Melody of Maldives

8/9/2019 Melody of Maldives

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MELODY OF MALDIVES

Dedicated to all my beloved Maldivian friends, Husambe, Ali Waheed and Ibrahim Siraj

The flight No. 003 bound for Maldives took off from the Trivandrum Airport. Coconutgrooves gave way to the deep blue ocean. There were four passengers in that flight, strangers to

each other but going to be friends, interacting with each other and playing with each othersdestiny. They were flying to an unknown realm, a strange land, to build their fortunes, to anchorin lives and to edify, destroy or give meaning to each others lives.

The aircraft gained momentum after being airborne, flew over the deep blue sea and the

passengers released their seat belts and sat relaxing. The cabin crew started distributing snacksand drinks.

Dr.Sunder looked out through the window and saw the turbulent waves of the IndianOcean and tried to calm his turbulent mind. It was going helter-skelter, after parting with Hema

a Sreelankan schoolteacher who had taken a permanent abode in his small heart and whom he

was going to meet at her school in an island in Ari atoll.

Basant, a Sreelankan barman was on his way to Bathala Resort, where he was taking up

the post of chief barman. He was muttering praises to God Almighty in his mind, on and on,

entrusting his beloved people in His care, especially Seema his fiance, who was waiting for hisreturn to get married.

Seetharam, a Tamil Brahmin guy, crooked and cunning to the core was scheming andplotting how to outsmart Jose, who he was sure to be in that flight though he tried to dodge him

from coming with him. Jose was appointed his peer in the Accounts Department of Jetan

Travels, Marine Drive, Male City. They both got selected in an interview held at South Park

hotel in Trivandrum, by the manager of the Maldivian firm. The motivation for him to board thatflight was Neema, a Malayalee girl, settled in Madras in his neighborhood, where her father was

a businessman. He was madly in love with that girl, cute and over smart and he liked her for thatreason. He had to outsmart her father or prove that he was some one capable to claim her hand in

marriage by amassing more money than him.

Jose was fretting and fuming inside himself, for being in such a predicament himself. Itwas that way all his life, what ever that happened always shook him up, shocked his mind and

made him regret that he ever made that decision. He was an office clerk at a college in

Trivandrum, accidentally selected to be an accountant in Jetan Travels, Maldives. He was askedto meet Seetharam at his hotel and proceed with him to the airport and to Male. By the time

Jose reached the hotel, Seetharam had left for the airport and had already checked in at thecounter of the airport. He was aghast, not knowing where he was going and whom he had tomeet. He was so much frightened, was full of apprehension as to what to do when the flight

landed. He was delayed because of his pregnant wife who was feeling nausea and giddiness on

the thought that he was going away and he had to stay with her till she calmed down and

returned to normalcy.

It was a miracle that he could get into the flight as he had only a one-way ticket. The

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emigration people wouldnt let him travel with the one-way ticket and his friend Santhosh Netto,

an influential guy in the airport interfered and promised to see him back if something really wentwrong in Male'. It was after much persuasion by him that Jose could embark. Once that hurdle

was over he had the next botheration to find Seetharam before he landed, otherwise he would be

at a loss as to where to go or whom to meet.

Seeing Basant reading the Bible and praying, Jose turned to him for some consolation.Basant smiled at him and asked him why he was so nervous. Jose told him, I am on the lookoutfor Seetharam from Madras. Unless I find him I dont know what I would do, since I dont know

where to go or whom to meet at Male. Please help me.

I would tell the airhostess to find him for you. Basant turned to the lady crew whocame their way and requested her to locate Seetharam in the flight. She came back and reported

that she couldnt find him. By the time the announcement to fasten the seat belt was heard and

Jose looked down through the small window of the aircraft and saw small pearly islandsscattered in the blue ocean. Soon the aircraft alighted, gliding into the runway. They all got up to

exit and Dr.Sunder smiled at Jose nodding his head as he passed him.

Jose smiled back and asked him whether he was Seetharam. He replied, I am Dr.Sunder

going to work at National Hospital Male and may I know your name?

I am Jose Gasper, going to Male City to work in Jetan Travels. I got to find Seetharamor I will be damned.

We will tell at the emigration counter to find him. Come with me, Dr.Sunder tried tobe helpful. Basant also came that way and the three of them together moved to the youngsters

who were manning the counter. They had just passed out from the school but looked very

efficient wielding sten-guns and wearing smart uniforms. They spoke to the girl at the counter to

find out Seetharam and she said, There he is, just cleared out from here. Jose rushed to him,caught hold of his hand and introduced himself as his colleague. Seetharam smiled at him and

said that he was pleased to meet him, which Jose did not believe, as he was obviously trying toget away from the airport, dodging him purposefully.

Basant said: This guy was so much disturbed through out the flight, since he couldnt

find you and by the way I am Basant, going to Bathala Resort to be the barman.

Pleased to meet you, said Seetharam.

Nice meeting you, I am Dr.Sunder, going to join National Hospital, Male. You, Jose

and Seetharam must be working in the same place, obviously.

Yes, we will be taken to our place of work by Fiaz who should be here waiting for us.

Come, lets find him. We all will go together to the mainland, Jose was back to a

cheerful mood and took up the lead, to trigger on their treasure hunt. Suddenly a blackMaldivian came to them and introduced himself as Fiaz, and asked who Jose and Seetharam

were. They nodded and he said that he had come to take them and the boat was waiting at the

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jetty.

Shall we also come? Basant requested him.

Okay, come along, Fiaz told them. They took all their bags and baggage and walked tothe boat jetty. A dhoni, the passenger boat in Maldives, was waiting for them and they got in.

They set sail over the turbulent sea and reached the main land, Male city. They shook handswith each other and departed to their different destinations. Jose and Seetharam got into a cab,hired by Fiaz and they reached their office. They were introduced to the crewmembers there,

starting with the M.D. and directors. Fiaz took them for a tea in a Maldivian restaurant and they

had the typical Maldivian food there with the special aroma and taste of a chilly used only by

them. The food was all fish preparations and Jose liked the fish cutlet very much and the blacktea with more sugar in it.

They were taken for a sightseeing trip around the city and Jose wondered if the whole ofMale' city could be covered on foot with in no time, and that may be the reason for cars being

few there. Jose tried to call his wife over the phone, he could not get it through and tried his

neighbours number and passed the message to his wife that he landed safe and joined work. Shemust be really concerned as she was expecting and the due date was nearing. They were taken to

their accommodation, a small room with two beds and an attached toilet. Jose was so tired that

he fell asleep as soon as he saw the bed.

