by Atul Sharma
“Is it a knock out? Raghav asked to know about the type of tournament.
“Everyone says you are knocked down after this,” said Deepak shyly about the institution of marriage.
“How much money do I have to give?” asked Raghav because they always had to contribute something for every match.
“Why are you embarrassing me?” said Deepak as how could he ask for specific money as his marriage gift.
Deepak departed and Raghav started counting days for the big match.
“Where are you going?” Neha asked when she saw Raghav in full cricket dress on 7th.
“Maa, can you imagine that I’m going to play a day-night cricket match for the first time in my life.”
“Really! Where?” asked Neha.
“In Shimla,” replied Raghav. The match will start at 4 p.m, I’ll return late.
Vijay and Neha wished him best of luck.
With lots of excitement in his heart, Raghav moved for Shimla in his car. On the way, he realised that he had forgotten to ask Deepak about the dress. He wore white dress and the day-night match is played in the coloured clothing.
“They must have arranged the dresses, otherwise Deepak would have informed me,” Raghav thought.
He reached the community centre ground in time. Everyone was surprised to see him in white dress and with a cricket kit on his back.
“Raghav, is this a new fashion statement?” Deepak asked in amazement.
“What’s it? Aren’t we going to play a match today?” Raghav asked as he was taken aback to see ceremonies being performed there.
“What match?” asked Deepak. “It’s my marriage today.”
“O man! I thought that you had come to invite me for a match,” said Raghav realising his blunder.
Everyone was amused to learn the reality. There was laughter all around. Raghav also smiled at his misjudgement. The marriage ceremony had indeed come alive. It was a hilarious moment when Raghav posed for a photograph with the newly-wed couple.
Vijay and Neha were surprised to see him back so early.
“How was the match?” asked Neha.
“The match of the bride and the bridegroom is good,” replied Raghav.
Raghav elaborated them the full incident. It became a memorable moment as Vijay had a hearty laugh after ages.
“Pratap, why didn’t you tell me that you have a family function to attend?” asked Raghav next morning. Pratap’s father had called Raghav to grant him leave.
“There’s a booking from tomorrow onwards,” replied Pratap showing his commitment to work.
“I’ll manage the work. You can go to attend the function,” said Raghav.
The villa was booked by an NGO named ‘Martinet Helping Hand’. It was a renowned organisation which had opened up social care centres like orphanages, old age homes and women rehabilitation centres in different parts of the country. They had brought some of those less privileged people there for holidaying. It was a new experience for those people because they could never imagine staying in such a luxurious place.
There were old people, women and children in that troupe. Their body language showed that they found themselves out of place there. Raghav, Raama and Sanju received them with great warmth. They didn’t let them feel that they were in any way less than the
other guests.
“Nomashkar!” said the coordinator of the group, Deep Das Mukherji, on arrival.
“Hello!” I’m Raghav.
The new guests spend the time looking at the interiors of the villa. After sometime they were relaxed and enjoyed playing games. The elderly people were happier in strolling in the garden. They all looked very happy there.
Raghav asked Deep Das Mukherji to shed some light on their organisation.
“Martinet Helping Hand is an NGO run by a private trust. It is a place for those unfortunate people who don’t have any support. We provide education to the children and work for the women. We take them out for holidaying so that they don’t feel neglected in anyway,” said Mukherji.
“Where are you located at?” asked Raghav.
“We have centres in different parts of the country. These people are from our centres in Kolkata.”
“Are you in charge of the Kolkata centres?” asked Raghav.
“No, I’m head of the regional centre, North and posted in Chandigarh,” replied Mukherji.
“You are doing a very noble work,” said Raghav.
Raghav was sitting in the reception when he noticed a little boy staring at him. Raghav asked him to sit with him but the boy hesitated.
“What’s your name?” asked Raghav.
“Madhav,” replied the boy. His eyes were on the cup of coffee placed on the table which Raghav had ordered for himself.
“Where do you belong to?”
“Bangal,” replied Madhav. His eyes were still on the cup of espresso coffee.
“Are you enjoying here?”
Madhav remained quiet. After sometime, he drank Raghav’s coffee in one go and went to his room.
There was a lump in Raghav’s throat. Some people are more fortunate, some are less fortunate but there are also unfortunate people in this world. The plight of these unfortunate people moved him. The incidents of the past few months had made Raghav to view himself as an unfortunate person. His opinion about himself changed now.
Raghav accompanied them on the sightseeing trip of Devpur and gave them a treat at Him Prabhat. The group departed after spending some wonderful moments of their life in the villa.
The staff got busy after their departure because next to come were some senior executives of a company. They were coming there for a conference.
Their coordinator called Raghav from Shimla.
“We have reached Shimla. The guests are having tea and coffee here. We’ll reach there in an hour,” informed the coordinator.
Raama came to the reception. He was visibly tense.
“Raama, get the rooms cleaned up fast. The guests will reach here anytime,” said Raghav.
“There’s a problem. Manoj has refused to do work,” Raama said about the sweeper of the villa.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. You ask him.”
