This is a true story. It happened a long time ago.
There
was an American in India employed there.
When he came back to San Francisco after his assignment he brought with
him his cook. (In those days it was very
easy to sponsor a personal servant). The
cook, Jambunathan, was a Tamil guy and his English very poor. In those days, there were not that many Indians
in the Bay Area and that too Tamilians are almost nil. Jambunathan was feeling lonely.
His
American employer met the Indian Consul General and explained the situation. I knew the Consul General very well. One day he called and asked me to help
Jambunathan adjust to life here and socialize with him. I agreed.
One day this Jambunathan came to my house. He was about 55 at that time. His wife and 4 kids were living in Tamil
Nadu. He was so deferential he won’t even
sit in front of me. He brought sweets
for my family.
He
used to come to our home during holidays like Diwali, Pongal, Tamil New Year,
etc.
One
day he came to our home and started to cry.
He said he had a fight with his employer. The employer said if he leaves his employment
he has to go back to India and cannot stay in USA. I asked if he has any papers. Fortunately, he had his Indian Passport. I looked at it. At the last page, I saw his Green
Card number. (The American employer conveniently
took Jambunathan’s Green Card at the SFO Airport immigration.)
I
told him the whole truth. I said I will
get a duplicate Green Card for him. I
went to the Immigration and Naturalization Office and got a form to fill out to
request for a replacement Green Card for the lost one. I received another Green Card within 10 days. I gave it to Jambunathan and told him not to
tell his employer. I also told him to keep it safe and this is his permission
to stay in the USA for as long as he wants to.
He was very happy.
After
a few months he came. He said he found a
job at the home of a millionaire in Los Angeles. I wished him well. He left.
Never saw him for another 3 years.
One
day he came to my home unannounced. I
asked him where he is working now. He was
hesitant to tell me. I asked him a few
times. He said “amma irukanga. Adhunala
solla mudiyala” (Your wife is standing here and listening. So, I hesitate to tell you). I told my wife to go to the other room.
This
is what he said in Tamil. I will paraphrase in English.
“I
was working with this millionaire in Los Angeles. His daughter graduated from college and
admitted to a reputed university in the Bay Area for her master’s degree. She is
23. Her father bought a flat for her in
the Bay Area so that she can live there and go to the university. They also sent me to cook for her and take
are of the flat. That girl loved my
cooking so much she started to love me.
Now we both live in the flat like husband and wife”.
I
asked him if her parents knew this. He
said no. I told him what he is doing is
not right. Even if she fell in love with
you, you should have advised her properly because you are as old as her dad.
He
left my home. Never saw him afterwards.
PS: Name changed for privacy’s sake.