CHAPTER ONE

National Hospital was a small one, but it was the national hospital of Maldives and had abig place in the heart of its population. Only when specialized treatment was not available there,

they went to Trivandrum for treatment. Some of them went on that excuse for holidaying there,

with the money they spent one month at home, they could live six months in Trivandrum. There

werent many doctors there and not many of them highly specialized and Dr.Sunder, only agraduate doctor started his career in the new place, whistling the tune of a Hindi song and

winking at his secretary, Anthu who was so beautiful that he looked back at her once again. Shewas there as the translator, since he did not know Dhivehi and the patients, English. They would

describe their ailments to Anthu and she would narrate it in English to Dr.Sunder. He would

scribble some prescription that Anthu would instruct the patient to take and Dr.Sunder would

crack some ugly remark when the patient left. It was to make Anthu laugh and her giggling waslike the shattering sound of glass being broken.

He wanted to ring up Hema, who was teaching at a school in an island at Ari Atoll. Shewas from Sreelanka, a victim of the ethnic struggle there. She had to leave her home and dear

ones, because she was the sister of a Tamil tiger, wanted by the government. Since they couldnot get him, one horror filled night, five soldiers ransacked their house and gang raped her.

She was lying unconscious and her people took her to the nearby hospital and Dr.Sunder

was in charge there, being on holiday and replacing his classmate who had gone to London for a

seminar of the Ophthalmologists. Dr.Sunder was taken aback at her condition, mended up herbody as well as her mind by using some counseling skills he had acquired while learning

transactional analysis. After she recovered from the shock and physically fit she applied for the

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post of a teacher in Maldives and reached a remote island there, as a schoolteacher. It was she

who made Dr.Sunder to apply for the doctors position in National hospital Male. Obviouslyshe had some ulterior motives in bringing him over to Maldives, to cherish his proximity, which

she liked after her recovery by his treatment from the traumatic experience of being gang raped.

Dr.Sunder was about to sidetrack, at the beautiful incarnation of Anthu, whose peel of

laughter, giggling and the sweet dimples on her cheeks were all fascination for him and hewanted to make it to another dimension, of emotional involvement and if possible marriage. Shewas the shapeliest woman he ever saw, and comparing Hema to Anthu, the later was a dove

while Anthu was a peacock. Besides, Anthu was selected for medical studies at Singapore

University at the expense of the government. If both of them were doctors what else was needed

for ultimate conjugal felicity!

His cell phone beeped and it was Hema on the line. He described to her how he joined

the hospital, the formalities and purposefully avoided speaking about his secretary. When hehung up, Anthu was inquisitive about the caller but he evaded the issue by saying that it was a

friend. He did not want the two women in his life to confront each other and intended to keep

them at bay from each other.

By evening, two of his fellow passengers in the previous days flight came to visit him,

Jose and Seetharam, the latter having a cough and congestion in the chest. He made him relaxed

and made a thorough examination of his torso. Nothing was wrong with him except that he hadphlegm congested in his lungs. He introduced both of them to Anthu and she made enquiries to

Jose about his whereabouts while she avoided Seetharam. That brought out the obvious nature of

both of them, while Jose was a lamb, Seetharam a wolf.

They sat there talking about their families and people at home, Jose seeking professional

advice from the doctor regarding his pregnant wife. She was desperate; when he left her, with

nausea, back pain and a big tummy to carry around. Seetharam was eloquent about his girlfriend and his ambition to become rich and famous to claim her in wedlock, excelling her father,

a big business tycoon in amassing money.

Dr.Sunder got out at five oclock from the hospital with Jose and Seetharam. They

walked through the Majeedi Maagu, the main street of Male' city and got inside the National

Library. They met Thulfa a tall, buxom girl at the counter and Jose smiled at her and asked herthe modus operandi for taking a membership there. She instructed them to meet Jeff, the

librarian.

They went inside and met Jeff, introduced themselves, to him. He was a diminutive

Britisher and asked them their preferences of books. He told Dr.Sunder to read the novelDoctors by Erick Segal, a book about the life and love life of doctors and the intricacies oftheir profession. It would be an eye opener for every doctor and one aspiring to be a doctor.

He suggested, Atlas shrugged or Fountainhead by Ayn Rand for Jose, heavy reading

of fiction, one with the intricacies of American industry and the other one about architecture aquite different outlook on it. It brought out the strength of character and intrinsic worth of people

who are born to be leaders and lead the world. He offered an accountancy workbook for

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Seetharam, since he requested some book on accountancy. It could help him to be a professional

accountant.

They three opened membership there and borrowed the books, which Jeff suggested and

came away. They all came to Hotel Alia in Mafannu, and had a can of beer each and sat therewatching two western ladies playing table tennis. Seetharam smiled at them at the end of a game

and snatched away the racket from a cute blonde tactfully and played a game with the brunette,her partner. She got fed up playing with him, an amateur and handed over the racket toDr.Sunder. Both of them played for some time and Jose wanted to learn the game and Doctor

taught him how to hold the racket. He also taught him some rules of the game. Jose found it to be

the best indoor game full of action, very enterprising and never tiring.

They had their dinner from there, chappathies and beef chilly fried. They sat there,

watching Star movies, part of some movies in the Rambo line by Sylvester Stallone and left for

their respective dens for a good nights sleep.

CHAPTER TWO

Basant fixed a bloody Mary for the German couples and started his day in the bar of

Bathala Resort. All sorts of classy liquor were displayed on the racks of the bar and people were

coming in one after another for getting a knockout with the choicest liquor of their choice.

He was an expert at the different concoctions of booze and fixing cocktails. He was a

highly spiritual man, born-again as the modern terminology goes. He never drank liquor norappreciated people who drank it, but his fate was to serve it to people, making all conceivable

concoctions possible to make them mad, sad or glad as the booze got effect. Ultimately they got

mad when the liquor had its effect, and sad when they saw the bill at a high rate.

He observed different people sprawled on bar stools in different company. Hussein

Mohammed the manager of the resort was seriously discussing something with Aleena thedriving school instructress. They were sipping two different cocktails that Basant had fixed for

them. When Hussein saw Silvia sitting alone and sipping gin tonic he bade farewell to Aleena

and went and sat near her. As their conversation progressed Basant could read their body

language and concluded that they were going to end up in bed. His intuition was proved rightwhen Silvia with hot, lustful eyes was leading Hussein to her cottage in the resort.

Basant ran after her and got the bill signed, which was a formality there, lest the guestdenied the bill when presented for paying cash at the time of check out. Later he learned to

include items the client did not indulge in, to exploit them if they were too drunk to make out thedifference.

Hussein had an expense account in the bar and he could consume any amount of liquor,

as he wanted, a privilege, which he was using to the maximum.

Mark Alison and Claudia were sitting and sipping whisky on the rocks, one bottle of

Johnny Walker black label half-empty. They were attorneys from Canada, an ideal couple, who

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were minding their own business, sober and calm and Basant liked them for that matter. He later

came to know that they were complementing each other as attorney and barrister, stayingtogether but not married. They did not feel the need for it, they said.

As the bar was getting more crowded he decreased the volume of the CD player andconversation was in progress about anything and everything under the high heaven. Sabena and

Conti, the Maldivian driving instructor walked in and all the guests were waving at him. He wasso sought after there as the guests were all going for diving, the main attractions of Bathalaresort. Sabena was a short buxom German lady and she was in love with Conti, and Conti was in

love with her money which she had plenty and didnt know what to do with. Basant went to

them and took the order; Conti wanted rum cola while she preferred gin tonic.

