by Atul Sharma
“No, no! I was just thinking how pretty you’ll look in it. Anyways open the next gift for your thirteenth birthday. It will compliment the previous gift,” Raghav said as he presented another packet to her.
It was ‘a top’ that perfectly matched the skirt.
“Thanks for making my dress complete,” said Nandini jubilantly.
“Thank that sales girl instead of me. She helped me in finding this as well.”
“My fourteenth birthday arrived with the new century. It’s 15th July, 2000. Is there something special for this occasion?” asked Nandini.
“Why not? Open it.”
Nandini unwrapped the cover of the box.
“A painting! It looks very different. What does it indicate?” asked Nandini.
“In this painting a little girl is holding the hand of a shady figure. It indicates that this little girl is Nandini and the figure whose hand she’s holding is God. God will always remain with Nandini in all circumstances.”
Raghav explained his own version of the painting and Nandini was over the moon.
“Raghav, God will always bless one who has a well-wisher like you.”
“I toiled hard in choosing the gift for your fifteenth birthday. I hope you’ll like it.” Raghav presented another gift to Nandini.
“Bangles! You don’t know how much girls like these,” Nandini said as she wore the two engraved bangles, one in each hand.
“Looking beautiful on your wrists. I am happy that the size has adjusted well to your wrists,” said Raghav.
“I can’t wait any longer to get my next gift,” urged Nandini.
Raghav gave her a small wrapped box. It contained ‘a pair of earrings’ as the gift for her sixteenth birthday.
“Raghav, you’ll kill me today with your terrific gifts.”
“How am I looking?” Nandini asked when she wore those beautiful earrings.
“Nandini, it’s my turn now to get killed. I don’t want to take my eyes away from your face.”
“The show must go on. What’s next in your magic box for my seventeenth birthday?”
The gift was ‘a perfume’. But Nandini laughed loudly when she saw it.
“Why are you laughing?” Raghav asked in bewilderment.
“My Sweetu, you have brought a mens’ perfume for me.”
“O shit! I bought for you my favourite perfume.” Raghav cursed himself.
“But this’ll always remind me of your innocence,” said Nandini. She still couldn’t stop her laughter.
“It’s 15th July, 2004. Nandini is an adult now. A special day because you can vote and drive now,” Raghav said and gave her a gift which sounded pretty good.
It was ‘a wind chime’.
“I’ll put it on the entrance of my home,” said Nandini.
“I hope it’ll bring good luck and fortune in your life,” Raghav wished.
“Raghav, you must have spent a lot of time buying these beautiful gifts for me.”
“I enjoyed every part of it but the most difficult part was to buy the girls items. When I asked for bangles and earrings many fellow customers, especially some aunties, stared at me as if I had asked for some wrong thing,” Raghav replied taking a big sigh of relief.
“So sweet!” Nandini pinched his cheek.
“Give me your hand to receive your nineteenth gift,” asked Raghav.
Raghav put on a ‘watch’ on her wrist.
“So funky! What a sports watch!” Nandini jumped with joy.
“Raghav, you shouldn’t have spent so much for my gifts.”
“I won’t get a chance to do it everyday,” said Raghav.
“Initially, I thought that you’ll tie a friendship band,” said Nandini.
“Our bond needs no band,” replied Raghav.
“Let’s move on to your twentieth birthday. I didn’t buy this gift but have made it myself.”
Raghav gave a self-made ‘greeting card’ to Nandini. It was a simple greeting card made from a plain drawing sheet with some colours used which gave the impression that this was made by a primary school student on the Teacher’s day. But what touched Nandini’s heart were those words written by Raghav inside the card.
“May the worst time of your life be better than the best time of my life.”
“Raghav, someone up there loves me but someone down here prays for me,” Nandini said holding his hands. Tears rolled down from her eyes.
“No tears today, only smiles!” Raghav wiped her tears.
‘‘Smiles and tears, rarely meet but when they meet it’s the most beautiful moment ever.”
“Now give me my last gift for my twenty-first birthday today,” asked Nandini.
“You’ll have to wait for that. We’ll celebrate your birthday first with cake-cutting ceremony,” replied Raghav.
“O dear! You have brought cake too. But why not celebrate after I get my last gift,” suggested Nandini.
“What’s the time?” asked Raghav.
“2:45 p.m.” replied Nandini.
“Ma’am, your birth time is 2:50 p.m. I want you to cut the cake at that time.”
“So sweet! You have kept note of every small detail.”
Raghav brought the cake from the car.
Happy Birthdays Nandini – it was written on the cake.
Raghav kept it on the centre of the cemented bench, lighted two candles on it and started singing the birthday song. Nandini cut the cake with a ribbon-tied knife while the clouds also prepared to send their greetings to her.
“Even the God is happy in your way of celebration.” Nandini said when it started to rain.
Raghav switched on the music system of the car.
“Nandini, let’s enjoy under this drizzle. You have got all your gifts except one. Close your eyes,” asked Raghav. He stood close to her.
He gave her the twenty-first gift. A gift which made Nandini thought for a moment that if the time had come to a still. His gift was ‘a kiss’.
