The
Hometown
Ssandeep B Teraiya
DEDICATION
I am dedicating this book to my lovely parents and my whole family.
Thank you so much for your support.
Love you all.
***
Chapter 4:
Responsibility
Karan and I were waiting for Neeta to come down for Ganesh Puja.
What is the matter, dude? You are getting into new formal clothes, formal shoes, looking fresh. What is so special about today? I asked Karan.
Nothing, just feel like to wear good clothes today. Karan said quietly.
Oh, now I see. I just smiled
Why are you jealous if I am looking good? Karan asked.
Why should I Jealous? But I know you desire to impress Neeta. I said.
Just shut up. Karan said softly. She is just behind you idiot.
So what are you discussing about me? Neeta came from behind and asked us.
I could only manage to say "nothing” and smiled.
We all folded hands for praying, closed eyes and focused. As usual, Karan took a long time for praying.
Neeta and I were waiting for him to come and sit with us on plastic chairs near the temple.
“Hello, how are you Neeta?” Karan asked while he sat on a chair.
“I am good, How are you?” Neeta replied.
“Good. So how do you feel in Porbandar? It's been a couple of days,” Karan said.
“Porbandar is a quite peaceful city I guess. So far, I have just seen this street alone. I do not know a great deal about other stations here in town. You tell me what are the best spots to see? I would love to visit someday,” Neeta said.
“There are not many places here; we can visit the seashore and few old temples, nothing else,” I said.
“Oh yes, I want to visit the seashore. I would like to visit someday,” Neeta said.
“Why wait for someday? We can go today. In fact, we can go now,” Karan said.
“Are you sure about this?” Neeta asked in excitement.
“Yes, let's go there,” I said
And we left for Chowpaty, Karan drove Neeta’s Scooty as she was not aware of roads towards Chowpaty. Neeta sat with Karan, and I drove my bike alone. A few of our neighbors were looking at Karan and Neeta with some unusual expressions.
At Ohm
“Wow, too good, this is like mini Goa, in fact, better. I mean it's so peaceful, a beautiful view and this hut on the boat. This is a mesmerizing place I must say. I just love it here,” Neeta said when we reached Ohm.
“We are glad that you like this place; I thought you will not like this post as it's like no man’s land,” Karan said.
“Anyone would be mad who did not like such places. Look at the waves, welcoming me with drops on my face. Look at these coconut trees dancing for me. And feel this cold breeze, this is such a natural place. And above everything I like your boat Ohm,” Neeta thanked both of us for getting her there.
“Yes, this is a magical place for me at least, and I am glad that Ohm has one more fan,” Karan said.
“We have been visiting this place for a long time, and we never discuss this place with others as we do not want anyone else to come here and spoil this peaceful place,” I said.
“How often you both visit here?” Neeta asked while playing with sea water and her legs.
“Almost daily,” Karan said and took his favourite corner of the boat hut.
“You know what guys? I am feeling so good, so young here. It's been a long time since I have visited any sea. I feel like playing with sand. I want to make my legs wet with waves. I feel like a baby again. I am falling in love with this post really.”
“Do you mind if I come along with you daily here? See even I do not have much to do here and I really need such a peaceful place in my life these days. I desire to enjoy my Porbandar stay as much as possible as I do not know what will happen after a few months,” Neeta said with sad emotions on her face.
“You can come, but with one condition,” I said.
“What exactly is it?” Neeta asked with anger.
“When I smoke here, do not give lectures about quitting smoking. And you have to save it to you only that I smoke.”
“Oh, no headaches. It’s your life anyway, and you are mature enough to know what should you do and what should not. I am no one to tell you anything about your lifestyle,” Neeta said.
“Wow,” I said.
“What?” Karan asked.
“Yes, even I have tried smoking a couple of times, but I did not like it, so I don’t smoke. What did you imagine? That I am a young woman and I should not think like this?” Neeta asked Karan.
“See, I might be older than both of you, but I think this way. I do not like narrow-minded people at all,” Neeta continued.
“I really like your thoughts,” I said. “But I do not think young women should smoke.”
“You are talking about smoking. I drink too,” Neeta said. “See I don’t like this thinking. Sagar, grow up.”
