Frank E Gibbard Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Sandhu's wife had been the best thing about life, life being not a sinecure for sure when you're untouchable in India. He had lost that touch of one he loved so much when she caught her disease from bacteria and flies and sadly dies. This industrial malaise, cause of all his hurt's unease not recognised as such; society would not touch untouchables' distress or aleviate that mess of caste, let alone a husband's plight as he eked out a widower's mite to make a little last. No benefit to him no more slim pickings from the refuse dump, no sum of State compensation not even a lump. Losing Sanjana put Sandhu more on the skids, no cook nor partner for four young kids. A life more miserable still when she left rending a heart disconsolate and bereft. He missed her as passionately as Shah Jahan did his Mumtaz Mahal, of course no such elegant memorial was in his gift yet that in his memory would never shift. And as a peerless Taj, whose white walls enshrined one husband's grief and tears recalls a rich emperor's loss so famously around the world poor Sandhu would on their anniversary day go down to where the Ganges swirled, there was the private place that he had kissed her ashes away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 there was the private place that he had kissed her ashes away. That might be one of the most tender lines (OK, 2) I have read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank E Gibbard Posted April 30, 2013 Author Share Posted April 30, 2013 Marti, that is a kind observation in going for poignancy thanks for that. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David W. Parsley Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Hi Frank, This one has haunted me since I first read it. Nice blend of anguish, under-statement (e.g. 'industrial mailaise'), and tenderness as noted by dcmarti. Among the ironic twists of phrase lies the brutality of an ugly pun: No benefit to him no more slim pickingsfrom the refuse dump, no sum of State compensation not even a lump. Plays on sum as well as likely symptoms in the appearance of lumps in the doomed woman's body. The fidelity preserved in the face of loss, swirling in the fabled river's turmoil at the end: very poignant. Well Done, - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank E Gibbard Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 Your detailed analysis is appreciated David, profoundly, it moved me deeply in portraying these characters so rewarding this came across. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Excellent well presented human piece Frank. Grief cuts just as deep for the low born as those at the high end of whatever society, creed or culture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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