=========================================================UDDALAK BANERJEE(UBJ)
Note: All characters in the story are purely fictional and any coincidence with any character is purely coincidental. All names are created by authors ubjian fertile mind.
After toiling out in the midnight sun for about an hour finally Ej returned.It has been a longday.At the age of 65 labouring out in the market parsimoniously bargaining for the last penny is indeed a hard proposition.She had been a follower of Jainism since her lives very inception and now that she had to toil it out in the midnight sun was unimaginable for those who had seen her former state of affluence ,the days when she used to flout a santro with a bafna written elegantly at the back glasses and set a blaze the streets of Raipur.Indeed those were the glory days !.Suddenly the door bell rang “ding dong ding dong!”
“Yes ! how may I help you ?”,Ej asked somehow arranging her dress which draped her old senile body .
There was a boy of 17 standing at the door.He was taken aback by the good English and accent of this old lady .For at a semi urban place like Raipur in India where mostly all speak hindi such mellifluous English is indeed rare.
“Well our ball has been hit and it has supposedly reached your roof..So if you could permit us to take it back we would be..”,Ubj said with a flush of shame in his face.
Well children habitually play cricket near the g e road running across the chaube colony specially on days of holidays so it was nothing new for Ej but this time a boy quite different came asking for the boy.First,he spoke English which was kind of rare for those who had been playing at the ground for the last decade .Second,from the instant Ej opened the door she spoke more with a humane tone than with the other boys that frequented the house for the same reason.
“Well Ok..As you can see my age I guess it would not be possible for me to go to the roof but yes you may go ..provided you don’t touch anything else on the way and do the whole thing fast for I need to go to meet my cardiologist today.”
“Ok mam ..really kind of you..so which way is the stairs to your roof?”
“come in go to the left room (pointing)and you will have the staircase circling up to the roof.”
“hmm !thank you”,Ubj smiled and took the path to the roof.
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Once at the roof Ubj picked the ball and threw it down to the street where Souvik collected it .While coming back amidst the tapestries hung in the walls ubj found a mural painting which was indeed beautiful with the picture of Ej in her twenties.She was a paragon queen with her ethereal charm like beams flooding the place with radiance.Her eternal charm was so voluptuous and so magical that for a moment Ubj was amazed to look at someone of her dreams.Although he was a bit old to read the fairy tales now but he had read a lot of them when he was young plus the love stories his mother now an officer of UNION bank of India used to tell him at night to make him sleep.Well at that time they seemed so true but today with changing times and growing acumen at times the veracity of those stories are called to question specially so when the news of arson , murder , rape ,politics flood the newspapers.
But those visages live on at some part of the brain perhaps helping it find peace amidst the claustrophobic milieu of an ordinary existence.The bring peace like a dove that flies and lands infront of you when u stand in a place million miles away from settlements lost in the world.
“Excuse me what exactly are u doing here?” Ej enquired as she ascended the stairs.
“Can’t you understand that I have cardiological problems and the doctor has told me not to step on the stairs much?And for you I am having to do this !.that is precisely the reason why I told bimla not to entertain any ball related request.If you can control where u hit the ball then u better not play it.”Ej continued.
“whose is this picture?yours I suppose.”,Ubj oblivious to every other word of Ej said as he kept on musing on the picture.
“Yes !’,Ej said.
Well truth to tell even at this age of 65 she is still beautiful .Well now most of her black hair has been replaced by white ones but yet a few that were remaining makes her look more young than most girls that study with Ubj in DPS,Raipur.
“may I take it ?”Ubj asked as if in apprehension of some pugnacious reply.
“Why?”, Ej enquired.
“Just wondering”
“NO!”came the reply.
With a word more Ubj came down the stairs but could not decide which way to go.Actually Ejs house was really big and it nothing less than a riddle for strangers to decide which door leads to what.Then Ej came to his rescue finally irritatingly saying”that way(indicating direction by hand”).where are u moving about?”
“no I was not getting the direction for the exit “,ubj said with a big blush.
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Once on the street ,Boomba smiled and said ,”itna time laga!(it took so much time!)”.
Ubj said,”Nahi aisa kuch nahi .Acha bo grandmother type ki jo thi unka naam kya hai?”