“Agreed with Neeta,” Karan said. “As far as I believe, it's all about recognizing your limits and your responsibilities towards yourself, towards your family. I suppose, if you are enjoying something which is not hurting anyone else, then there is nothing wrong with it. It's your life. Make it whatever you want to get out, but as I said, one should be aware of boundaries and duties.”
“Awesome,” Neeta said. “This is called big thoughts in a small town.”
“Yeah, now you both like each other talk, but Karan what about your daily tortures while I smoke. Right now you are talking big things,” I said. “Huh?”
“Shut up Sagar. You know why I hate smoking,” Karan said.
“Why you hate cigarette Karan?” Neeta asked.
“Smoking is the reason behind my mother’s bad health. My dad smoked his whole life, and he spoiled not only his life, but also my mother’s health with his smoking habits. That's why I hate smoking, but this Sagar is not ready to understand that smoking is more dangerous for passive smokers.”
“Ok, leave it Karan; you were talking about responsibilities, tell me about your responsibilities,” Neeta asked to switch matters.
“For me there is only one duty, my poor parents. I want to pay a good life for them. I desire to take my mother to a good doctor and I want my daddy to pull away from his workplace. I want to give them a peaceful, easy life,” Karan said.
“Yes, Karan, I can see that your priorities are your parents. And I am certain you will win soon,” Neeta said.
I was listing to them and their serious talk while smoking; they were lost in their talk like there were only two of them. I felt like I was invisible to them, more or less time.
“What are your main responsibilities?” Karan asked Neeta.
“There is no responsibility as of now, as daddy has enough saved to live a respectable life. He has a government job. Soon, I will join some job. I will prove to give a better life to my daddy, later for his retirement. But I would say I have a dream, I would wish to do that someday in the future if destiny allows me,” Neeta said.
“What is your dream?” Karan asked.
“Sometimes, you know, many heartless parents leave their newborn child at an adoption centre, or someplace in the tabernacle, and there are many honest people who embrace them and render a safe life to those children.”
“In the same way, there are many heartless children leaving their parents at old age homes and those older people live the balance of their lives without their kids,” Neeta explained.
“So, basically, you want to make an old age home, right?” Karan asked.
“No, I want to create a home where kids get parents and parents get the kids,” Neeta said.
“Oh, that’s really a great thought, Neeta.”
“I am surprised that a girl from the big city can think this way. I am impressed,” Karan said.
“Thanks Karan, but let's find out if I can do that or not. As of today, there are many matters to sort out first,” Neeta said.
“You will, I will help you if I can; I also want to do such things for society,” Karan said.
“Oh, that’s really sweet of you, dear,” Neeta touched Karan’s hand and said “Thanks.”
Karan smiled with shyness on his face as he looked down.
“What is happening Karan?” I asked to annoy him.
“Will you stop your smoking or should I tell your mom today?” Karan threatened me.“Hey Bhagwan, here you go. Happy now?” I threw the cigarette out on the sand.
“Ha ha ha… Sagar you are very funny sometimes. Tell me what your aspirations are?” Neeta laughed and asked me.
“England. I just want to be in England,” I said nothing else.
“Only settling down in England is your dream. Nothing else?” Neeta asked again.
“Yes, my most of the relatives are there, and all of them are living a great life. As you know, my daddy is already there. Sooner or later, I will also go there and get settled,” I said.
“Okay and what about you Karan? What are your dreams beside your responsibilities?” “I never thought of that, but if I get a chance I would like to be alone on an unplanned trip to some unknown place,” Karan said.
“Solo, why travel solo?” Neeta asked.“See, my parents gave me life. They gave me a name. They taught me to eat, to walk, to talk, to read, to write, what have I done? Nothing, and when I die, people will take me to burn. In between all of this, I want to do something on my own. I do not want live and die like a goat,” Karan said.
“What else can we do even?” I asked.
“I know we can't make out much, but if I get the chance, then I will go on a trip with no money, no planning. I will hit the road and will go on my own journey. I will sleep when I feel like sleeping, whenever I get to a place. I find work for some money. If I don’t get work, I will beg and live. I simply do not want to be in one place. I want to continue going onward and never go back,” Karan said in excitement.
“It's not that easy Karan,” Neeta said.
“That’s the point Neeta; I do not want to do easy things,” Karan said. “I simply want to experience new things, every day, in my own way. On the last day of my life, I do not want to hold any regrets that I did not even try once for this dream. I will attempt my best to make out this trip.”
