01-03-2026, 07:43 PM
When there are guests at home, the time just flies. It had been 4 days since Jiju and Di had arrived, but it felt as if they had arrived a day before only. And why wont, Jiju really gelled well with our family, his frank and witty nature was very much appreciated by all, even my papa.
And on the other hand, every day was being celebrated like a festival. Special food, planning short outings, watching movies together and what not. I had literally skipped practice for a couple of days, and my coach was not happy with it at all. But it was just a matter of a couple of days. Di and Jiju were to return to their place in the next couple of days.
I was unhappy as I had enjoyed a lot over their short stay. But then I got to know that Di is to return back in April, this time for a long 15 days, as she was to write exams for her last year of engineering and the cherry on the cake – Jiju was to join her as well. So that compensated for the emptiness I was feeling on the day.
“Well, we will definitely be coming in April, but what’s stopping you from visiting our place papa ji”, Jiju said at the dinner. Those days, we were having dinner in the backyard only, and that was heaven.
“I would have liked, damad ji, but you know…”
“The work pressure huh… Work.. work..work.” Jiju intervened, “Just look at yourself papa ji, you have turned totally workaholic. The work never ends, but we have other stuff to deal with in life, rather important ones, don't we?”
Papa just smiled.
“Please papa try to make out at our place during holi. When else will mummy get a chance to visit me? I am sure you will be able to take a couple of days off.”
“Yeah nothing more urgent than personal life, mummy ji will also get rest out of her daily chores.”
“Hmm.. I would have but Babu..” Mummy stammered.
“Hmm he is not Babu anymore,” Jiju chuckled, “ Next year he will go to college. I mean, I don’t mind you calling him Babu, but Rohan is grown up now and can take care of himself for a couple of days, isn’t champ?”
I just affirmed.
As dinner was over, we laid down on the mattress looking at the open sky. Meenakshi Di was telling Jiju of the scenic beauty of the ghat in the early morning, and she proposed the plan to go see the sunrise in the morning.
“You know, it’s an experience you shouldn’t dare to miss my dear hubby,” Didi continued, “And as that is early in the morning, papa can also join us.”
Papa just hummed, and excused like always — someone has to be at home, it doesn't look good to lock home early in the morning. And it was expected. But the problem was I was not interested in joining them; and I knew mummy wasn’t either. The ghat, that too in the morning, had so many strong, bad memories. It would have peeled off at the healing scars on our minds.
“Please go ahead with your plan Jiju,” I said, “I am not feeling well and will skip the morning’s plan, but count me in for the evening’s ice cream shop visit.”
That night I didn’t sleep well somehow, my dream was stuck at the ghat and unrecognizable, human figures wandered at the ghat. The more I wanted to get attention off those figures, the more those kept circling around me, till it was morning.
—
I sat up in the bed only, eyes tired and heavy, I couldn’t bear even the faintest morning light, filtered through the window curtains. I was breathing and thinking of all those weird, cryptic images that danced in front of my eyes all night.
“Kh. kh.. Khana.”
Did I hear it correctly? I straightened and my sleep fled away. I pinched myself checking whether I am still in dream. But the call came a second time and suddenly I became tense and my heart raced. I checked the watch and it was 8:30 AM in the morning. Papa must have gone for the job and Jiju and Di had planned to visit the ghat. So only mummy and I were at home, and I knew mummy wouldn't be able to bear it.
I gathered the courage and went outside and was he. Standing with a plain face, dirty attire on an unhygienic body despite having a god-gifted kind of physique.
“Kh. Kh..Khana.” He reiterated, mimicking the action of eating, an old, stained aluminum plate was in his hand.
“Nothing is cooked yet.” I somehow spelled out words from my almost choked throat.
He gulped, but didn’t move. And tried to look in the house behind me.
“Told you na. There is nothing at home. Go to the next door.” My voice cracked as I tried to yell at him.
He left for the next house, but turned back to see me. That was a very casual look, no anger, no offense meant. But I felt extremely uncomfortable that I turned my face away from him. In a couple of minutes, I saw him walking away from the colony, towards the town market. He seemed to have got the food.
Relaxed, I turned back and bumped into a mummy who was carrying Puja thali in hand.
“Babuuuuu careful. My time was good else you had messed up all my puja preparation,” even her scolding used to be sweet on the ears.
She walked delicately and gracefully in the verandah, towards the tulsi, with pallu on her head and glow on the face – the real ornaments of an Indian pious lady. And I wondered how true her words were – her timing was really good, had she been early for a couple of minutes, I don’t know if she had become psychologically tough by then to bear the shock of seeing her exploiter at our door.
