I don’t know how that day had passed. The whole function was just like a dream. Of course it was one of the memorable days of my student life. I had got a chance to meet the great poets and writers about whom I’d heard only in books. It was a golden opportunity for me to meet all of them under one roof.
I didn’t call up to home just because I wanted to share all those happy moments face to face, not over the phone. It was decided that I would stay back for one more day at my cousin’s place in Bangalore. But the surprising thing was, even from my home nobody had called up to know what happened. I think even they are waiting for me to come back. But still why?? Why?? I did not get the answer for the whole night. Still sometimes I wonder why I didn’t call up that day??
What was wrong with me??
************************************
April 16, 2000
Not much special. As I had booked my return tickets to Mangalore, I was just waiting for the time to come.
My cousin sister and brother in law had forced me a lot to stay for one more day. But I’d clearly denied saying, ‘I will come one more time but today I have to leave as next day I have to wish someone who is very special, on his birthday. I cannot wish him over the phone. I want to share many things with him. I’ve promised him that I would come.’
The whole day looked like dragging for me. I could not understand why?
Of course we can not understand everything in our life! Especially when it is so short!
So short! Pardon!
Why that thought came to my mind???
***********************
April 17, 2000.
07.30A.M.
I just reached my home. I was tired and thought of taking bath first. Everyone was silent. Especially the devotional songs, which we play normally in the morning everyday was not playing. May be no power, I felt so. I just took bath and finished my breakfast.
I wanted to share so many things with my family but I had promised someone that I’d share those moments with him first, before anyone. So I kept quiet. When my Mom asked about the function I just said that it was nice and wonderful. But in my mind I had decided that I would give them the real surprise by sharing all those moments and all those photoes of many VIPs and still many more things…
But I didn’t notice that why they were not so excited about those things. Once I finished my breakfast and having last sip of my cup of tea.
‘Hari, get ready we have to go!’ My elder brother said.
‘Sorry, bro! Today’s date is booked already. I don’t want to come anywhere. Today is someone’s birthday .I cannot miss it. You can go but I am not coming. I’ve to meet and wish my Sir as today is his birthday!’
There was a deep silence between us.
‘Why you are waiting? I said, nah that I am not coming. You carry on’, I told him.
May be I had to realize the fact that there will always be lengthy silence before any explosion!
After few seconds I heard my brother's voice. ‘Hari! Jalandhar Sir is no more!!!”
Oh god! Oh no! Tea cup is falling down by my hand and falls on the floors and breaks into pieces. The whole world looks like revolving very fast. It’s thundering very loud somewhere! Bird have stopped suddenly while flying..
No, no.. Don’t expect such things. These all happens only in movies not in real life. Even if it happens, not in my life!
I forgot a line above while mentioning about silence.
There will always be lengthy silence before any explosion! Yes, even after the explosion!
For the first time in my life I realised what does mean by real shock!
I didn’t even utter a word. Just speechless!
Just remembered that unforgettable look with a smile!
Could not hear anything but my brother was saying something. Of course, he was emotional,
‘Just before half an hour I came from the hospital along with Prakash Sir(our Kannda Master and relative as well). Since yesterday I was at the hospital. You can not even imagine, Hari.. Not even anyone's enemy should face such thing.
That day the dog, which had bit our Sir, was mad dog. Sir had just neglected that point with the confidence that nothing would happen. But the night when you left to Bangalore itself he got fever and admitted to the hospital. Truth came out. It was too late, Hari..! Too late..! Each and every one tried their level best. There was only one injection, which could save Sir’s life, which costs around 40000 Rs. In the entire state there was not even a single hospital left where they did not try to get that injection. Can you believe it? There was not a single injection in the entire state that could save his life. It was not available anywhere! How such things can happen so rapidly?
There was no other option, Hari! Sir had realised that he would change into mad animal within the next few hours, which he could not even imagine in his dreams. Sir requested the doctors to give him an injection, which could help him to go to permanent sleep within an hour!
How can I forget, Hari? I was about to call you but Sir stopped me from doing so! How can I forget our Sir? Yes, he might have thrashed me for escaping from NCC camp without informing him. But I could not see our Sir in such situation since yesterday evening. How could I? He was just smiling even though he was totally depressed. Before taking that injection, which would push him towards permanent sleep, he just smiled and wished us saying, ‘My time has come .I have to go. Bye!’ He conveyed his wishes to you especially. How can I forget?’
I was just able imagine that situation. I did not shed tears, fell in a deep thought. There was not even a single exam in all those years (since he joined as teacher) in which he did not ask a question, which was related to the name of an injection we should take in case of Rabis decease. Then, why..? Why he had to neglect that simple matter? Why? Why? Can anybody answer this question ??
Why he took that matter as so simple?
Who knows? I feel, may be when death knocks at your door everything may look very simple!
What to say that day? Birthday or the death day?!!!
After all both are same, two ends of a rope called life!
They were supposed to bring the body in an ambulance around 3.30pm. Funeral programme was supposed to take place at Sir’s native place which was far away.