“You are mad Karan,” Neeta said.
“Yes, he is mad. Actually, since childhood he has been doing this,” I said. “One day he was upset as our school teacher called out at him without it being Karan’s fault. After school, he told me that he does not want to go home. I want to roam somewhere in the city. I asked what are you saying. We should go home first, and then we can go where ever you want to go.”
“No, He said. He forced me to go with him. He saw one man coming on Bajaj scooter and he asked him where are you going Uncle?”
“I am going to the market,” said the uncle.
“Oh nice, can you drop us at the market? Please,” Karan asked.
“Yes, for sure. Come sit,” the uncle said yes.
“As soon as we reached the market, Karan asked one of vegetable sellers where he lived.
“I stay near Birla colony,” the seller answered.
“We left for the Birla colony by foot. After some 30 minutes’ walk, we sat down and drank water from one of the paan shops. He asked the same question. And again we left for another area of Porbandar. That’s how we roamed in the city till evening. That day I came to know that he is mad,” I said.
“Yes, now it's a sure thing that you are mad sometimes,” Neeta said and laughed.
“You don’t know Neeta. It’s really big fun. You will never know which is the next place? You are going to visit in this game. It is full of excitement,” Karan said.
“Yes. It is interesting, but it’s ok till one city,” Neeta said.“At that age, the city is enough, but in this age, the city is not enough,” Karan said.
“But you never know when you will get new responsibilities. Life is not that easy my friend. Same like your game, life is also full of uncertain things. We never know what will happen next month or even in the next hour,” Neeta said.
“I don’t think that I will have new responsibilities. I will live my life with my parents, and after them, I don’t think I will be able to even live this life in Porbandar. Better I’ll hit the road and will go somewhere where I can't find myself,” Karan said.
“Enough serious talk. Let’s go home now. I don’t like such serious talk,” Neeta said.
“Yeah, sure, let's go,” Karan jumped from the boat and said.
“You know what Karan? Actually, I like the idea. I wish I could do that,” Neeta said while walking toward our rides.
“You can if you really want to. At least go to some remote area of Uttarakhand, at some village. Stay there at least a month,” Karan suggested.
“No, I can’t go. But leave it anyway,” Neeta said.
Next evening at Ganapti
Neeta and I and others were waiting for the start of a play. Karan organized a small drama at Temple for the ongoing Ganpati event. There were some 80 to 100 people gathered for the show. Most of them were from our area and only a few from other areas. We had kept chairs for all. Yellow halogen lights were giving enough light for the arrangements. Karan entered on the stage with his same white Kurta and little beard on his face. He was looking serious. He was the main character of the play. All of us got mute as play started.
“Here our smarty comes,” Neeta stood up and clapped for Karan.
I pulled her down and asked her to sit.
Shanti Aunty and Manoj Uncle were sitting just beside me.
The play was like this.
A small some 5 year old cute girl was lying on a hospital bed. She was looking very sick, like she was about to die. Just near the bed, Karan was standing as her father; very serious and tense.
The doctor came near Karan and put his hand on Karan’s shoulders.
“She does not have much time now. It will be better if you keep her at home and live her last few days with her,” the doctor said and left from there.
The girl was looking at her father having no idea what the doctor said. And Karan was reading a board just above her daughter’s bed wall.
Written on the board was “Smoking Kills”.
He kept looking towards that board and now he understood that his smoking habit was actually killing his daughter.
Tears rolled out of Karan’s eyes and the stage lights went off.
People clapped for several minutes, especially Neeta, and gave a standing ovation.
Karan entered again on stage, with microphone in hand, and explained the message behind the play.
“Yes, the play was very small, but with a big massage for all of us. Many of us here are smokers. This is for them. They need to understand that you can play with your own life, but you should think about others too, who are nearby you, while you smoke. Smoking kills them too. They can be anyone; your daughter, your son, your father, mother, or your wife,” Karan explained.
The audience again clapped for Karan, but his father, Manoj Uncle, stood up and left from there with anger. His mother was walking behind him to stop him, but his father was not listening and walked into his house. Karan jumped from the stage and ran towards his home after seeing his father like this. I ran behind Karan and Neeta followed me.We enter into his house; it was too dark to see anything. His mother lit up the yellow bulb, and we saw his father was crying on his old bed. He hid his face with both palms as the bulb made everything visible.
