Ghalmel (घालमेल) by Shankar Patil

"Ghalmel (घालमेल)", a Marathi book by Shankar Patil. This book is published by Mehta Publishing house. This edition was published in 2012 and has 112 pages. I read this book through 'Grantha tumchya daari (ग्रंथ तुमच्या दारी)' scheme.

This book is a collection of ten short stories.

'Vena (वेणा)' is the story of a pregnant lady from cobbler community who starts getting labour pains while walking home from market. A lady from Gardner community helps her. Would she expect something back?

'Chindhi (चिंधी)' is the story of a woman whose husband is a drunkard and her grown up daughter does not have a sari to wear. When eventually she gets a sari for both of them on borrowed money what would her feelings be?

In 'Atade (आतडं)' a girl is born after two boys but husband is taken ill. His wife is worried about him and somehow can't feed her newborn daughter. She takes a drastic step. What's it?

'Sarwan (सारवण)' is story of Heera who is feeling unwell. But her husband does not understand. He wants her to paint the house  walls and floor with cow dung.

'Paat (पात)' is the story of a farmer's wife who is torn between her wish to go and meet her dying father on one hand and her husband, who's logic of not going, she could not counter.

In 'Bhaar (भार)' Nama is sick. He has lost hope if surviving at a young age to illness. Is he a burden. But there may be a hope. What's it?

'Panha (पान्हा)' is story of Ratna who has a little baby she feeds. She runs away from her abusive husband and mother in law. Her in laws abduct the child. She is starved for the love of her child, and so does claim her mother in law.

In 'Ghalmel (घालमेल)' a sick old lady is told by the priest that Thursday night is bad for her. If she survives Thursday night, she will live long. Her husband has a trick up his sleeve, but will it work?

In 'Nangrat (नांगरट)' a bully is trying to take over field of an old unsupported lady forcefully by tilling the land. Who will she turn to?

In 'Dasra (दसरा)' Kashibai's husband is sick and there is no money for the festival of Dasra. She decides to ask help from her brother. Will he help?

All these stories are rural stories. They are stories of pain, suffering, illness and poverty. It's gloomy atmosphere all over. Everyone is short of money. 

In most of the cases the protagonist is drowning in loan, there is hardly anything to eat. To add insult to injury someone is sick at home and all the family silver is sold for the medicines. All roads are blocked and God is the last resort. But he too does not pay heed to the pleas.

A few stories end on a turn without conclusion. Readers are left to draw their own endings to these stories.

Shankar Patil is known for his rural humorous stories. Here a new facet of the author is revealed. Although he capitalized his rural forte, he presents a bouquet of suffering. Title of the book is the essence of this book. Ghalmel means welter, more of emotional suffocation.

Why did I read this book? Shankar Patil.
What I didn't like? Too much suffering.
What did I like? Realistic. 

Read if you have the stomach to read about pain, poverty and suffering.