- 20 -
On 9th June
A programme was organised in Punjab University on ‘Kabir Jayanti’ (Kabir’s birth anniversary). The coordinator of the programme was Alok’s friend, so, he also got an invitation to attend this programme. The time of the programme was from 6 to 8 in the evening. Alok thought that it would be very difficult to leave Patiala at four o’clock in the peak of afternoon due to the excessive hot weather, so, he decided to leave for Chandigarh soon after having brunch. He thought that thus, he would also be able to spend some time with Rani before the programme. By the time he reaches Rani’s house, she would be free from her household chores. He planned to give her a surprise, so, didn’t inform her of his visit in advance. He left for Mohali as soon as Jaswanti left.
Alok reached Mohali around one o'clock in the afternoon. It was the day of Jyeshtha Purnima. The Sun seemed to be lost in its own radiance, and hot dusty winds were blowing strongly making whooshing sounds. The coal-tar layer on the road had become soft due to the extreme heat, and the marks of the tyres of vehicles were imprinted on it. In this hot afternoon, what to talk of humans, even birds could not be seen anywhere. Alok opened the main gate of Rani’s house, parked his car in the passage and pressed the doorbell. Neither the door opened nor there was any response. When there was no response even after pressing the bell for the second time, Alok called Rani on phone and asked, “Rani, are you at home?”
“Yes, but why?”
“I’m standing outside. I pressed the bell twice, but there was no response, so, I’ve called you.”
Rani left the phone on bed and rushed to open the door. Seeing Alok standing before her, expressions of surprise and happiness appeared on her face. Her whole body glowed with joy. Coming inside with Alok, Rani said, “Sorry Alok, I was in the bedroom, so, couldn’t hear the bell as it’s in the lobby….. But suddenly in this heat, is everything okay?”
“Why, don’t you like my coming?”
“Oh, don’t say that. I can’t tell you how glad I feel! But, without any information …?”
“I thought, I would give you a surprise, so, I didn’t call you.”
He laughed and said, “But eventually I got entry into the house only after calling.”
Rani joined him in laughter.
When he started moving towards the drawing room, Rani said, “Come on in the bedroom; the drawing room is burning like a furnace.”
Although Alok had come in the car with AC on, still, in the few minutes between getting out of the car and entering the bedroom, he was sweating profusely due to the extreme heat. He felt a big relief as he entered the AC room. When Rani started closing the bedroom door, Alok said, “Rani, when you’re alone at home, never close the bedroom door completely while the AC is on. The afternoons in summer are like midnights. There’s complete silence all around outside. Goons and miscreants wait for such opportunities. You never know when an untoward incident may occur.”
“You’re absolutely right. We read about such incidents every other day in newspapers, but somehow think, it’ll never happen to us. I’ll be careful from now on. ... But, you haven’t answered my question yet, why did you come at this time?”
Alok explained everything in detail and asked, “Will you accompany me to the programme?”
“I would’ve liked going with you, but I’m afraid lest some acquaintance should spot me with you.”
“You’re right. I also don’t want to take the risk, but my heart didn’t listen to my mind. …. Leaving Patiala before noon was not as difficult as it would’ve been at four in the peak of hot afternoon. And it also gave a golden opportunity to enjoy your company. I was sure that you would be alone at this time.”
“What would you like to drink - sharbat (Sweetened soft drink), lemonade or tea?”
“Make lemonade but don’t add ice.”
“Will it taste good without ice?”
“I’ve not taken anything colder than the room temperature for the last three years.”
“Why so, dear?”
“Eating or drinking cold things slows down the digestive process. And the undigested food rots generating acidic elements in the body.”
Then Rani asked, “Should I bring lunch?”
“I’ve already taken brunch. I can’t take anything now. If you’ve not taken lunch, then do take it.”
Rani chided affectionately, “Why did you take brunch when you were coming here? Doesn’t the food cooked by me taste as good as the one cooked by Jaswanti?”
“Oh Rani, what’re you saying! Actually, I eat between ten-eleven and then eat only in the evening. You take your lunch, don't delay anymore.”
“I can’t eat alone when you’re here.”
Alok saw that while saying this, Rani’s expressions changed. So, trying to normalise the situation, he said, “I don’t want you to stay hungry. Bring whatever you’ve prepared, I’ll also take a bite or two from the same.”
Rani’s face lit up and she brought the plate of food.
In between their conversation, Rani casually mentioned that she would be sixty on the fifth of next month. This made Alok feel excited. He asked with great enthusiasm, “How would you celebrate your birthday?”
“Alok, Ramesh Ji doesn’t even know my date of birth. We’ve never celebrated the birthday. He doesn’t like such things.”
“Don’t be disheartened. If he doesn’t know or doesn’t care, this time we’ll not let your birthday pass like any other day, but make it a special memorable day.”
“It won’t be possible here and if you want me to come to Patiala that, too, will be risky.”
“You’re right. I did want to call you to Patiala, but I won’t take that risk. 5th July is Wednesday, a working day. On a working day, after Lachhmi leaves in the morning, you’re free till seven or eight in the evening. There will be very little chance of anyone disturbing us. I’ll book a room in a hotel. We’ll celebrate your birthday there.”
“That will be great. I would also like that on 5th July from 11-12 to 7-8 pm, we should spend the entire time as we wish, without any kind of disturbance or interruption . .. Today’s programme is at 6 pm; take a nap for some time. In summers, you must be taking a nap for some time in the afternoon?”
“I sleep at home, but today talking to you, will feel much better.”
