by Atul Sharma
“Don’t worry. I’ll pacify him,” said Vijay. “Everyone will appreciate our decision once the production starts. Every business enterprise has risks attached to it. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t aim high in life.”
“Papa, have you got any intimation from Jagdeep uncle?” Raghav asked some days later. “A month has passed since we got the clearance papers but the work is yet to start.”
Vijay dialled Jagdeep’s number.
“Hello Jagdeep! How are you? It has been a long time since we met. What about the plant work? It has not started by now,” asked Vijay.
“Yaar, I’m in Delhi for this purpose only. I’m not sitting idle here,” replied Jagdeep.
“We have submitted the whole amount and obtained the clearance papers from them. We were told that the work will start within a week. Why’s the delay then?” asked Vijay.
“It’s easy for you to comment from there. I am toiling harder than you,” Jagdeep shouted in a harsh tone and ended the call.
“He is in Delhi to figure out the reasons of this delay,” Vijay informed them. But he didn’t mention to them the strange behaviour of Jagdeep.
Another month passed without the work being started. Vijay, Neha and Raghav passed every day with feelings of fear, suspicion and resentment. The delay in the work was taking its toll on Raghav’s studies as well. They telephoned Jagdeep in between but to hear a new excuse every time. Their life took an unwanted turn one day when Vijay received the summons from the court. The content of the notice removed the land from under his feet. Raghav took the papers from his hand.
“What’s this? Oh my God!” Raghav’s hands trembled while reading the papers.
“What happened?” asked Neha.
“These are the summons of the court. The bank through which we took a loan has filed a complaint against us. They have stated that since our company has gone bankrupt and has been taken over by another company, why not the bank should sell our orchard in order to recover the loan amount.”
“Gone bankrupt! Even the work has not been started on our land, how can we go bankrupt?” asked Neha in bewilderment.
“They dialled Jagdeep’s number to check the facts but they heard only one voice repeatedly – ‘the number you are calling does not exist’.”
“Even Shilpa’s cell is also switched off,” informed Neha after she tried Jagdeep’s wife’s number.
They immediately rushed to Jagdeep’s office in Shimla but found it closed. They went to his home which was a rented one. It was also locked. His neighbour disclosed that he had seen them taking out their luggage and furniture some days back. Then they came back to the villa.
“Papa, why don’t you talk to Mr. Bhatnagar of ALC Private Ltd.,” suggested Raghav. And put the phone in the loudspeaker mode.
“Good afternoon Mr.Vijay,” said Bhatnagar. “I am very surprised with your decision. It’s strange that you lost the interest and confidence in your project so soon.”
“Sir, I’m not getting what you are saying. I am myself very tensed after receiving the summons from the court,” Vijay said and elaborated the full episode to Bhatnagar.
“Are you serious?” asked Bhatnagar.
“Why’ll I play with my own emotions?” replied Vijay.
“Aren’t you aware of the deal then?” asked Bhatnagar.
“What deal?” questioned Vijay.
“My God!” exclaimed Bhatnagar. “It means that your partner stabbed you in the back.”
“Please tell me the truth before I faint,” said Vijay.
“Mr.Vijay, after you submitted the money to us, we were all set to start the installation work in your plant. Mr. Jagdeep requested us to postpone the work for some time. He came to our office some days later with his legal counsel. He told that since you are not inclined to pursue this endeavour anymore, he has sold your company to ‘Kharbanda Associates’. I thought you must know about all this since you had given him the General Power of Attorney.”
“My brother is an advocate in the High Court. I’ll send him to you. Please brief him about all this,” asked Vijay.
Vineet could not believe his ears when he learnt the whole story. He went to meet Bhatnagar. Vineet moved for Devpur in the evening. He arrived in the villa in the early hours of the morning. The three of them could not sleep the whole night.
“That bastard Jagdeep has shown his real face now, Vineet uttered on entering inside the villa. I’m very angry with all of you. You didn’t find it right to know my opinion before venturing into an unknown zone. Its pity that a lawyer is in your home but you believed and did whatever that rascal said.”
“Vineet, what did Bhatnagar say?” asked Neha.
“Frankly speaking, its curtains for us. Jagdeep manipulated the documents in such a manner that even I can’t do anything now. It was mentioned in the GPA that Jagdeep had the right to even sell the company without your assent,” said Vineet.
“How did Jagdeep execute his plan?” asked Raghav.
“He played a shrewd game. Bhatnagar narrated to me the complete story. On attaining the GPA, Jagdeep transferred your share of 60% to himself. Then he sold the complete project to some Mukesh Kharbanda, M.D of Kharbanda Associates, who already has a similar business in Uttarakhand. Now your Himalayan Products Limited is 100% owned by him. Bhatnagar is a nice guy but under contractual obligation to start the plant for the new management,” explained Vineet.
“Vineet, what’ll we do now? We put all our money in it. Moreover, we took a loan as well,” Neha wept.
“Your innocence has ruined you. Had you given Jagdeep Special Power of Attorney (SPA) instead of the GPA, he couldn’t sell the company without your consent. Now you have lost all your money and the land no longer belongs to you. If the loan amount is not returned, the bank will auction the orchard.”