‘‘Nandini, I Love You,” said Raghav. The intensity in his eyes complemented his words.
Nandini was lost for some time. It is not difficult to speak those three words but what is difficult is to have someone in your life whom you find worthy enough to speak it. She had just felt the first sensation of love. They both hugged each other and felt the pleasure of being in the arms of a beloved one. It was as if a snow man had warmly hugged a snow woman and they both melted in each other’s arms. There was water all around. Their bodies were wet with rain and their eyes were wet with tears.
No one wanted to leave the other, no one spoke. Raghav collected the gifts, put them in the bag, started the car and they moved to Shimla. They were old friends but new lovers. As friends they talked without inhibition but as lovers they spoke through eyes only. The sound of the music in the car was falling deaf to those ears which had just heard something special, something eternal.
“We are near your home.” Raghav said when they reached near the ASI estate.
“I’ll go from here,” said Nandini.
“Take your bag,” asked Raghav.
“Bye!” Nandini said and she rushed towards her home.
The first thing they both wanted to do after reaching their homes was to talk to each other but they didn’t know what was pulling them back. Raghav couldn’t hold himself back anymore and called her.
“Hi Nandini! How are you? I mean, are you fine?”
“Yeah, I’m,” replied Nandini and silence followed.
“Will you show the gifts to your family?” Raghav asked in a bid to counter the silence.
“Not all the gifts, no way! Papa will kill me with his eyes if I tell him that you have gifted these. I’ll show some gifts and say that I have bought these from the market. Rest of my prized possessions will remain as my hidden treasure.”
“It was the most wonderful day of my life,” said Raghav.
“I am still dreaming and re-living the whole day,” said Nandini.
“Nandini, thanks for accepting my love.”
“Raghav, there is no need to thank. You made my birthday memorable and my life meaningful.”
“Nandini, I want your love forever.”
“Raghav, I am all yours from today. I can’t imagine life without you now. You don’t know what you mean to me and what place you have occupied in my heart. Maybe I can never show, maybe you’ll never know.”
A little portion of the cake was still left to remind Raghav of that magnificent moment of love and the words written on it said more — Happy Birthdays.
5
Misfortune of the Fortunate
“Fortune knocks once but misfortune has much more patience.”
“Raghav, come home soon,” Neha said on phone when Raghav was in the University.
“Maa, what happened? Why are you sounding low?”
“Bauji fell down in his room and is unconscious. Your papa had gone to Shimla for some work. I have informed him. He is coming with Dr. Vishal. You just rush up now,” wobbled Neha.
“Nandini, I am going back to home. Something has happened to Bauji,” Raghav said and left in a hurry.
Meanwhile, Neha also informed Vineet and Rajni.
“I’ll reach there by tonight,” said Vineet.
“It’s a heart attack.” Dr. Vishal informed after examining Bauji.
“What should we do now?” asked Vijay.
“He has regained consciousness. We should take him to the hospital now,” suggested Dr. Vishal who was a private practitioner.
‘‘There is no need to go anywhere. It’s time for me to go alone on my final journey,” said Bauji.
These words of Bauji took away the remaining hope that they all had in their hearts.
“Can you please leave me and Raghav alone for a while?” asked Bauji.
“Dadaji, what happened?” Raghav asked when others left the room.
“Nothing, my dear. I just want to talk to you, maybe our last discussion.”
“Dadaji, don’t break my morale. You promised me that you’ll dance the most in my marriage.”
“Sorry beta. I’ll not be able to keep up my promise. But I’ll surely dance somewhere up there when you’ll marry,” Bauji said leaving him in tears.
“Raghav, I don’t want tears in your eyes. You are my brave grandson. After I am gone, you have to take extra care of your parents. You have to inject confidence in them to live a happy life without me amongst you. Always remain a devoted son of your parents as Vijay and Vineet had been to me. However big you may become in life and whatever you may accomplish in future but never forget your parents’ role in shaping your life. Beta chahe kitna bhi bada kyun na ban jaaye lekin baap hamesha baap hi rehta hai. And don’t take undue pressure to build the charitable home. It’ll happen if it has to.” Bauji said giving the final pearls of wisdom to his student.
“Dadaji, let’s go to the hospital now.”
“I’ll go but after some time. Let me take some rest now.” Bauji kissed Raghav’s forehead.
Raghav hugged him tightly. Probably, he also realised that a special bond is about to end now.
“Dadaji is resting now. We’ll go to the hospital after some time.” Raghav said when he came out of the room.
“Dr. Vishal, do you think Bauji will have to be operated upon?” asked Vijay.
“Not straightway,” replied Dr. Vishal. “Angiography will be done first to assess if there is any blockage in the arteries. The next course will be decided thereafter.”
“Neha, go and ask Bauji if we can move now,” said Vijay.
“Bauji!!!” Neha shouted so loudly that Raghav and Vijay froze by that scream.
Dr. Vishal rushed to the room to only declare it officially that Bauji was no more.