Hussein came back, highly thrilled and excited for the next kill and his eyes fell on two

spinsters at the corner table. He went to them and started his gabbing about anything under the

sky, which would progress to intimate details about the ladies whereabouts and even the bankbalance. Basant served to them cans of Tiger beer and Hussein wanted a peg of Tequila. By the

time he was over with them they must have lost a substantial amount of money, perfumes,

electronic things and he might have had a real good time fun, they bathing him with perfumeand entertaining him in bed, the kind of love making which young ladies were not even capable

of. He always preferred such ladies especially the moneyed class, as they were fun and a good

kill.

In between Basant praised God and prayed that fire and brimstone were not rained on

those in the bar where wife swapping, to secret pacts for orgies were made.

CHAPTER THREE

Jose was flabbergasted getting the phone call from his wife. Her date of delivery was

coming closer and she was frightened, nervous and at her wits end, hearing the verdict from thegynecologist, that her delivery was going to be cesarean. She wanted him to be near her at the

time of the delivery. She said that it was close by, half an hour flight to reach home and heshould come.

Jose was not sure whether he could go as his contract said that leave is only after one year

of work. The company would pay to and fro traveling expense and he could be away for a week.But going home in between was something unpredictable and Jose decided to talk to Husni

Mubarak, the M.D.

His work was rather okay and he was getting on well with the other staff members except

Seetharam who was sort of an irritating character. He tried to be boastful and was alwaysshowing off. He encouraged Jose to go home for the delivery. Jose did not like his motive, whichhe was not sure of.

Ushering up all courage and praying within, Jose approached the M.D. and requested him

to grant leave for a week to go home for his wifes delivery. The M.D., who was so generous andkind, said that it was a very good gesture from his part to go for the delivery, and he would give

him permission all right on one condition that the work in the office should not suffer and he

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should make some alternate arrangements. He suggested that Seetharam should be trained to do

his work and to entrust it to him. Jose said that he would do that and thanked him for allowinghim to go. He got back to his work, settled things that he could and entrusted the rest of the

work to Seetharam, training him to do all the intricacies that were involved in his work.

There was celebration for everything in Maldives and his friends celebrated his send off

too. There was good food and cans of Tiger beer and they all toasted to the speedy and easydelivery of his wife Mercy. Shakeer said that the baby would be a girl child seeing the stingynature of Jose. Ali Wahid said that chances are for twin girls, as he hadnt seen such a terrible

miser like Jose. After the fun and thrill of the party Jose went to sleep comfortably as his ticket

was okay for the next mornings flight for which he had to pay from his own pocket. Seetharam

brought some baby clothes and toilette articles as his parting gift and embraced him when Josewas entering the airport lounge. Jose never knew that the embrace was for choking him to death

and he was hammering the last nail to his coffin.

Jose slept through out the flight and landed at Trivandrum. Two of his friends were

waiting to take him as that day was a Hartal day and no vehicles were allowed to run on the road.

He got on behind his friends bike and went home and slept there. Next morning he took the busto his wifes place and she was overjoyed at seeing him and he was surprised at the size of her

tummy. The next day she had to be admitted to the hospital and Jose made all preparations for

that. Blood was needed and donors were to be arranged.

The day Mercy was to be admitted to the hospital was Hartal there in that town and no

vehicles were available, not even taxies. They set out on foot, Mercy with the protruding little

Mary and Jose worrying as to whether the delivery would take place on the road. She wasadmitted and the doctors went ahead with the cesarean, as there was no chance of a normal

delivery in her case. Jose waited outside the operation theater praying in apprehension. Soon a

nurse came out and announced that the delivery was over and the baby was a girl. Shakeers

prediction was proved right and Jose was impatient to see the baby and mother. The effect ofanesthesia was not yet over and Mercy was muttering unintelligible words when she was shifted

to her room and Jose carried the baby close to his heart. With its beady eyes and cute face, thesmall girl was always crying and Jose had a tough time keeping the child comfortable, huddled

to his chest.

Lots of relatives turned up to see the baby and mother. He stayed with his wife and childtill she became normal and healthy to be discharged from the hospital. He had his ticket okayed,

and flew back to Maldives after a week of his coming.

CHAPTER FOUR

Jose smelt something fishy the moment he entered his office. Seetharam was occupyinghis chair and he had no place to sit. Seetharam told him to meet the M.D. with out making any

statement. He went and met him and he said, We have made some reshuffle in the office. You

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are appointed the accounts manager of Bathala resort, our branch and you will have to report

there, day after tomorrow. Seetharam will be able to take care of the scene here at a pay fiftydollars lesser than yours. You will have accommodation in the resort, food from the staff mess

and can use the bar when ever you want.

Jose smelt a rat and went to see Seetharam. It was his cunning scheme and the M.D. saw

through it and cut him short by not raising his salary but his responsibility and workloadincreased considerably. Jose got out of his office since he did not have much to do there andvisited Dr.Sunder. He invited Jose to go to the island Arifushi, to see Hema his Sreelankan

friend who was a teacher there. He wanted to meet her after hearing the stories of her plight

from Dr.Sunder.

They got on a Dhoni that went to her island and set sailed in the sea. They sighted

swarms of dolphins and flying fish on their way. Mantas were swimming along their boat. The

trip was pleasant in the sunny day and sea was welcoming with soft breeze and small waves.They reached their destination and did not have problem in finding the school. Hema was in the

staff room and seeing her Jose was astonished at her homely, simple look and sweet

countenance. She had pearly lips, beautiful teeth and soft skin. Jose was introduced and he triedto be friendly with her. He told her that he was going to a remote island and asked her to keep

him abreast of what was happening in the world around, gave her his cell phone number and

asked her to call him at half past five in the evening, as he would be free to talk to her then.

She took them to her quarters and cooked them fine Sreelankan tea and asked them to

stay on for lunch. Dr.Sunder was in a hurry to go back and so they left the place. They were not

conversing much as friends do and Jose smelt rat. Jose knew his new fad in Anthu and did notcomment on anything but kept quite through out the trip. Hema was such a nice girl and a good

match to Sunder and would have been a very loving wife to him, where as Anthu was a very

pompous and luxurious girl to have as wife. Hema was slim, cute and pleasing while Anthu was

sexy, buxom and sensuous. Doctors secret plan was to marry her once she becomes a doctor and both of them being doctors they could have a wonderful life together. Hema was just a

schoolteacher and she did not have the attraction of Anthu, nor her sensuousness.

Jose came and packed up his things and got ready to go to Bathala Resort, in Ari Atoll,

four hours trip to reach there from Male. Treasure Island, a passenger boat was going that way

next day and he had to catch that at 10 oclock in the morning.