Boomba said”oooooooooooooooooooooooo”
Girish said,”ha ha ha !ek jamane me bo dadi bahot bari maal thi pata hai na?par unki 3 bache hai do US me parte hai unke bhi bache hogaye honge.”
Ubj was not to happy with Girish’s last comment and tried to deviate the topic saying ,”thik hai thik hai Rimon ball dal..kitna score hua tha 34 hai na ! ball kitne baki hai abhi?”.
Girish said,”2 over .Mar ab .thok daal pura..abhi bhi boomba baki hai ..age bar ke maar.”
The next ball was hit away square for a few runs and then the next to next ball was hit for a super six and again the ball ended up at the rooftop of Ej’s house.This time the culprit was Ubj.Well last time it was Souvik who was the culprit but he was an experienced player there and had been playing there for last 2 years while ubj was a new entry and had barely had a few matches .Infact he begun yesterday itself.So according to the rules the newplayer need to do the fetching job.
Souvik was a good friend so he volunteered to do the job for ubj as it was approaching dark and it was already 6pm and in winter darkness sets in early.
“Aaj ke liye chor dete hai kal aunga to lene jaunga..kya hai ki ek din me do do bar jana sahi nahi hoga..(pause) vaise bhi mere khayal se bo gayi hogi doctor ke paas .bo boli rahi thi ki cardiologist ke paas jani hai karke”,ubj reasoned.
Boomba cut back saying,”aur kya kya boli?”
Ubj said ,”shut up!(smiles) .wicket Souvik ke ghar rakh de aur bat rimon ka hai to leja baki kal ake ball lane jaunga main.”
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After school Ubj rushed to the playground .It had been a long frantic day with a rather long chemistry class which drenched a lot of energy .The routine was prefixed as always and this was the part of the day which was most enjoyable .It lend an unique opportunity to play and share one’s experiences with ones friends .
“Main ball lane chalta hu..”,ubj volunteered as his friends were busy drawing the stumps .
“jaldi lana!aaj ek test match khelenge”,boomba said.
“ok”,ubj smiled and ran to the entrance of the huge building.
On hearing the bell Ej came out .As usual charming and still vibrant into the sixties.For a moment Ubj looked at her face and thought of the portrait of her’s he saw yesterday.As the sun’s last rays were falling on her face it was glowing .
“Yes?”
“the ball has been hit to the roof again…I am seriously very very sorry but we have changed the rules of the game and now anyone who hits the ball to the roof is given out instead of a six so now I don’t think that problem would exist anymore ..can I get the ball please!”
“no” came the stern reply.”not again!you people will never learn”
“mam please..it is the last time”
“ohho!!!!! (depressed and agitated).Ok but this is it ..and no more…Go and get it .”
While traversing the stairs fast Ubj felt a strange pull towards the whole place .It was truly a sort of a déjà vu of that place.And then just as his searching eyes fell on the portrait it lit up to see that portrait on the wall is missing.After fetching the ball when ubj returned to the ground floor he saw the picture placed near the entrance.
“hmm .can I take this picture please!”,ubj asked Ej while leaving.
“no I told you yesterday!(brief pause) why are u nagging for this picture?”
“I kind of like the girl in the portrait.She is really beautiful.I feel her face appealing to my imagination.I feel I know her somehow.”
The lady was thunderstruck for she knew that Ubj had liked the picture and being somewhat of introvert kind she did not want to show that portrait anymore.So on such a bold and candid confession she for a moment hunted to find words.
“Silent I am 65 and you are barely 17 could not you been a bit more cautious about this!I have three children who are double the age you are of!Oh God what an era this has turned out to be!Have you no sense of age?no sense of religion.I had shifted the portrait because of you.And you still found it out and you are asking for it!”
Standing tall and silent finally Ubj went out of the house with the ball in his hand .
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On coming back the game resumed but today Ubj was completely disturbed.Everything seemed grey .”I will not be able to see her again “ Ubj kept on musing of the events just happened.
“right arm round the wicket” rimon signaled to the umpire and started to bowl as ubj opened the innings for his side.
And the ball just whisked away over the stumps and ubj was all in a trance.
