PEDDAKKA-TRANSLATION OF TELUGU SHORT STORY

" PEDDAKKA ", a short story in telugu written by Nerella Srinivas Goud, a poet and story writer, who hails from Jagtial district in Telangana State.This short story is translated to english by S.Rajesh Kumar.Asst. Prof of English.It is published in IJELLS Vol.8, Issue 2 July 2019

short story "Peddakka" translated by Rajesh kumar

About the source writer
N.Srinivas Goud is a Telugu novelist  and  a short story writer from Jagtial District, Telangana. . He received Vishala Sahithi state level award for his novel “Bathukuthadu” at the hands of  Dr.C.Naryana Reddy.

Other awards:-

Kalasri Arts Theatres “Midde Ramulu Memorial award”

District level award for his  story “Kulavruthi”    
About the translator

Rajesh Kumar Saduneni is an Assistant Professor of English working at SRR Government .Arts &Science College, Karimnagar, Telangana. He is pursuing his PhD from Osmania University, Hyderabad. His broad area of interest is Caribbean literature. He participated in various national seminars and submitted research articles.

Peddakka

Wr. by Nerella Srinivas Goud

Tr. by Rajesh kumar Saduneni

(Originally written in Telugu and translated to English)

Three years had gone since Lachanna left for Bombay. He wrote letters for two to three months ,but they stopped after some time. Peddakka has been writing letters to the address, from which she received the letters, but got no response from Lachanna.

Lachanna‘s father went to Bombay in search of his son. He was unable to find Lachanna’s whereabouts and got no information.All came to a conclusion that Lachanna is no more. Peddakka‘s dreams shattered with the passage of time . Peddakka couldn’t dare to imagine a life without Lachanna. She used to delight imagining a beautiful life with Lachanna.

Is that delight going to evaporate? She dreamt innumerable times. Are those countless dreams futile? Are those revelries, chit-chats, lovely talks and affectionate words gone?

Peddakka is the eldest of the family. Her father died soon after giving birth to her sister and brother. Mother is a differently abled woman. Peddakka became the head of the family as the family burden had fallen on her shoulders. Peddakka was married off to Lachanna at the age of ten. Lachanna also belongs to the same village. They both played, worked and roamed together since childhood.

Are all the enjoyments, countless chats just a dream?

Childhood went off happily. Both entered youth. Elders enquired about an auspicious day to present new clothes and a cot on their bedding ceremony as per tradition.

One day Lachanna said to Peddakka “ I wish to go to Bombay” .Why…? asked Peddakka.

“We need seven to eight thousand rupees to offer food to at least our community folks on the day of removal of nails and presentation of clothes and a cot. So I will go to Bombay to earn” said Lachanna.

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“A lot of jobs are here to do .. Why should you go to a faraway place to earn?  “Difficult to accumulate that much of money even you do much work”. Said Lachanna.

Lachanna turns a deaf ear to Peddakkka and went to Bombay. He never returned.

Peddakka engrossed completely in thoughts of Lachanna.

What happened to him? Did he miss in Bombay?

he is not a kid to miss.

Why didn’t he return yet? Dead? She can’t stop her tears when the word Death came to her mind.

Is her life to become solitary? Peddakka has been thinking over it. Days are passing by.

Peddakka couldn’t forget Lachanna.

One day Lachanna’s  parents Ramaiah and Narsamma came to peddaka’s house. As soon as Narsamma entered,she cried holding peddakka and her mother for some time. Ramaiah consoled all. The women wiped off their tears with saree kongu.

 Ramaiah said to Muttakka. “ Muttakka .. .. we will arrange a second marriage to Peddakka” .

This word is a bolt from the blue to Peddakka. What will happen to brother and sister, if I remarry? Mother’s condition is pitiable. Who takes care of them?  Peddakka engrossed with the thoughts of concern over her family.

“Brother  … I too think the same” said Muthavva, mother of Peddakka.“ What is your opinion Peddakka”? asked Ramaiah.

Peddakka is in a state of confusion and worry. She is unable to speak . Instead of searching for their son,why do they want to marry off daughter-in-law? Peddakkka is confident of her husband’s return.

“We can’t expect future days. Your life shouldn’t spoil” Ramaiah said again.

Peddakka understood. The old parents are insecured over the safety of single woman, if she lives in the paternal  house.

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Why these people are thinking about daughter- in- law instead of their son?