“Manoj, the guests are expected to reach here soon. Why aren’t you cleaning the rooms?” asked Raghav.
“I don’t want to work here anymore,” replied Manoj.
“What? Why?” Raghav was surprised.
“The workload has increased here since you have made it a hotel. I want my salary to be doubled,” said Manoj.
By then all the employees had gathered there.
“Is this the right occasion to discuss this issue?” asked Raghav. “Go and do your work. We’ll talk about it later,” said Raghav.
“No, I won’t work until you double my salary,” said Manoj adamantly.
Manoj knew it well that it’ll be hard for them to find his replacement so soon. So he chose this moment to show attitude.
“What are you saying Manoj?” Maharaj shouted at him. ‘‘Have you forgotten the time when you got three months salary without work when your leg was fractured?’’
Manoj didn’t relent.
“Manoj, pack your bags, take your balance and leave immediately,” said Raghav. You are not indispensable. Don’t think that the work will stop without you here. I also have two hands to do any work.
“I’ll do his work,” said Balbir like a soldier.
“Sanju, you also assist Balbir in the cleaning work,” directed Raghav. I’ll help Raama in the housekeeping work.
“There’s no need for you to do work,” said Maharaj.
“We don’t have the luxury of time,” said Raghav.
Raghav asked Raama to do the housekeeping work of half of the rooms while he himself took charge of the rest. It w
as for the first time when he was doing this work. Still he did it well. He changed the linen, put the cutlery outside and made ready the room. After the room was ready, Raghav moved to another room. He had barely reached the door of the room when he stopped. He turned back and looked at the room. He kept looking at it and smiled. It was his personal room in the villa. He lived like a prince here until few days back and was now cleaning it today. Time is the greatest teacher. It makes you master one day and servant the next day.
Time passed by bringing guests as well as money. The bank instalments were being deposited regularly. The pleasing atmosphere at home had a soothing effect on Vijay’s health. The doctors were satisfied with Vijay’s recovery. Dr. Rao was of the opinion that he’ll soon start speaking properly. The relatives were regular in enquiring about Vijay’s health and payment of loan. Meanwhile, Pratap returned from his home. He was told about Manoj’s departure. So he brought a sweeper with him. Everything was back on track.
Christmas Celebration
There was a call for Raghav from Rahul Taneja ten days before Christmas.
“Hi Raghav! Rahul here. Have you recognised me or not?”
“Hello Sir! How can I forget the first visitors of our hotel!”
“We are planning to come there during our Christmas holidays. Are the rooms available?” asked Rahul.
“Yeah. When do you plan to come?” asked Raghav.
“On 24th,” replied Rahul.
“I’ll wait for you,” said Rahul.
The first ones to arrive for Christmas celebrations were two middle-aged couples – Mrs. & Mr. Dsouza were accompanied by Mrs. & Mr. Puri. Mrs. Dsouza was brought in a wheelchair from the parking to the villa.
“Do you have any room on the ground floor?” Mr. Dsouza asked Pratap.
“Sorry, all the rooms are on the first floor,” replied Pratap.
“My wife has arthritis problem,” said Dsouza. “She can’t climb the stairs. What’s the way out for us?”
“More than the arthritis problem, her overweight added to her immobility.”
“Ma’am, if you agree we can take you upwards on this wheelchair itself,” suggested Raghav to Mrs. Dsouza.
“How’ll you do it?” asked Mrs. Dsouza.
“Four boys of our staff will lift the wheelchair from each corner,” said Raghav.
“Will they lift me safely?” Mrs. Dsouza was apprehensive.
“Don’t worry at all,” assured Raghav.
“Raama, you and Pratap hold the wheelchair from front while Sanju and Balbir will lift it from behind,” Raghav directed them.
“Slowly Lakshman slowly!” Mrs. Dsouza shouted to Raama when they lifted the wheelchair up. In that tense moment, she forgot whether the person in front was Raama or Lakshman.
On reaching the first floor, she took a breath of relief. She gave all four of them hundred rupees each. When they refused to take the money, she stared at them like a headmistress.
“Don’t refuse her,” said her husband. “Even I don’t dare to refuse her.”
Mrs. Dsouza was generous in nature, though looked strict in posture. She had the habit of forgetting names. She again called Raama with a different name.
“Krishna, my medicine need to be kept in the refrigerator,” said Mrs. Dsouza.
Raama wondered why she was calling him by a different name every time.
The other guests started to arrive there.
Abdul Haider arrived with his family which included his wife Fatima and children, Shahid and Zubeida.
“Uncle, will you celebrate Christmas?” Zubeida asked Pratap.
“Yes, we’ll and I hope you’ll enjoy,” replied Pratap.
“Will Santa Claus come?” asked Shahid.
“Let’s see,” said Pratap.
The intercom bell rang. It was a call from the room of the Dsouzas.
“May I help you!” asked Pratap.
“Tell Narayan to bring my medicine,” said Mrs. Dsouza, again forgetting Raama’s name.