“What happened ?Stump pura dikh raha hai”Souvik enquired .Souvik was about to come in next and was apprehensive of rimon so he desparately wanted Ubj to last the over.UBj was obdurately silent and did not say much.
“right arm over the wicket” rimon signaled to the umpire .He had seen the line and that ubj is not using any footwork so felt attacking the stumps would be the best idea.
In the mean time Ej had come to the roof trying to take the clothes that were out in the sun for drying.And immediately there was a sound of the stumps cartwheeling into the ground and ecstatic rimon making rounds in the air and hitting the ground.
Ej was also taken up by the noise and looked at the ground and the sad batsman.
“hadh hogayi!! Koi footwork nahi..bas bat ko age kardo bas!!!ab kya hoga?har gaye ab to.Useless hai tu sahi me”Souvik said in disgust.
“I am not feeling well main ghar jana chahta hu..”,Ubj said it loud and clear.
“to toss se pahle bolna tha!”,souvik protested.
“kya hua buriya ne kuch kaha?”,boomba asked with a mischievious smile.
“she is not buriya ..ok asshole? Jake parle kuch ..you are nonsense …absolutely”,ubj hit back.
“Teen 30 saal ki hatte katte tyson jaise aadmi o ki mummy hai ..to buriya nahi hai to kya hai?????”,boomba said.
Ej in the mean time was still on the roof listening to the lively conversation.
“ye patta jo dekh raha hai na us pedh ki (pointing towards the fig tree near the road) uske peeche ek worm hai..us pedh me bahot sare ants hai ..jo uth rahe hai..kya tu unsab ki naam janta hai?discovery me dekha hai kabhi? Bas to fashion tv hi chalata hai bas tu to..insaare ants ki bhi jindagi hai bhai bahen hai..ghar hai kahani jo ankahi rahe jati hai…hazaro kahani ya ..Kal ko agar tu apna age inke saath compare karega to ????to to maha maha maha Buddha khusat hai phir to..ye apna locality hi le le na unme tujhe se bare kitne hai aur kitne chote hai bo to thora thora tujhe pata hai ..ab tu mujhe ye bata ki is duniya me kitne aise log hai jo tujhe se chote hai ..exact figure bata!!!KISKO KYA FARAK PARTA HAI INSAB SE..abhishek ki age to aishwariya se kam se kam 4-5 saal chota hoga. To ab? Infact sachin ka dekh bob hi to anjali se 2 saal chota hai to ?inse kya faraq parega? ye duniya ageless aur timeless hai..isme koi age nahi hota..”
“bo celebrity hai ..bo chahe kuch kare ..”boomba replied and then with a taunted smile said,”pure duniya me tujhe 65 saal ki buddi hi mili?”
“shut up”,ubj shouted.
“ek baat batau ..gori hai but still!! Meri dadi ke jamane ki hai bo!paise hai ye bhi manta hu isliye makeup karti hogi ..mera gharwale ye sunenge to hash parenge..”,boomba continued.
“ek chiz bata tujhe duniya ke har ladke aur ladki ka date of birth pata hai ??tujhe to pata hai ki humare school me bhi bahot sare bacho ki date of birth paise deke change karwaya hu hai?Shahrukh khan bhi apna date of birth badal ke eksaal kam karwaya tha !ek chiz aur bata ki US ke president BILL CLINTON jab monika lewiski ke saath soye the to kya bo date of birth dekh ke soye the ?Aur phir film industry me dekh!julia Roberts ko dekh ! bo char char shaadi hogayi uski har bar usne apne se kaafi kam umar ke ladko se hi kiya hai ..infact aisa hai ki currently uski pati to uske half umar ke hai to???Kareena Raveena aur baki hindi actress bhi sab ke sab date of birth manipulate karte hai .to kya tu unsare logo ke asli date of birth dundh ke nikalega aur phir unke boyfriend o ko jake bolega ye????? Original me Devdas movie me devdas paro ka date of birth kabhi suna hai? Ya phir titanic me jack ya rose ne kabhi apne date of birth discuss kiya?Acha ye bata ki George bush ka date of birth kya hai? Acha paromita ki bata?ayushi ki?deepshika ki? Ye sab to tujhe memorized rahna chahiye ..tu to inhi ke peeche waqt barbad karta hai kyun?acha ye bata du paromita ka date of birth 4,8,1987 hai tujhse thik 8 mahine bari hai bo..so then??to tu phir kal se usse baat nahi karega! hai na?????aur ayushi ka hai 8-7-1988 wo tujhse 3 mahine choti hai ..to rakhi to badwayega na? kyun?”
