When I woke up from deep sedation, I knew I was in a post operative ICU. I might have been under sedation for quite a few hours, after I had to go through a bowel obstruction operation . It was wee hours of the morning for sure but of which date and day, I didn't know.The stomach pain which was troubling me for few days had gone but instead a few new minor pains elsewhere had surfaced.All this will vanish as days and weeks go by, the nurse assured me.
Without long Vinay , our eldest son came to my bed with a how- are- you-smile, handing out the newspaper which I had missed for two days. He just took out and read a report card or something the nurse produced to him. You are okay Appa, he told me.Vinay was not my doctor but a Consultant Ortho surgeon in the same hospital.Soon your consultant doctors will meet you and appraise you when you can expect a shift back to room etc.Vinay told me that Amma(my wife, Geetha) is still in the room waiting for you, Vishal (my younger son) too is around.I enquired about Anu, Mia and Serah( his family) .He left the ICU.
I was happy that once again I was back to life and hopes. But my hopes were short lived.What I did not know was what was happening in my own city outside the hospital.My best friend in life Govindankutty had passed away in between. I was told of this again by Vinay after I got back to my room! His demise on 15 August 2022 was not unexpected for me, at least for the last 3-4 months following the ailments he had undergone.But still I sobbed softly on my bed which I came to realise only when Geetha tried to pacify me! Last and first time as an adult I cried was about 11 years back, when my own brother died!
How did our friendship start?
We belong to the same city- Kochi. We are products of the same alma mater for our Engineering studies. But we hardly knew each other until I landed up in Qatar in 1984. He had come and settled in that country about 5 years prior. How it all started? After I got two or three 'I wish- that -you -could- have - called -me- some- other- day' replies unexpectedly from persons known to me on holidays who were living there , I decided not to make anymore such efforts.May be with the boredom I had to face on a holiday- again I decided to give another try - this time with Govindankutty,who was hardly known to me. After a quick introductory warm pleasantries, he asked to give my location of residence which I did. OK.'I know this place. After half an hour say at 11.30 am ,can you come in front of Thomaskutty Supermarket below where you stay, to be picked up?' Yes, I answered.
He took me to his apartment , gave me a chilled beer. He was the first to introduce to me, what actually Qatar was then. A brief about the ruling royal family, employment potential and laws, geography and about the expatriate population and peculiarities of the locals! Before I was dropped back , I was given a sumptuous lunch prepared by Sathi, his wife . His ever friendly son, Suraj was only 5 years old then.Kiran was not born.Within two or three hours I could make out that he was a good conversationalist, had a high sense of humor and loving family. I think he had maintained this- his assets I would say- till his last day!A reliable friend ..... my mind said that day itself.He was!!
My early days and weeks with AlBalagh..and Govindan Kutty
My early days and weeks with AlBalagh, the firm where -I started off and ended with in Qatar- was tough. With another two or three visits to Govindankutty, I had to relocate to Dukhan, an oil township 100 kms away from Doha to supervise a small residential project with Qatar Petroleum. Those days the interlinking road was in pretty bad shape and I didnt have a driving licence either. The company could not afford to spare a driver and a car for my use or spend for a rent-a- car!!
The accommodation company provided me was away from Dukhan township which was not to acceptable standards! That too with a faulty electricity connection with an old run out generator.But thankfully with a separate bath and pantry!Food was good as I had a cook-Kassim. In between When I visited Govindankutty I had mentioned about these physical difficulties I was facing. He advised me that soon after one Indian like us reaches Qatar, there are three hurdles to overcome- family visa and accommodation, driving licence and car and liquor permit!I wanted to run back to India and join the Govt service but stayed back only because I didn't want to fail in my assignment abroad.
Kutty...an autophile!
After four months of my arrival in Qatar , I got the covetable Qatari Driving licence and a car.When I drove out a brand new white Honda Accord, fully automatic, I was really relieved that my stay was shifted back to Doha. During my next visit to Govindan Kutty , I surprised him with the new car.I still remember his smiling face inspecting the car minutely.Then only I knew that he was a car enthusiast which he continued throughout his life! As we settled in his drawing room, he said:'Jaison, now your first hurdle is over'!My daily routine included driving about 300 kilometers those days!And thankfully in different cars or SUVs as years went by!
