HUMAN RELATIONS

HUMAN RELATIONS

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

25/VI/2023

We had just moved into our permanent home a year and a half back. The normal tying up of things for daily necessities becomes a little challenging initially. Doodhwala, Sabziwala, Dhobi, Kiryana etc are important ones to begin with, not forgetting the top most VVIP, the Bai, without whom our households come to a stand still.

Those hiccups subsided and things fell into place. Within no time we found our way to manoeuvre around the town for our daily needs. Bai’s came and Bai’s went. New ones popped up. By now we know most of them, so ‘Badli’ (replacement) if the ‘main maid’ is absent, gets sorted out with a phone call.

The only thing we were not able to manage was the Milkman. Most of the time the milk was too watery for our liking. “Pani milate ho”, we would ask. “Sawal hi nahi paida hota, ek dum shudh hai”. We knew and he knew the truth, so we migrated to dairy packets.

Now, the timings wouldn’t suit us. Sometimes the delivery boy would forget and sometimes we wouldn't be at home when he came. Many times, we ran out of milk. So, we kept tetra packs for emergencies.

In the interim, there were milkmen who home delivered in the colony and were happy to give away some extra milk they carried. Though we were aware of the quality but in emergencies it was fine.

One day we ran out of milk. Since I am in the garden since morning, my orders were to catch hold of the first milkman passing by. There was a new guy who had a typical way to call ‘Doooooodh’ in a wavery kind of shrill voice. I heard him and took up position on the road, ready for an ambush.

I waved to him and he stopped. “Ek kilo doodh chaije”. “Jo hukum”, he said. Pure hai, I asked? He replied in the most dramatic way, “pahle istemal karen fir vishwas karen”. I laughed. Kitto peeso hoyo? He shook his head and said he would not charge the first time. I was surprised but that’s how it was.

He took feedback on the quality of milk the next day. It was good no doubt, but generally, once you become a regular, the quality drops that is what we have experienced. Since that day, we started greeting each other regularly with a loud ‘Namaskaaar sa’ in the same shrill voice. I would reciprocate and raise my folded hands.

Emulating him, a couple of other milkmen also started wishing me. Here there is another way to greet. They blow their horn of the motorbike while passing by. You have to just acknowledge with a nod. An unwritten communication happens and smiles are exchanged. What a wonderful way to start a day!

The day before, I was out in the garden clicking birds and flowers. He saw me from a distance and came waving down the lane. “Mahri bi photo lo kayen”. Why not, I said. He is such a lively, chirpy, smiley guy with a sweeter name. ‘Ghewar Ram ji’ posed and I clicked a few pics.

How human relations develop over a period of time is amazing. The non-verbal communication, a smile, a wave of the hand, blowing of the horn etc are all means to connect and show respect to each other. What would have happened had I not responded? I wonder!!!!!!!!

JAI HIND