“tujhe kaise pata?” boomba was surprised by the sudden revelation.
“kyun ki unka college id card mujhe distribute karne diye the ..aur pahle do card undono ke the!!”
All this while rimon and souvik were silent and were amusing themselves with a smile at each passing comment.Rimon was 15 years old and currently studying in class 9 in suryashekhar school and was enjoying the whole conversation and hence did not break in .
“ladke ya ladki ke family background,age,color,creed,caste,language dekhe kabhi pyar nahi hua hai..Classics me ho ye asli jindagi me agar ye sab parameter hua pyar ki to phir isse boring jindagi kissiki nahi ho sakti..koi kabhi khush nahi rahega/rahegi insab se..because there is no end of these type of mental blocks ..because then height and weight also need to be taken into consideration.Log religion badal ke shadi karte hai..pyar ko anjam dete..aur us sadi me to aise faltu bate kar raha hai..acha ek chiz bata boomba teri mummy aur daddy ke age difference kitna hai?”,ubj said.
“3 saal ..”boomba replied.
“mera mummy aur daddy ka 2 saal raha hai age difference.Aur batau? Listen.They had a love marriage.They graduated from the same college and then did MSC from same university and then are doing the job now at the same bank..so? At that time too my father had to face a lot of opposition but then the marrage lasted well and are happy.Mera neighbor Abhinav singh papa ke dost hai same bank me hai bo bhagke shadi kiya the Rosi dewangan se joki completely out of caste thi..aur sabse bari baat undono ki age difference kareeb 4 saal honge ..to?????mera grand mother aur grand father ke age difference 24 saal ki hai ..dono side me ..to ? they were so happy .Even now my grandmother loves him .So?.ye custom tha pahle to?tere grandmother aur grandfather ka kitna age difference tha ?”,ubj illustrated.
“20 saal kareeb”,boomba replied.
“To?”,ubj said.
“lekin ladki 65 ki hai aur tu hai 17 ka ..is this not extreme?”,boomba asked.
In the mean time Ej who heard the whole thing finally left the roof and went into the inner house.
“I don’t want to talk anymore..i don’t want to play and I am not feeling well..”,ubj said leaving the ground.
Souvik said ,”please …mat jana match to complete kar”.
Rimon said,”abe aanti dekhne ayegi ..khush hojayegi dekh ke ..tujhe please khel na .bo dekh rahi thi sab kuch ..sun bhi rahi thi..tera set hai surely..baise 40 saal age difference kuch jaada ho jata hai I guess.but still I am always an UBJ fan .”
“teri mummy ko bata ta hu ye sab rukh.tera dimag ghum gaya hai”,boomba said pugnaciously .
Unruffled as ever UBj left the scene.
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Since the time of homecoming the whole conversation was roaming in circles in every nuke and corner of his mind.For a moment it even occurred to ubj that what happen if boomba reports the whole thing to mother.Would she be furious? Would she think that her son has lost his head?.But then ubj firmly felt in favour of the relationship and felt that although it would be a bigshock to her if she got to know for perhaps the agedifference is really a bit too huge of 40 years nearly! but still atleast he can try to explain.He even mused on saying ,”boomba was out of his mind..I never said anything to him ..he may be suspicious and that’s it ..I just got the ball back from their house ..Which all else do ..thats it ..”.But whatever may be said Ej was a magical face .Her eyes spoke for itself and she was perhaps even more beautiful than any Katrina that India has seen.The portrait was perhaps the most precious one ever of which only a few in billions know.Well she was really really beautiful and that she belonged to jain community made her seem more pure.
“She is truly born for an epic”,ubj thought.
