Dwelling in Burial Ground

Long ago in India there was a state named 'Andhra Pradesh'. There the business name "real estates" was growing like three plots and six apartments (telugu lo "moddu puvvulu , aaru kayalu" type lo). Here, a middle class person named 'Chakravarthi' was living. He was as honest as unadulterated cement. His words were as smooth as white sand. He looked very lean as Visakha steel bar but handsome. His wife's name was 'Soudhamini'. She looked like a giant six apartments building. As strong and hard as Rasi cement pillar. She gave birth to two children. The first one was as strong as brick. His name was 'Bhavan' and later one was lean like his father and he was named 'Kuteer'.

On a perfect wrong time Mr.Chakravarth bought an independent house from a well-known realtor Mr.Varada Raju, facing many hurdles and finally got all the documents of the house which was located at 'Gandipet colony'.

On the year 2000 A.D, September 11th Chakravarthi was busy in the house warming ceremony of his house. Mean while a heavy rain started. Soon the colony was drowned by 50M deep and became a lake.

Chakravarthi realised that, though the house and property was lost if the body was saved, they could live in a rent house. Since he was a very good swimmer, he saved his wife and children.

When Mr.VaradaRaju was trying to escape from India, Chakravarthi caught him and demanded. Then he came to know that it was Gandipet Lake which was used to supply water for the city. For four year it was in drought. Taking that chance the realtor had occupied the land and sold it out. Chakravarthi was in tremendous shock and finally went into coma. It took Fifty years for him to get rid of that.

That means on 11th September 2050, Chakravathy opened his eyes and looked at his wife Soudhamini and rolled a few tears out. The Rasi cement pillar Soudhamini had become the castle of Golconda and devouring. Then he smiled at his sons and their wives.

"We accomplished your desire...Dad...come on! Lets go to our independent house", said Bhuvan proudly.

Chakravarthy altered his thoughts and asked, " Are there any litigations in that my dear son?”

Bhavan's wife blushed and said, “It is commons in these days. Don't bother about those things uncle".

All of them took Chkravarthy to their house.

'Nisachara Colony’, the colony looked with excellent structures, modern and had a good look. In that Bhavan's house looked much good and modernized one, on seeing that Chakravarthy was happy and moved toward the entrance door. Immediately after opening the door, he screamed. He saw a dozen cement tombs in the hall, Watching them fearfully he asked, “Whether it is burial ground or a living house".

"Nothing like that Dad! I built a house in a burial ground", Bhuvan blushed and said.

“You hoarder! Why can't you buy a fine land in the city", Chakravarthy asked impatiently.

Kuteer blushed and said, “Oh my dear father! It is not that easy to buy a land in the city. That too we are not Tata's or Birla's to do so. The people like VaradaRaju have occupied this burial ground for wholesale and sold it our middle class families for lower rates and made profits".

Father asked, “So, are there no burial grounds even for signs?"

"No. The future generations do not know even what does a burial ground means and how does it look like. So to show them a sample, archeological department occupied a burial ground and put glasses over every tomb and converted that as a museum", Soudhamini said woefully.

Chakravarthy sucked his dried lips. “Then where will do my cremation after my death?” he asked.

"On the middle of the road", said Bhuvan coolly.
"How dare you to say like that?" - Chakravarthy in temperament
"Never mind it Dad! It is today's culture. Understand? Look there” Bhuvan pointed to road. The Corpse of a woman had been kept on crematorium and was set to fire by her relatives on the middle of the road. In order to let the corpse burn quickly, they had shot some bombs. After the body had completely burned, they collected the ashes into a pot and cleaned the road and went away. Then the traffic started to move.

Chakravarthi shuddered vigorously. "NOOOO!!!!! I don't need this stupid funeral. Happily burry me into the ground", he pleased his sons.

"Ok! We will burry you on the terrace and build beautiful tomb for you", Bhuvan promised.

Chakravarthy rose in anger, “What nonsense are you talking? I am not a wet cloth to dry on the roof. Idiot. Can't you get 6 feet land to burry my body?” he asked in tears.

"In these days the people are occupying even a half inch land. To get a half foot land is highly impossible. So according to the Government's order the people have to be buried in their respective houses. Look at there. On every house, on every apartment instead of pent house there are mini tombs. Have you observed Dad!” said Kuteer. Unable to believe his words father went up to his house and observed the entire city from the top. To his shock he saw exactly what his son said. Those tombs were decorated and colored beautifully. Whole the city was glittering and shining with like a beautiful burial ground. He ran down the stairs immediately and screamed, "I could have died that day so that my soul would have wandered happily. I couldn't take this miserable death. If I were burnt on the middle of the road like dried grass how could my soul keep calm", said to his wife.

