Baloo watched with intensity as she turns slowly, the sun falling discreetly down one side of her face her beautiful fare complexion personified an Empress. She was truly a beautiful sight to see. Her dress sparkled with shining gold reflectors her eyes glittered her teeth with its ivory colour shone brightly as she smiled and said “Hello my name is Dahram I already know who you are.”
Baloo walked closer into the room his mouth still in shock and bewilderment unsure whether to question his mind or pinch himself. The mood of the moment soon died and things became normal and Baloo managed to get his senses back. “How do you know me? I have never met you until today.” Said Baloo looking intensely at her face.
Babu Ram brings a chair into the bedroom “Baytoe ard.” Baloo sits
“I have always known you and your family my father was in the British army and my mother use to work in your Grand-fathers shop. I was only five and you must have been 10 I think but you were always nice to me and I told my brother then that I wanted to marry you,” Said Dahram hoping Baloo had felt the same.
Baloo looked at her “I really don’t know what to say, I do remember you we use to walk along the beach and chase the turtles back into the sea. I carried you on my back once when a jellyfish bit you and I had to sack out the poison. Yes I remember. I knew then that I wanted to become a doctor and cure people.” Baloo stopped and got up and walked towards her “Yes I remember and I told myself that I to will marry you. But we were kids I had my schooling and you had yours. We got to be sensible”
Dahram walks towards Baloo and takes his hand “I am always going to be yours, always.” And runs out in embarrassment.
Baloo turns his head to the corner of the room in despair and asked to be taken home.
The following day while Baloo was getting ready to go to college he heard someone calling him from the window.
“Baloo, Baloo. Come to the window I have something for you.” Said the voice.
Baloo walked towards the window and notices Babu Ram sitting on his bicycle waving an envelope.
“Oh, it’s you. What do you have that is so important that you are prepared to cycle five miles to give me when it would be easier to wait for me at the college?” Said Baloo fastening his top button of his shirt.
“I have a letter from my sis, she likes you a lot can you see her?” Said Babu Ram
Baloo smiles and takes the envelope from his hand.” You are really something. If my father or my brothers found out that you want me to date your sister, I don’t know what will happen.”
Babu Ram smiled and said, “They’ll be happy and spend thousands of dollars for your wedding.” With that last comment he cycles away from the window.
Baloo admired Babu’s positive attitude to life and his strange determination to help others find love when it was obvious he was looking to find it himself.
The time had flown by and Baloo was getting increasingly late for college. Placing the envelope in his pocket hoping to read the letter he dashes out and runs towards the college.
When Baloo eventually opened the letter his heart lept with warmth and anticipation he to had a very soft spot for Babu Ram’s sister but he wasn’t prepared to admit it to anyone but her.
He read that it was to be Dahram’s fifteenth birthday celebration this Saturday and he was invited to attend. He promptly accepts the invitation and informs Babu Ram to tell his sister that he would be delighted to attend the party this coming Saturday.
As the days and months rolled into four years Baloo’s love and devotion towards Dahram became increasingly stronger and the villages thought it was only a matter of time before they would announce their engagement.
On August the 15th 1951 news came to the Kalika’s household that Baloo had received a scholarship to study medicine for seven years at the St Beads College in New Zealand he was just twenty three. This news made Baloo’s father very proud and happy and he decided to have a party in honour of his son’s achievement.
Baloo’s four brothers Anuch, Jude, Parmia and Saty were harden drinkers and often liked to party to express their more unsavoury character especially with the opposite sex. Their flirtatious attitudes sometime got them into trouble more times that they could care to remember. But they were older than Baloo and demanded respect regardless of their antics.
Baloo’s father had always had a serious health problem that restricted him from showing any discipline towards his sons especially the second eldest