Stories  
Ananda Sankaram – 4
by NS Murty

It must be ten past at night. And the world was glistening under moonshine. And birds were cooing in their nests. Ananda Sankaram looked around with his eyes wet with pleasure. He found young men and women ready to take to wings like Jonathan Seagull to explore unknown horizons. He was no longer afraid of assemblies and people. He was now able to comprehend the meaning of intimacy between people. And in no time Ananda Sankaram was everywhere. He felt his wings, withdrawn for ages, were slowly opening out.

“Hello Uncle! You sang so well!” That was the girl who played Jonathan. He hugged her affectionately. “There is nothing great about it. Your dance is still fresh in my mind. You show a great talent beyond your age,” and kissed her in sincere appreciation. And they moved freely in the party like close friends.

To the right of reading room and near the arbor of crotons Ananda Sankaram saw Vijaya and Nandgopal. It seemed there was row between them. Vijaya was drying her eyes with the frills of her sari. Under normal circumstances he would have run away from the scene. But he was a different man today. He was a Jonathan with a pair of new wings.

“What Gopal! Is it the time for you to quarrel?” he said with a tone of disapproval.

“Tell me then, what can I do? She behaves as if she is another mother Theresa to uplift all the destitute children. Don’t you think that one should be practical in life? Is it enough if you just adopt a child? One will end up in life burning his hands if he lives it trying to follow his ideals. Anand! At least you try to convince her. As a matter of fact, my marrying her is itself a great adventure. She compounds it with another.”

Ananda Sankaram did not say a word. He could not say anything, in fact. He silently retreated from that place. Education is different and life is different. To cant ideals is one thing and to put them in practice in life is a different thing. He then realized that his timidness, his trying to accommodate things, and Nandagopal-mark practicality had all come from the same origin.

The duet, in base, by Sudha and Niranjan was melodiously flowing from the stage. And a lone cloud on the sky is hurrying somewhere. Tilwito! Tilwito! A bird is cooing as if it had woken up from sleep.

Ananda Sankaram gripped the hand of the girl who played Jonathan firmly and tightly with his shivering hands. And the girl felt a great effort, a great fight, and an unflinching decision in that touch!  

January 1, 2006

Telugu Original by Dr. V. Chandrasehara Rao

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The Week of January 1, 2006     
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Why Consistency is Important but Parents Feel Bad by Michael Grose
The Hindu View on Cosmogony by Dr. R.K. Lahiri 
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