“How much money Jagdeep got by selling the company?” asked Raghav.
“Bhatnagar told me that Jagdeep sold the complete project, including the land, for a whopping amount of four crore rupees,” informed Vineet.
“We are trying to contact him but in vain,” said Raghav.
“Why aren’t you saying anything about your best friend now? Vineet shouted at his brother probably for the first time. He has changed his contact numbers. But I got his new number from Bhatnagar. Call him from my cell. He’ll not pick your number.”
Vineet dialled Jagdeep’s number from his cell and handed it to Vijay.
“Hello! Who’s this so early?” asked Jagdeep.
“Jagdeep, why you did this to me? Had you asked from me I would have myself given you all!” This was all Vijay said to his friend whom he loved like a brother.
Jagdeep was stunned. However cunning he might have become but deep inside he also knew that he had brought disgrace to the pious relationship of friendship. There was silence for a while before Jagdeep ended the call without saying anything.
All of a sudden something started happening to Vijay. His face turned pale. It seemed that he wanted to say something but couldn’t speak. His hands started trembling and his tongue came out. Within seconds he fell on the floor. He didn’t lost consciousness but was unable to move his body. Neha, Vineet and Raghav petrified on seeing Vijay’s condition. It was six in the morning. Raama and Maharaj also turned up there. They put Vijay in the back seat of the car and rushed to Govt. Hospital, Shimla.
The junior doctor in the emergency ward was convinced that it was a serious case. He immediately called his seniors. Vijay was examined by a team of doctors in the emergency room. All three of them waited anxiously outside the room.
The doctors’ assessment shattered the family.
“The patient has suffered a paralytic attack,” said Dr. Rao who was the senior most in the faculty. “The patient has suffered a stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain and hence shown right sided p
aralysis. This is one-sided paralysis and is called ‘Hemiplegia’.”
“What’ll be the course now?” asked Vineet.
“He’ll be kept in the intensive care unit (ICU). We’ll discharge him only when there are signs of recovery,” said Dr. Rao.
Dr. Rao called Vijay’s family to his office in the afternoon.
“I want to provide you the actual feedback. I hope you’ll appreciate,” said Dr. Rao.
“Doctor Sahib, will my husband be all right?” asked Neha.
“Don’t worry; he’s out of danger,” assured Dr. Rao. “There is no threat to his life. But he won’t be his normal self for some period. His right side has become non-functional. It’ll take some time when he’ll get back to shape fully.”
“But what has happened to papa?” Raghav asked in dismay.
“This stroke has happened due to some shock. It occurs when the blood vessel bringing oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or gets blocked. It is a kind of ‘Aphasia’. Such person has difficulty in talking, walking, eating, dressing etc. A stroke survivor experiences mood swings and problem of understanding speech.”
“How long will it take to recover fully?” asked Vineet.
“When the motor nerves will apply their energy to the muscles, the body will become mobile again. It may take anywhere from
1 to 3 years depending on the responsiveness and eagerness of the patient.”
“What we have to do here and at home?” asked Neha.
“As long as he is here, we’ll look after him. At home you’ll have to help him in almost all the activities like eating, dressing and bathroom functions. Complete right side of his body will remain inactive for sometime.”
Kamal, Rajni, Naren and Anu reached Devpur.
“I don’t know why destiny has cast its bad spell on you,” said Rajni.
“First Bauji left us and then we lost our land and money. Now Raghav’s papa has suffered a paralytic attack,” Neha sobbed.
Meanwhile Vineet, Naren and Raghav met with the bank manager, Anil Sareen.
“Please understand our situation; we haven’t sold our company but our partner betrayed us,” pleaded Vineet.
“I feel sympathy for you but the banking depends on professional basis and not on emotions. You’ll have to pay the loan amount to get back your orchard because it was obtained by you as a personal loan. The new management which has taken over your company is safe and out of this issue,” said Anil Sareen.
“Seeing our previous track record what possible help can you do?” asked Naren.
“Your previous record is remarkable. I can help you by giving some extension. If you pay the loan amount with interest in two years from now, we’ll hand over the orchard papers to you. Otherwise, we’ll go by law and auction your property. Till you repay the loan, the orchard will remain with the bank,” said Sareen.
“Don’t worry didi, I’ll mobilise some money for you,” said Naren in hospital.
“We all are here for you. We’ll get back the orchard,” said Vineet.
“I am very grateful for your cooperation,” said Neha. “But I know it very well that you all have no extra money. Vineet has recently bought a commercial property in Delhi. He himself has taken loan. Naren has to set aside a lot of money as Parul will join a professional course. Rajni didi has to marry Sushma some months later. I won’t put all of you under any sort of pressure.”
“Then what’ll you do?” asked Rajni.
“We still have some time. Let Raghav’s papa recover first. Then we’ll ponder on this issue,” replied Neha.
“Neha, should we postpone Sushma’s marriage?” asked Kamal.
“No jijaji. Go by the schedule,” said Neha.
“But my brother will not be there in the marriage,” Rajni wept.
“I’ll send Raghav for sure. And tell Sushma that her mamaji’s blessings are always with her, said Neha.”