That day at night in dream UBJ recreated the portrait in his mind and felt asif he is holding a candle infront of it in the dark.And in the dim candle light touching the eyes and the face of his eternal deity.In a hope against hope he was envisioning her to come alive from the picture but alas that did not happen.But in his dream he did say few words to her 65 year old self .He said,”I love u irrespective of time age class and space .I have worshipped just you and you only in my imagination.I have never ever seen someone more enchanting and so engrossing that time should stop .I don’t know what is love but I don’t seek to see any more faces now that I have seen yours.I want to end my existence in this very moment itself.”
Next day in school Papri madam was teaching tempest saying,”ferdinand and Miranda the most iternal of love birds ..they were lovers for ages ..time had never touched them..because they were destined to meet in the heaven.True love is never falsifying and is free from all bondages of lust and is pure and lucid.”
“Is love ageless?”,asked ubj.
“Sorry!! “,madam replied in her usual panache.The class started a hum with a giggles flooding the class.
“U said time never touched them so is age difference not a factor in love?”,ubj asked plaintively.
“I don’t know what analogy u drawing from it banerjee but yes I must say that yes true love never pines.iT is independent of class ,creed ,religion ,time and age obviously.It was true love that had broken the church and ushered in the romantic era of English literature with poems like Skylark and ode to a nightingle.There is awesome power in true love even prelates agree to that.I hope I have answered your question?”
“Ej “ shouted Souvik from the back bench.
Ubj looked back and so did papri mam.Well papri madam was well into her fourties and still attractive and smart.By her outward appearance it felt asif she was just into her twenties and had recently passed out of college .But she was a very shrewd and astute reader of minds and specially student minds.
She caught the word and looked at ubj and smiled .
“So we are getting a classic example of an ageless love .are we?”(looking meaningfully at ubj).
The whole class broke down in peels of laughter.
Not knowing what to say ubj looked at the floor and a smile silently emerged from the corner of his lips too.
Madam looked at ubj for about a minute and then smiled again and said ,”okay where were we? And Ferdinand (smiles) and Miranda were at the corner of the burmuda island ..”
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At the evening when ubj returned to the ground ,Ej was drying her hair sitting at the balcony.Her face today was glowing indeed as if she had grown younger by a decade or two.Her hair was all black again perhaps by use of dye and nails were manicured and roseated.It seemed as if the old portrait had come to life.Ubjs eyes were transfixed on her.The blustery wind was flowing at full swing and her hair was time and again disarrayed by the wind who tried time and again to break the tight grip of the hairband.After envisioning the vision of his dreams which seemed to hang on in the eyelids forever ubj finally turned back to concentrate on the game.
“nahi mummy ko to bolna hi hoga ..lag raha hai.Tujhe stumps ke peeche khara hone kisne bola hai?”,boomba began.
“main chahe kahi bhi khara ho jayu usse tujhe kya problem ho rahi hai?”,defended ubj.
“ok …jo tera maan me aye bohi kar..”,boomba said agitatedly.
In the mean time abhinandan who was a new recruit to the team today made a big slash and the ball went high into the air ,up up and over the building bouncing on the asbestos and then into the roof again.
“main nahi jayunga ..” avinandan swiftly replied.
“ok main jayunga!”,ubj swiftly latched on to the chance.
“hmm !nice such a good Samaritan is not available in entire india !“,boomba said.
“ok I am going..”,ubj wended to the Ejs house and pressed the bell which has somehow become so familiar in the last few days.
Ej came to the door and opened it.
“come in!”,Ej ushered ubj in and took him to next room and waited.
“what does your mom and dad do?”,asked Ej.
“they are in banks..” ubj replied.
“hmm! And u are in..(pause)”
“class xii, dps Raipur”
“I know you are immature but what do you like about me ?..”
“everything ..(pause) right from the fingernails to your dark hair’s tip. ”(now looking directly towards ej’s eyes.)
“don’t you think you are a bit too young to decide affairs of your life?”
“hmm! may be, may not be.. but I believe and I am taught that love is a feeling which is timeless and undying.”
Silence prevailed all around as Ej looked towards the ground and then back at ubj.