Shanti Aunty was sitting on the floor near Manoj Uncle’s feet; she was pressing her legs, and begging him not to cry. “You have done nothing wrong.” Karan sat too on his both knees near his father, and asked what happened papa? He knew that his father was feeling guilty for his mother’s health. “I am very sorry, my son. It is me who is the reason behind your mother’s health.” He folded both his hands to Karan and Shanti Aunty. “Please forgive me,” he started crying loudly. “I did not know this would happen. I was careless. Please forgive me Shanti. I feel like I did a sin. God will not forgive me.” He again hid his face with both hands and kept crying.Shanti Aunty too started crying and she moved her hand on Manoj Uncle’s head. “Please don’t cry. It’s not your fault; don’t think much please. It's all about destiny. Don’t blame yourself, please,” Aunty said. “I am still here. I am alive. Keep some tears for my last,” and she gave fake laugh.
“Papa, I have not done this for you. I was just trying to give a good message to the society. Please do not feel ashamed just help others to stop smoking ” Karan said. “I am sorry I hurt you with this play.”
“No son. In fact, thank you for this play. It opened my eyes today,” Manoj Uncle said.
“Hello, please have water, and change the topic, and change the mood,” Neeta gave a glass to Uncle.
“Thank you Neeta. All is good now. You and Sagar go out on the terrace. I will join you in a while,” Karan said.While pushing a chair to Neeta on the terrace, I saw her eyes were wet and full of tears. She was sad, emotional. “What happened, Neeta?” I asked.“Nothing, dear. I was just wondering where my parents are.” Neeta said.
“What?” I asked in surprise.
“What do you mean Neeta?” Karan entered and asked the same. “You are living with your dad only, why are you saying this?”
“He is not my father; in fact, he is more than my father, more than God for me.”“What are you saying Neeta? I am not getting anything,” I said.
“Neeta first of all wipe your tears.” Karan sat near her and asked “Tell me what does it mean.”
“He adopted me from an orphanage. I was about 5 years old. He gave me a good life, then an education and freedom. He took care of me like his real daughter, and one day he told me the truth. That actually after his marriage, they both were not able to have kids. The doctor said the problem was with my dad. His wife left him after a few months for the same reason. He decided not to marry again, and then he adopted me. He trained me to fight with the double faced society. I never got a mother’s care or her love, but my dad did his best to not make me feel the need of a mother. But today when I saw your family and your love for each other, I felt that need to have a family like you have. Karan you are very lucky to have such parents. And they are also very lucky to have you as their son,” Neeta said and hugged Karan.
“Relax Neeta, we all wish to have certain things in our life, but we never get it. We have to learn to live with this hard truth of life,” Karan said and departed from Neeta’s hug.
“True, there will be always such wishes till our last. Sometime some gets fulfilled and sometime we get new wishes. Before my dad adopted me, I wished to get adopted and now I wish I could have a mother too,” Neeta said. “Do you know what the toughest part is for a kid in an orphanage? When a couple comes to adopt a kid, they first call every kid into the office to choose one from them. Our caretaker used to give us good clothes first. They got us ready with proper hair combing, powder on our face, mascara on our eyes, and used to tell us to behave better in front of the couple. They might like you and take you to their home. There you will have lots of good clothes, lots of chocolates to eat, and toys to play; you will go to a big school with a nice school bag. And we all would get ready in excitement to go into the office; we used to stand in one long queue facing those couples every day. With thought in mind that today may be I will get selected and they will take me with them to their home. But they select only one, and all the others have to go outside of the office again. We would come out of the office with the pain that we are not selected; all of a sudden the new frock, hair, powder starts to give pain to us like we never wanted to wear it again,” Neeta started crying on the terrace like a kid, but she continued.
“We used to feel like they came to buy us, but we were not good enough, so they did not buy us. One of us got lucky and went outside with them and all the others had to again go to that dusty ground inside the orphanage and start to play with the other kids to try to forget that couple who came to be our parents.”
“And the next day we would again be in front of a new couple.”
We all got mute on the terrace, it was pin drop silence. All of us were lost in some thoughts for at least a minute.
“I want to smoke now,” I said.
“Karan, throw him down from the terrace!” Neeta ordered Karan.
“Yes, ma’am. My pleasure,” Karan agreed to Neeta and picked me up in both his hands.
I said sorry five to ten times.
***
