by Atul Sharma
“It’s all due to your care and treatment that my husband is standing on his own today.” Neha thanked Dr. Rao.
“That’s what we doctors strive for. A smile on our patient’s face is our reward,” said Dr.Rao.
Sushma and Rohit visited Devpur. Last time when they came here, Vijay couldn’t move or speak properly. This time he received them at the gate of the villa. Neha and Raghav felt awkward as the guests had to be taken to the guest house and not in the villa.
“How’s your business doing?” asked Vijay.
“Very well. But I’m happy to see that Raghav is a more competent businessman than any of us,” Rohit said as he saw the villa packed with the guests.
“Raghav, who gave you the idea of converting the villa into a hotel?” asked Sushma.
“Aren’t you happy with this decision?” asked Neha.
“I don’t mean that. I just wanted to know who came up with this brilliant idea,” said Sushma.
Raghav smiled.
“We forgot to congratulate him on another achievement,” Rohit said to remind Sushma of Raghav’s book.
“Oh my God! My brother is a writer now. Heartiest congratulations to you. You have been doing special things for past one year. What’s next up on your sleeve?” asked Sushma.
“Only God knows what He has in store for me,” replied Raghav.
“Di, I feel a bit sad that you are not staying inside the villa for the first time,” said Raghav.
“Doesn’t matter. It’s a good sight watching these small children play here,” said Sushma to divert his attention from that sad note.
She didn’t show but she was feeling like an outsider for the first time in the villa. A hotel can be a home away from home but it can never be your home.
“It was a hard decision since we didn’t have any other option to repay the loan,” said Raghav.
“The tough time won’t last long,” Rohit said to raise his morale.
“Raghav, do you plan to run the villa as a hotel forever?” asked Sushma.
“No way. Once we take back our orchard, we’ll stop this business. We have paid about sixteen lakh rupees to the bank by now. One more good season and we’ll come out of the debt trap,” replied Raghav.
“You are earning handsomely from this venture. What’s the need to stop this business?” asked Rohit.
“There’s nothing wrong in this business. It’s just the past memories of our home that haunt me.”
“Raghav, how do you feel after getting so much appreciation for your book?” asked Sushma.
“I’m enjoying every moment of it. It was like a dream come true when some journalists came here to interview me.”
“Are you working on your next book?” asked Rohit.
“I have an idea in my mind. Let’s see how it materialises.”
“I’m eagerly waiting for your next book,” said Sushma.
“But I’m waiting eagerly for the arrival of someone special,” said Raghav.
“Whom?” asked Sushma.
“Aashish bhaiya’s baby,” said Raghav.
“I’m also very anxious,” said Sushma.
“When’ll you give good news?” Raghav asked about Sushma and Rohit’s plan to start a family.
Sushma blushed, Rohit smiled and Raghav enjoyed their shy gestures.
“Raghav, how much amount have you paid to the bank by now?” Neha asked some days later.
“I have deposited eighteen lakh rupees. About three lakh rupees are due with Baxsons Tours and Travels. We’ll have to pay about thirty lakh rupees in total, including interest. In all probability, we’ll be able to clear the remaining amount within four to five months.”
“Now I’m seeing some light at the end of this tunnel,” said Vijay.
“Today a group of orphan children will come to our villa,” informed Raghav.
“Who pays on behalf of these people?” asked Neha.
“There’s an NGO named Martinet Helping Hand. They run orphanages, old age homes and women rehabilitation centres in different parts of the country. They arrange the pleasure trips for these less fortunate people,” said Raghav.
“I want to come to the villa today to see the work. It’s a long time since I have stepped inside the villa,” said Vijay.
Every employee in the villa was pleased to see Vijay there after a long time.
The group of children arrived there. This time a new coordinator had come with the group.
“Hello Sir! I’m Sushant,” the coordinator introduced himself to Raghav. “Deep Das Sir praised a lot about your villa and you all.”
“Hi! I’m Raghav. Why didn’t he come this time?”
“He is the head of the north region. He has a wider ambit to cover and has many responsibilities. He can’t accompany all the touring parties. He has thanked you a lot for the special discounts that you have offered to our organisation,” said Sushant.
“It’s my pleasure to contribute something for this noble cause,” said Raghav.
The children lined up in the lobby from where they were taken to their rooms.
“Pratap, have you noticed that these destitute children are very quiet unlike those school children who came here,” said Raghav.
“I think this has to do with the presence or absence of the parents in one’s life. The children who come with their parents enjoy every moment in a very carefree manner,” said Pratap.
“Probably these children don’t feel that way because they don’t have the roof of their parents above their heads,” said Raghav.
“Why are you sitting alone when your friends are playing out there?” Raghav asked a boy who was watching others play.
“Uncle, I just had my medicine. I’ll join them after sometime,” replied the boy.
“Medicine! What for?” asked Raghav.
“My friend says that I’ll live long by taking this medicine,” said the boy so innocently that it moved Raghav’s heart.
