School and Wine Shop

      I recall a short story written by John Alunkal in the Malayala Manorama Weekly many years ago. 

The story begins when a woman arrives at an unfamiliar place and walks into the staff room of a school with her hungry baby. The baby needs food and a little help to get home. It is not a habit to stretch out her hands in front of anyone.

She is hesitant, but she thought to herself, she is heading to a school, to teachers, the educated once, and will not be humiliated. With a lot of hesitation and difficulty she asked for help. The school teachers are in their own worlds without paying attention. 

For some it is a scorn. Pretend that some people have seen this. The intellectuals showed their potential. Is the child abandoned by the father, or is the father not living?

Get a job! You can do better than this! Did you get kicked out of your house?

With all this, the woman escapes without having to hear much.

Time is running out, it greatly concerned her. Finally, they both walked towards the local wine shop (Bar/pub) .

Drunkards - the wrong people. Horny fishermen with a tight knit hair and thick beard. Few dancing half naked under the influence of alcohol and another with underpants on his head. It was loud inside, they were wearing, dirty and torn clothes. Drinks made their tongue tingle.

What's the matter with a sister? The question is of the thick mustached fisherman. The woman was terrified and asked him for help.

The thick mustached fisherman's appearance changed. The rage in the eyes gave way to mercy. The horny mustache became the female's protective shield. He shared the information out loud with those in the pub. Pub is the place for sharing. From dull pockets to piles of pennies and notes gathered in the desk. The mother and the baby bought food for the belly .

They walked her to the nearest bus stop. There were two others, including the fisherman. When the bus came to the place, he told the conductor where she wanted to go.

"My sister, when you are in such need, you have to go to a school or a government office. Do not enter at a wine shop. It's a bad place" said the fisherman.