs the passenger to one or another broken-down-looking small bus or car that will take passengers into the city for a too high fee or maybe even not get them to proper destination. Eddie is fighting to hold onto his luggage when a sharp voice on his right says something and a hand grasps his shoulder and he turns and sees his old acquaintance AK Hela, a small, compact brown-skin Indian in a worn-out dark blue suit.
"Mister Doctor Edward, follow me,"says AK, taking Eddie's luggage and guiding him to a small British sports car prewar with a white beard turban-on-head driver Eddie recognizes as a Sikh. (A non Hindu from northern India) They get in, Eddie in rear, AK in front next to the Sikh and the car starts the trip along the airport road to central Kolkata. It is twilight about 7:30, a very warm June evening. As they drive, Eddie notes the sidewalks on each side are full of bodies of living persons - men, women and children, in rags - getting ready to bed down for the night. AK from front, acting as guide says. "Mister Doctor Edward, we have too many poor people in our city and no place for them to sleep but sidewalks. It is a great shame and may God help them. But nothing to do for it. It is the fate from God's will."
They arrive in front of what appears to Eddie a hotel that was lavish maybe 100 years ago in what might be called Victorian style. AK asks Eddie for some cash. Not having Indian Rupees, Eddie hands him a ten-thousand Japanese Yen note which AK pockets and then pays the Sikh driver a few coins that the driver immediately disputes in anger, demanding more. A brief argument ensues and AK gives another small coin and they debark into the Hotel Lobby.
Upstairs in room, relaxing, Eddie on a very stuffed old couch and AK sitting on a folding chair facing him, a conversation is started by AK.
"Dear Doctor, by grace of the almighty I am keeping fine here, and in our prayers, my family and I pray to God for your fine health and prosperity."
Eddie thanks him.
"I am very happy to receive your august presence here in Kolkata and I shall reciprocate by guiding you mightily through the mazes of our metropolis." He pauses. "Are you thirsty, famished? Shall we order food and drink?"
Eddie is resigned to AK's constant conversation and though he is actually not very hungry, he nods his head Yes, and AK picks up a nearby hotel services booklet and proceeds to order beers for both to be followed by a full course dinner for two.
Two beers are delivered. The waiter, a not very clean fellow in whiskers and turban, disconnects the bottle tops off the brown beer bottles and sets each down in front of AK and Eddie.
Eddie notes with interest that AK, after toasting Eddie's good health and prosperous future, not only wipes the bottle top with his clean handkerchief but then, in drinking, raises the bottle, tips it carefully over his open mouth and, manages not to touch any part of the bottle opening edges with his lips, as the beer falls into his mouth and is swallowed. Eddie copies AK.
AK continues: "In these days many changes have taken place in our country that affect the shipping company I work for and my employment. Global economic crises, depressed freight markets due to the new container shipping, the poor quality and management of ships, the recent lack of expertise due to the worsening education environment in overcrowded schools, the poor quality of loans - all have badly affected my work environment and my happy life in the arms of my family. To respond to depressed conditions my company has adopted draconian measures: curtailment of wages to bare minimum, rigid working conditions that resemble slavery, heavier workloads and reduced salaries. Our union's demand for betterment of wages is pending for the last four years." AK does the final drink of his bottle beer without his lips touching the bottle's neck.
Next the food is delivered on two large trays: For starter, sliced half papaya. Eddie has not preferred papaya in his eating because his testing discovered it raises the neutral fats in blood but here he shows good manners and enjoys his half. Then minestrone soup. Then a large plate of rice and curry mixture that Eddie enjoys much because authentic cuisine. And baked potatoes, still hot, with cold sour cream over them. Then a dessert of strawberry shortcake with British tea.
After they finish, AK has a waiter make a doggy-bag of the left-over food, explaining, "My family is always appreciative of remainders."
He goes on with his litany. "I am also a victim at home of great misery. And I am not alone, my family consists of five heads. Last year, thieves broke into my hutment (His archaic word for home) and escaped with many ornaments, considerable cash - about fifty-thousand rupees, or one thousand US dollars, and my mementos of your last, cherished visit. The cash and ornaments were for my daughter's marriage. Her life would be spoiled without the dowry so I was compelled to take a loan at very high interest from a money lender shark. He is very mean and arrogant and unkind. He takes most of my salary as interest and in case I fail at even one interest payment he creates all sorts of nuisances in front of my neighbors. So now I am very upset and passing days in mental agony. I do not have any means except my paltry salary to pay off the principal on his loan. I cannot sleep. God only knows who will come forward with some financial help." Here AK looks directly into Eddie's eyes in a very uncomfortable plea.
After the pause he says, "I am very sorry to narrate all my problems, dear friend of my life. Now I will go and throw myself off a high building." He stands and Eddie reaches out his left hand to dissuade AK's leaving. Without saying a word, Eddie reaches into his deep pocket and takes out three one-thousand US dollars in cash, part of a US dollar cache he brought on the trip. He hands it to AK, who bursts into tears that are obviously sincere.
After he has got control of himself, he promises to return for a day of guiding Eddie through Kolkata.
It is a good day's guided tour - the Victoria Museum, the temple of the goddess Kali, sacred cows all over the city, street cremations. And everywhere too many people from uncontrolled baby-making leading to overpopulation convinces Eddie of the crisis of humanity.
End of Chapter. To continue next, click 16.49 Africa - Addis Ababa- Tilahun Tegegni
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