Was it a death of a master? For me it did not seem so. People had gathered in thousands of numbers at each bus stop right from Mangalore till his present home. Almost 17 bus stops are there.
I don’t remember such a gathering even at the time of annual festival of temples. The gathering would have crossed more than 2-3 lakhs! It was just an example for what kind of person he was! Such a social worker he was!
Everyone’s’ eyes were with tears but I could not cry.
I was able to hear one and only one sentence. One voice..
‘God should not be so cruel. He should not have given such a death to such a nice person by which we could not even touch him!’
Yes. It was beyond everyone’s imagination!
I was just able to see his half face though the ambulance window. The whole body was covered with special covers. The ambulance left after few seconds.
I came back home, did not go to Sir’s home. Because I couldn’t see it again.. His lovely wife’s face, his cute kid, which was just one and half years of old.
‘Is that life is all about? Is this what God’s play? If anyhow one day he is gonna cut all these relationships then why should he bind us in such relationships??? How can he do so? After all how can he? Is he such a sadist??’
Jalanadhar Sir’s last few words were echoing in my ears throughout that night.
‘I’m getting late, Hari.. You come back from Bangalore and meet me as soon as possible ok.. Don’t forget. By the way 17th is my birthday. Why don’t you come on that day? I’ll be waiting for you!’
‘It’s getting late. Bye for now .Come to meet me, okay? I’ll wait for your come back!’
‘Sir, I had decided that I would come and meet you on your birthday without fail. Wherever I am I’d come to wish you on your birthday. As I promised I am here, Sir! But where are you? Where you have left, Sir? Whether I was so late and in that anger you became late? How can I come to meet you now when you didn’t even inform that where you are going? How can I come? I thought that I would come and share all those happy moments with you on this day! On your birthday! And was expecting the same that unforgettable look with that smile towards me! But you did not even search for me among the crowd, Sir! You just closed your eyes! Never ever thought of searching or looking at me! Whether I was so stranger for you? You never asked what I was carrying with me for you on this special day! On your birthday! You didn’t even do that attempt.
When you will do that attempt??
When your eyes will search for me among the crowd with that curiosity!
When? When? Is it possible in this birth ever again?? Is it possible ever again??? Sorry to ask but what to do, as I don’t believe in rebirth.
Can you hear me?? Do you have at least a minute of time to listen for my words to know what I have brought for you almost after traveling 300 + KMs on this special day? On your birthday!
That night there were only questions…! Only question and more questions! Nothing else. No answers at all. I knew that I am not going to get answer ever in my life for those questions.
But I didn’t know that I may have to wait for the answers exactly till the next five years!
On April17th, 2005! A long wait of five Years!
Who said that the fruit of patience will always be sweet??
************************
I didn’t call up to home just because I wanted to share all those happy moments face to face, not over the phone. It was decided that I would stay back for one more day at my cousin’s place in Bangalore. But the surprising thing was, even from my home nobody had called up to know what happened. I think even they are waiting for me to come back. But still why?? Why?? I did not get the answer for the whole night. Still sometimes I wonder why I didn’t call up that day??
What was wrong with me??
************************************
April 16, 2000
Not much special. As I had booked my return tickets to Mangalore, I was just waiting for the time to come.
My cousin sister and brother in law had forced me a lot to stay for one more day. But I’d clearly denied saying, ‘I will come one more time but today I have to leave as next day I have to wish someone who is very special, on his birthday. I cannot wish him over the phone. I want to share many things with him. I’ve promised him that I would come.’
The whole day looked like dragging for me. I could not understand why?
Of course we can not understand everything in our life! Especially when it is so short!
So short! Pardon!
Why that thought came to my mind???
***********************
April 17, 2000.
07.30A.M.
I just reached my home. I was tired and thought of taking bath first. Everyone was silent. Especially the devotional songs, which we play normally in the morning everyday was not playing. May be no power, I felt so. I just took bath and finished my breakfast.
I wanted to share so many things with my family but I had promised someone that I’d share those moments with him first, before anyone. So I kept quiet. When my Mom asked about the function I just said that it was nice and wonderful. But in my mind I had decided that I would give them the real surprise by sharing all those moments and all those photoes of many VIPs and still many more things…
But I didn’t notice that why they were not so excited about those things. Once I finished my breakfast and having last sip of my cup of tea.
‘Hari, get ready we have to go!’ My elder brother said.
‘Sorry, bro! Today’s date is booked already. I don’t want to come anywhere. Today is someone’s birthday .I cannot miss it. You can go but I am not coming. I’ve to meet and wish my Sir as today is his birthday!’
There was a deep silence between us.
‘Why you are waiting? I said, nah that I am not coming. You carry on’, I told him.
May be I had to realize the fact that there will always be lengthy silence before any explosion!
After few seconds I heard my brother's voice. ‘Hari! Jalandhar Sir is no more!!!”
Oh god! Oh no! Tea cup is falling down by my hand and falls on the floors and breaks into pieces. The whole world looks like revolving very fast. It’s thundering very loud somewhere! Bird have stopped suddenly while flying..
No, no.. Don’t expect such things. These all happens only in movies not in real life. Even if it happens, not in my life!
