Keymaker

Ganesh Acharya was a well respected carpenter of the village. Gani, as he was fondly called, was famous for his artistry and professionalism. He was very committed and would deliver on his promise both on his design and time.

Gani was a honest man. He was reasonable and never would cut short on the quality of the material he would use. Gani lived with his wife and an adorable daughter in the village and had his workshop in the backyard of the house.

But Gani was a mere mortal as well. He had his flaws. He was a kleptomaniac.

The doctor would describe this term as someone with kleptomania, a rare mental health condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to steal. He meant no harm. when he would vist any house he would steal something insignificant. He would display them in his workshop for everyone to see, as though he never stole it and it was his all the time. His customers from the village and the vicinity knew this and did not mind. This was a small price to pay for the amazing carpenter he was, call it collateral if you may.

The village was known for the Ganesha temple. Believed to have been built during the Kadamba period, it attracted a lot of crowd. This temple was the main attraction and the source of income for the village. The temple administration decided to renovate the temple complex. The sanctum sanctorum or the gabhagudi of the temple had majestic wooden pillars around. Eight pillars not only provided the structural support but also added the elegance to the holy place. The temple administration decided to keep the design and rebuild the pillars new with the best timber. They bestowed this responsibility to Gani, who everyone agreed is the most suitable person to do it.

Months passed, Gani put all his focus on the pillars. They were ready. The design and the attention to detail Gani showed would put the Kadambas to shame. The village and the temple administration were impressed. The pillars were moved to the temple days before the temple’s re-consecration ceremony, or prana maru-pratishtha.

Gani was overseeing the laborers erecting the pillars in the sanctum. Gani got distracted. His attention was now on a small Bell that the temple got from the neighboring village as a gift. Gani suddenly got the urge to steal it. He casually picked it up as though he was just looking at it and tried to sneak it into his bag. The Chief Priest – Maheshwara Sharma saw this and silently took the Bell back from him. He whispered in his ears. ‘Gani! This is a temple, a sacred place. Let go, don’t steal anything’. Gani felt embarrassed and he left the place. During the day of the consecration ceremony he along with the other craftsmen were honored for their work by the village elders. He was paid handsomely.

Gani came back home tired. Gani’s wife Jaya was more excited. Jaya did notice Gani feeling low. She told herself that he must have been tired of the months of work. All eight pillars were crafted by him. He said this is God’s work and he will not take any help. He also used very little machine to make them.

Days passed, Gani seemed even more low and dejected. He did not return to his workshop. Jaya tried to manage the commitments of the other customers with the other staff they had. But none had the finesse that Gani had. Many customers complained about the shoddy work and missing deadlines. Jaya started to worry. She took him to the doctor, but in vain. The village tantrik also could not do anything to change the situation. Day by day the orders stopped coming. His reputation was drying faster than the village lake in Summer.

Jaya in despair, went to the Chief Priest of the temple to seek help. She told all about Gani being low and showing no interest in anything since the day of consecration ceremony. Jaya sought some divine intervention to save her family. The Chief Priest suggested that Jaya get Gani to the temple and he would perform a special pooja for him and everything should be alright. He fixed a day. An unusual one because the day was not an auspicious one, probably the time when no one visits the temple.

Jaya and Gani went to the temple. The Chief Priest performed a special pooja and asked Gani to sit near the sanctum and asked Jaya to make rounds of the temple from outside, nine times! The Chief Priest brought the aarati (the holy flame) to Gani and kept the tray near him. He went outside the temple to get some prasad. Now it was just Gani, God, fire and the Bell. Gani’s eyes glittered, lips smiled. The Bell seemed shinier than the flame.

The pooja was complete, the Chief Priest assured Jaya that Gani will get better after the night and he will resume work from the next day. Jaya thanked the Chief Priest and offered some money. The Chief Priest refused it and asked her to donate a bell instead on the day of the auspicious Ganesha Chaturthi.

Jaya woke up to a loud noise. A noise that made her gleam with joy. It was the first rain of the season more so Gani had started is day at the workshop. Busy with all the sawing and milling of the wood. Gani was never this happy. Jaya took the Bell from the bag and placed it in the shelf along with all the other trophies Gani had possessed.