Living A Dream (2) Mama became watchful of his works…, his way of working. It never seemed doing a work but it appeared if he was playing with his jobs! He performs duties whole days or plays whole days….! It was difficult to distinguish. That was Sunday. A holiday, Mama from the beginning was watching over him. He has started cleaning floor. Mama stopped him- oh, dear son! You’re too little to do such things…, no my dear…., you should play, and if you want to do something do little jobs, such watering to flowers and plants. Don’t do a work like this…… your Mami is there for those works! Then he turns to clothes……. No son…..! Don’t touch them. Then for shelves where books, note- books were kept. ‘Oh! You can never be an obedient, very naughty…….!’-Mama’s annoyance expressed. He laughed utterly! * * Ten days and nights slipped out. And a day came of his departure. Very soon, it could never be felt to anyone that he was not a part of the family. His dilution with family never came in realization. Mama thought that he has been given good domestic work training, and nothing, and it was difficult to keep him away of his works. Doctor family, Mr. and Mrs. both reached after their holiday consumption. A luxurious car stopped in a laborer’s colony. The very departure of Jigar was clear. Mr. and Mrs. stayed for a moment. They were served with biscuits, water and tea. Mama and Mami both praised Jigar, as much as they could. Doctor Sahib just showed smiles, and was quiet. He was a miser talker. Jigar went away. He looked faded. His smiles and laughter had gone. Of course, for the moments the Mama’s family too felt a feeling of loss, as of something had gone from inside. Anyway! This is world! Do your duty and never attached to it- Mama made a sigh. Yet, he was touched with his aliveness and, after all he was a servant…., belonged to a poor family, and was supporting monetarily to his parents…, such hard realities govern this globe! Mama, due to affinity, was thinking like a philosopher for a while. Next day- Mama was on his lunch. What Mama and all saw that Jigar has returned bare footed, smiling, a bit of giggling and bare handed….! It stunned them all. How…? How you’ve come…… five km. away….! So little child…., if you would have been misplaced…..! Oh my goodness! Let come back right now, just I’ll leave you…..! Such a daring…..! ‘I’m not feeling good there……!’- He only spoke giggling. ‘Oh lord! It’s too insulting…., height! You silly…., what Doctor Sahib would be feeling about ourselves…, let come here….!’ Jigar’s face again faded, miser. The blooming balls of his cheeks dried instantly. He would have never thought of such behavior from a house that had given him love, respect and dignity. He was treated like a son. That poor fellow how could understand what his reality was…..! He just was totally hopeless on this unwanted unexpected behavior of that Mama who loved him so much. Mama arranged a scooter from neighbors and left Jigar, and a bit shy told them how a fool boy he was! He was so playful, just has come from distant, an impossible for his age, just to play…..ho! Ho…! Ho!! Very cheeky boy….! Very- very cheeky! Next he warned him, ‘never do like that again, OK, otherwise I’ll beat you… OK?’ Doctor Sahib smiled. Mama came back with a breath of relaxation. Mami warned Mama- ‘never keep him again…, what they would be thinking about us, we’ve made a kid misguiding and luring. It’s really a serious thing to consider.’ ‘He’ll not fly again, I’m sure!’- Mama ‘It’s all right!’- Mami. * * In the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Doctor Sahib sat together and talked about Jigar. They were looking anxious. Doctor Sahib said, ‘His behavior just has insulted us, what Mama would be thinking…., we men of upper class exploit children. (There is child labor act in the country but never followed strictly) Mrs. a bit in fury retorted- ‘I had warned you, but you never minded it….!’ ‘But what now? The event has taken place and no need to discuss…, forget that….!’ ‘But what now….?’ ‘Let make him realized…., let it be understood him, at least he is a child, he needs to be treated with love and care.’ ‘Let’s go…’ They called on to Jigar. He came. ‘My dear boy! We are so bad that you’ve left us…., Oh! We are so hurt…, you’re since years there…, don’t you…? Even once we had done any awful against you….? Did we…? Tell me…. Tell me boy….’ Jigar nodded ‘No’, but said nothing. ‘Oh nice! Ever we have beaten you?’ ‘No…’- he nodded. ‘Well! Ever we scolded…?’ ‘No….’ - he nodded. ‘No threatening……’ ‘No….!’- He nodded again by moving his head right and left. ‘Excellent! We give you good quality foods…, fruits and milk…., and sometimes biscuits…., toffees…., doesn’t it….?’ ‘Yes….!’ He nodded by doing ups and downs his head. ‘Now be seated…., be comfort there, let come near to my sofa….’ Jigar just obeyed, he seemed a bit fearful. ‘Now listen! Dear boy! What we can do for you, you know we send you in a good school, you know how much a fee is? It is two hundred fifty per month….! Rest your schooling expenses, books, note-books, shoes, socks… shirts…., and these exceed to five hundred, you know…, besides, we pay your father handsomely, new bush-shirts and pants and caps on ‘holi, diwali and desharah’, all popular festivals of India, we do so much for you…., a guardian even to own child can’t make such expenditures as we are doing for you…., Understood….? My dear boy……, we’ve not much works to do except little small things…, now tell me what we lacked…?’ He told nothing, just downed his head. ‘Tell me dear boy’- Doctor Sahib put his hands on his curly beautiful hair, patted. But he remained quiet, displeased. Would you flee again? Won’t you….?’- Mrs. Doctor asked, ‘I know you’re so nice!’ ‘Tell me… will you go Mama’s house again?’- Doctor Sahib lofted his face pushing gently his chin up, putting a question tag on him. He still was silent. Mrs. Doctor came forward, ‘Not again really, we’re not so bad, Okay…..? After all he’s not more than a toddler…., he doesn’t know right or wrong, okay…..? Want to go to play…? Come on……!’ He walks out. Both took a long and deep breath of relaxation. * * The very next morning, Doctor Sahib as his habit was to come to corridor and then go through the newspaper headlines. When he moved for that saw a chit placed under a paper weight along the newspaper. The chit was written by Jigar. Doctor Sahib folded it off to go through- Jigar had written there in bold and in his own style, without any hesitation- You are good. Very good. Both of you take care me. You give good lunch. You give me good breakfast. You give good dinner. You give milk. You give some toffees. You send me school. You spend good money. You pay good rupees to my father. Doctor Uncle and Doctor Aunt do not beat me. Doctor Uncle and doctor aunt do not scold me. But they are (Mama) very- very good. Mama is very- very- much good. He loves me. You do not love. So….. Doctor without completing the sentences thrown the chit to his wife and took off towards Jigar’s room…….! ………………………………the end……………………………………… QUERIES OF KUCHU Kuchu, only seven years old was ready to bed between her loving mom and papa. She seemed a bit restless. She was thoughtful. What could be in her little innocent mind – chocolates, sweets, toys, ice – cream and all about the game and sports; and what! Very thoughtfully she asked her mother – ‘mom! You should never be old, promise me you will never - - - -.’ Her mom was utterly not ready for this and it made her surprise and think. Why little daughter in so wet voiced asks for that – never to grow older - - - - - -! She asked exclaimed, ‘Why little baby - - - -? What is the matter?’ ‘It’s nothing mom, I’ve just asked you.’ – The little Kuchu ashamed for a while. After a minute pause, her papa also joined them; there might really be something serious otherwise Kuchu would’ve not raised such queries. The matter was really serious. The old grand mother who was dwelling to their campus, in the ground floor complex, was too old to walk. She was very much old looking, weak, breathing, little eyes wore spectacle and without it she was unable to see things - - - -, she was leaned like a heron, almost arching, hardly able to walk, and always coughs - - - , cries and mugs with bunch of medicines. It all would have made Kuchu panic. To her little world, her mom shouldn’t be old like that of grand mom. However she had a doubt, though her mother was young and pretty looking, smart, rapid, fair, slim and healthy and spirited, she works and serves dinner quickly, cooks tasty stuff; and also she loves Kuchu, get her bath in Luke water and makes her fresh. No mom! You should and never should be older. Well! The little Kuchu’s brain thinks much stuff. Okay! You’re very much anxious about your mother but what about papa? If papa too grow to be an older? Oh! No. Papa can’t be so old. Really won’t. Why?! Because grand papa of the ground floor is smarter, happy and sportive, yes, he has white hair and moustaches but he is strong enough to look after his castles and milk away when milking them. He holds no stick in his hand, and is straight; walks fast, even can kick his old motor – bike to ride away easily. He has spectacle but he hardly wears, only when he would be reading newspapers. So, to our little chap Kuchu, when her papa would grow older would be looking like him. No worry! Papas are not like that type of guys to become leaned and thin. Hardly a matter of seriousness! No worry for papa. But she worried for her mom. If mom would’ve old age like - - - -! ‘Don’t worry!’ – Her papa tried to assure her that her pretty young mother would always be pretty and never grow older. Okay? ‘Really’?! – She a bit astonished, unbelievable but little mind knows only to believe however it’s unbelievable. ‘Really yes, I will look ever younger.’ – Mom said. ‘Yes, your mom will ever be beautiful - - - -.’ – Papa tried to give a pinch to his wife, who was smiling then. Then there was another question for Kuchu – ‘Then why our grand - mom of first – floor became so oldie - - - -.’ ‘She - - , she became because of - - -, of her old age - - - -.’ – Mom couldn’t find a satisfying answer that led Kuchu to another query. ‘Why she is so old?’ ‘Because it has been a long, very long time since she has come here on this earth.’ – Mom tried. ‘Means mom becomes oldie when it comes to a longer time - - - -.’ – Kuchu was on her stair. ‘Yes, dear daughter.’ – Papa said quietly. ‘Why there is a longer time?’ – Kuchu asked something more than tougher. Oh! There was no scope. Papa stood – ‘O my impossible little baby! Your mom would also grow older when there would be a longer time, but she would be a good and healthy looking then.’ ‘Then why our grand mom looks so thin.’ – Kuchu’s another strike. ‘Because she used to catch diseases frequently!’ – Papa ‘Oh! Because of disease - - - -, well, then our mom has no illness, mom has you?’ – Kuchu took a breath of satisfaction. ‘No, baby - - - -, I’m fit.’ – Mom. ‘Just little coughing and sneezing for a while and sometimes a headache!’ – Mom again smiled after her papa’s hit. Kuchu repeatedly told the some version – only for a while she coughs and sneezes - - - - oh! Hardly a matter! She has been assured of! ‘Well! Baby, she will grow a little older, not much - - - -!’- Papa yawned. ‘Well Kuchu, come on and close your eyes to sleep and have fairy dreams, OK?’ – Mom also yawned. Now kuchu has a great satisfaction, her eyes became dull before taking a long deep yawn to fall asleep peacefully. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Days and nights went by playfully. Kuchu had very much sympathy for grand – mom. Her grand - mom was bitterly old due to illness. Why grand – mom has had diseases? She got a question, of which grand mom would not reply. Only would say smilingly – it is oldness, all ill and diseases are for then. I’m diseased because I’m old. The kind of philosophical reply had for her meant nothing. Kuchu was assured hundred percent that grand mom was old because of illness, and here old mom was lying. Hence she had gotten every right to scold and shout at her; at least her fragile heart was very much aggrieved of Grand Mom’s miser state. She had right to show her pain. It has become an everyday routine to give mom certain lessons, as if, Kuchu was not like a child and her grand mom was not an oldie. Minute had become huge and vice – versa. Grand Mom was bound to listen to her complaints. She has no way left except to surrender. But in the process there was insuring an extraordinary relation between them. Kuchu’s maximum days and nights were spent with Grand Mom. She would be playing with her, every talk, plays and some games, worshipping to god even and listening folk stories had been the routine. In the home with her mom and pa Kuchu would’ve only gossips about her Grand – Mom, as if Grand Mom had become a hot topic for her and her every traits and gestures had become a matter of great amusement. How grand mom enchants, how she worships, how she prays, how she tells, how she laughs without her a single teeth. Grand Mom has become a routine diary, and in it; it was compulsory for her to register every events, everyday! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Space was limited and time was usual. There was nothing remarkable but there was something – something in Kuchu. Once her mother, rather pretty young mother was giving a good facial by self with some cream; Kuchu asked what all about were for. Then her papa gave reply that with application of creams mom would be young and beautiful for long, wouldn’t be an oldie. ‘Then mom don’t apply them’ – she said utterly with a bit anxiety. ‘Why?!’ – Asked mom – ‘you fear older age and you don’t want to have your mother thin and shrink, don’t you?’ The matter has come and gone as if it was nothing to give a thought there. That night Kuchu was again a bit restless and thoughtful. Her mother asked why she was serious; she then asked mom with caressing her pinky cheeks with her little fingers – Mom! Why you apply creams! Applying them you won’t grow older - - - , mom, when you will be an oldie - - - -!
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