“I also feel the same . …. See, we had planned to meet once or twice a month, but the destiny had different plan. We’re meeting after almost four months.”
“Rani, it’s not right to blame the destiny when the things don’t go the way as you wish. Instead of feeling dejected, we should accept the life in whatever way it presents itself. This way we can enjoy it much more. We should look for some hidden goodness in the apparently adverse circumstances. We should thank God for giving us the opportunity.”
Thus, they talked openly and freely. Rani told Alok everything in detail, starting with Mr. Mehra seeing her at the Haryana Sahitya Academy function, to Ramesh calling Vinay and revealing everything to him threadbare, to Vinay’s attempt to convince her. She elaborated the argument given by her - ‘If I were a man and Alok were a woman, would anybody still have objected to our friendship? … Of course, not. Then, when the social customs and practices have changed so much, why should there be any object to the friendship between a woman and a man?’ She also told that since then, her marital relationship has been reduced to mere formality of fulfilling her household duties.
After listening to these hair raising details, Alok said, “So much has happened and you didn’t even call me?”
Rani countered rightfully, “You had last called me came on Nav Samvat; you didn’t even care to check what happened to me in between.”
“Sorry Rani, your complaint is absolutely justified. A person complains only to the one whom he or she loves from the depth of heart and over whom he or she considers a right. I’ve learnt my lesson. In future, I’ll never be so careless. I’ll definitely call you once a week or so. This way, I’ll at least get a chance to hear your sweet voice. One more thing, the way you’ve complained with pride shows the purity of your heart. I’ll always try to guard your honour.”
Then, Alok wanted to know what Ramesh’s reaction was. Rani told that even though he said nothing clearly, but they have almost stopped talking and were living like strangers under one roof.
“Rani, I’m afraid that this situation may be an indication of the volcano brewing inside Ramesh Ji! We should remain alert.”
To dilute the seriousness, Rani said in a nonchalant tone, “My wish has been fulfilled. I don’t care, what may happen next. …. Show me the selfie you took of us both.”
Switching on the mobile and showing the selfie, Alok said, “I’ve got it enlarged and framed. Whenever you come to Patiala, you’ll like it.”
Rani jokingly said, “Hope you’ve not hung it in your bedroom?”
“I’m not so mad.”
“You’ve already gone mad otherwise you wouldn’t have dared to come without informing me.”
Alok saw mischief in her eyes and a smile on her lips.
“Just seeing you in such a mood makes me lose control over myself.”
Rani looked at the clock. It was quarter past five. She asked, “What would you like with tea, sandwich or onion-potato pakodas?”
“Where did sandwich and pakodas come from in the midst of love-talk?”
“You’ve to go to the programme too; otherwise I’ve plenty of time. If you get late, you’ll blame me!”
“Okay Baba, I lose and you win. Now quickly bring tea and I’ll leave. Make sandwich, making pakodas will take more time.”
Rani sensed that Alok liked pakodas more, so she said, “I’m making pakodas, it won’t take much time. You’ll still reach on time. You had told me that the programme would end at eight o'clock. Such programmes usually get delayed. I request you not to drive at night and stay in some hotel here.”
It was six o'clock by the time they finished tea. Alok left for the university without further delay.
……..
Alok reached the University Auditorium in time. Although there was a large attendance in the Hall, the programme had not yet started. As soon as the programme coordinator saw Alok, he came down from the stage and asked an acquaintance sitting in the second row to vacate his seat and signalled Alok to sit and murmured something in his ear and went back to the stage. After about ten minutes, the arrival of the Chief Guest was announced. Till now the atmosphere was quiet, but now whispering started among the audience. In a few moments, the Chief Guest entered the Hall. He was garlanded by the members of the reception committee and requested to sit on a sofa placed in the front row. The stage conductor invited the Chief Guest and two-three office bearers of the programme-committee to garland the life-size portrait of Saint Kabir placed on the stage. A group of the girl students of presented Kabir’s humanitarian views by singing some famous couplets, which was loudly applauded by the audience. Then the Stage Conductor invited the distinguished scholars on the stage one by one to deliver lectures as per the programme. Though the stage conductor was constantly requesting speakers to adhere to the allotted time, yet every speaker took more than the allotted time. Thus, the programme which was supposed to end at eight o’clock, ended around nine o’clock. There was also an arrangement for dinner after the programme for the special invitees. Alok’s friend informed him that the arrangements had been made for his stay in the University guest house and requested him to stay. Alok also did not want to drive back to Patiala at this hour. He remembered Rani's advice. Hence, he accepted the request for stay.
Alok felt that the way, the speakers had, one after the other, presented their views, insulted saint Kabir’s personality with their narrow and divisive approach instead of paying tribute to a great humanist like him. Kabir, whose teachings have been included even in the holy book of the Sikhs - Guru Granth Sahib - had vociferously condemned the social and religious customs, evils and superstitions, ostentation and hypocrisy spread in the name of casteism, religion and faith, and had shown the path to reform the entire society but unfortunately, these so-called modern-day intellectuals are harming the society by limiting his teachings and unique contribution by proving him to be only a messiah of the Dalits (Downtrodden). They are promoting class-conflict. Instead of establishing harmony among different sections of society, they are creating animosity among them. Vote bank politics has further tainted it. Every party is misusing vote bank for the narrow party interests instead of broader national interests. Literature has also not remained unaffected from this artificial and narrow classification of ‘Dalit’. Literature is the mirror of the society. When society is suffering from narrow thinking, how can literature remain unaffected? Alok fell asleep pondering over these things.
*****
