by Atul Sharma
“Which business do you want to start there now?”
“We want to open up a charitable home in our villa.”
The officials looked at each other and smiled.
“Have you found a goldmine?” asked the secretary.
“No, replied Raghav. I have found a mission in life.”
“You can think again because permission is not easily granted to reopen a closed unit once again,” advised one official.
“Thanks for your concern but our decision is final,” said Raghav.
The hotel cancellation letter was given to him within a week.
Raghav called H.S. Dhillon to get his opinion.
“Uncle, you haven’t visited here again. Is everything all right?”
“I was entangled in my family affairs. I’ll soon visit there as yours is the only place where I find peace of mind.”
“But this time you won’t go back from here,” said Raghav.
Raghav explained his plan to Dhillon and asked him whether he would like to live there forever.
“What do I say now? You have presented the brighter side of humanity. Preferring charity over money is easier said than done. You have become an ideal person at such a young age. I feel that there is someone in this world whom I can call my own. Now I’ll reach there with all my baggage, leaving my hometown forever. I’m willing to contribute something for your cause,” said Dhillon.
“Uncle, your contribution as the elder statesman in the villa is what I’m looking for,” said Raghav.
Raghav called Deep Das Mukherji to get an appointment to meet him. Mukherji asked him to come to their regional headquarter in Chandigarh. Mukherji met him with great warmth when he reached there.
“Raghav, I want to appreciate you for your book. I read it in one go when you send it to me,” said Mukherji. “Now tell how can I help you?”
“We have decided to close our hotel and turn it into a helping home for some unprivileged people. I have got my hotel licence cancelled. I need your help in getting some needy people for our charitable home.” Raghav elaborated his complete proposal.
“You want seven elder people and eight children there. There’s no technical hitch for us to send some people there. But our organisation would want to get sure first that you’ll stand by your word,” said Mukherji.
“What sort of commitment do you want from me?” asked Raghav.
“I laud your intention to help the needy people. This work requires lot of money. How’ll you manage the expenses?” asked Mukherji.
Raghav presented his plan to him.
“I need to discuss this issue in our governing council. If they permit then fifteen people will be shifted to your villa,” said Mukherji.
“How long will it take to get the nod?”
“Fortunately, we all have assembled here for our annual general meeting. You’ll get our decision by tomorrow itself,” said Mukherji.
“Mr. Mukherji, we want to become a medium of service. I hope that you’ll carry my thought to them.”
“Raghav, why don’t you stay here today? It may help you in discovering how we run our centres.”
“You have taken the words from my mouth. I was about to ask you this.”
Raghav visited different portions of the centre. He talked to many of them. He observed that they all were happy to live there. The atmosphere was cordial and the place didn’t seem like a hostel. He wanted this kind of atmosphere in his villa.
As expected the governing council gave green signal for Raghav’s project. He too was called for the meeting and was asked to get the permission from the concerned government department in his state.
“Do you have any preference regarding the people you want there?” asked Mukherji.
“I want people from different regions and religions. This way we all can learn something from each other,” replied Raghav.
“I’ll get people from our centres in different parts of the country. You’ll have to come here to take them along with you. Till then complete all the formalities and talk to the school management of Devpur regarding the admission of the children,” said Mukherji.
“Thanks for your invaluable support.” Raghav thanked Mukherji and left for Devpur.
Raghav had to deal with the Social Justice and Empowerment Commission of the state to get the permission for opening up a charitable home. Dealing with them was not as easy as he had thought. They asked every possible question regarding his plan. They checked his accounts to ascertain if he could sustain this mission or not. A team of the Commission visited the villa to assess the arrangements. They were rendered speechless when they saw the villa because they had never seen such a five-star charitable home before. Finally, they granted him permission to go ahead.
He talked to the school management as well. Now all decks were cleared to start the charitable home. Meanwhile, H.S. Dhillon reached there. He had sold his flat in Patiala so that the money earned could be utilised for this noble purpose.
The waiting period got over. Raghav was asked to come to Chandigarh to take his special guests with him. He hired a deluxe bus from Shimla to bring his extended family. He felt the pleasure of highest kind when he met the new members of his family. The elders and the children were happy too as they were going to a new home, their own home. The travel between Chandigarh and Shimla got over quickly as this time was spent in knowing each other.
Vijay, Neha, Dhillon and the staff waited eagerly for their arrival. Each of the new guests was presented with a bouquet on arrival. They were taken to their respective rooms. Everything was beyond the imagination of those less privileged people. They couldn’t believe their eyes when told that these luxurious rooms were theirs now. The staff got busy in taking care of the permanent guests of the villa.
Raghav’s idea of keeping elders and children together was an instant hit. It worked in favour of both of them. The children felt secured under the parental care of the elders. There were some difficulties in the beginning due to the diverse social background of each one of them. But everything fell in place shortly. The children were subsequently admitted to the school. The old people spent
their time in activities like yoga and gardening. Vijay had got new co-workers to assist him in the orchard. It was a sight to watch when children played together in the evening while the elders were happy strolling in the serene atmosphere of Devpur. The party hall had once again come alive.
Raghav was very surprised when he received a call from the
Art & Culture department of the state one day. He was asked to report in its office in Shimla.
“Why have they called you?” asked Neha.
“I’ll know the matter only when I go there.”
He was greeted warmly there. He was anxious to know the reason why he was called. He was taken to the office of the Director of the department.
“You are younger than what I had presumed,” said the Director Savita Dixit. “Anyways congratulations! You have written such a wonderful book.”