“See my hand they are full of wrinkles and is so weak that It keeps on vibrating like a richter needle.My eyes has lost its vision and power of resolution and I may die anytime .Doctor Sankar told me to proscribe from any form of anxiety .I have already had two strokes albeit mild ones and the another one could be life terminating.My spinal cord is also weak and the bones are all fragile now and I take calcium and undergo physiotherapy every Sunday,Tuesday and thrusday.The teeth that you see are all false and had been imported from Switzerland by my elder son to give a real life feel.Now tell me would still stand by the argument u gave yesterday?”
Again silence prevailed for a moment.
“Yes I will” came a feeble reply perhaps enfeebled by the overwhelming flood of emotions which had already liquefied itself to take shape of tears .
“is your grand ma or grand pa alive?”
“yes “ said ubj feebly.
“what are their age?”
“grandma 72 and grand pa 80”.
“I am just 7 years younger than your grandma.Your age is same as that of ashok’s who is reading in birla institute in dehradun.”
“So?”
“SO..”,ej was about to say something very drastic very melo dramatic but suddenly controlled herself and said ,”go and get the ball..your friends must be waiting..”.
For a brief while ubj waited and then went to the roof and took the ball and while he descended the stairs and saw Ej .She was sitting demurely lost in thought in her elderly chair.
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The next day Ubj did not go to play because the class tests were to begin the next day and there was a lot of catching up to do.Ej came to the roof and took a glimpse of those playing in the ground and then silently went back.The tests began and went on for about a week .Everyday Ej used to come to the roof and look at the ground and go back.And for any ball that used to get hit to the roof Ej’s servent sunayana used to drop them down.
In the mean time inbetween exams one day ubj had high fever and did not feel well enough to study and hence just to pass time was scribbling the name Ej in every page of his rough exercise book .Each time with a different font size and design.Ubj’s mom saw it and asked ,”what are u doing ..(looking at the exercise book pages) who is Ej?or what is Ej? Why are u wasting pages like this?if you don’t want to read go and sleep.”
Ubj did not retaliate and silently went to his room and slept.
The next day while going to office Souvik’s dad met Ubj’s dad and after their usual office related talks finally Souvik’s dad said ,”I heard that your son is in love with an old lady?Is that true?”
Ubj’s dad said,”no ! he never said anything to me..why ? who is it?”
Souvik’s dad said,”ekta jain” and then continued to describe her by saying,”souvik was saying something of her and your son very recently.I disbelieved him once or twice but he persisted and now from what I heard from boomba who is souvik’s friend I believe the whole thing is not a canard.”
Not knowing what to say,ubj’s dad bid goodbye promising to talk to his forward child and turn his opinionated mind to see the light of reality .
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In the meantime after straight 7 days ubj returned to the playground and enthusiastically participated in the games .Well as always he used to take a few glances to the roof too hoping to get to see the woman of his dreams.But today she did not come.They had a test match today celebrating event of ending of exams.The match strayed to the night and it was well past 7 when finally the match ended.The street lights further heightened the effect of the match.
When ubj returned home it was 8 ‘0 clock and his father was waiting for him.
“chalo agaye janab ..” started ubj’s father ,”main aur teri mummy raat raat tak bank me kaam samhal te rahte hai karta ye soch ke ki mera ladke ko best se best private teacher dilau ..best school ..best clothing dilau..and what does he give me in return ? a love affair with a rotten old lady!!!”
Ubj was silent and in heart of his hearts he was fearing such a thing to happen for a few days now.
“dekh mera ankhon me dekh niche dekh kaha raha hai?”
Silence prevailed as no reply came.
“parne leekne ki jo haal dekh raha hu ..mujhe nahi lagta hai ki isbar tu paas hoga..tune bola mujhe khelna jani hai ..hum ne bola ok jao khelo..baki ladke bhi khelte hai..par main ne sapno me bhi ye nahi socha tha ki ankhir me mera ladka aisi ganda kaam kar ayega…chi chi ..society me naak katgayi..ek 65 saal ke buddi ke saath !!!!bolte hua bhi sharam arahi hai.Aaj souvik ke daddy mile the bo tera gun gan kar rahe the..bol rahe the ki aapke ladke ko ekta jain se pyar ho gayi.damn! obstinate foolish derogatory and ludicrous child ”
Tears flooded the corners of the silent accussed.
