The
Hometown
Ssandeep B Teraiya
DEDICATION
I am dedicating this book to my lovely parents and my whole family.
Thank you so much for your support.
Love you all.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Heartfelt Thanks to my wife Poonam, for keeping me motivated.
And
Thank you Dr. Sushma Gupta, for all your support.
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सर्वतीर्थमयी माता सर्वदेवमयः पिता ..!!
मातरं पितरं तस्मात् सर्वयत्नेन पूजयेत्..!!
To get the same virtues as one would, on visiting all holy places, all he has to do is, revere his mother.
Father is an embodiment of all the deities themselves.
They are the sole cause of us being here in this world today. It is hard to imagine one's life without them, their nurture and care. Parents constantly strive to provide the best that they could possibly give, for their children at all times.
There is no well wisher better than parents!
Chapter 3:
The Hometown
Everything was ready, we had decorated temple with Saree, flowers and some lights. My friends and I were sitting on the staircase of this house, which was made for renters to use to go out and come in whenever they wanted.
We were waiting for Ganeshji to come and Neeta called me from this balcony. I went up to the balcony.
“Yes, Neeta, tell me...! All okay?” I asked
“Yes, everything is all right, but I am a newspaper addict in the break of day. I need a newspaper with my cup of tea. Can you please arrange a newspaper if you have today's newspaper?” She asked me politely.
“Sure, but we read Gujarat Samachar; Let me get it for you,” I ran downstairs to get the newspaper.
I came with the newspaper. She handed me a cup of tea, and we were having tea here in this same chair. We heard Dhol voice. “Here they are Neeta. I am certain you will enjoy this madness.” I told Neeta.
“Why? Who is going mad?” She stood up with a cup of tea to see Ganpati statue.
“That's so beautiful, the statue of Ganapti,” she held both her hands towards Ganpati.
“Yes, it is, but look at this crowd and look at Karan,” I pointed my finger towards Karan.
Karan was dancing in front of Statue near Dholi; he was wearing a same white Kurta, blue jeans, and sport shoes, keeping a yellow piece of cloth over his neck. His face was totally red with Abil-Gulal. The red color was all over his body. His hair was also totally red and he was too much into dancing with Dhol. He was shouting "Ganpati Bappa Maurya" and all the others were pursuing him with louder voices.
“Why are you standing here Sagar? Go and enjoy with them,” Neeta said.
“No way, I do not want to play with these colors, and see Karan having color in his hands. He will not leave me, so it is better to stay here,” I said.
“Yes, he is busy dancing, but he is very good in dance, especially in Bhangra dance with Dhol. He is matching every beat. I must say he is mad. Look at him! You know what? Even I dance like him. I also get lost in the dance when Dhol is there around. He is so lost in dancing. Look at him! He is dancing like no one is around, with closed eyes and his hands are up. His moves are like some real Punjabi boy. I also feel like dancing with him. Is he drunk or what?” She quietly asked.
“No way, but he is like that, only, he believes in god a lot, especially Ganpati. And if you feel like dancing with him, then go. What are you waiting for?” I asked Neeta.
“No, I can’t. I mean I am just new here. I do not know anyone, and there are no girls dancing there, only boys,” Neeta said no.
We both were enjoying Karan’s dance, and Karan was shouting for Ganeshji’s welcome.
After some 40 to 60 minutes of that entire dance, they finally placed the statue near the Temple’s tent, made for Ganeshji.
“Ok, so now I have to go. You read the newspaper. Bye,” I said to Neeta.
“Good day. And don’t forget to tell your newspaper guy for Times of India, from tomorrow,” Neeta said.
The evening of the same day
Karan, Manoj Uncle and I were doing preparation for Ganesh puja.
“Did you invite your renters?” Karan asked me silently.
“Yes, I have invited them to come in Puja. They will come if they wish, but why do you worry about them?” I answered aloud.
“Yes Sagar, he cares for everyone. He cares for her mother. He cares for your new renters, but he does not care for his father. I do not understand why he left that restaurant job?” Manoj Uncle said while lighting Diya near the Ganesh statue.
Manoj Uncle always had complaints about Karan’s jobs. He believed Karan would never do anything good in his career or life.
“Uncle, it’s not like what you think. I know Karan is very emotionally attached with Aunty, but you know that he passed on his studies to do chores so that he can pay you some support. You know that he is more talented than all of us here. He speaks English very well. He can do a good job easily in the city if he strains. Uncle I think there is no need to worry about his career. He will be very good, I am sure,” I attempted my best by saying this to Uncle for Karan.
“Let’s see what he can do in the future,” Uncle made faces with his short reply. “Anyway, it’s time for ‘Ganesh Arti’,” Uncle asked all of us to come near the statue.
I saw Neeta was coming towards us, I turned my face to Karan, but he left for his home without doing Puja.
I tried to call him to come back, but he ignored me and went inside his home.“What happen now? Everything is ok? Why did he leave?” Neeta reached me and asked.
“Oh. Hi, Neeta. Nothing, he went for some household work I think,” I lied to Neeta.But I knew why he left; I went immediately to his home to meet him after “Puja”.“Where is Karan, Aunty?” I asked Aunty and enter into his house.
“He is on the terrace, where else? He will come downstairs only after his dad goes to bed to sleep. I know again, both sons and their dad had some career conversation, right?” Shanti aunty asked.
“It’s nothing Aunty, don’t worry. I will change his mood,” I said to Aunty while going towards the upstairs.
“Hey, are you coming with me to OHM?” I asked Karan on the terrace.