“What has happened to him?” Raghav asked Sushant.
“He’s Javed, poor boy!” said Sushant. He is suffering from lung cancer and is on the last stage of his life.
“Lung cancer at such a tender age!” wondered Raghav.
“He’s only twelve years old. He was adopted by our organisation last year when the police freed him from a beedi manufacturing factory. He lost his family in a cyclone in Orissa. He fell into the trap of some people who pushed him in this job,” said Sushant.
“Is this disease a result of working there?” asked Raghav.
“Yes, replied Sushant. He became prone to passive smoking at a tender age. He didn’t smoke but was still affected by it.”
“Is there no cure for his disease now?” asked Raghav.
“He was already on the last stage of lung cancer when we got him examined at a prestigious hospital,” replied Sushant.
“Today I feel like cursing all those who govern our country. A lot of children are suffering exploitation but there’s none to understand their plight,” said Raghav.
“Sir, may I take Javed to the badminton court?” asked a boy.
“Take him but ensure that he doesn’t exerts,” advised Sushant.
“He’s Roshan, Javed’s best friend. He takes care of him day and night,” said Sushant.
“Does he know about his illness?” asked Raghav.
“We have told him the truth as he lives with Javed most of the time. He’s mature enough to understand all this and leaves no stone unturned in taking Javed’s care.”
The Martinet group had booked seven rooms. In the eighth room was staying a couple with their child. A dance party was organised in the villa for them in the evening. The children stormed the dance floor as it was a pleasant experience for them.
The couple and their son were sitting in th
e lobby in the evening. Raghav went to them to invite them to join the party with others.
“Why don’t you come inside? I hope your son will enjoy with other children,” said Raghav.
“We want our son Yuvraj to join the party but his mind is somewhere else,” replied Yuvraj’s father Tarun.
“Beta, come and join other children,” said Raghav.
“No, I don’t want to dance with them. I want my play station,” said Yuvraj about his video game.
“You can play with it once we reach home. Now cheer up and go there,” requested Yuvraj’s mother Suhana.
Tarun took Yuvraj to the dance floor where he displayed his attitude more than his dance skills.
“This is the result when parents over pamper their child,” said Sushant.
“Sir, I want to dance,” requested Javed.
“Please let him dance,” said Roshan.
“The doctor has advised complete rest to you. How can I permit you to dance?” said Sushant helplessly.
Javed couldn’t control his urge and went to the dance floor to enjoy with others. Sushant also didn’t stop him as he didn’t want to deprive him from the few desires that could be fulfilled in his last few days.
Meanwhile, Yuvraj had made that evening difficult for his parents. Their requests were falling deaf in his ears.
“I want my play station now only.” Yuvraj was adamant and unrelenting.
Raghav wondered at the irony of life. One boy was pleaded to dance but he refused. The other one was advised not to dance and he also refused. One wanted his wish to be fulfilled that very moment while the other wanted to celebrate each of the few moments that were left in his life. ‘Life is a question no one can answer and death is an answer no one can question.’
H.S. Dhillon arrived in the villa once again. He was very upset.
“Uncle, is everything well?” enquired Raghav.
“They’ll not let me live in peace for the rest of my life,” said Dhillon.
“Who?” asked Raghav.
“Who else but my family!” replied Dhillon.
“What happened now? You are not living with them anymore,” said Raghav.
“My grandson had come to my flat in Patiala day before yesterday. He wanted to take away my car. I had bought this car on his name many years back. Now he wants to rob me of this asset as well.”
“Uncle, the level of water has gone above your nose. Don’t hesitate to complain to police if they harass you again,” said Raghav.
“When did you open this hotel?” asked one visitor from Pratap while filling the registration form on his arrival.
“We opened it last year,” replied Pratap.
“There wasn’t any big hotel in Devpur many years back,” said the visitor with a smile on his face.
“How do you know Sir?” asked Pratap.
“I have fond memories of this place. I’m Major Arun Parmar. I studied in Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. I joined army through NDA We used to visit Hanuman Ghat and Vihar Vann often during our school days.”
“Sir, have you come here for the first time after passing out from your school?” asked Pratap.
“I visited my school few times but I didn’t get a chance to come to Devpur. This time I decided to stay in Devpur and visit those places again,” said Arun.
Arun was accompanied by his wife and son. They enjoyed their evening in the garden of the villa.
“You can’t beat me in sports,” Arun said to his son Dhruv while playing badminton.
“Papa, let me grow up. Then you’ll find it hard to beat me,” replied Dhruv.
Another family arrived in the villa in the evening. Arun stopped the game when he saw someone entering the villa.
“What happened?” asked Dhruv.
“You play with your mom. I’ll just come,” said Arun and he moved inside the villa.
“Can you tell me the name of the guest who has just checked in?” Arun asked Pratap.
“Dr. Vivek Lakhanpal.” Pratap read his complete details.
“Tell him that someone wants to meet him,” said Arun with a smile on his face.