I forgot a line above while mentioning about silence.
There will always be lengthy silence before any explosion! Yes, even after the explosion!
For the first time in my life I realised what does mean by real shock!
I didn’t even utter a word. Just speechless!
Just remembered that unforgettable look with a smile!
Could not hear anything but my brother was saying something. Of course, he was emotional,
‘Just before half an hour I came from the hospital along with Prakash Sir(our Kannda Master and relative as well). Since yesterday I was at the hospital. You can not even imagine, Hari.. Not even anyone's enemy should face such thing.
That day the dog, which had bit our Sir, was mad dog. Sir had just neglected that point with the confidence that nothing would happen. But the night when you left to Bangalore itself he got fever and admitted to the hospital. Truth came out. It was too late, Hari..! Too late..! Each and every one tried their level best. There was only one injection, which could save Sir’s life, which costs around 40000 Rs. In the entire state there was not even a single hospital left where they did not try to get that injection. Can you believe it? There was not a single injection in the entire state that could save his life. It was not available anywhere! How such things can happen so rapidly?
There was no other option, Hari! Sir had realised that he would change into mad animal within the next few hours, which he could not even imagine in his dreams. Sir requested the doctors to give him an injection, which could help him to go to permanent sleep within an hour!
How can I forget, Hari? I was about to call you but Sir stopped me from doing so! How can I forget our Sir? Yes, he might have thrashed me for escaping from NCC camp without informing him. But I could not see our Sir in such situation since yesterday evening. How could I? He was just smiling even though he was totally depressed. Before taking that injection, which would push him towards permanent sleep, he just smiled and wished us saying, ‘My time has come .I have to go. Bye!’ He conveyed his wishes to you especially. How can I forget?’
I was just able imagine that situation. I did not shed tears, fell in a deep thought. There was not even a single exam in all those years (since he joined as teacher) in which he did not ask a question, which was related to the name of an injection we should take in case of Rabis decease. Then, why..? Why he had to neglect that simple matter? Why? Why? Can anybody answer this question ??
Why he took that matter as so simple?
Who knows? I feel, may be when death knocks at your door everything may look very simple!
What to say that day? Birthday or the death day?!!!
After all both are same, two ends of a rope called life!
They were supposed to bring the body in an ambulance around 3.30pm. Funeral programme was supposed to take place at Sir’s native place which was far away.
Was it a death of a master? For me it did not seem so. People had gathered in thousands of numbers at each bus stop right from Mangalore till his present home. Almost 17 bus stops are there.
I don’t remember such a gathering even at the time of annual festival of temples. The gathering would have crossed more than 2-3 lakhs! It was just an example for what kind of person he was! Such a social worker he was!
Everyone’s’ eyes were with tears but I could not cry.
I was able to hear one and only one sentence. One voice..
‘God should not be so cruel. He should not have given such a death to such a nice person by which we could not even touch him!’
Yes. It was beyond everyone’s imagination!
I was just able to see his half face though the ambulance window. The whole body was covered with special covers. The ambulance left after few seconds.
I came back home, did not go to Sir’s home. Because I couldn’t see it again.. His lovely wife’s face, his cute kid, which was just one and half years of old.
‘Is that life is all about? Is this what God’s play? If anyhow one day he is gonna cut all these relationships then why should he bind us in such relationships??? How can he do so? After all how can he? Is he such a sadist??’
Jalanadhar Sir’s last few words were echoing in my ears throughout that night.
‘I’m getting late, Hari.. You come back from Bangalore and meet me as soon as possible ok.. Don’t forget. By the way 17th is my birthday. Why don’t you come on that day? I’ll be waiting for you!’
‘It’s getting late. Bye for now .Come to meet me, okay? I’ll wait for your come back!’
‘Sir, I had decided that I would come and meet you on your birthday without fail. Wherever I am I’d come to wish you on your birthday. As I promised I am here, Sir! But where are you? Where you have left, Sir? Whether I was so late and in that anger you became late? How can I come to meet you now when you didn’t even inform that where you are going? How can I come? I thought that I would come and share all those happy moments with you on this day! On your birthday! And was expecting the same that unforgettable look with that smile towards me! But you did not even search for me among the crowd, Sir! You just closed your eyes! Never ever thought of searching or looking at me! Whether I was so stranger for you? You never asked what I was carrying with me for you on this special day! On your birthday! You didn’t even do that attempt.
When you will do that attempt??
When your eyes will search for me among the crowd with that curiosity!
When? When? Is it possible in this birth ever again?? Is it possible ever again??? Sorry to ask but what to do, as I don’t believe in rebirth.
Can you hear me?? Do you have at least a minute of time to listen for my words to know what I have brought for you almost after traveling 300 + KMs on this special day? On your birthday!
That night there were only questions…! Only question and more questions! Nothing else. No answers at all. I knew that I am not going to get answer ever in my life for those questions.
But I didn’t know that I may have to wait for the answers exactly till the next five years!
On April17th, 2005! A long wait of five Years!
Who said that the fruit of patience will always be sweet??
************************
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