SUBMISSION
OF A LONELY DINNING SET
Your Honor,
in the name of God I swear I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth.
1. My name is Dinning Set. I do not know
why I was named as such because almost all meals from breakfast, lunch to
dinner were served and taken on my marble top flat chest. I am inclusive of one
flat table and a set of chairs. I would not go into my parentage but usually I
am made of wood.
2. World over there are different
traditions of serving food. In India and in this household, where I belong to, it
is said that in olden days food was normally served and taken in the kitchen.
The guests/family members would sit on the ground in comfortable position, a
small low height stool was placed in front of them and food served in a thali
with saucers or on a banana leaf spread. With the advent of the British, the
educated class brought a dinning set and usually placed it in the
drawing/living room. The guests/family members sit on the chairs placed around
the table and food is served as usual in thalies or banana leaves. In some
households as in this household, thalies and banana leaves have been replaced by porcelain or stainless steel
plates and saucers.
3. The basic idea was to have food
together to follow the old adage ‘ those who eat together stay together.’ I
remember Dadaji (Grand father-God save his soul) Dadiji (Grand mother) Bade Bhayya
(elder brother), Manjhale bhayya (middle brother) Chhote Bhayya (Youngest
brother) Chintu (elder brother’s son), Reena (elder brother’s daughter), Monu
(Middle brother’s son) and Manav (youngest brother’s son) all sat on the 12
seater dinning table and would be served by the female members who usually
cooked the food also. Dinner was an leisurely affair while, breakfast and lunch were rather quick.
4. It was around the dinner time that
family issues were discussed, solutions found to controversial issues. Kids
were encouraged, appreciated and at times mildly rebuked or lovingly poked.
Decency and decorum was maintained but that did not debar members pulling each
others legs. The atmosphere was jovial, serious or just right depending on the
mood of the elders. Post dinner, there would be some more discussions before
retiring to the bed. This helped in knowing
whatever is happening to each member of the family and take suitable action where
ever required. Thus the family meeting would end with a promising note looking
for a better tomorrow.
5. Family business was flourishing as
all the three brothers worked hard, talked to each other, consulted each other
and in all cases rested the final decision with their parents.
6. It all started with when Chintu wanted
to go abroad to pursue higher studies. He was advised to have formal education in
the country only and fall in the footsteps of his elders and look after the
family business. He however persisted with his desire and finally the family
agreed to send him to UK for higher studies.
7. Reena was a bright girl and she too
wanted to pursue higher studies but the family decided to get her married once
she reached the marriageable age. Her parents did not like it but agreed to the
wishes of the elders. I am witness to her cries and anger.
8. The youngest brother looked after the
marketing aspect of the business while the elder one looked after the
production and the middle one the purchases and sourcing. Competition was
raising its head and profits were falling down.
9. The blame game started. Marketing
blamed the production for higher costs and production blamed the purchase and
sourcing for the higher costs of inputs. Purchase blamed the production for
higher wages and production costs and marketing for not working hard enough to
get good deals and higher marketing costs.
10.
The
dinning time was now a war of wits among brothers. Dadiji did not understand
the business anyway but was heart broken to see her sons shouting at each
other. She too said good bye to all in her sleep.
11.
There
was no dinning time now. Everyone started calling food in his room and
respective wives helped in furthering this divide. I was a moot spectator and mostly remained
unused for days. Once in a while some one would sit on a lonely chair, have a
cup of coffee or some breakfast and that was all.
12.
The
process of separation was rather fast. The factory and the parental house were
sold and the proceeds divided among the three brothers equally. Each one bought
flats in the suburbs and started living separately. They started their small
businesses.
13.
No
one agreed to take me along as I was too big for their small flats and of no
use to small families. They sold me to a scrap dealer where I sit in a corner
gathering dust waiting for a savior.
14.
My Lord ! Is it my fault that I am no more the
pride of a well knit family? Is it fair that in my old age I should meet this
fate? Have I not served them well when I was young and useful? At least they
could have given me a decent cremation.
15.
Finally
My Lord I request you to find me a family who have time to eat together and
stay together. With this hope I have come to Your Lordship. Please help me or
arrange for my cremation.
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