Govindan Kutty was fond of cars.He used some of the most expensive brands of cars from time to time. Jaguar, Bentley, Mercedes, BMW ....all old ones which were available in old cars market, which he could afford!Though these old cars were good enough to put a big hole in his wallet, he loved them!
It took another one year to get a family status allowed by my company though I was always promised by them. But before my family joined me, it was Govindankutty who noticed the availability of an apartment , not far from where he was put up.Geetha and children joined me there and that was our sweet home for next 7 years or so.I got over my second hurdle!
The friendships blossom.....
Our families got along well and family gatherings on weekends at least once in a fortnight became an event both families looked forward to.By that time a third person and his family joined the crowd.He was Thomas-Thomachen- as we called him who also hails from same home town-Kochi. In between I had to rush to India to sort out an issue with promotion in my parent dept PWD.I was in a dilemma to go or not since Vinay's leg was in bandage then and walking on crutches as one of the tendons had to be repaired due to an accident while playing with children.Govindankutty came to rescue voluntarily.He assured me that he can pick up and drop back Vinay and Vishal from school!He did that exercise for a month or so.
Our children were studying in the same school and we used to drop and pick them up. While we had to pick up, it became a practice for us for years to follow,to assemble a bit early and chit chat together in one of the cars!Mostly we were talking as if we were in our late teens!By that time Govindankutty became 'Kutty saab' for me, as called fondly by his Indian workers and Technicians.
For me who was running against odds and time for successful execution of projects each day ,such a talk and laughter was a ' stress- buster'! Having a hearty talk with those friends, a peg or two together in our family gatherings was a relief valve for me as I could acquire a liquor licence ,my third hurdle. Among all, the jokes and sense of humour of Govindankutty always stood out.As years went,more like minded family friends joined the group. Thankfully the company where I was working was on a growth curve, but slow one. And finally I was promoted to be the GM as my predecessor decided to quit on personal reasons.That was officially from Jan 1993!My friends -Kutty saab and Thomachen- were really happy and shared their joy over the matter wholeheartedly.
Though GM the company was still small and I started dreaming of making it big!But how I didn't know as the opportunities available were not good and understandably the owners always looked forward for more and more profits!But we grew steady and rapidly for some reasons.I would say that the company could get into the bandwagon of systematic development works as Qatar got new riches from their oil and gas installations.From an obscure maintenance firm to a large corporate of Business House of repute! Finally in April 2013 , the company was awarded with the 'Best National Company in Qatar'.It was quite unexpected and the atmosphere in the company was for all out celebrations.That day I put in my paper of resignation to my Chairman silently!I don't know why I chose that day but I wanted that way.He was in a shock and told me that he required me at least to stay back for one more year which I agreed.I told him 'yes, I would but not more'.But added that keeping a CEO in chair who had resigned may not be a wise decision.The only person whom I consulted before I had resigned was Geetha, while we had lunch together at home. I knew that she was enjoying her employment as a 'Foreign Press Reviewer' at Ministry of Information and Culture.But she said that I can go ahead with whatever decision and she will follow suit at the same way and time.I confided the matter with Govindankutty and Thomachen, later -after a week or so.
Govindan Kutty .... who he was ....Goodbyes are not forever!
He was an out and out technocrat.Excellent trouble shooter in his sphere of activity--MEP Building Services.As a person he was a gem of a man. He was trustworthy, selfless and our basic foundation of friendship relied on mutual trust.Empathy was limitless in him.Probably he might have had to face hard days because of these qualities.But in spite ,he was not ready to change his approach to life.I had a lot of tough days in my career but each time when I managed to put a step up on the ladder of my career, he was too happy!He was a lover of Malayalam literature and music.
Once he was back to India on retirement, along with Cherian and Venu, two of our college mates from the same town who were working in Kuwait and their better halves, we made a lot of unforgettable and lovely trips in the state, rest of India and abroad.
After my operation about which I started off in this article, when I was allowed to drive a car by the doctor after 4 weeks or so, the first person and place to visit was Sathi Govindankutty at their residence. As I walked in, in the centre of the drawing room, a garlanded smiling photo of his was in place.I looked at that photo and said silently in my mind:'You may go peacefully and rest now.But Goodbyes are not forever, Kutty Saab!'
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