- 30 -
On reaching Hanuman Chowk in Bathinda, Rani stopped the car on the left side and jokingly said, “Mr. Alok, get down, your destination has arrived.”
Alok retorted, “How can you drop me anywhere before my destination, driver ma’am?”
“Now stop joking, tell me, where should I drop you?”
“Ma’am, you started joking otherwise could this humble person have dared to do such a thing? And if you must drop, throw me anywhere, what difference does it make?” Alok said in the same tone.
“Alok, enough is enough. Please tell me, I’m unable to conjure up what to say ... wait, let me think.”
“You may keep on thinking and it’ll get late…. Drop me at hotel Bahia Fort.”
“I also don't want to be late; I’m afraid that Ramesh Ji might not have already informed Vinay about my visit!”
“Rani, I feel like meeting aunty. It has been almost forty-five years since I saw her. She’ll be as happy to see me as to see you.”
“I appreciate your feelings but I’m helpless. Right now I can't take you along with me,” saying this, she turned the car towards the Mall Road. She dropped Alok at the hotel and headed towards her parental home.
Rani stopped the car outside the house. Anita Bhabhi was standing at the gate. Saying ‘Namaste Didi’, she turned her face inwards and called loudly, “Pinku, O Pinku! Look, who has come?”
Pinku came running. Seeing Rani, he hugged her legs. Rani picked him up in her arms and going inside asked lovingly, “How's our little sweet Pinku?”
“I’m fine Bua Dadi and how are you?”
“When our little angel is fine, his Bua Dadi is also fine.”
In the meantime, Vinay's daughter-in-law Shilpa also came and bent down to touch Rani’s feet. Rani took Pinku off her lap, hugged Shilpa and blessed her. Rani's Maa was lying on a cot in the Veranda. Hearing Rani's voice, she also got up. Arrival of her daughter generated new energy into her. Rani came and embraced her.
Maa said, “Rani, you’ve come after a long time! How is Ramesh ji? You should’ve asked him to come alongwith you. I would have met him. Who knows when I may die?”
“Maa, Vinay called me this morning. He was saying that you missed me a lot, now I’m with you. Ramesh Ji may come on Sunday. You’re quite fine and well taken care of! Why do you talk of dying?”
“Rani, no doubt, Vinay, Anil, Anita, Shilpa, everyone takes great care of me. Even at night, when I need, someone always helps me to the bathroom. Anita always sleeps next to me.”
“Maa, you’re fortunate that way. Only a lucky few get such dedicated and sensitive children.”
“I thank God and pray that I die without being a burden on anyone. …. For how many days are you here?”
“I’m here at least till Sunday. Rest depends upon the circumstances.”
Maa and Rani were, thus, discussing the family matters when Shilpa brought tea.
……
Alok made enquiries at the reception counter and after completing the formalities of booking, came into the room. After freshening up, he made tea. After resting for half an hour, he locked the room and came down for taking a stroll. While passing through the Dhobi Bazaar, he reached Jain Departmental Store. Pradeep was sitting in a transparent cabin. A laptop with an LCD screen was open in front of him. Pradeep was of the same age as Alok, but his body had aged way more. Due to wrinkles on his face, he looked eight to ten years older than Alok. Alok opened the door of the cabin and entering inside, he said with folded hands, “Namaste, Pradeep Ji.”
“Namaste,” Pradeep responded with a bewildered look and said, “Sorry Sir, I’m unable to recognise you.”
“Alok …. your childhood friend.”
Pradeep’s face brightened up on hearing the name and the mention of his childhood. He got up from the chair and came forward to hug Alok. He said, “What a surprise, brother! You’ve made me really happy. Please sit down.” He paused for a moment and then said in a reproaching tone, “You went to Patiala and never returned to your birth-place. What brought you here today?”
Ignoring Pradeep’s tone, Alok said, “Pradeep Ji, I had come here for some personal work. I got free. I’m immensely happy to meet you.”
Pradeep rang the bell. The servant entered with a tray of water.
Pradeep, “Okay. Tell me, what would you like to have - tea, coffee or cold drink?”
“Tea or coffee will do.”
Pradeep asked the servant to bring coffee and some sweets. When Alok asked the servant not to bring sweets, Pradeep said, “We’ve met after such a long time, we’ll definitely have some sweets. Where are you staying?”
“I’m staying in Bahia Fort. I’ll go back tomorrow morning.”
“Why in a hotel, friend! You should’ve sanctified our bungalow with your footsteps!”