“Peddakka, we want to marry off you..” said Narasamma.

Peddakka didn’t speak. Ramaiah asked again “ I hope that your son would come one day.” Said Peddakka.

Ramaiah eyes welled up as soon as he heard his son’s name. He is weeping with his head bend downwards. Narsamma is shedding tears,covering her face with saree “ I will think over it after waiting for some more days” said Peddakkka. Ramaiah and Nasamma went. The days were passing by.

Lachanna didn’t come. All gradually forgot Lachanna. Pressure is mounting on Peddakka for remarriage.

Peddakka didn’t care their words. She married off and sent her sister to In –laws house.  She also married off her brother Gangadhar. After marraiage there was a change in the behavior of Gangadhar. He  became hen pecked husband and started neglecting her mother. Mother’s burden had fallen on Peddakka.

One day Ramaiah and Narsamma met village elders and explained Gandgadhar’s indifferent attitude towards his mother. Village elders gathered and called Peddkka, Gandgadhar and Muthakka. They warned Gangadhar about not taking care of his sister and mother and handed over the responsibility of mother to him. Elders strongly supported the idea of Peddakka’s remarriage. Ramaiah urged elders to take the responsibility of marrying off Peddakka.  Elders began searching for bridegroom as the onus lies on them. Nobody was ready to listen to Peddakka and no one cared her refusal to remarry. They decided Chandraiah is the right person to Peddakkka. Chandraiah is the eldest of his family. Chandraiah was a divorcee. His first wife was a stubborn lady. She is lazed  to work. He divorced her. He had no agricultural fields.

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 They live as agricultural labourers. One day elders called Chandraiah and his parents and proposed marriage between Chandraiah and Peddakka. Chandraiah and his parents agreed to the marriage.

The wedding took place at the temple which is  in the outskirts of the village. Peddakka started a new life. The couple was made to  separate from the family. All the family couldn‘t live under one roof,as there is no room for new couple. New couple built a hut beside their parent’s hut. They were living happily, working as labourers in the fields. Some days passed on.  Peddakka gave birth to a son and a daughter. Expenses were increasing. Earning was not sufficient. Chandraiah desired to earn so much money. He decided to go to Dubai, so that he can earn more money. One day he told the same to  Peddakka. She remembered  Lachanna when she heard the word Dubai.  Lachanna, who went to Bombay to earn money had not  returned yet, What if  it repeats in the case of Chandraiah ?  Peddakka cried.  Chandraiah tried to pacify his wife on this issue. She did not accept the proposal. Peddakka told that begging is rather better than going to Dubai. Chandraiah desire was growing gradually as the days pass by .

The reason for his growing desire was that some villagers, who went to Dubai and Saudi returned rich. Some earned money and purchased agricultural fields.

Chandraiah’s idea is that if he works for 4 years in Dubai, he can build a house and also deposit some money for his daughter’s wedding. He met an agent . The agent brought the visa soon. Peddakka came to know about Visa. She became sulky. She stopped talking and stopped showing her face and stopped eating. Chandraiah was not happy with her behaviour. She didn’t  give in.

Chandraiah  and  relatives tried to woo her.

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“If chandraiah goes to Dubai, you would be  the beneficiaries” said relatives. But she was adamant. She argued that Chandraiah should not go to Dubai.

Chandraiah went to Dubai, taking loans, despite her unwillingness.

Two years have gone. Her mind settled gradually. He sent some money to the family and cleared loans . some amount also deposited. Seeing the accumulated money, Peddakka felt happy.

Some days passed by.

Chandraiah came home on leave. He bought sarees for his wife, watch,clothes for kids and some home needs while coming from Dubai. His hut is full of relatives. Relatives are coming daily. Peddakka is serving Toddy, Mutton to the relatives. Rs 100 Toddy is ordered everyday. One week passed by.

One day sarpanch came to Chandraiah’s hut”Chandraiah… ..! How many years you live in small hut…..?  said sarpanch.

“Till I get the enough amount to build a house”. said Chandraiah

“Common man is not in a position to build a house if you observe prices.” again said Chandraiah

“I don’t need a house. sarpanch”.

“Do you live in the same hut”?

“I want to buy agricultural land” said Chandraiah.

“Chandraiah ….. first construct a house then purchase land “ said sarpanch.

“we don’t need a house. It is enough if I built a wall to the hut, said Chandraiah.