His fellow workers gave him a send off, Seetharam giving the toast to him for having a

comfortable and enriching time in the resort. He was jealous that Jose got such a nice position insuch an international place of holidaying, interacting with the elite crowd of the whole world. He

was the loser, forced to take up more responsibilities in his office with no hike in the salary.They had good food and cans of beer, Jose giving a treat for the birth of his newborn daughter.They bade each other farewell and Jose was sorry leaving them all, good colleagues and

supporting friends, all except Seetharam.

CHAPTER FIVE

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Jose got in the boat and set sailed over the Indian Ocean, over turbulent waves and rough

sea. From far he sighted Bathala resort and his heart leapt with apprehension as to whether it wasjumping from the frying pan to fire. He prayed for divine intervention that things would be okay

there in the new place, nothing untoward happening. He got down at the jetty, walked to the

resort with his bags and baggage. He went to the reception and introduced himself. He was takento the manager, Hussein Mohammed and he shook hands with him and welcomed him.

"How was your trip? I will show your office and accommodation. You relax today andwe can start functioning from tomorrow on."

"I have heard about this resort and would like to see the place. I would also meet the staff

and get introduced to them."

"I will take you on a sight seeing trip and introduce you to others later. This is a small

place, an island with ten acres of area. There are twenty cottages and half of them are full. Thecentral building is the restaurant, with a bar and a driving school. Let us go to the restaurant and

have some food. Would you like to have some appetizer? You will have an expense account in

the bar and when ever you want you can have drinks."

He led Jose to the bar. Basant the barman greeted them with a smile. Hussein introduced

him and said, "This is Jose our accounts manager. Fix us both a bloody Mary each."

"We have met each other before, as we came to Male' together. Basant, I will have a beer

and nothing else," Jose told him.

"It is a surprise, meeting you Jose and you working here. I am really glad. There are two

people from your native place here on holidays. Both of them are funny. One is a pastor and the

other is an atheist. They are trying to convince the other into their beliefs. I used to listen to their

contention and I find the pastor more convincing. They are sitting there right at the left corner. Iwill introduce you to them. Come along."

Jose went with him and was introduced to the two gentlemen who were middle aged. One

was Joseph Fernandez and the other was Robert Pereira. Joseph said, "I was discussing with

Robert about the futility of being an atheist and materialist. God created us, looks after us and

only by fearing and trusting in him can we survive in this mad, mad world."

"There is nothing as God and it is futile to believe in something that does not exist. If

there is a God why is he absconding and doesn't make his presence felt," Robert contended.

"In my opinion such convictions are subjective. We should not try to impose our faithand convictions on others. Every one has the freedom to believe in whatever he thinks fit. Godreveals to us through signs and he doesn't come to the lime light," Jose remarked.

"Exactly that is what I meant. Jesus is the sign by which God reveals himself to man.

Believe in him and that he died for our sins you will have eternal life," Joseph remarked.

"Yesterday is a waste paper, today a newspaper and tomorrow is a promissory note.

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When we are not sure of the next moment and what may come, how can we believe in the eternal

life? They are the tricks that clergy play on the innocent lay man selling him heaven and eternallife. I don't believe a bit in going to churches and saying prayers to reach heaven. Heaven and

hell are right here in this world and it is we ourselves that make our hell or heaven by our deeds,"

Robert mused.

"You can't find God in churches and there is no use in learning some prayers by heart andmuttering them or reading them in Masses and liturgy. Prayer has to come from the heart,relating our soul to its maker, conversing as a son does to his father, always praising God and

relating ourselves to him. We should worship him and since we can't approach the Almighty

ourselves we have Jesus, his son as the mediator, through him all prayers are answered by God

the father. It is the Holy Spirit that facilitates, by giving us words to praise and pray," Josephremarked.

"That is close to it. It makes sense. I am a believer is Jesus and he takes care of my life,always rescuing me from the tricks that the devil plays on my destiny. I find such a life pleasant

and meaningful to live. I have lots of experience in that way," Basant remarked.

"It is futile to argue in such a way. Life is to enjoy each moment that comes. Make hay

while the sun shines. That is my policy and Allah helps me in that," Hussein made his stand

clear and Basant wondered why God tolerated his fornication, drunkenness and other forms of

entertainment.

"I would like to interact with you and have further discussions especially with you

Joseph. I am new to this place and getting introduced to people and places. Nice meeting youall, bye then." Jose remarked and they marched to the restaurant and had some snacks, bread-

sandwich with omelet in it, Jose's favorite dish.

CHAPTER SIX

Jose assumed his charge as accounts manager and all his subordinates came to meet himin his office and to be introduced him. He tried to be friendly with everyone and he noted two

characters who tried to be insubordinate and not submissive. One was Rasheed the assistant

manager and the other, Waheed the receptionist cum cashier.

They were conversing with each other in undertones in Dhivehi, the local language and

there was a secret understanding between them. Jose reckoned that they were antagonistic in

their dealings to him and did not like his assuming charge. He just ignored it as part of hischanging moods. It was a costly error of judgment that he made and he had to regret it later.

He probed into the accounts that were already there and he found some thing fishy in thewhole setup and a spelling mistake somewhere. He dismissed it as trivial and decided to probe

into it all later when he was firm on his landing legs.

Rasheed showed him a programme in the computer that was done in a software calledQuattro Pro, sort of a primitive spread sheet package. His former counterpart an Australian guy

did it, doing a thorough system analysis. He had to enter the figure in one location and it

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triggered on a series of interaction and the final result would be summed up in another location.

If the debit and credit tallied the account was perfect, without mistakes.

In the evening Jose went to the beach and found it fascinating, all clean and crystal clear.

He sat there wondering how beautiful the coral formation underwater was and he could observethe colorful fish habitat there. He wanted to jump into the sea and lie down there like a buffalo

wallowing in water.

His privacy was soon taken away by Joseph visiting that place and smiling at him. Jose

remembered the discourse with him at the bar and wanted to interact with him further. They

shook hands with each other and sat sprawling on the beach. "How did you become so spiritual?"

Jose enquired and Joseph replied. "I was a very affluent man, settled in the Middle East, livingthe life of a sinner and squandered the money that I made on booze and chicks. I was never God

fearing, nor a good man, but a practicing Christian and I tried to buy the almighty by building a

grotto in our church and sponsoring the church festival. None of it got me closer to God, but keptme at bay from him. My son became sick and doctors could not diagnose his ailment, treated

him for blood poisoning and leukemia. I became frantic, desperate, he was the one I loved the

most, my first born son and ran helter-skelter to get him cured. One bearded old man came to ourhospital room and asked me what the problem was. I told him about my son's plight and he asked

me whether I believed that God could heal my son. I said yes and told him about the donations

that I made to the church, my high position there. He told me that none of it could save my son's

life, but belief in Jesus only could heal my son.

He asked me to read from the Bible, letter to the Romans, Chapter ten, verse nine, I read

it and the whole place reverberated with some power, a breeze blowing in with the intensity of somany fans on motion. That man left us and my son called out his mom and I asked her to feed

him. The moment I read the verse a great healing took place in my son. I ran out in search of

that man, did not find him, but I was a different man, fully dedicated to Jesus, me and my family

getting saved."