“Next time, I’ll definitely stay with you.”
“Okay. But we’ll have breakfast together tomorrow. Don’t say ‘no’ now.”
“Even if you hadn’t asked, I would certainly have come to your house tomorrow morning!”
“I’ll send the driver. By what time will you be ready?”
“I’ll be ready by eight thirty.”
They talked about their childhood and Pradeep’s business. After about an hour, Alok asked for permission to leave. Pradeep called the servant and said, “Ask the driver to drop Sahib at Bahia Fort hotel.”
Pradeep also came out with Alok. When they were coming out, Alok said, “Brother, you’re looking quite weak?”
“Bhai, how do I tell you? I feel as if all the strength of my body has been drained out.”
“Why so?”
“Because of BP and Sugar.”
“To keep Sugar under control, in addition to the medicines, morning and evening walk is a must.”
“Bhai, I don’t get time to go for a walk. I reach home at nine thirty. It’s eleven o’clock by the time I go to bed after having dinner. Because I get up late in the morning, I can’t go for a walk. You know, I’ve also to be at the Store by ten o’clock.”
“Brother, don’t mind, you’ll have to change your lifestyle a bit if you want to be free from diseases.”
The driver honked because there was limited space for parking in the market. Alok said, “Okay, bye, see you in the morning.”
……
Rani's parental house is a double story one. Anil’s bedroom is on the first floor and Vinay’s on the ground floor. Rani slept on a folding bed in the veranda next to her mother. Even though the mother and daughter kept talking till late night, yet Rani got up early as per her routine. Everyone else was still asleep. After completing her morning chores, she told her mother that she was going for a walk in the park.
On the way she called Alok. As soon as he picked up the phone, she said cheerfully, “Uth jaag musafir bhor bhayi
Ab raiyn kahan jo sowat hai.”
(Wake up, O traveller, it’s morning
It’s no more night that you’re sleeping!)
Alok replied in the same tone, “The traveller couldn't sleep the whole night. How can anyone ask such a person to wake up who didn't sleep the whole night?”
“Why couldn’t you sleep the whole night?”
“Your thoughts kept me awake.”
“Alok, you’re matchless!”
“And can anyone beat you? … Certainly not. You are unique. Are you calling from home?”
“Could so much liberty be possible at home? …. I’ve come out for a walk and talking on the way.”
“Wow! Killing two birds with one stone.”
“When do you intend to leave?”
“Last evening while passing through the market, I reached Pradeep's departmental store. He was very happy to see me; he has invited me for the breakfast.”
Rani said jokingly, “Then you’ll have a great time! You’ll get a good breakfast and also an opportunity to see your old time girlfriend.”
Alok answered in a slightly teasing manner, “Are you jealous?”
Now Rani changed her tone and said, “Why should I be jealous? Rather I’m happy that even though I couldn’t provide you homemade breakfast, still you’ll not have to eat the hotel food.….. When’ll you be back in the hotel?”
“Pradeep's driver will come to pick me up at half past eight. I’ll come back around ten o’clock, because Pradeep goes to his store around ten.”
“I’ll try to see you at the hotel before you leave.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Ok. Bye.”
……
Pradeep's driver reached the hotel right at half past eight. Alok was sitting in the lobby reading newspaper. He had brought a bouquet while returning from his morning walk. On reaching the bungalow, driver parked the car in the porch. Hearing the sound of the car, Pradeep and Rama came out in the porch. Rama's body was so flabby that there was no sign of her slim-trim body of childhood days. If Pradeep hadn’t been standing with her, it would have been difficult for Alok to recognise her.
Pradeep and Rama greeted Alok with folded hands and Rama said, “You’re welcome, Bhai Sahib.”
Saying ‘Thank you’, Alok gave her the bouquet and said Namaste. Coming inside, Alok said, “Your bungalow is magnificent. When did you get it built?”
“We shifted in this Kothi ten years ago.”
The decoration of the drawing room did not reflect elegance and sophistication but was showcasing owner’s wealth. Alok sat on the sofa and looked around. A large number of show-pieces were placed here, there and everywhere. There was hardly any space to breathe. The drawing room was looking like a museum. Moreover, it was a humid day, Alok felt suffocated. He even felt difficulty in breathing due to the salty humidity. Seeing him wiping his sweat repeatedly, Pradeep got up and switched on the AC and said, “Sorry Bhai, I forgot to switch on the AC in a hurry.”