"By the way. Shall we have to burn you? Or shall we burry you?" Grandson asked him affectionately. “First let me take rest ", he said. He looked at the tombs in the house, confused where to sit.

Observing that, “Since hall is very congested I didn't buy furniture Dad. So these tombs are our beds, couches and tables Dad. Put bed on late Bokkala Bakkaiah's tomb and take rest and Mom will sleep on Mruthyum Jaya's tomb", said Bhuvan.

“Are you going insane? Why should your mother sleep on him? Come on! Demolish that tomb first", He ordered his son.

“NO! Fifty percent of the population died on land issues. If we demolish these tombs, the souls which are not satisfied with their lands would fry us and eat, screaming 'why did you occupy our lands?’ said Kuteer in fear.

Chakravarthy reluctantly said, “I will happily sleep in the tomb but I couldn't sleep on the tomb anyway."

Sodhamini, patting on her forehead. "Ok! Go and sleep on Miss.Kumari's rock tomb. She had suicided with broken heart. So her soul would not harm you as you are a man", saying this she chuckled.

He pleasantly said, "Ok. As you are urging me to do so I’ll sleep only for this night".

Bhuvan smiled and said," Thanks Dad! Tomorrow you should attend the house warming ceremony for my new house. Don't forget Dad".

"Is that also a burial ground like this my dear?" asked Chakravarthy humorously

"NO, Dad! That is Municipal corporation land occupied and built an apartment on it", said Bhuvan patiently. Chakravathy felt a feeling of bomb blast and stood in astonishment.....

Reservations to Gotralu

Year 2050, November month's first week, the week when Padma sri Akkineni Nageswara Rao's grand son's first movie "Anarkalini Lepuku poyina Devadas" released in theaters. Devi 140MM (double to 70MM), the surroundings were filled with huge crowd. The booking counter was opened just then and closed immediately.

One boy from the crowd shouted, “This is not wise! How can the tickets reserved for our SC and ST are sold that earlier".

Anand, a boy standing near was listening all to this with a great astonishment.
Mean while an old man started shouting with anger, “They have stolen even the tickets reserved for our BCs too. This is against constitution".

Anand was scratching his head with much anxiety asked a girl standing beside him,
“I heard seats reserved for jobs and colleges but what is this reservation for seats in movie theaters?". She blushed and said," Political leaders have brought this culture in every aspect to fill up their vote banks"

"If you don't give back tickets that are reserved for our SCs to us, we'll put the theater into fire", an aunty screamed.

A Muslim brother with anger said, “Give our tickets in our minority quota. We don't tolerate in-justice. Come on, where is the manager?” rushed into theater with some of him men.

Anand was watching all the surroundings with his flashing eyes. A boy dragging his pants upward, puffing and selling tickets, “Ticket...Ticket...2000 for 5000 buddies... 30% discount for SCs and STs, 20% discount for BCs, 15% for FCs, Ticket...Ticket...” shouting proudly.

Anand yelled in surprise, "Do they apply reservations here also?” asked to the girl beside him unable to believe what he had seen. She laughed and said, “That makes people attract towards them. This is business”. Facing the marvelous situation, he looked into more marvelous eyes of her like an owl. There is love of owls in their looks. She churns up and admitted, “You are still in the year 2008. Don't get excited".

“I am sorry. I was born and brought up in America. I came to Hyderabad to get married. By the way, I am Anand. My I know your name?” asked as if he is a matured owl. She blushed and said, “I am Rabandula Nandini, Software engineer. By the way, what is your caste?" asked with out feeling guilty. He looked at her uncomfortably, feeling that youth was getting affected to the caste feelings day by day.


She observed that, “Don’t mind it in another way. If I can know your reservation category I can buy tickets in black for us", she said honestly to him. He liked that and proposed to her it was better if they would go to a coffee shop like a parrot and vulture( since her name is Rambandula Nandini) and drink a hot coffee instead of going to the movie and fell immediately on her feet. She pitied him and said, “Don’t beg me like this please. Come on lets go! “, and pulled him up. He was embarrassed because he didn't fall on her feet himself but some body had pushed him.

Anand and Nandini went to a luxury hotel. He saw the tables were reserved putting boards on them with the names SCs, STs, BCs, FCs, X-Service Men, and Handicapped. Anand called steward in shock. “What are these reservations? It is as if we see for Government jobs", he said to steward. Steward replied," we should imply these entire reservations sir. Government ordered us".

"Are there any General quota tables here?” asked Anand.
“No, but for the couple like you, we have some reserved tables", said the steward.
“We are not married yet”, said Anand.
“OK. For the lovers like you, we have some reserved tables", said the steward.
“We are not also lovers", said Nandini.
“So come on. I'll show the reserved tables for the cases like you" said the steward and showed them a table in dark corner of the room. Then both of them ordered meals putting their faces pale.