He stopped the discourse and Jose was taken aback and much impressed.

He posted that Bible verse in to his memory and decided to read it as soon as he reached

his room. They bade each other farewell and came to get ready for the beach party to which

Hussein had invited them.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The beach was decorated with colorful bulbs, tables and chairs set and a bar on one

corner was fully operational.

People were thronging in casual dress, ladies exposing all their assets, their amplebosoms, half exposed and men mostly in bermudas and chinos. Jose wore a kurta and jeans, the

dress he preferred when in a group giving him the halo of an intellectual.

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Choice food was heaped up, all European dishes. ET, a pop singer was braying out songsone after another, pecking on a hollow guitar. He was playing request songs, oldies, bringing in

nostalgia. Jose requested him to sing Country Road by John Denver and he obliged.

Then Hussein took the mike and sang a Boduferu, the melody of Maldives which was so

rhythmic, but unintelligible. Jose went to such an elevation of ecstasy listening to the folk songof Maldives that he did not hear when Hussein announced that Jose from India would crack afew Sardarji jokes.

Jose took the mike and said, "I am going to speak about two competitions in which

Sardarji was representing India. The competitions were held in the US. One was a milkingcompetition and the other was a farting competition. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Farting competition," Aleena shouted.

"The international farting competition was held and the venue was under the statue of

Liberty in New York. One Egyptian lady was the first entry to fart. The impact was so much, thattidal waves rose in the sea, ships turned topsy-turvy, with the commotion and every one thought

that she would get the first prize, but she did not get it.

The second person to fart was a Japanese and it was like the siren from the factory andpeople there, stopped working thinking it is the siren. But he also did not get the prize.

The third entry was Sardarji, he farted, nothing really happened but it was announced thathe got the first prize. All the audience started questioning as to how he got the prize. They

announced to look at the statue of Liberty, the statue lifted its hand and was closing its nose."

People were laughing and before the giggling stopped Jose came out with the next joke,"The international milking competition was held in Dallas, one standard size cow has to be

milked for one hour and the person who milked the maximum would get the prize.

First an African milked and got eighteen liters of milk. Then a Sudanese milked and got

sixteen liters. The next was Sardarji, India's entry and he got only half a liter even after milking

for one hour. Indians made big havoc and raised their sounds that an inquiry commission wasappointed to find out why Sardarji got only half a liter. The report of the commission was that

Sardarji was wrongly given a bull to milk and still he milked half a liter."

Jose stopped the joke at the climax and people screamed with laughter. They all liked it

and Jose was invited to have a drink with many a guest. He was the hero of the night and had acouple of cocktails and ate as much as he could devour, with delight, the choice dishes. He satwith Hussein and Aleena who were enjoying the company of each other so much that it extended

to the bedroom.

Robert invited Jose for a snorkeling trip next day and they retreated to sleep to theirrespective dens.

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CHAPTER EIGHT

Jose collected two snorkeling masks from the diving school and took Robert for the

snorkeling trip. They went to the beach and put on the snorkels and waded into the shallow water

that gave way to coral formations. They slowly started swimming. It was wonderful, the underwater flora and fauna along with coral formations.

They could see through the mask, fish in wonderful colors, swimming close to theirfaces, unafraid of humans, in their natural habitat. They headed straight in the opposite direction

of the beach and enjoyed the underwater formations. Coral reeves were plenty with their bathic

designs, an attraction that brought so many international tourists to Maldives.

Though their eyes were protected, their mouths became sour and they swam back to the

beach. They pulled off their masks and sprawled on the sand. Jose was eager to have a discourse

with Robert, to know why he became an agnostic, and his views on life, God and the universe.

Robert told that he was employed in an international bank with very high salary in the

Middle East, got fed up with the high flying life and its viciousness and resigned his job to takeup the career of a writer.

He came and got settled in Heaven Valley an ashram like setup and enrolled his children,

three boys to have the gurukula style of education. He was against formal schooling.

He had a collection of around three lakh rupees worth of books by all the famous writers

of the world. He read them all devouring with delight the masters of all times, their thinking andinsights, how they fought against the conventions and convictions so far, breaking away from

traditions and man made customs, laws and practices.

He got inspired with those ideals that he decided to swim against the current, neverreconciling himself with the common place, but aspiring for excellence and great things of the

culture and heritage that man has built through centuries. Though he was born as a Catholic henever practiced the customs or traditions of the church, never went anywhere near a church,

finding no meaning in the rituals and man made forms of worship, masses and reading prayers.

He was so eloquent about the futility of praying to God, reading from prayer books,prayers that somebody wrote for their satisfaction and edification. He said that church was the

biggest financial institution in the world and wondered how eager they were in amassing money,

extracting as much, even from poor people when they had to approach the church for someobligations or ritualistic needs, like burials, marriages etc. He decided to be an agnostic, breaking

away from the clutches of the clergy, but Jose felt that he was on the other extreme and trudgingon dangerous grounds.

Jose warned him that he would be alienated and ostracized from the society. He expected

all that and did not give a damn about the consequences. Jose got inspired by his courage and

earnestness to stick to his convictions when it might cost him so much and possible estrangementfrom the society and wondered whether he had the courage to stick to his convictions.

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They bade farewell to each other and went back to take bath and come for supper. Jose

had Basanth for company for the dinner.

CHAPTER NINE

Basanth was a gentleman to the core, very earnest and upright. "Your jokes were good,

but I can tell you of a situation that took place in our bar and you will laugh like hell," he said.

"Come on, I would like to hear that."

"One miserly East German used to come to our bar. I showed him the menu, he scanned

through that and found "etc." written at the end and no money mentioned against that. Being sostingy, he asked me to bring it and I told him that he wouldn't get it there. He became so angry

and I didn't know what to do. I went and complained to the manager, Hussein and he told me to

teach the guy a lesson and asked me to pee in a glass and give it to him. I did that."

"Serves him right!" Jose remarked.

"He was happy, drank that with glee, gave thanks and left the place since it was free. The

next day also he came and I served him the urine. It went on for a week. One day when he came I

was on my weekly off and it was a waitress that took his order. She placed the menu card and

without looking at it he asked her to bring him etc."

"She may not know what was asked."

"Yes, naturally and told him that he wouldn't get anything like that there. He got so angry

and she went and complained to the manager. Hussein told her what was happening and asked

her to oblige him by peeing and giving a glass of urine."

"Did she do that?"

"Sure, she did exactly that. After drinking the urine he went and complained to Hussein

that for the past one week he had been drinking etc. from there, only that day he got real,

delicious etc. Hussein told him that till that day he was served from the pipe, that day he was

served straight from the well and that was the difference in taste."

"This is a good one and in the next party I will request you to come forward and crack it,"

Jose assured him.

"No thanks, I prefer to speak about the wonderful way how Jesus is taking care of my lifeand give my testimony instead, so that the westerners who perish with sex and drinks would besaved. Give me a chance and I would do that."