“building a wall is not less expensive…"?

“If  I build a wall with a trip of bricks. It costs less expenditure.”

Those bricks would be useful when I build a house” said Chandraiah.

“Chandraiah….! Why do you spend money two times.?

“ Three or four  lakhs are needed to construct”

“not that much…..1.50 lakhs are enough” said sarpanch.

Peddakka has been listening to their words, rolling beedies.” We don’t construct a house even though it costs a small amount.”said Peddakka

Chandraiah said, “ we will build a house after a year”

“Chandraiah …! You need one  lakh rupees to go to Dubai for the first time…………you don’t need that now and also the company which you worked is famous.” Said sarpanch.

The words spoken by sarpanch has made Peddakka angry.

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Looking at sarpanch, she said with a bit of anger,“ Brother …..! We don’t construct now even if you advise many times”

Nevertheless sarpanch tried to woo them in many ways. Chandraiah didn’t speak.

Sarpanch left saying “your wish”

Chandraiah immersed in thoughts . There is a truth in what sarpanch has said. Anyway we have to construct a house in future. Why not now?

If we construct a house now, we may fall in debt but they can be cleared in one year.

Chandraiah said, “ Looking at Peddakka “ will construct a house”

Peddakka looked at him angrily. She said angrily. “We don’t want house.    …we can construct after depositing some money.”

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“Sarpanch is ready to sanction the grant from the govt.” said Chandraiah.

Peddakka said “the grant is not enough to build  even the basement…… How can you run the family?

“All the loans will be cleared in one year” said Chandraiah.

Taking short pause Peddakka said angrily “do as you wish”.

Chandraih determined to construct house… They drew muggu on the plot on an auspicious day. Construction started and finished in a few days.

Three lakhs were borrowed for construction. Peddakkka was feeling nervous.

But her husband was brave enough to build the house.

Chandraiah was confident that he has a visa to go to Dubai. All the debts will be cleared , if he works  hard for three years.

One year passed since Chandraiah left for Dubai. He is not sending money. Though Peddakka called him up umpteen times.

One year loan period has passed

Interest is increasing on loans. Lenders are pressuring her to pay interest rather than principal amount.

Peddakka was passing the time saying “ He will send money next month, I will pay as soon I receive.”

Days were passing by.

 She had been waiting for husband’s money.

Time passes by.

One day in the morning Chandraiah came to village with a small bag on his shoulder. He is now with grown beard, untidy clothes and hair. He is in disordered state.

Peddakka shocked seeing her husband / she was upset seeing her husband.

The news of chandraiah’s arrival spread in the village. One by one came to enquire about his appearance. Chandraiah narrated his ordeal. How he searched for job and troubled for food when he lost job in the company after one month.

Peddakka couldn’t stop weeping. Nobody cared her sobbing. The visitors were mostly money lenders of the village. Lenders felt uneasy and anxious.. No one asked him to repay the money. Neverthless Chandraiah  assured all“ I will pay borrowed money with interest.”

He started working as a coolie on sand tractor. Peddakka is rolling beedies. Though they worked hard, they couldn’t clear interest.

One day Chandraiah while filling up sand in the tractor along with three labourers, put his basket on the ground said “feeling pain here” and collapsed on the ground, putting his hand on the chest.

His co-workers came near and make him sit and gave some water to drink. On seeing his condition, they emptied the tractor and took him to the hospital. Doctor examined and declared him dead. They took his dead body to the village. The village was shocked by the  sudden death of Chandraiah.

Suddenly there are loud cries. “ Oh …naa ayya …O na ayya.. what have you done ….

“ Oh …naa ayya…“ Oh …na ayya never thought you do like this…..“ Oh …na ayya

“ Oh …na ayya…… small kids ……“ Oh …na ayya…

“ Oh …Na ayya…… How the kids grow….“ Oh …na ayya

How do I marry off them …….“ Oh …na ayya

Have lot debts………“ Oh …na ayya

What do I say to money lenders….“ Oh …na ayya

“ Oh …na ayya  … How should I show my face to them…….

“ Oh …na ayya ….you have made us shame….“ Oh …naayya

It is difficult to express Peddakkka’s sorrow. Only suffering remained in her life.

Notes:-

Removal of nails- A kind of bridal preparation on the day before wedding

Nerella Srinivas Goud

తెలుగు
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