A-Wooing-He-Would-Go
Nimi Kurian
29 December 2007, 07:09Brother Devakripa paced the lawn. He was nervous and kept glancing at his watch. “Where could he have got to?” he wondered. “The conference begins in five minutes and Jimmy is still not here!”
Jimmy was scheduled to be the first speaker. They had been classmates at theological college, and Jimmy had won all the laurels. He now worked in a rural mission. Brother Dev was not overly impressed by Jimmy’s dedication or work. In truth, he actually despised Jimmy!
“Imagine living in a mud house in a village with no water or electricity! Food had to be cooked outside on a wood fire.
“Actually to term it ‘food’ was itself was a misnomer,” thought Brother Dev. “Just rotis, dhal and sometimes some sliced onions! Oh well! If that’s what he wants to do then, so be it. Hmmph! All those prizes and predictions at college and look where he is and look where I am!”
Brother Dev walked into the conference hall. He was a bit annoyed by Jimmy’s delay but then it was to be expected, as Jimmy would have to take the bus (as he never had much money) and buses were always unreliable. That’s why he always travelled in his own car. He shrugged and resigned himself to the uselessness of rural missionaries.
“We will begin with a word of prayer,” began Brother Dev. He was confident he could stretch the ‘word’ to half-an-hour. “Let us bow our heads…”
Almost 20 minutes into the prayer, Jimmy burst into the hall breathless and panting. Brother Dev could only raise an eyebrow in total disgust. But to give him credit he did not waver in his prayer — it was still as fervent and breathless as ever. The participants began to fidget, a half-an-hour prayer was a bit difficult however committed one was. Brother Dev decided it was time to wind up.
With great gusto he introduced Jimmy and all the ‘wonderful’ work he was doing in the village. The audience was impressed. The whole morning belonged to Jimmy and he had prepared hard. The participants were only 10 in number and they came from various fields of work — NGO’s, doctors, educationists…Jimmy’s session was impressive. The audience loved the recounting of his experiences, his work and above all his methodology.
But all through the talk Jimmy saw only one person. She was tall, slim and pretty with a nice head of tidy curls. She was dressed rather smartly in a pair of jeans and a FabIndia kurta. She wore sneakers and carried her stuff in a backpack. “A no-nonsense type of person,” thought Jimmy. And by the time they broke up for lunch, Jimmy was madly in love.
Over lunch, Jimmy discussed with Brother Dev how he could make progress in pursuing his love. Brother Dev was all ears, despite the fact that the lunch was delicious and everything he loved was on the menu. As he tucked in, he listened to what Jimmy was saying about the beauty in the group and how much he was in love with her and how he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
“Don’t worry Jimmy. Just leave it to me. I will take care of it for you,” reassured Brother Dev. And sure enough immediately after lunch Brother Dev began his investigations and by tea time he was able to give Jimmy an almost complete life history of the lady.
“Her name is Pansy Peter. She used to work in the United Nations and was stationed in Geneva. She is a citizen of the United States. Her parents still live there. She decided that she had enough money and wanted to do some developmental work in India. So she came to settle down here and now works with tribal women. She is trying to revive their needle craft and jewellery making and market their products thus providing them with a means of livelihood. She has put in all her own money. She has a lovely cottage on the top of Leopard’s Leap. And best of all there is no man in the horizon!”
Jimmy could not believe his luck. This was a woman after his own heart. The work she did, her thinking, her way of life. Once again, Brother Dev came to the rescue.
“She has invited me over to her place this evening to discuss her work. I will tell her about you and tell her what you feel.”
Jimmy couldn’t be more thrilled. That evening Brother Dev beckoned his trusted aid Immanuel and together they set off across town to visit Miss Pansy Peter in her pretty little cottage. It was late when they returned, but Jimmy was waiting up. He wanted to know if Brother Dev had made progress with his case.
“Jimmy I’ve had a long tiring day. Let me just put your mind at rest and tell you that things are going well. Very soon you should know the outcome.”
Jimmy was not exactly thrilled but he had hope. And with hope smiling in his heart he went to sleep.
The next couple of days were busy. Jimmy made sure that he spent some time with pretty Miss Pansy Peter. At lunch he wangled a place next to her and when tea was served he made sure that he was the one to take her a cup. By the third day of the conference, Jimmy was sure that he had made progress. He decided he would propose on the last day, after the formal dinner.
The next two days went in a whirl. Jimmy did not let up the pressure. He tried to spend as much time as he could with Pansy and he got the distinct impression that she did like him too.
Jimmy spoke to Brother Dev about Pansy and how he felt she was reciprocating his love. He also mentioned that he intended to propose to her on the last day, after the formal dinner.
However, on the last day a crisis arose. An English missionary had arrived and he wanted to visit a village in the outskirts as he had a project going there. The most suitable person to accompany the English visitor was Jimmy because of his extensive knowledge of rural life and rural mission work. So even before the sun’s rays peeked out, Jimmy and the Englishman were speeding through valley and dale. It was late when they returned after a successful trip. Jimmy was elated and then suddenly it hit him. This was his last day here and he had not proposed to Pansy! He was to leave the next day!
May be he could write her a letter and propose to her.
Early the next day, Jimmy was back in the bus trundling down the hill to his hot, dusty village. He looked up at the green hills and sighed. He had left more than his heart behind. But he was confident that things would work out well, for Brother Dev was on his side wooing Pansy for him.
The letter took a long time to write. But at the end of the two days he had written the perfect letter. He read it with pride.
“Tring! Tring!” It was the postman. The postman handed him his mail. He was excited to find one from Brother Dev. He tore it open.
Dear Jimmy, (it read)
I am happy to inform you that Miss Pansy Peter has accepted my offer of marriage. It is a bit hasty but then Pansy is leaving for the States next month and we think it would be appropriate if we got engaged and went to the States together. (It wouldn’t do for a man of God to be living in sin!) We plan to stay there for a year, during which time I propose to do a short term course in theology at Princeton or Harvard. Funding, I hear is not a problem.
Anyway, Jimmy, wish me luck.
Hope your rural project is going well. You were always a hard worker, even at theological college, winning all the prizes!
God be with you,
With love and prayers,
Dev.
Brilliant work…., A legend of nostalgia. Very well thought of and written.
— Jude Thaddaeus · Dec 30, 19:14 · #