"For that matter you may not have much audience. I would like to hear that from you one

day. We will go on a boat trip, when they do the diving we will share with each other. It wouldbe the right place without any disturbance and we will have it at the very next opportunity. We

will call Joseph also. He too would love to hear that," Jose told him.

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By that time their dinner was over, they bade each other farewell and parted to theirrespective places of work, Jose to the accounts department and Basanth to the bar, a place he

detested to go and work. He was so eloquent about the evil effect of booze and Hussein warned

him not to speak so, lest it affect the business in the bar. He was between the devil and the deepsea.

CHAPTER TEN

They got on board the dhoni that went to the diving spot which was little far from their

resort. The sea was blue, calm and the waves were not turbulent. They did not put on the scuba

outfit and watched the group that wore masks and oxygen cylinders and one after anotherlowered themselves into the sea.

Soon the boat was empty except for them trio, and the pilot. "Come on Basanth, let ushear your story, Jose requested.

"Mine was a middle class Tamil Sreelankan family and all my five brothers got killed inthe ethnic strife. My mother, a widow, wanted at least me to survive and that is the reason why I

took up this job in the resort. I am a born again Christian and I hate booze and do not want to do

anything with that, but my job is to fix it and serve it. It is not the only trick that destiny played

on my life, my girl friend is a Simhali girl who would die for my sake, but the chance of ourgetting united there in Sreelanka is very remote. I will get her a job some where in Maldives and

then we would get married, though we may not be able to stay together," Basanth ended up with

tears in his eyes.

"If she could work as an accounts assistant or a house keeper we could get her a job here

in our resort. Then you could stay together and work," Jose remarked.

"That is a possibility and why don't we proceed on that line," Joseph suggested.

"Everyday I pray for something of that sort to happen, once she reaches here, we are not

enemy factions trying to destroy each other, but we may not be able go home and live there

together peacefully. You Jose, please talk to Hussein and fix her a job here. To get the job she

may have to oblige him and that is a thing she may not like. Our resort is a crazy place to live asa family and imagine our kids growing in this permissive society, seeing all that happening

around them," Basanth remarked.

"Let us pray and go ahead doing it. God loves loving hearts to come together but the

devil would try all that he can do to make it never happen. You phone her and tell her to come toMaldives on a tourist visa. If she comes before I go from here I would bless your wedding andget you united. I am a pastor of the Lord and we will conduct the wedding right here in this

resort," Joseph said.

"I will talk to Hussein and fix her a job here. I will see to it that he does no foul play inthe bargain. If you get a family-quarter you could live there comfortably," Jose remarked and one

after another those who went diving came back to the boat. Only one person was left to turn up

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and something was fishy about it. Aleena dived over board and went penetrating into the blue

sea. Joseph also lowered himself into the water and after some time Aleena surfaced with thebody of a lady who was unconscious and not moving. Joseph helped Aleena pull her on board.

They ripped off the scuba out fit and the lady's face had become blue with no oxygen andasphyxiated. Aleena did mouth to mouth respiration and after some time she opened her eyes and

started speaking.

"You forgot to open the oxygen valve after going into the water. If you had remained that

way some more time you would have been a dead person," Aleena told her.

"I feel so tired and sick. My only sorrow is that I can't take part in the disco tonight. Iwas looking forward to that event," the lady remarked.

"Forget about it. You got back your life and let us thank God for that," Joseph said.

"Let us hurry back and get ready for the disco. It is a great event in the resort and I love

it," Aleena said.

"I will have good sales of booze in the bar. I hate disco, the ugly gyrations that people

make, without any fixed style or form of dance," Basanth remarked.

"I too don't like to do it, but it is fun watching others do it, sipping a beer," Jose said.

Soon they went back in the direction of the resort, got down there and got ready wearingcasual dress for the disco.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The dancing rink in the middle of the bar was full of holidaying crowd wearing all

colorful casual dress and in great style. Thunderous music was emanating from the high output

speakers and high metal songs were played, one after another. Every one was dancing accordingto his whims and fancies and there was no fixed style. Whenever they got tired or lost the effect

of the liquor they had, they went back for a refill and returned immediately. Robert and Joseph

were in bermudas and tried dancing. The latter got fed up and joined Jose who was sitting at acorner table enjoying a beer and watching the people who were involved in the feat. From their

table they could see ladies and gents stumping and thudding, jumping up and down, bending andmoving sideways.

The tempo of the music went high and the gyrations of the participants also became

faster. Basanth came to them and told them that he had rung up Seema and asked her to fly to

Maldives. She was coming the next day and he was going to receive her and bring her to theresort.

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"The next day we could arrange your wedding," Joseph said.

"I will talk to Hussein and arrange a party in your honor. We will have the wedding a

private affair, since there is no church or hall for conducting it. We will call our few friends and

you must bless the wedding, Joseph," Jose said.

"You, Jose should make a felicitation speech and it should include some admonitions thatthe couple should take to heart," Joseph said.

"It should be based on the bible and you should say a prayer too," Basanth said.

Hussein came for the next refill of booze, saw Basanth and came to him. Jose updatedhim on the new development. Hussein was thrilled and fascinated at the idea of holding a

wedding in the resort, the first of its kind. Jose did not open the topic of requesting a job for

Seema but requested him another thing.

"After the wedding the couple should have a comfortable place to stay. It is your duty as

manager to arrange that," Jose told him.

"Okay, she can stay with me for the time being," Hussein joked.

"That was the thing we were afraid on the outset. We all know that you are an upright andkindhearted man. We should respect the holy matrimony and should not covet another man's

wife even in thought," Joseph said.

That was throwing a stone one-yard ahead of the dog and Hussein fell flat for the trick.

"I will conduct a boduferu after the party for the couple, the melody of Maldives, all love

songs. You should also follow the customs here and that includes the couple immersing in thesea to wash away all the blemishes before they consummate their wedding. At that time we will

be singing some special songs of boduferu that will galvanize the couple in love. They could stayin the last cottage on the beach for the time being," Hussein said.

"Thanks a lot, Hussein and you should take care of the party after the wedding," Jose put

that burden too on his shoulder and Basanth proposed the vote of thanks to Hussein.

He went back to the disco, after Basanth fixed him a cocktail and the tempo reached the

climax with the speakers and woofers thundering high metal songs. All of a sudden the musicstopped abruptly and people stopped short of the next step and hush fell over the bar as if a storm

got over, the end of a disco and a new lease of life for Basanth.

CHAPTER TWELVE

It was a unique wedding, not in a church, but on the beach, no relatives of the bride or ofbridegroom present, there was no priest anywhere in the vicinity and very few people to grace

the occasion.

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The couple was neither in wedding dress, neither best man nor brides maid, werepresent. Joseph, with the holy Bible in hand conducted the ceremony. Basanth had purchased

two gold rings when he went to collect Seema from the airport and there were no other

ornaments on the bride.

