Story#45 : The Curse Of Trees
“Satish, the person who bought the house behind your house, just called me. He is saying, the palm leaves from the three coconut trees at your backyard, sometimes falling in his land. He is asking to cut them down!”
It was my Father-in-law who is taking care of my house in Thrissur, Kerala. With all my savings, I built a two storey house which is in line with my retirement plan. When I retire, I was planning to give one floor for rent and to stay in the other one. I built the house step by step. When I bought the land 20 years before, there was nothing in that ground. I dug a well, then, I planted three coconut trees, one jack fruit tree, one mango tree, one gooseberry tree, one Jamun tree and few plantain trees.
The trees were planted early so that, by the time I built the house, I will start getting shadow of the tress and the fruits. As I am working in Chennai, it was my father-in-law who was taking care of the property. Even after his retirement, he went there everyday and took care of the saplings as his own children. After five years I save enough money to build the foundation and concreting.
After another five years, I constructed ground floor and gave it for rent. By that time, the trees started bearing fruits. Another 7 years, I saved money to construct first floor and gave that also to rent. Three years passed after that and now I am finding, more and more people moving to that locality. Property price in that locality started souring and all the empty lands were purchased by different people. Some of them constructed houses.
I was planning to work for another five more years, retire and go there to rest for the remaining part of my life. That is when the new problem started.
“But why should we cut down the tree just because palm leave falling in the other compound? It is the backyard of other house and front side of that house is facing the adjacent street. No damage can happen to their house. Even if any damage happens, it will be on our compound wall which we have constructed. Those trees are the high breed trees and we are getting enough coconuts to sell after your use. How can somebody ask to cut the trees?” I was agitated.
“Well that is exactly his problem. This is a new guy who purchased the adjacent house three months back. Unlike the previous neighbors, this guy is very jealous. Whenever I go there, I used to notice him looking at the coconut trees and count the coconuts with watering mouth. Anyway, I have given your number. He may call you” said my father-in-law.
As expected, within three days, he called me.
“Hello, this is head constable Narayanan of Thrissur police station. I am your neighbor and I purchased the house behind your house. The palm trees falling from your coconut trees is a nuisance for us. You have to cut the trees” said Narayanan.
“Sir, with all due respect, we will pick up the palm leaves from your land. But, please don’t tell us to cut the trees which giving us enough coconuts. It took 17 years to grow the trees” I pleaded.
“I don’t want to listen to your sentiments. Cut down the trees. You know very well that, playing with a policeman will cost you dearly. Oblige or be ready to bear the consequences” warned Narayanan. After too much of deliberation with my wife and in-laws, we decided cut the trees. My father-in-law literally cried as those trees were children to him.
Another three months passed and I got a call from Narayan again.
“See, Mr….. The Goosberry tree leave are flying into my compound and it is making my land dirty. You better cut the gooseberry tree. Else, I have to go in police way” said Narayanan.
Again, it was painful. But no point in fighting with the so called “Protectors of law”. We relented to satisfy his jealousy. The highly fruit bearing gooseberry tree was cut down.
Withing 2 months, he called again.
“Your jackfruit tree have too many ripe jackfruits and some of them on the higher branches are decayed and foul smelling. It is bringing flies to my home. You have to cut the jackfruit tree” demanded Narayan.
The jackfruit tree was giving fruits enough for 3-4 families in my locality and the fruit was very sweet. But again, we relented for his cruel satisfaction and cut that tree too. That was enough for me. I found a buyer and I was able to sell it for a good price. With that money I bought a new house in a different locality with more land and trees.
After few months I went to Kerala. Out of pure of curiosity, I asked my father-in-law what happened to the old house and whether the new buyer was happy at last. I was sure that the constable would have created trouble for the new owner also.
“Oh.. That is an interesting story. The person who bought it from you was the SI (Sub-Inspector) who newly transferred to Thrissur police station. He is from a lower caste family and he was bullied when he was student by his upper caste classmates. So, he is taking it on his upper caste subordinates in his official life.
Now, Narayan being an upper caste, is living under the nose of his supervisor and bearing the brunt. He has to salute him even when he in his own house and out of duty. The SI made him to plant different trees around his house. Narayan was made to mix fertilizers and other types of manures to grow the trees. He also made Narayan to build a small garden. Then, Narayan has to take care of the two dogs of the SI; like bathing them, taking them to walk etc.
As SI’s wife is also working, they have more vehicles at home. His car, his wife’s car, Police jeep and his kid’s two wheelers etc. So SI asked Narayan to break his compound wall and allow his wife’s car to park there. He also asked him to clean the car and police jeep. His life became hell and I latest new I heard was, he sold his house for a cheap price to escape from the torture. Said my father-in-law.
‘The curse of trees’ I thought.
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Biju Vargheese (Pazhayedathu Paramban)
