Did water come today???

Our new home is next to a college. There is a round-the-clock security in that college, who stays and lives in a small security room near the entrance of the college. He is a short, dark, old man, probably from some nearby village, who had come to Chennai to make a living. Unlike a traditional security, he never wears a security uniform. He is always clad in a white vesti (dhothi) and a white shirt. At times, in the evenings, I have seen him going out in his cycle, wearing only a dhothi, and a towel on his right shoulder, wihout a shirt - a sight that is no so common in this city. Initially I didn't make any effort to talk to him or to establish a rapport with him. As I strongly believe that the interaction with the neighbors should very limited, and as a general rule, the more close they are, the less the interaction should be.

It was the common corporation tap on the road, that brought us together. Water comes in that tap once in 2 or 3 days. I fetch a pot or two and use it for some special purposes :). Last week when I was returning after dropping my little friends in school, I saw the watchman thatha, and asked him, "Did water come today?".

Immediately he started replying "I am fetching water from this tap for more than 12 years...", Though that is not a direct reply for my question, it gave me a confidence that the direct answer will follow soon. "I have a built a house... The owner helped by lending some money...". Probably he was referring to the Owner of the college. At this point, I interrupted "Where?? in Chennai???". He seemed to get a bit annoyed on hearing my words. He replied "What?? Chennai??? Why should I build in Chennai... I built in my native...". So according to him, people who do not have a native, will build their home in Chennai. As he is a one with a native, he has built his home in his native. "Which is your native??" I asked... He was prompt to reply "Aranthangi... Near Pudukottai..." and he smiled while giving this reply.

At this point I told him that "I am from Trichy...". I normally never tell this to anyone, as I myself was not sure if I can call Trichy as my native. But now I told this to the security thatha, so that he doesn't think that I am a nativeless fellow. If owning a home makes you a native of the place where its built, then I definitely have two natives. And partially have one more native :). But as my Mother used to say, the place where we live, and the place that gives us a living, is our native. So, at the moment Chennai is my native :).

At this point I wish to remind the Readers that my initial question to the security thatha was "Did water came today?" and that question wasn't answered until now. Thatha went on "Avar romba nallavaru..."(He is a very nice Guy), pointing to our apartment. Probably he was referring to the builder, who built and sold that apartment to us. Thatha continued "The land belongs to the "John" behind this building. (The neighbour behind this building was "John"). He bought it for 70 lakhs, four years back. Initially he had his office here. I was working in that office for sometime. He is a very nice Guy. Now also he asked me to get a maid for cleaning the office...". Thatha went on and on and on. He continued "Now I have pledged some of our jewels and I am paying for them..."

I lost all hope of getting an answer to my question, and was about to leave, as I understood that the thatha will never stop talking as long as I stand there. I said "Saringa" (Ok) and turned back to enter our apartment, at which point the Security thatha said "Water didn't come today... It comes once in three days... It will come tomorrow...". I replied "Ok, Thanks..." and went inside our apartment. I turned back and saw him slowly walking towards the college gate.

- Pavala
05-July-2019.