Raghav couldn’t garner the courage to move inside the room to see his dear grandfather, in body only and not in spirit.
The atmosphere of the villa became sombre with moaning voices. The employees sobbed as heavily as their masters cried.
“Didi, we all have become orphans now,” Neha said when Rajni arrived.
Vineet reached there by night and cried severely by hugging his brother. Vijay had to control his own emotions to pacify Vineet because he had to fill in the role of the father also.
By the morning when Bauji’s body was to be taken to the crematorium for funeral, almost all the relatives and friends had reached there. The huge number of people in the funeral procession showed how much goodwill Bauji had generated in his lifetime. Raghav put a brave front because Bauji had asked him to become a pillar of strength for the family.
But Raghav couldn’t control his tears when Vijay lit the pyre. He felt as if the roof had been taken away from his head.
Even the huge armies can’t build up your confidence as much as the elders in your family do. Workers make houses, women turn them into homes but it’s the elders who provide you a shelter therein.
On the thirteenth day, almost whole of Devpur had descended there to pay their homage to Bauji. Among them were those people who had received Bauji’s help from time to time. Even the lesser mortals are talked of highly on this day but there were enough reasons to praise Bauji.
Raghav’s friends and classmates turned up to show their solidarity. Among them there was one whose support he definitely needed at that juncture. Nandini had also come. They couldn’t talk much. Nandini couldn’t meet Neha as she was surrounded by wailing women.
It was a touching moment when Vineet left the villa. This time Vijay cried inconsolably. ‘The Sunrise Villa’ which had witnessed only smiles and laughter of its guests, witnessed grief today. The nature had indeed ended a long and beautiful chapter of their lives.
Jagdeep was the last one to leave.
“Vijay, I know that no words can console you and fill the void left by Bauji but I’ll just say that I am always with you,” said Jagdeep.
“Jagdeep, now it’s only you to whom I can turn to in moment of sorrow,” said Vijay.
“I am just a call away. Don’t hesitate to call me anytime,” said Jagdeep.
It was the most sorrowful night in the villa for the grief-stricken family after everyone had left. The vacuum created by Bauji’s demise looked bigger then.
Some people say that you don’t know what you have until you lose it. But it’s not like that. You always know what you have; you just never thought you would lose it.
Raghav went to the University after a long time.
“Only study can divert your attention from this sad note,” said Nandini who was happy to meet him after a long time.
“But dadaji’s memories aren’t leaving my mind here even. He was like a friend to me. I never felt generational gap between us.”
“It’ll take some time to get back to normal. Put focus on your parents’ well-being and your career. I can understand your pain because I also went through such a painful time when nanimaa expired.”
“There’s a saying that time heals all the wounds. But they didn’t mention the period,” said Raghav.
“Raghav, catch up with the studies. I have prepared notes for you for all those lectures you couldn’t attend.”
Nandini cared for Raghav’s study more than hers.
Vijay, Neha and Raghav were sitting in the garden one day when Jagdeep visited the villa.
“Bauji’s memories are making me weak.” Vijay said and hugged his friend.
“Try to divert your attention by spending more time in the orchard and by the way how is the apple crop this year,” asked Jagdeep.
“The picture is grim this time. It didn’t snow enough in winter and the h
ailstorm in April added fuel to the fire. Neither do I expect good size of apple this year nor handsome returns,” replied Vijay.
“This is the major drawback of any work that is seasonal or depends on weather. It can leave a person ruing if luck deserts,” opined Jagdeep.
“What can one do if it’s in the destiny!” said Neha.
“We shouldn’t rely on destiny all the time but try to harness other available resources,” said Jagdeep.
“But what’s the scope for us?” asked Neha. “This orchard and farmhouse business is our bread and butter.”
“My views can sound out of place in this moment but I can suggest ways which can make you financially secure,” said Jagdeep.
“You are our well wisher. Whatever you say will be for our good only,” said Vijay.
“My view is that you should look for other avenues so that Raghav’s future is secured. I know that Raghav isn’t interested in the agriculture business. Why not do something which is profitable as well as to his liking,” opined Jagdeep.
“Can you suggest something?” asked Neha.
“I’ll again ask you to re-think on my earlier proposal,” said Jagdeep.
“You mean mineral water plant idea! But Bauji was against it,” said Neha.
“I respect Bauji’s sentiments but I also want a secure future for my son Raghav,” Jagdeep said exhibiting how much he cared for Raghav.
“We appreciate your feelings for Raghav but how can we go against Bauji’s wishes?” asked Neha.
“One should change with time and look for the greener pastures to make profits in life,” said Jagdeep.
“All issues are not governed by profits. Some are seen through the glass of emotions,” said Raghav who till now was a listener in their discussion.
“Will it be disrespect for Bauji if you prosper in life? Infact his soul will rest in peace to see you all living a comfortable life,” said Jagdeep.
“I don’t see any harm in looking at this proposal. In the long run I just want a stable business and financial security for Raghav,” said Vijay.
“Take your time and if you arrive at any unanimous decision let me know,” Jagdeep said and asked for their permission to leave.