After some days Dr. Rao called them to his office when Vijay was being discharged.
“The patient is now in a condition to be taken to home,” said
Dr. Rao. “I have prescribed medicines and diet chart in the discharge card. The patient must be fed with natural foods. Cleanse his system with Epsom salt baths twice a day. Get him into sunshine for about half an hour a day. Get him to sit and flex his hands if he feels like. After some weeks, he’ll start walking and speaking. Till then try to instil confidence in him. You’ll be confirmed of his recovery when he’ll start writing. And bring him here for check-up once
every month.
Raghav was now less frequent to the University. Nandini regularly prepared notes for him. Nandini and other classmates visited the villa to enquire Vijay’s health. Neha met her for the first time and was impressed with her caring attitude.
“Beta, who was that beautiful girl?” Neha asked after Nandini left.
“She is Nandini, my classmate.”
Some months later – Sushma’s marriage
All the money they had was finished by now. More money was required to meet the household and medical expenses. When no other resource to generate money was in sight, Neha decided to sell some portion of her jewellery. Raghav couldn’t contradict his mother as they didn’t have any other option. The source of their income, the orchard, was confiscated by the bank. The money that they got by selling the jewellery was sufficient to sustain them for some time.
There wasn’t much fanfare in Sushma’s marriage. Due to the turmoil in the family, Kamal and Rajni decided to keep a low key affair. Only Raghav had come from his family’s side. Aashish cheered up Raghav and wished for Vijay’s early recovery. Everyone enquired about Vijay’s health first.
He is recuperating but slowly. He now recognises everyone but finds difficulty in talking. “We make him sit and flex his hands but he hasn’t started walking yet,” Raghav explained Vijay’s current status.
Kamal and Rajni got angry when Raghav gave them the shagun.
“No, I won’t take it at all,” said Rajni.
“You are in such a mess, haven’t taken any financial help from us and now you are doing this,” protested Kamal.
“It’s not a matter of custom but a symbol of our attachment,” said Raghav. “You very well know that how much papa had planned for di’s marriage. The suit that he got stitched for this function is still hanging in his cupboard. You don’t know how much sad he’ll feel when he’ll come to know that you didn’t accept his gift.”
“Di, I have met Rohit and talked to him,” Raghav told Sushma prior to the marriage rituals. “He’s a very nice guy and he’ll keep you very happy.”
Bidai is always the most touching moment in every marriage. It was more so here because Sushma and others wept not only for her departure but also because they all missed Vijay, Neha and Bauji.
“Destiny is so cruel on me,” rued Sushma. “Last time when I returned from Devpur, mamaji took me towards the car by holding me. He had said then that he was practicing for my bidai. I didn’t know then that it was the only opportunity that destiny had granted him.”
“I’ll not let you feel his absence today,” Raghav hugged her.
Raghav took Sushma towards the car by holding her in his arms.
Life is very harsh on you sometimes. Yet you have to stand up and be counted.
After the marriage, Sushma, Rohit, Aashish and Smriti also came to Devpur along with Raghav. Neha had asked them not to cry in front of Vijay as it could have an adverse impact on him.
“See Sushma has come to seek your blessings. You wanted to meet Rohit. Now get up and give them a hug,” Neha said to a semi-awake Vijay and rushed from there because she herself couldn’t follow the no-tears code.
“Mamaji, next time when I’ll come here, you’ll have to dance with me to cover up for your absence from my marriage,” said Sushma.
&nbs
p; The fake smiles are nowhere close to the real ones.
Probably Vijay also realised this on seeing their faces. He could not speak but he definitely understood what all was going on there. After all he was still a living person. He was not dead.
6
I am yours Forever
“He worshipped God and loved her. Later he realised both were same.”
‘You may not be very handsome but you can give your hand to someone who needs help and then you’ll be the most HANDsome person.’
This is what Nandini told Raghav when he said that he wasn’t a good match to her looks wise. He was hurt when someone commented ‘Hoor ke saath langoor’ when they were sitting in the university garden.
“Raghav, don’t get disturbed by the insensitive comments of some jealous people,” said Nandini.
“But they weren’t wrong either. I don’t stand anywhere near your beauty,” said Raghav.
“I’ll sound philosophical but beauty lies within and by that parameter you are way ahead of me. I got attracted to you after witnessing your humane qualities. There are many boys with chocolate faces and stout bodies but few have a heart like yours. You are a man with a golden heart. Now cheer up my Sweetu.”
“Nandini, thanks for being such a strong support system for my life. You have chosen me as the love of your life. God is really generous on me.”
“Many boys wanted me to be their girlfriend but I am after you. Isn’t it a good reason which proves your worth?” Nandini said and smiled. And with her smiled Raghav too.
“Is your papa’s health showing improvement?” asked Nandini.
“He’s getting better with each day. But it’ll still take some time before he is back to his normal self.”
“What about your loan payment?”
“We haven’t thought anything about that. Our concentration is on papa’s health. I don’t have any idea how’ll we pay the loan but I’m confident that God will show us the way.”
“The final exams are very near. How’s your preparation?” asked Nandini.