Pratap wondered who Narayan was. He went outside to check if they had brought a driver or a helper with them. He couldn’t figure out Narayan and called back.
“Sorry Ma’am, I don’t know who Narayan is,” said Pratap.
“What sort of manager are you?” Mrs. Dsouza shot back. “You don’t know even your staff.”
“She was asking for some Narayan to bring her medicines,” Pratap told Raama.
“She was referring to me,” Raama clarified and went to give the medicine to her.
“I didn’t know that you have another name,” said Pratap.
“Even I don’t know that I have so many other names,” Raama replied and described the name forgetting habit of Mrs. Dsouza.
“But she always calls me by spiritual names. Maybe my name Raama is etched somewhere in her mind.”
Taneja family reached there on 24th December.
“It feels like reaching another home,” Divya said on arrival.
Raghav, Rahul and Divya sat in the garden in the evening.
“How’s the business doing?” asked Rahul.
“It’s doing better than my expectations.”
“How’s your father now?” asked Divya.
“He’s recuperating well.”
“Raghav, we were very touched to learn from Pratap about what all happened with your family. Is everything moving in right direction now?” asked Rahul.
“Everything is falling in place now. Papa has started to walk and speak. We have returned the chunk of the loan amount. Our financial position will become sound again once we get back our orchard.”
“Wonderful! You’ll have two sources of earning then,” said Rahul.
“We may not continue the hotel business as I would put my attention on my professional goals then,” said Raghav.
“What do you want to do after you are over with it?” asked Rahul.
“I want to become a psychoanalyst and would like to write
some books as well.”
“Writing!!! What do you want to write?” asked Rahul.
“I want to contribute something to my subject Psychology, anything which is related to the behavioural patterns of people.”
“Raghav, are you serious about writing a book?” asked Rahul.
“Yes, of course.”
Rahul and Divya looked at each other and smiled.
“What’s the matter? Don’t you think I can write?”
“We have no doubt in your abilities. We are just thinking if we can help you in achieving your goal,” said Rahul.
“You! How?” asked Raghav.
“Didn’t I tell you last time that I work in Sandal Publishing House?”
“Yeah, I do remember that you told me that the owner of the publishing house has a sandalwood business down south,” said Raghav.
“Although I’m the Director (Operations) and look after the printing and marketing side, yet I can put forward your work to our editorial team,” said Rahul.
“Will they agree to publish something written by a new writer like me?”
“Raghav, no one starts his career with his second book. Every writer has to write his first book first. The underlying principle of our organisation is to publish that work which has substance and values. Our boss, Mr. Anant Balaji, is himself an author and has penned many books. His sole motto is to bring out the talent of emerging writers,” said Rahul.
“Are you planning to write or have you written something by now?” asked Divya.
“I have penned down my thoughts on the concepts of myths and faith. But the work is not edited or typed in a proper way yet,” informed Raghav.
“Don’t worry about that part. We have an English Professor amongst us,” Rahul said about Divya who taught in Delhi University. “She’ll go
through your written work and do the editing and drafting work. I’ll then get it typed and submit to our editors as a proposal. I can take it up to there only. It’s their prerogative then to accept it or not.”
Rahul’s willingness to help him opened new gates of possibility for Raghav. He remembered Babaji’s advice. God had indeed sent a medium for transforming his life. He showed his written work to them which they liked in first instance.
“I’ll initiate the process but it’ll take some time,” said Rahul.
A surprise guest arrived in the villa on the Christmas day. Raghav was happy to see H.S. Dhillon after a long time. The villa was totally packed and not a single room was available.
“Uncle, nice to see you after a long time,” said Raghav.
“I was not well for past few months,” said Dhillon.
It was visible that living alone without any family support had taken its toll on the old man’s body.
“Open a room for me. I’ll also celebrate Christmas with you all,” said Dhillon.
“Uncle, all the rooms are packed with guests.”
“Where’ll I stay now?”
“Can you stay in my home for one day? Some guests will check out tomorrow. Then you can shift here,” said Raghav.
Dhillon was touched by Raghav’s gesture. He was received with great warmth by Raghav’s parents. He gelled well with them.
“After a long time I feel like living in a home,” said Dhillon.
Christmas was celebrated with full fanfare in the villa. A small tree inside the garden was converted into Christmas tree. The bonfire was lit. The whole celebration turned into a family affair as all the guests enjoyed it together. There were two special guests as well. Raghav had brought his parents to celebrate the festival with others. The employees were extremely happy to have them there in a cheerful mood.
“Uncle, where’s the Santa Claus?” Zubeida asked Raghav.
“We want to meet Santa Claus.” Shahid, Ira and Ishaan also joined the chorus.
Raghav was in a dilemma as how to fulfil the wishes of the children. Mrs. Dsouza came up with an idea.
“Let’s make Shankar the Santa Claus,” Mrs. Dsouza suggested.
“Who Shankar?” Raghav was clueless.
Innocent Raama raised his hand.
“Your south-Indian employee,” said Mrs. Dsouza.