And on the other hand, every day was being celebrated like a festival. Special food, planning short outings, watching movies together and what not. I had literally skipped practice for a couple of days, and my coach was not happy with it at all. But it was just a matter of a couple of days. Di and Jiju were to return to their place in the next couple of days.
I was unhappy as I had enjoyed a lot over their short stay. But then I got to know that Di is to return back in April, this time for a long 15 days, as she was to write exams for her last year of engineering and the cherry on the cake – Jiju was to join her as well. So that compensated for the emptiness I was feeling on the day.
“Well, we will definitely be coming in April, but what’s stopping you from visiting our place papa ji”, Jiju said at the dinner. Those days, we were having dinner in the backyard only, and that was heaven.
“I would have liked, damad ji, but you know…”
“The work pressure huh… Work.. work..work.” Jiju intervened, “Just look at yourself papa ji, you have turned totally workaholic. The work never ends, but we have other stuff to deal with in life, rather important ones, don't we?”
Papa just smiled.
“Please papa try to make out at our place during holi. When else will mummy get a chance to visit me? I am sure you will be able to take a couple of days off.”
“Yeah nothing more urgent than personal life, mummy ji will also get rest out of her daily chores.”
“Hmm.. I would have but Babu..” Mummy stammered.
“Hmm he is not Babu anymore,” Jiju chuckled, “ Next year he will go to college. I mean, I don’t mind you calling him Babu, but Rohan is grown up now and can take care of himself for a couple of days, isn’t champ?”
I just affirmed.
As dinner was over, we laid down on the mattress looking at the open sky. Meenakshi Di was telling Jiju of the scenic beauty of the ghat in the early morning, and she proposed the plan to go see the sunrise in the morning.
“You know, it’s an experience you shouldn’t dare to miss my dear hubby,” Didi continued, “And as that is early in the morning, papa can also join us.”
Papa just hummed, and excused like always — someone has to be at home, it doesn't look good to lock home early in the morning. And it was expected. But the problem was I was not interested in joining them; and I knew mummy wasn’t either. The ghat, that too in the morning, had so many strong, bad memories. It would have peeled off at the healing scars on our minds.
“Please go ahead with your plan Jiju,” I said, “I am not feeling well and will skip the morning’s plan, but count me in for the evening’s ice cream shop visit.”
That night I didn’t sleep well somehow, my dream was stuck at the ghat and unrecognizable, human figures wandered at the ghat. The more I wanted to get attention off those figures, the more those kept circling around me, till it was morning.
—
I sat up in the bed only, eyes tired and heavy, I couldn’t bear even the faintest morning light, filtered through the window curtains. I was breathing and thinking of all those weird, cryptic images that danced in front of my eyes all night.
“Kh. kh.. Khana.”
Did I hear it correctly? I straightened and my sleep fled away. I pinched myself checking whether I am still in dream. But the call came a second time and suddenly I became tense and my heart raced. I checked the watch and it was 8:30 AM in the morning. Papa must have gone for the job and Jiju and Di had planned to visit the ghat. So only mummy and I were at home, and I knew mummy wouldn't be able to bear it.
I gathered the courage and went outside and was he. Standing with a plain face, dirty attire on an unhygienic body despite having a god-gifted kind of physique.
“Kh. Kh..Khana.” He reiterated, mimicking the action of eating, an old, stained aluminum plate was in his hand.
“Nothing is cooked yet.” I somehow spelled out words from my almost choked throat.
He gulped, but didn’t move. And tried to look in the house behind me.
“Told you na. There is nothing at home. Go to the next door.” My voice cracked as I tried to yell at him.
He left for the next house, but turned back to see me. That was a very casual look, no anger, no offense meant. But I felt extremely uncomfortable that I turned my face away from him. In a couple of minutes, I saw him walking away from the colony, towards the town market. He seemed to have got the food.
Relaxed, I turned back and bumped into a mummy who was carrying Puja thali in hand.
“Babuuuuu careful. My time was good else you had messed up all my puja preparation,” even her scolding used to be sweet on the ears.
She walked delicately and gracefully in the verandah, towards the tulsi, with pallu on her head and glow on the face – the real ornaments of an Indian pious lady. And I wondered how true her words were – her timing was really good, had she been early for a couple of minutes, I don’t know if she had become psychologically tough by then to bear the shock of seeing her exploiter at our door.
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