“IIT nikalenge!!!!khakh nikle ga IIT ..gali gali ke awara ladke agar IIT nikal ne lagaye to phir to hogaya!!! Log char panch saal bhar koshsih karke bhi nahi nikal pa rahe hai !!Sharma saab ke bate ko dekh kitne mahnat se parta hai..anik ko dekh tere saath jo hai..boomba ko dekh khel ke time khel parte time parna ..I feel so proud for them ..they try and try and try .Tuj jaise ishq ki band bajate nahi phirte ..they are the ones I as Indian feel proud of..”
“aur ha how much do you know of love? Sir ke upar chat hai ..khane ke liye roti hai aur pahan ne ke liye free me roti mil rahi hai ..to bas ab janab ko 65 saal ke buriya se pyar ho gaya!!bo to meri bhi mummy ke age ki hai!!!chi chi chi!! I feel ashamed to name you my child.”
In the barrage of accusations too ubj did not speak a word.Well truth to say he had nothing to say because first of all most of things his father was saying were facts and it has never been his habit to say anything in reply to his father specially on such licentious topics as this.
Perhaps lack of resistance itself resisted any further escalation of tensions between the father son duo and finally the father fell aback saying(in a low tone),”when I met your mother we fell in love ..and the world around us looked so beautiful ..but it was our love that finally made our world beautiful ..life is a struggle ..it was ur mother who made monstrous sacrifices to get the family on track and you know that ..how she had to works so hard and married off your aunts to decent families and then finally eked out an existence for us in the society .Initially your grandfather were of a different opinion but I worked hard and finally proved myself.But that was within the limits of the sanctity of marriage and hindu laws .A women being younger by a few years is the way we have had our martriarchial society set.A few extraordinary people had made a few exceptions but that too by only a couple of years .But 40 years!!! It is obscene”.
Ubj did not say a word just went to his bed and tried to sleep.Today even his mom did not come close to comfort him because she too was grievously upset over her son’s irresponsive promiscuous actions.
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The next day morning ubj was very upset after the nightlong thrashing and felt very heavy at heart.The food was left on the table and both his parents were off to their respective offices.He took the food and then got dressed and went to school.After coming back he went to playground but mostly with an empty mind and thought almost pushing himself there.That day Ej did not come to the roof .A big lock lay hung on the gate.
UBj was too lost to make any reaction on that.
The next day again when the ball was hit to the roof by Boomba and Ubj went to retrieve it he found that the same lock was there .
Ubj felt some anxiety for the first time and since no one was there he could not ask.
Then days passed on.After Monday came Tuesday and then Wednesday and so on..After a month too there were no change on the locks.For ubj with each passing day the anxiety grew stronger and stronger.
Finally one day at night when ubj was at sleep he heard a conversation between his father and mother.
mother was saying,”Payel bata rahi thi ki Ekta uske bare ladke saath US permanently chali gayi hai..Unko ghar ab shayad Samir le lega.1 crore 23 lakh ki boli gayi thi us ghar ke liye phir shayad Rahul jhunjhunwale ne liya hai bo makan”.
Father was saying,”chalo kam se kam bala to tali..society me mu dekhane ke kabil to bache..mera ladka itna despo hai main kabhi soch nahi sakta tha!”
Mother smiled and said with a serious tone,”nahi sudar jayega..abhi chota hai ..”
On bed ubj was already in tears.
The moon today seemed darker and the mountains in it seemed so full of water.He wanted to transport himself into it and then get lost in it permanently where no one else will ever come to know.He wanted to be there and painting the name Ej on every tree branch and birds red, blue and green.
At night when his mother came to his bed room and started to rub her fingers on his hair,weeping ubj asked,”mom Ej kaha gayi hai?”
“USA”,came the pointifical answer.
“bo phir kabhi aayegi yeha?”
“shayad nahi..”.
Now that Ej was gone his mother too tried to give some moral support to him saying ,”you are too young for all this thing..someday when u will grow up ..u will know better and then u will understand that whatever happens ,happens for the good.”
Well with time perhaps everything changes but the mark that once Ubj made on the bark of the mango tree the next day still remains and although it has grown dim with constant movement of ants and birds but still for someone who knows the location of those marks can safely say “the marks are still so young”.
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