8.30 pm, at OHM
“Take it and have some puffs. It will help,” I extended him a cigarette and asked him to alter his mood.
“How many times do I have to tell you to never offer me a cigarette? You know that I do not smoke and I hate smoking. My dad spoiled his and my mother's life with this smoky,” Karan finally spoke something.
“Thank God, I thought you lost your voice. I tried to talk all the way from home to here, but you were so mute. At least you talked,” I said.
“By the way Aunty also smokes?” I asked to annoy him.
“You duffer! Yes, she is passive smoker, and my dad is a very active smoker. I hope you know that smoking is more injurious to passive smokers. We live in a one room with a kitchen house, and my dad keeps smoking. That has affected my mother’s health. She is having the breath issue and the doctor already told me to keep her away from any kinds of smoke. I am worried that I can’t even afford a GAS bottle for her. Shame on me,” Karan kicked the boat.
“Ok, I will also not smoke, but please change your mood. I do not like your sad face and a silent tongue,” I requested him.
“I am Ok, and my mood is fine. It’s just some tension regarding my parents’ situation. I desire to get my mother to the metropolis for a better doctor to consult. I want to help my dad in earnings so that he can retire. I desire to pay all the debt we acquired from my dad’s friends. Everything is just making my mind so disturbed right now,” Karan said while sitting on his favourite corner of the boat.
“Everything will be good brother; I brought you here for that only. Just relax.”
“We will execute something after “Ganapati”. For now, you focus on Neeta,” I shifted the subject.
“Yes, I have to think about something now. And what? Focus on Neeta? What do you mean by that?” Karan asked.
“Both of you like each other, I guess. Yes, you can say that I like her, but does she like me? Not possible dude. I am a newspaper seller and she is an educated, modern girl from big cities like Baroda.”
“I felt like that, so I just guessed,” I said.
“What did you feel there?” Karan asked.
“Nothing. She asked me about you today while you were dancing, and even when you left from Puja,” I said.
“What did she ask?” Karan wanted to know it as soon as possible.
“You will ask her directly tomorrow morning anyway,” I said.
“What morning? What are you talking about?” Karan asked.
“Yes, you are going to meet her tomorrow morning as she is your new client for the newspaper, Times of India,” I laughed.
“Shit, man! I am thinking to close this business and you are getting me new clients,” Karan kicked me on my leg.
Next day in the morning at 8.00
“Wake up; wake up fatty! Sagar wake up,” Karan was trying to wake me up by taking off my bed sheet.
I was asleep; he pressed me down from the layer.
“What the hell you are doing in the morning?” I shouted.
“Wake up, and come with me,” Karan ordered me.
“Where? I am not going anywhere in the morning,” I slept again on the bed.
“You have to come with me. I feel shy to talk with Neeta. Please come,” He requested.
“No, I am not coming. Let me sleep. You go,” and I covered myself with a bed sheet.
“Okay, let me tell Aunty about your smoking habits,” Karan called to my mother loudly.
“I was joking bro,” I got up, washed my face and got ready in just one minute.
“Let’s go Sir,” I said while standing at the door, and he passed from there with a king-like walking style to irritate me.
I knocked on the door. Karan was standing behind me.
Neeta opened the door.
“Oh, both of you in the morning. Anything special?” Neeta asked with a big smile on her face.“Come inside. Please sit,” Neeta welcomed us.
“Good morning Neeta,” we sat along the couch.
“Good morning, how are you Karan?” Neeta asked.
“I am good, how are you?” Karan asked the same.
“I am good too. So Sagar how is it in the morning that both childhood friends are together?” Neeta asked me.
“Nothing. You asked me for a newspaper, so we came to drop a newspaper here,” I replied.
“Oh, thanks, but why both of you? Tell the newspaper guy to drop it here on the balcony every day. It will be fine,” she said.
“Yes. Sure, from tomorrow I will do that,” Karan said.
“Why you? I am talking about the newspaper guy. Hello, are both of you okay?” Neeta asked both of us while sitting along the sofa opposite us.
“Actually Karan is the newspaper guy,” I said.
“What? I did not understand you Sagar,” Neeta said.
“He means that I will come daily to give you the newspaper as this is my side business these days,” Karan cleared the confusion.
“Oh, Okay,” Neeta took a newspaper from Karan’s hand.
“You are doing business while you are doing studies. That’s nice Karan,” Neeta said.
“No, Neeta. No more studies. I left college. I’m looking for another job right away,” Karan said.
“Ok, so tell me what you both like to have, tea or coffee?” Neeta asked.“Nothing, I still want to sleep. I came here because Karan was feeling shy,” I said.
I could see shame and anger on Karan’s face while I said that.
“Why should you feel shame? It’s your business or line of work and no work is small or wrong,” Neeta said to Karan.
“Yes, but I want to do some big job or business, as this is not enough. We bear a debt to pay, medicine, doctor and other surface areas,” Karan said quietly.
“Yes, that’s true; you require performing a big job where you can make more money, but I suppose it’s not possible in Porbandar. You necessitate living in some other city,” Neeta said.
“No, I do not want to leave this place or my parents,” Karan said.
“OK, but I guess you can work for a few months or years, as it will be a big help for your future. Then you can get back and stay here, at least you will lay aside money for your parents,” Neeta said.
“That’s true, but I can’t leave my parents alone,” Karan said.
“I can understand that, but I think you have to do something to change your situation. I can’t say much, but I believe you should think about it,” Neeta said.
“Okay, Neeta. Thanks, I will think of it,” Karan said and we left.
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