Eddi

                                E is for Eddi (pronounced Ed-di)

Eddi picked up the frayed diary and flipped through the pages. He couldn`t remember why he had picked up the diary. What was he looking for? He frowned. Maybe someone`s number? But whose? He paused and looked around in confusion. Maybe he had to look up someone`s address? But why? Did he have to visit someone? Or maybe write a letter? He shook his head trying to jiggle and get his memory back in its rightful slot. Nothing. He still couldn`t recall. He sat down on the wooden armchair with the diary still in his hand. This time he flipped slowly and spotted an old photograph. Eddie looked at the black and white faded image with white patches. He fumbled for his glasses hanging from a thick white string around his neck and peered at the picture. He couldn’t read. He wiped the glasses with his vest and tried again. This time he could read “Eddie and Aala, June 1, 1956.” 

Pappa , shu karu thu ? Dolly called out.

“Nothing. Just was …”, he stopped. What was he doing?

Dolly walked up,”Where did you find this picture? Your wedding day.”

“Is it?” He looked at her questioningly.

“Yes. You look good Pappa.” She plonked a kiss on his forehead and slipped the picture back into the diary. She picked up the chipped tea cup from the table. God knows why Pappa wanted tea only in this cup. Most days he lived in a haze yet he cribbed if she got him tea in another cup.

Eddie looked out of the window desperately trying to remember his wedding day but nothing would come. Not even one fragment. He sighed. There was no point. He got up and walked to his cupboard and pulled out a shirt.

“Pappa what are you doing?”

Eddi did not reply as he silently slipped on the faded blue shirt. Dolly walked in the room holding a pan, “You think I won`t know when you open the cupboard. Come on. Sit here.” She pushed him on the bed. 

“You know you can`t go alone. The doctor has said no.”

“What does the doctor know? I am fine”

“I will take you later. Let me finish my cooking.” Dolly said sternly.

Eddi glared at her but did not protest. He sat quietly for a few minutes. He heard the cooker blow whistles and then heard the tap running. Dolly would be washing utensils and this was his opportunity. He slipped out of the door silently and walked briskly. Even at 82 he was agile. He could even sprint a bit if he tried. Only Dolly believed he was incapable of doing anything without supervision. Some days she even insisted on feeding him, specially a curry or dal.

‘You will drop it all over the place Pappa.”

 But the days she urgently needed milk or eggs or bread, she  conveniently forgot the doctors instructions .She is just like her mother. Aala. He stopped in his tracks. The picture flashed in his mind.  Aala. His wife! How could he have forgotten her? The witch. He kept walking as memories came flooding back, a kaleidoscope of images nearly blinding him. He slowed his pace as he recalled sitting in his tiny one room flat in Khorshed Bagh.

“Eedu, just think about it. Her father has 22 properties in this city only. And some in Bahruch also. He will divide his property among the 3 daughters. At least 7 she will get.”

 Mamma was always good with numbers. Eddie sighed. Mummy was right. He must overlook bow legs, big bulbous nose, bulging hips. All of it. Aala could be his ticket to prosperity. The wedding was a simple affair. Mr Sooi was old and in a wheelchair. He wanted a court marriage for his daughter. “Whatever expenses we save I will give you in cash”. Aala was happy to get a husband and Eddi didn`t mind the cash. He wore his only suit for the wedding while Aala struggled to look pleasant in a beautiful ivory saree with multi coloured rossettes. They clicked that  picture after the registration at the local studio. 

The first couple of years were alright. They were blessed with 2 daughters. But soon after that Mr Sooi passed away. Without a will. And then began the tussle for his properties, house and bank locker. The 3 sisters filed cases of forgery and cheating against each other. The court battle started and dragged on with claims and counter claims. Aala would spend hours searching for papers, statements, property deeds and wait outside lawyers office trying hard to understand their gibberish. Eddie took over cooking and cleaning which had never been his forte and slowly life crumbled. The house was soon a stinky hole with dirty, sticky jam and ketchup bottles, stale bread and soggy biscuits. Every morning Eddi would buy 4 eggs and one packet of milk. He would meticulously place one egg on the wooden table for Aala and 2 eggs for his daughters near the stove. The milk packet would lie in the empty fridge till it was slit open to make ovaltine for the girls and milky tea for himself. The cobwebs in the house increased and the fine layer of dust soon became a thick blanket covering every corner of the house. Aala continued with the paperwork as Eddi struggled to plod through the days. Later Taadi became his beloved partner and most evenings he would lie sloshed in bed, too dazed to even eat the scraps of food Aala placed on the table. He couldn’t recall why they fought, but  most evenings he would stumble out of the house and Aala would scream, "Arrey ******** ! You have spoiled my life.”

The two girls Dolly and? And ? He wracked his brains. He couldn’t remember the other girl. He had hit a wall again. He looked around. He was in the middle of a huge garden. Eddi saw a wooden bench nearby and went and sat there. He could hear the faint siren of the ambulance and he remembered climbing in the van holding on to someone`s hand. Who was that? He squinted his eyes and tried hard  to concentrate. He was tired. He just didn’t want to push himself to remember. Maybe some things were best forgotten.