Kopi, Puffs & Dreams

Began the year with Pallavi Gopinath Aney's 'Kopi, Puffs & Dreams' (2021). The story began in the late 19th century and ended in 1928/1929 before World War II reached Singapore. It tells the story of two young men from Palakkad, Puthu and Krishnan who met aboard a ship bound for Malaya. Fate brought them together as colleagues in a wealthy plantation owner's palatial home. Then the house was burned down. 

Puthu and Krishnan had became friends, and they went down to Singapore to find new lives and start new jobs. Krishnan was a talented cook. Puthu was extremely suited to be a hard-nosed businessman. Eventually Puthu found money to rent a restaurant, and Krishnan quit his job to become his partner. After much argument about the type of restaurant and food they would have, 'Puthu's Kopi and Curry' opened. Six months later, they expanded. Then they started catering functions and weddings. And they became legitimate businessmen who knew how to run their businesses. 

Their personal lives progressed as well, to a respectable standard as judged by society when they got to their early thirties some time in the 1910s. Krishnan had Pushpa as a wife whom he had fallen out of love with, and in-laws whom he didn't like because they were cruel to him. Puthu finally asked his long-time fiancee Gayathri to come to Singapore for the wedding; while he respected her, he didn't love her. 

The wives, in some cases Pushpa's friends, went out of duty, determined to turn up their noses at Gayathri. But Gayathri was warm and welcoming; she was a good listener, albeit not much of a talker, and kind. She listened to their problems and was happy to babysit a child or two after school and give them a hot meal; it filled her lonely days.

She took an interest in the temple and various charitable works; as Puthu's wife she was invited to join committees and she worked hard for these, but always gracefully gave the credit to others.

Very soon, two centres of gravity formed. A smaller, frivolous one around Pushpa and a larger, more congenial one around Gayathri, who mediated minor disputes in the community, sent meals to new mothers and grieving homes, and hosted little gatherings at her home to read the poetry she enjoyed so much.

The two men noticed the changes slightly, but failed to understand the reason for Pushpa's brusqueness towards Gayathri. Krishnan assumed it had to do with jealousy of the pregnancy. Puthu didn't particularly care; he was proud of his wife and the pregnancy. 

The lives of Puthu, Krishnan, Pushpa and Gayathri were intertwined. With Pushpa's most of all since her father Mr Pillai was a way more successful businessman and loaned them that huge sum to expand their businesses. Until the bad times rolled in, and Mr Pillai wished to call in all the loans, even at the expense of his daughter's reputation, social standing and happiness.  

Puthu was the ever-shrewd and savvy businessman. It was hard to fathom his true emotions. He was only loyal to Krishnan, and the latter accorded him the same trust as his loyal partner. Their business partnership was solid, and their friendship ran deep; they were friends who were more like brothers too, since their own families were non-existent in this world.

The plot deepened, the sub-plots happened, and eventually came the twists. I didn't think it would end like this for Pushpa and Puthu. It ended both tragically and happily. Or as happy as one's burdens allow. If you watch enough Netflix melodrama, then you could probably guess what these are. I won't reveal it here. This is a story worth reading. It's well paced and thoughtful.

"And you don't mind?"

"Of course, I mind! I mind so much, Justine! But it's what Krishnan wants. And that's what my life has been about; bending to the wishes of these men. Yours too. It's all we do, all of us. Even poor Pushpa. They decide and we comply."

Justine looked at her sadly. Gayathri was angry, but she wasn't wrong. Fathers and husbands had shaped all their lives.