Jayappa

I have never met him. Only spoke over phone once in June last year asking about some seeds, and once again in mid December wanting to pick up some seeds from his seed bank. The first time, I never went to take the seeds, since my farming effort never took off. The second time, I was visiting Shailu's farm and thought of picking up some millets to take back to another farmer in my village. It being a Sunday, his seed bank was closed. Thus, I couldn't meet him. In January, for Sankranti, my friend Harish wanted to go to Shailu's farm near Zaheerabad. There were four of them - Harish, one German guy and two British girls. During our last visit it was decided that they will go back to Shailu's farm for Sankranti.Unfortunately, until the day they were leaving they could not inform Shailaja. Shailaja's phone works only between 7pm-9pm since she uses a mechanical charger as they have no electricity. On hearing that she is not aware of their arrival, I called her up around 8pm that day, to announce the arrival of her four guests. "Oh,no, it is impossible for me to pick them up at this time in the night, it's raining heavily, and I can't trudge through the forest at this hour". Now, I had a dilemma, I didn't know where these four fellows will stay back in the night. And with two women and that too foreigners, I was even more worried about their safety. Shailu asked me to tell Harish & Co. to stay at the Green School in Machnur village. I could not get through to the care taker at the School. I called up Jayappa, asking him if he can send word to them. "I think they should be there, since the bullock carts are all getting ready for the seed festival tomorrow". "Jayappa, these people are totally new to the place. They may get lost what with the darkness and the rains. Can you arrange for them to stay at the DDS office? (that's the NGO where he works). Its enough if they can find a shelter for the night. They won't need anything." To which he replied, "Ask them to come to Pastapur (a village that comes before Machnur) and ask for DDS colony and tell my name, I will make arrangements for them". After ten minutes he called up, "Will they be okay to eat Jowari Roti or, shall I get some rice with vegetables for them?" "Whatever you like, just don't bother if its too much. But if you don't mind please arrange an autorickshaw to take them to Shailu's farm. They might get lost in the forest". Not only did he host them at his house that night, four strangers whom he has never seen, on request from another stranger whom he has only spoken twice before, he escorted them all the way to my friend's farm. On their day of return, when I was not able to get through to Harish, I called Jayappa, "Did he pick up the millets from you Jayappa?" "Yes, he did, I just put your friends in the auto to Zaheerabad. Soon they should be taking their bus to the city".

On my next trip to Shailu's farm too I couldn't meet him, he was away attending a wedding. I was planning to leave that afternoon, he wasn't coming back until evening. "Ayyo, we couldn't meet. Please if you are staying back come and stay at my house". I had to leave the same afternoon, but I hope I can meet him on my next trip.