Mallaiah was a vanthu madiga - that is, a Harijan who works on turns in a village. He worked for khana Puram village. When he was small, his mother died after giving birth to a baby girl. His family consisted of his aged father who had always worked hard but led a hand-to-mouth life and is now awaiting death in a bedridden state, a very small baby who his mother had left while dying, and his other sister whom he had brought up with love.
As mallaiah father become very old, it becomes inevitable for mallaiah to do the messenger job in the village. His father became restricted to bed. The responsibilities of his sister's marriage- she was ten to twelve years old - the medical treatment of his father and feeding of the family fell on mallaiah. after his regular job hours, there was a little time lift. But it was not possible for him sometimes, to do additional work as hired laborer. at times,mallaiah had to accompany the government officials to other places when his sister would do the messenger work in the village in addition to looking after her father. sometimes they had to starve the whole day for want of additional hired work. with great difficulty, they used to feed their father with meager quantities of food.
one day,mallaiah went to his work and returned in the evening. His father's health was much deteriorated and his condition became very critical. his sister started to weep. besides suffering from hunger, mallaiah was facing a situation where he would lose his father. controlling the anguish, he consoled his sister and with an intention to bring something to eat, he left home.
while walking, mallaiah was pondering. He reached the outskirts of the village farmers were piling up bundles of cut paddy plants. slowly he reached a thrashing floor.
the hired laborers who had worked in the fields all day were haggling over their wages with the landlord. Disgusted with the miserliness of the landlord, they were imploring for some more grains towards wages. as if he hopes for me to get even a grain here, he thought. with a feeling of despondency, he moved towards the fields in which harvesting was over.
Having completed their days work, the landlords, their assistants, and hired workers started returning to their village.
In the twilight, mallaiah gathered the leftover stack of paddy one by one and feeling proud for getting something to eat that night which he thought was due to his usefulness, he started returning to his home like a valiant warrior with delight. but when his father's condition and the imminent danger came to his mind, as if his enthusiasm and pride took a beating, he felt dejected.
As mallaiah father become very old, it becomes inevitable for mallaiah to do the messenger job in the village. His father became restricted to bed. The responsibilities of his sister's marriage- she was ten to twelve years old - the medical treatment of his father and feeding of the family fell on mallaiah. after his regular job hours, there was a little time lift. But it was not possible for him sometimes, to do additional work as hired laborer. at times,mallaiah had to accompany the government officials to other places when his sister would do the messenger work in the village in addition to looking after her father. sometimes they had to starve the whole day for want of additional hired work. with great difficulty, they used to feed their father with meager quantities of food.
one day,mallaiah went to his work and returned in the evening. His father's health was much deteriorated and his condition became very critical. his sister started to weep. besides suffering from hunger, mallaiah was facing a situation where he would lose his father. controlling the anguish, he consoled his sister and with an intention to bring something to eat, he left home.
while walking, mallaiah was pondering. He reached the outskirts of the village farmers were piling up bundles of cut paddy plants. slowly he reached a thrashing floor.
the hired laborers who had worked in the fields all day were haggling over their wages with the landlord. Disgusted with the miserliness of the landlord, they were imploring for some more grains towards wages. as if he hopes for me to get even a grain here, he thought. with a feeling of despondency, he moved towards the fields in which harvesting was over.
Having completed their days work, the landlords, their assistants, and hired workers started returning to their village.
In the twilight, mallaiah gathered the leftover stack of paddy one by one and feeling proud for getting something to eat that night which he thought was due to his usefulness, he started returning to his home like a valiant warrior with delight. but when his father's condition and the imminent danger came to his mind, as if his enthusiasm and pride took a beating, he felt dejected.
