Between morning and evening !

A semi-ripe papaya fruit was seen nibbled by birds or squirrels  in the morning. By the evening the fruit had disappeared. 

With no respite from rain during the last five days, birds nd squirrels in our garden were desperate for food. 

All those of us who live in comfortable houses, go to work in our cars, and return to a safe environment do not often sense the hardships that rain brings to many others. A mason who was working in our property could not work for five days and he felt the strain of being unemployed and came to borrow some money yesterday.  A shop keeper who sells snacks and other essentials for workmen, told me that the sale dropped to a very low level as workmen have no jobs and do not come for buying their provisions. A taxi driver said that he did not have any passenger for the last five days. 

This is a festive season in the state of Kerala and a shop keeper selling clothes mentioned to me that there is no hope of resurgence of sale. His stock of clothes has accumulated and he is feeling stressed.  

The stress of living was not so demanding in the recent past for two reasons. Many have less money to spend and workers have no jobs due to less construction activity. The second is the recent spell of incessant rain.

Birds of the air would find their food and shelter whether it rains or not. But workmen do not have access to their daily provisions. 

I heard a senior citizen mention to me that he grew up in the village, where he witnessed, 'communal' living. The neighbours looked after each other. Food and provisions were shared between neighbours. No one lacked food to eat when there was some stress. I am not sure whether such a state of mutual support would return in our village. Anna and I hear news of illnesses, difficult situations or special needs in our neighbourhood much later. By the time the worst is over.

The insular living is a consequence of modernity and upward mobility of the middle class. We live oblivious of what concerns our neighbours. 

At work during this week, I felt this intensely. People carry pain and distress and suffer from accumulated burdens. 

A medical student told me yesterday that she experienced an unusual camaraderie in her class when some of her friends were hospitalised during the last week. Many who hitherto looked distant and less friendly offered to stay in the hospital to look after those who were hospitalised. For her, this experience was a revival of bonding in the class, which restored her hope of friendships that would go beyond just familiarity! Friendships call for involvement!

Yesterday, being the teacher's day, Anna and I received some friendly calls and messages from friends from different places in India. That brought immense cheer to us. 

Friendliness includes caring and sharing!

This comes back as a message for a response!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)