Nandini started telling her past life. “My mother took birth in a big family. To accomplish her desire to be a Doctor, she married my father who was in sports quota. With that she fulfilled her desire. My sister had flirted with a boy having reservation, with that she settled in a good job. My elder brother married a Muslim girl to get minority votes and stood well in politics", she said proudly.
Anand was in dilemma whether to laugh or cry. After completing their meal, they walked to the bus stop near.

Anand and Nandini got into the bus and sat together. He felt very happy as if he possessed a medical seat by sitting beside her. Feeling that was the chance, he started to touch her and mean while two ladies started staring at Anand. He took his hand back and blushed as if he had done a mistake.

The first girl said, “We didn't stare at you for placing your hand on her but you have occupied the seats reserved for our BCs".
With greater embarrassment, “I heard the seats reserved for women, elder and handicapped but what is this? Are the seats even reserved for BCs in buses?” He asked as if he couldn't believe that.

The second girl impatiently said, “Not only for BCs mister but also for SCs, STs, FCs. First show me your BC certificate?"

Nandini stood up with out any hesitation. The bus was filled with a lot of crowd. So Nandini tilted towards Anand. For this, he blushed and said to him, “Reservations has many uses". Both of them looked at each other. At their fortune, the bus stopped the middle of traffic.

A political leader on the road kept an open meeting. “My dear brothers and sisters... All the reservations for the castes prevailing have now completed. So now I start fighting for Gotras", Said the political leader emotionally. Anand astonished on hearing that and leaned over Nandini which paved the way for their love.

One month later Nandini invited Anand to her home. Introducing Anand to her father,Rama Swamy, " Anand not only have heart to love but also lumps of properties in America, Dad", said Nandini with excitement.

Rama swamy insolently sat in sofa. “Who cares these temporary properties? The only permanent thing in this country is reservation. Talk about that", said Ramaswamy seeing at Anand.

“I am not interested in that, sir", said Anand. "Sorry. According to our Rabandu's Family custom, our Nandini's marriage had fallen under physically handicapped quota. But you look like Hrithik Roshan and as strong as he is. So i can't give my child to healthy people like you and throw her in darkness", said Rama swamy straight to Anand.

Anand felt disguised and shouted, "What is this reservation in marriage uncle? say something else. Please ", and started scratching his head.

“OK. Then go put your leg on the railway track and break it down. So that you can happily walk along with my daughter", said Rama Swamy.

Anand once again shouted in surprise," Then that’s not called walking uncle. Its called jumping my dear lord. Please uncle be kind towards me.", Anand begged and fell on his feet (this time Nandini pushed him).

"You should sacrifice your life to love. But why are you hesitating for just a leg", said Ramaswamy and started drinking cool drink.

Anand stood up and said boldly with much confidence. “I’ll marry Nandini by law and force you to drink 7 types of cool drinks. Else I am not.....”, said Anand and stamped his thigh. And then said Nandini to be bold and flashed his eyes and went away.

Anand boldly went to police station directly. He saw four police men were beating a lean thief. Inspector enquired the thief, “which area you belong to?". "Dilshuknagar area sir", said the shivering thief. "Then why did you theft in Charminar area that is reserved for minority thieves?” Inspector asked the thief.

“Honestly speaking ... I don't know about these reservations sir", said the thief.
Inspector dragged thief toward him and gave a big kick on his stomach. “Shut up idiot. Shamshabad for SC, ST thieves, khairatabad for BC thieves, Jubli hills for FC thieves, Dilshuknagar for handicapped, Sanath Nagar for lady thieves were reserved. Don't you know that? Your community heads only had dug the wall kept a memorandom in CM's room to reserve areas for different castes. He kindly passed the bill at your request for encouraging you people and reserved these areas.
I'll spare you even if you cross the rules and regulations but i won't spare you if you violate the reservations. Constables! Come on...Lock up death”, shouted the Inspector. Immediately thief gave out his life for the bullets shot from the gun.

Anand shouted in fear seeing the incident. Inspector in disguise came to him. “Why are you shouting just by seeing one life? By the way, who are you?” Inspector asked. Anand said about his problem to the Inspector.

The Inspector blushed and said, “What your uncle said was right and beyond the law. Among every hundred women, two women must marry physically handicapped men according to Hindu marriage law. This is introduced recently".
Anand felt obscure. Mean while the Inspector called the constable and said, “Come on! Break his leg or hand and make handicapped". Anand immediately ran away no hearing the order and never come back.

Next day the News papers printed about the thief who had died. Every news paper said that the he was a SC thief, BC thief, FC thief etc... With their respective aspects. But no one printed that a human being had lost his life.