Jose made a homily, admonishing them of the importance of loyalty in marriage and alsoof the need of marital adjustments, as they were no more two persons, but one, united with lovein the holy wedlock. He wished them the choicest blessings of the almighty God throughout life,

never separated till death.

Joseph admonished the wedding oath, they holding the Bible and reciting after him. Theyexchanged the rings and he blessed the couple.

Hussein and his friends started the boduferu, melody of Maldives, banging on both sidesof a drum for the rhythm. They were love songs, sung very passionately and every one was

served cake and champagne.

Basanth and Seema fed each other, went and dipped in the sea and went to the cottage

near by for consummating the wedding. Hussein was singing his heart out, the tempo of banging

the drum increasing.

A dashing couple was united in love, making love and welding their life-long

relationship. There was a naughty twinkle on Hussein's eyes and Jose led them all away from the

beach not to disturb the copulating couple.

Inside the cottage, along with the humming of the air-conditioner, the hissing and

fondling went on, entwining like snakes, fulfilling their love to sublime joy of orgasm.

They took bath, changed into fresh dress and like fully bloomed flowers, walked into the

restaurant where everyone was having the dinner.

Hussein lifted his beer mug and toasted to the good health and long life of the newly

weds and every one present there said cheers. There was a tinge of shyness on the countenance

of the couple. They sat on the table besides Robert and Joseph and Jose came and joined them.The dishes were western, starting with soup and later a special preparation of lobsters fully fried.

They consumed lots of tuna boiled in oil.

Basanth and Seema were the perfect couple like the courting pigeons or dancing

peacocks. They looked so elegant, Seema, beautiful like a bud rose flower and Basanth like astallion, about to take off in a gallop, to a new life of uncertainty.

He was sure that God would not forsake him and had hope that some opening would

come, a job for Seema, and their life would become secure, especially when the next generation

came.

His apprehension got over when Hussein announced publicly that it was the first wedding

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on the resort and if any of the guests wanted to get married, they could. Many of them were

living together or came together for the trip to Maldives. They may live on together for somemore time, or desert each other, at any rate not getting married. Westerners did not count

wedding a necessary evil and living together did not need to be institutionalised. He offered the

post of receptionist for Seema and wished them a comfortable stay in the cottage on the beach tillanother accommodation for them could be found.

Basanth got up and proposed the vote of thanks, especially to Hussein for his kind gestureof arranging the wedding and reception, singing and ultimately giving the job for Seema. He

advocated the importance of getting married and legalising the relationship as the next

generation might not have a feeling of insecurity.

After dinner Basanth led Seema to the cottage on the beach. They started to make love so

passionately that all their pent-up frustrations melted away and their love was fulfilled.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Maldivian National Table tennis champion was on the island and he challengedevery one there for a game and Jose took up the challenge. They played five games each day and

Jose won the games on alternate days.

There was a tie and the final day of competition drew near. Everyone there was thrilledand excited. Jose had the maximum ground support.

The final match was on a Sunday evening. The whole population of the resort thronged inthe recreation hall. The game started with Basanth tossing the ball, being the umpire. Jose won

the toss and he opted for service.

Jose won the first game, and the champion took the next. Again there was a tie with twogames on the credit of each and the last game of the series began. The score became twenty for

each and each service became decisive. Jose took the service, returned the ball and he choppedthe ball and his opponent had problem returning it. It came high and Jose smashed it with all his

strength and the other guy could not return it. Jose won the last game in the series. Every body

came to felicitate Jose except two people.

They were Rasheed the assistant manager and Hassan Rasheed the displaced accountant.

Jose saw them standing at a distance and he waved at them smiling with the racket on one hand

and the champagne bottle on the other hand. It was the trophy, which Hussein gave over to thechampion of champions, Jose the pride of the whole island. Rasheed looked at him with

indifference. Jose knew the reason, when he went through the accounts, he had found somemisappropriation and manipulation in the accounts and had pointed it out to Hussein and toldhim that he would mention it in the report to the head office. They had asked Jose to do a

thorough system analysis and fax the report. That was the reason for their resentment.

He did not want to please men and wanted to do his duties with the maximum sincerity.That always begot him enemies. He counted his integrity as the biggest asset and did not budge a

bit from his stand even when Rasheed came and offered him a thousand dollars to ignore the

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issue and not to report it. Jose turned down the proposal and Rasheed became furious and told

him that they would make his stay uncomfortable in the island. Jose told him to get lost and didnot give a damn about it, for which decision he had to pay a very high price.

That day he had two special guests, Dr.Sunder and Hema, the Sreelankan teacher. Theywere passing that way and dropped in to meet Jose and visit the resort. Jose received them, took

them to the bar and offered to buy a drink for Sundar while Hema had only a coke. Josepersuaded her to have a gin tonic as Sunder was gulping down Johnny Walker peg after peg. Hewanted to stay overnight in the island while Hema wanted to leave the place. Jose did not want to

encourage that as Sunder had a soft corner for Anthu, and if they stayed together and had sex,

which he obviously wanted, he would never marry Hema.

Jose persuaded Sundar to go before the evening and drop Hema in her island. Hema

understood the motive of Jose and thanked him profusely from her heart. She promised to ring

him up at quarter past five every day and update him, her whereabouts and requested him to keepin touch with Sunder and pass on every information, he could gather about him. Sunder

Staggering, left the island and Jose told Hema to take extra care of the doctor till they reached

their destination.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Trouble started for Jose and it was through the person Seetharam, who came to the resort

for a short holiday. Jose was very cordial to him and did not show any sort of displeasure

towards him. He may have thought that if he made trouble Jose might leave the resort too and hecould creep into the administration there.

He joined hands with Rasheed and his gang. There might have been some secret pact

between them. Jose found them always in secret conversation. Soon persecution started and allwere turning against Jose and he found it difficult to hold on to his stand.

Only prayer was his weapon and he had the company of Joseph for that. For hours they

stood on their knees in praise and worship. There was a mosque, a small prayer room in the

resort and that was the place less frequented by the inmates there.

When no one was around Jose used to get into it and pray desperately for his redemption

and for getting away from trouble. He found people laughing at his back.

His only consolation was the phone calls that came regularly from Hema. She kept him

abreast of all that happened in the world, as he had no chance to know anything sincenewspapers never came to their resort. Jose told her to update Sunder of his plight and requestfor his help if things really went wrong.

Hema rang him up and asked him to reach Male' city. Dr.Sunder had asked her to tell

him over the phone to reach the hospital next day before five in the evening. There was animportant help that doctor wanted from him, but she did not know the details.

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Jose took a leave and set out early morning to Male'. He visited all his friends there and

by evening reached the National Hospital. The doctor was happy seeing him and Anthu was likea fully bloomed garden, fun to look at with her sweet and sensuous countenance. She was

pleased to meet Jose and was giggling to every nasty remark that Sunder made.

