The Mind Creative
looked up, straight into the madman’s eyes. For a minute Baba
was not sure whether he had absentmindedly forgotten one of his
visitors. Then, as all his senses started to focus on the man before
him he gave a big start, but all he said was ‘Yes?’
‘May I have a cigarette?’ asked Mofbee politely.
Baba was too shocked to do anything other than proffer his packet
of Charminar cigarettes to Mofbee. After that, Mofbee sat smoking
on the chair opposite while Baba sat on the edge of his own,
pretending to read his paper. As soon as Mofbee neatly put out the
butt in the ashtray, he got up, stood straight, stared for a minute
at the framed picture of John F Kennedy on the wall opposite,
turned and then shuffled out of the room.
Mofbee thus became a frequent visitor at
our house, if only to smoke one of Baba’s
cigarettes; and for many months the two of
them sat in a comfortable if not
companionable silence. It did not occur to
Baba to lock the door even after Mofbee
took to coming in unannounced at any time
of the day. And though Ma did try locking it
a few times, she soon stopped, feeling guilty
shutting out Mofbee like that.
It became quite apparent that Mofbee’s
mind was not going to mend by itself. The
solution came from one of the wise and
experienced inhabitants of Barahdwari, Mr.
Gupta who felt that the only cure left was
to get Mofbee married. It is to be supposed
that having two wives made Mr. Gupta an
authority on the curative powers of
marriage. The proposal was vetted by old
Mr. Yadav and his wife and they agreed that
at least it would not do any harm. The
eldest of six girls belonging to a poor family
from the village where Mofbee’s aunt lived,
was found. Whether her consent for
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