Vivek came to the reception.
“Who wants to meet me?” asked Vivek.
‘‘I still want to slap you,” said Arun from behind.
Vivek turned back to see someone smiling there. He tried to remember something.
“You must be Arun,” said Vivek.
“Damn! You took a long time to recognise me,” said Arun and they both hugged each other.
“I never thought that we would meet here,” said Vivek.
“Sir, you seem to be schooldays friends,” asked Pratap after seeing their camaraderie.
“We are schooldays enemies,” replied Arun as he again hugged his classmate.
By that time Arun’s family also joined them. Vivek called his family to come there. They introduced their families to each other. It was a reunion of the rivals.
“We both studied in Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. In those days we were sworn enemies and didn’t want to see each other,” said Vivek.
“And today my happiness knew no bounds when I saw you,” said Arun.
“Why didn’t you like each other then?” asked Shriya, Vivek’s daughter.
“We always competed for the ‘Best Student Award’,” said Arun.
“Sometimes he won, sometimes I won but this competition turned our rivalry into enmity,” said Vivek.
“Our rivalry touched peak when Vivek was elevated to the rank of School Captain in twelfth standard while I was made Sports Captain,” said Arun.
“What happened then?” asked Dhruv.
“I refused to take up the post of Sports Captain because I didn’t want to work under Vivek or take orders from him,” said Arun.
“What happened next?” asked Shriya.
Both the children were so excited and immersed in this as if they were being narrated a fairy tale story.
“Arun was called by the Principal in his office,” said Vivek.
The Principal asked me, “What do you want to do if you don’t want to become the Sports Captain?”
“What did you say?” asked Dhruv.
“I said that I want to slap him,” said Arun laughing at his childish behaviour.
“What did your Principal say then?” asked Dhruv.
“He didn’t say anything. He slapped me hard and removed me from the post of Sports Captain,” said Arun.
“How did you lose the School Captainship to uncle?” asked Dhruv.
“I was an all-rounder in the school. I excelled in sports and was average in studies. Vivek was the topper in academics and that worked in his favour,” replied Arun.
“Uncle, do you still want to slap my dad?” Shriya asked innocently.
“No beta. Now I want to hug him,” said Arun and kissed the daughter of his childhood enemy turned adulthood friend.
“How childish we were in those days!” said Vivek.
“Damn! If children won’t act childish, who will?” said Arun and they all laughed together.
“What are you doing professionally?” asked Arun.
“I’m a doctor and working in AIIMS, New Delhi,” replied Vivek.
“We’ll have dinner together,” said Arun.
“I hope that you won’t put red chilly in my meal that you often did during those days,” said Vivek to remind Arun of his past acts.
Both the families gelled well. They went together for the sightseeing of Devpur. They also visited their school in Shimla. The
reunion of the friends is always a moment of joy and pleasure but sometimes the rivals also feel the same if they meet after a long time.
Raghav got a call from Pratap very early in the morning.
“Someone came to t
he villa at about 5 a.m. and since then is arguing a lot with Dhillon Sir,” informed Pratap.
Raghav reached there immediately. The staff had also gathered in the reception.
“Uncle, who’s this?” asked Raghav.
“He’s my grandson Kulbir. I don’t know how he came to know that I’m here. He’s now asking for the keys of the car,” said Dhillon.
“Are you a human or demon? Why don’t you let him live in peace?” said Raghav furiously.
“None of your business,” said Kulbir arrogantly.
“It’s actually my business. You can’t disturb a guest in my villa. Leave the place immediately,” asked Raghav.
“What’ll you do if I don’t leave?” Kulbir shouted and pushed Raghav.
Within seconds Kulbir received some solid slaps from Raghav. He was stunned.
“You deserved it very early,” said Raghav.
“You don’t know that my father is a very influential person,” boasted Kulbir.
“This is not your father’s place. This is my father’s place,” said Raghav.
Kulbir didn’t take a softer line and started abusing him.
“I think you need more doses,” said Sanju and splashed his fingers on Kulbir’s face.
Pratap and Raama also joined Sanju in his bashing
Kulbir hadn’t imagined this kind of treatment in the villa. They kicked him out of the villa. He realised that it was in his interest to run away from there.
“Uncle, be relaxed now. This is your home and no one can dare to touch you here.” Raghav assured Dhillon.
Keeping up his promise, Rahul Taneja brought Anant Balaji, owner of the Sandal Publishing House, to Devpur in mid June. They were accompanied by their families.
“Sir, I’m honoured to have you in my villa,” Raghav welcomed Balaji.
“Raghav, now I understand how have you penned down such beautiful thoughts. The serene atmosphere of this beautiful place can certainly boost up anyone’s writing spirit,” said Balaji.
“Sir, you’ll be more impressed when you’ll see the villa from inside,” said Rahul.
“I have rarely seen such kind of architecture and interior decoration in any hotel,” said Balaji’s wife Sharda.
Raghav had reserved the two super deluxe suites for both the families.