After they sat down, the servant served them juice.
Alok said, “I won't take the one with ice.”
Pradeep asked his servant, “Go, fetch a glass of juice without ice for Sahib.”
Rama asked Alok, “Bhai Sahib, one member of our group of five, Vinay has settled down here after retirement. His son has opened a big showroom. As for Rani, have you ever met her? She lives in Mohali. Her husband has a flourishing business of import-export.”
“Yes, I met her by chance at a wedding ceremony last November. She didn't recognise me, but on hearing my name, she immediately recognised. Rani told me that both of you, who had played together in childhood, are now sailing in the same boat of life. Many congratulations to both of you.”
Rama said with a slight sarcasm, “You and Rani were very good friends. Whenever she meets me, she always mentions you one way or the other. She didn’t know your whereabouts otherwise she would’ve met you much earlier. …. Thank you for your good wishes.”
“What’re your children doing?”
Signs of sadness appeared on Rama's face. Still trying to remain composed, she said, “God has been very kind to us in every respect Bhai Sahib, but we’ve not been blessed with a child. Everything seems hollow without a descendant to carry forward the family name.”
Alok noticed that despite best of her efforts, Rama’s eyes had become moist. He could only say, “Oh! One has to live as He wishes.”
Just then the servant came and said, “Sahib Ji, breakfast is ready.”
Pradeep held Alok's hand and said, “Let’s have breakfast.”
Alok cast a cursory glance over the table. There were two types of sandwiches, Dhokla (a Rajasthani dish made mainly of gram flour), milk and cornflakes, Aloo Puri, Gulab Jamun besides ice cream.
He said, “Rama Ji, you’ve got prepared so much in the breakfast that it’s difficult for a person like me to decide what to eat and what to leave.”
“Bhai Sahib, we’ve met after almost half a century; you’ll have to taste everything even if a small quantity of each.”
“Oh, is it so! Let me try.”
When Alok was having breakfast, Rama said, “Bhai Sahib, don’t think that these items have been prepared by the servant, I’ve prepared these all by myself. Servant was left with the task of serving hot Puris (Deep fried bread) only.”
Praising wholeheartedly, Alok said, “Rama Ji, even if you had not told it, the great taste of the food itself speaks of the loving hand of the hostess behind its preparation. I’ve eaten so much that there’s no scope of eating anything else till night. …. You guys should come to Patiala sometime.”
“Sure. What do your children do? And how is your wife?”
Alok told that his son and daughter are settled in Australia. He also informed sadly that his wife left him four years ago. There was sadness in the environment for some time. Both Rama and Pradeep expressed grief over his wife's death. Alok, in order to lighten the atmosphere and knowing that Pradeep was getting late for the store, got up saying, “Rama Ji and Pradeep Bhai, it was a privilege to see you after such a long spell of time. Thank you once again for the sumptuous breakfast.”
“Alok Ji, come along, I’ll drop you at the hotel on the way.”
…….
After Vinay and Anil left for the showroom, Rani said to Anita, “Bhabhi, I’m going to the market. Yesterday, I couldn't bring anything for Pinku.”
“Didi, wait a little, I’ll get ready quickly and accompany you.”
“Bhabhi, you don't need to hurry. I’ll go by myself. I intend to visit my friend Rama also.”
Rama was only an excuse; Rani had to go to Alok. She called him to confirm whether he had arrived at the hotel or not. He had. Rani went straight to his room and knocked. He called from inside, “Come in, the door is open.”
When Rani entered the room, Alok was sitting on the bed, reading a magazine. As soon as she entered the room, she started pulling the curtains.
“What’re you doing?” enquired Alok.
“One gets better sleep in the darkness.”
“But it’s not the time to sleep.”
“O dear! You yourself said that you couldn’t sleep the whole night. Now sleep till you’re in the room, I’ll sing a lullaby to put you to sleep.”
“Then I won't get the sleep at all, I would keep on enjoying your sweet singing.”
After pulling the curtains properly, Rani opened the blanket and pulled it over both of them and said, “Now close your eyes like a good boy and go to sleep quickly.”
“And what about lullaby?”
“Don't speak a word, sleep quietly for an hour.”
“You’re behaving like a dictator!”
“I’m doing all this for your good. Don't waste time now.”
At twelve o’clock, Alok paid the hotel bill and took a rickshaw to the bus stand and Rani left for Dhobi Bazaar to buy a gift for Pinku.
*****