At sharp five o'clock Sunder said, "let's go to Daffodils for an ice cream. I have

something important to speak." Daffodils was the choicest ice cream parlor in Male' city visitedby all the great travelers that came to Maldives. Jose knew what he was aiming at and they threegot out of the hospital and walked in the direction of Daffodils.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

They ordered three ice creams. Dr.Sunder winked at Jose and he took the hint. He said,

"This is the great occasion when the most eligible bachelor of Maldives, proposing to his dream

girl and I am the sole witness to that"

Dr.Sunder blurted out all of a sudden, "Anthu, shall we get married? I got a diamond

ring ready with me and shall I put it on your finger?"

Anthu giggled in her typical fashion and said, "No Sunder, I can't think of you that way,

let's be good friends!"

Sunder was thunder struck and for a few seconds and he did not say a thing. The card

castle, which he had built around Anthu, had crumbled and Jose felt no sympathy for him. The

cell phone in Jose's hip pocket chirped. He attended the call and it was Hema.

He told her, "Your friend is here and you may tell him what ever you wanted to tell him.

This is the right occasion to speak up," He handed the phone over to Sunder.

She said something to which Sunder was all-attentive. He said, "I have a diamond ring

ready with me. Shall I send it over with Jose, since I can't come to your island immediately?"

She said, "thank you doctor, I have a ring ready with me too. I will send it with Jose."

"Thank you my love, I will come to your place at the earliest and we will discuss the dateof our wedding then," Sunder said.

Jose looked at the countenance of Anthu and she was flabbergasted. She did not expectthat new development. Jose saw and wondered how ugly the most beautiful face of a woman can

look, especially when angry.

Jose left them there to sort out their problem between themselves. He went to the counter

and took the visitor's book and glimpsed through. The great visitors to Maldives, celebrities like

Mohammed Ali, Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson had autographed in that.

Jose wrote in it, "For the remembrance of a great occasion, when two of my friends got

engaged today, right here in this place not with the woman present here, but with some one far

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away. My best wishes for all who visit here." He autographed his name in it.

Anthu did not like the new development, she was so angry. She wanted Sunder tied to

her apron strings and wanted to take him for a real ride. She was playing the cat and mouse game

with Sunder and Jose had rescued him from the clutches of a witch.

The ice creams came. She said, "I don't want your ice cream or any thing. I am leaving."Anthu walked out of that place and out of Sunder's life too.

Jose ate her share of ice cream too. He shook the hands of Sunder and said,

"Congratulations, you have taken the right decision." Jose was the happiest person in that deal.

The reason was that Sunder got rescued from a calamity and that too with immediate effect.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Basanth was discussing the Bible with Joseph on the beach and Robert bumped into them

accidentally. He stood aside, disinterested but paid keen attention to what they were saying.

Joseph read, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

"All men are sinners but is there any chance to reach the glory of God for men?" Basanth

enquired.

"Yes, The Bible says, 'But if we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowshipwith one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin' and further it says,'That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised

him from the dead, you will be saved.'This is the fool proof method to attain salvation," Joseph

remarked.

Robert was thunderstruck. Those words went penetrating into his mind and he was allears to what Joseph further read, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,he gave the right to become children of God".

Basanth supplemented it by reading, "Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one canenter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit".

Joseph went on reading, "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in

him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still speaking these words,the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message". They received the Holy Spirit and beganspeaking in tongues and praising God. That is the ultimate, anointing of the Holy Spirit. That is

what we all should aim at. Then God will take the rein of our lives and living would be apleasure."

Basanth remarked, "It shows the importance of getting baptised, it reads, 'and this watersymbolises baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the

pledge of a good conscience towards God.'

Joseph read on, "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus

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were baptised into his death. We were there for buried with him through baptism into death in

order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may

live a new life". This is the greatest reassurance we Christians have and that spur us on and as we

join in his death through baptism we too will be united with him in his resurrection."

Seetharam was coming in their direction listening to their conversation. Robert suddenly

spoke up, "what shall I do to get baptised and saved. I believe all that you read and said. Let meget baptised at the earliest."

"If you believe that Jesus died to save you and confess your sins and believe that he rose

from the dead you can be baptised and that too right here in this sea. I will arrange it myself,"

Joseph remarked.

Seetharam sneered at them and said, "Not at all possible in Maldives and you will have to

pay the price for that, Mr. Joseph. I will never allow that to happen."

Joseph wanted to rebuke the Satan that was behind it, but kept quiet, lest he bring in more

of dissuasion to avert Robert from being baptised. "Okay, we will discuss it later, you can go Mr.Seetharam and you don't have anything to do with it," he said.

"We will see what will happen," Seetharam left angrily.

"Ignore what he said, listen Robert, the bible says, 'You are all sons of God through faithin Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with

Christ'. You have taken the right decision, Robert and let us pray that God honor it," Josephremarked and they went to their cottages.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Seetharam and Jose were discussing the accounts and Jose told him that he found some

discrepancies. He wanted to report it to the head office. Seetharam dissuaded him and told himto make some adjustment with Rasheed that he would get some commission in the bargain. Jose

told him that he was already approached by him but did not want any money that way. He would

find out the real situation and the extent of malpractice and fax it to the head office.

Seetharam said that he would have to face the consequences. Basanth came to their room

and said, "This evening Robert is getting baptised near the Jetty and you be there." He left them

and Seetharam became furious on hearing it.

He got up and left the room to go and conspire with Rasheed and gang against Jose. Josedid not want to budge and was ready to face any consequence that came for upholding hisintegrity and honesty.

Hussein and his gang were singing boduferu. The guests were thronging around them and

the beat of the drum was enchanting.

A small group of people consisting of Joseph, Basanth, Robert and Jose were near the

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jetty. Joseph made a short prayer, "Almighty and ever loving God, we are entrusting this soul to

be soon baptised into your divine care. Bless him Lord, and be with him that he stands faithful tothe faith that he receives today, what ever may come. This we ask through Jesus Christ who lives

and reigns for ever and ever," They all said "Amen".

He asked Robert, "Brother Robert, do you believe that Jesus died and rose for atoning for

your sins?"

He said, "Yes".

"Please confess your sins and ask God for pardon in your mind," Joseph told him.

He led him to the sea, knee deep and after his professing his faith and accepting Jesus as

his personal savior said, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I baptise you,"

and dipped him, immersing him in the sea water and lifted him up.

Suddenly there was uproar and people came running in their direction. Seetharam pushed

Joseph into the sea and tried to choke him. Jose tried to intervene and rescue him. Rasheed tookout a knife and stabbed Jose piercing through his heart. All were shocked seeing the blood

spilling out and Basanth, Robert and Joseph lifted Jose and laid him on the shore. Seetharam,

Rasheed and gang ran off from there.

Jose seemed to tremble in a tremor. He looked at his friends, who were in tears and said,

"I will not survive. Please take care of my wife and child." He gave a violent shaking and died.

His friends all wept and embraced him, clinging to his body.

From far a sad melody was emanating in a slow beat, the last bit of the Boduferu, the

melody of Maldives.

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Melody of Maldives

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Transcript of Melody of Maldives