“Thank you Ma’am. Have you read it?” asked Raghav as he was pleasantly surprised.
“Its part and parcel of our job,” replied Savita. “A bestseller written by a native of our state is a matter of proud for us.”
“I’m so happy that a senior executive like you took time to read my book.”
“Can you imagine why I have called you here?” asked Savita.
“I have no idea,” replied Raghav.
“I won’t create any more suspense. The matter is that our department had sent your book to the Jury that selects best works for the State Literary Awards. And the good news is that you have been selected for the ‘Sahitya Vishishth Puraskar’. You’ll receive this award from the Chief Minister on the evening of 15th August at the Central Hall of The Secretariat.”
Raghav was dumbfounde
d. He had never imagined this even in his dreams. The good fortune was chasing him over and again.
“This is your invitation letter and entry pass. You can bring two people along with you,” said Savita while handing over the documents to him.
“Ma’am, I don’t have the words to thank you,” said Raghav.
“It’s all due to your hard work. I hope that you’ll not
rest on your laurels and march ahead with more dedication,”
said Savita.
Vijay and Neha were on cloud nine when they heard it. All the residents of the villa congratulated him. The staff decided to celebrate this good news with great fanfare. A party was organised in the villa that day itself. Raama gave a unique gift to Raghav that day. He danced like Michael Henry, a visitor to the villa who had mesmerised everyone with his belly dancing. The children and the elders all danced together.
15Th August
The big day arrived. Raghav and his parents reached the venue well before time. Raghav was asked to sit on the stage with other awardees. His parents were taken to the V.I.P guest gallery.
It was the best moment of their life for Vijay and Neha when Raghav’s name was announced to receive the award. They were in tears when Chief Minister presented the award to their son. It was customary for every recipient of the award to speak few words. Raghav too spoke.
“Honourable Chief Minister Sir, all the dignitaries present here, ladies and gentlemen! It’s a matter of great honour for me that I was considered worthy enough for this prestigious award. I thank the Art & Culture department for nominating my name. I dedicate this award to my parents. When my father learnt the news that I have been nominated for this award, he told me that I have now become a bigger personality than him. I want to tell him that he was wrong to say that. Beta chahe kitna bhi bada kyun na ban jaaye lekin baap hamesha baap hi rehta hai.’’
Everyone clapped, including the Chief Minister. Neha clapped the most. Vijay also raised his hands to clap but he didn’t clap. He just stared at his hands with tears in his eyes.
“Why are you staring at your hands when all others are clapping for Raghav?” asked Neha.
‘‘I am looking at the lines of my hand and wondering which special line made me so lucky to get a son like him,” replied Vijay.
After some days
Dr. Vishal Soni, their family doctor, visited the villa to enquire about Vijay’s health.
“Your voice has become clear now,” said Vishal. “Does your hand still trembles or not?”
“I can now hold things properly,” replied Vijay.
“Have you tried to write something?” asked Vishal. “Only then we’ll be sure of your absolute recovery.”
“I feel that I can write now,” said Vijay.
“Try to write something,” asked Vishal and gave him a paper and pen.
“The Sonrise Villa.”
These were the first words that Vijay wrote after a long time. The writing was not very clear but the positive aspect was that he was able to write.
“Very well done! But you have misspelled the word ‘Sunrise’,” said Vishal.
“I have not misspelled the word ‘Sonrise’ but have corrected it,” said Vijay with a shine in his eyes. “The Sun daily rises on the villa but today my Sun has risen in the villa, you know, my SON. He has made it ‘The Sonrise Villa’.”
It was evident that a father had felt immense happiness and proud for the achievement of his son.
“Get up Raghav,” Neha said very early in the morning to wake him up from his sleep.
“What happened?” asked Raghav finding it difficult to rise so early at 4 a.m.
“There’s a call from U.S. Aashish wants to talk to you,” said Neha.
“A current ran in Raghav’s body. He woke up within seconds.”
“Aashish bhaiya, baby boy or baby girl? Tell me quickly,” asked Raghav before Aashish could say anything. He knew that this could be the reason why Aashish had called them at an odd time.
“My sweet daughter,” said Aashish. His voice was brimming with unbound joy.
“Congratulations bhaiya. You can’t see how excited I’m,” said Raghav as he jumped with joy.
“I can even see your dance.” Aashish laughed.
“How does she look like?” asked Raghav.
“Mummy says that her eyes are on me and the rest of the face on Smriti.”
“Send me her photograph through mail,” said Raghav.
“I’m busy in the hospital now. I’ll call you later,” Aashish said and ended the call.
Raghav distributed sweets during the day. Aashish called him again next day. Raghav congratulated Smriti and Rajni on phone. He was delighted to hear the chirping of the little bird on phone who’ll one day call him chachu.
“Bhaiya, I’m dying to see her.”
“Wait for some time. We’ll come to India soon,” said Aashish.
“How do you address her? Have you thought of any name yet?” asked Raghav.
“We call her Gudiya. We haven’t decided any name yet. Infact, Smriti asked me to ask you for finding a sweet name for our sweetheart.”
“Me!!! Do you really believe that I can come up with some good name?” asked Raghav.
“We’ll be happy if she’s named by you,” said Aashish.
“I’ll be happier if I’m able to suggest a good name for her,” said Raghav.
“So do you have any girl’s name in mind?” asked Aashish.
‘‘Yeah,” Raghav said after a long silence.
“What?”
“Nandini.”
“Some people go to heaven after they leave but some people create heaven before they leave.”