The Land
Raj came to his hometown after so many days because of his job in Mumbai.He rarely had time to meet his parents.His boss was too strict so finally when he got some leave.He immediately phoned his mom.But when he phoned,the phone just rang no one pick it up.He thought it was very strange his mother and father never left the home like that.He thought that he should go there without informing them.He was sure they should be happy.Now he finally reached the town.He excited started searching for vehicles.But sadly as usual there was too much crowd and vehicles were not ready go inside the town.Their driver were claiming that after going in that town.They should never get return fare which was true.In that poor village people didn't have enough money for their dinner and lunch.Why did they use vehicles?But main town had totally different story.There were many shops and stores in it.Most of the people who stayed there were educated so had enough money and there were plenty of tourists with their families.They all needed vehicles because of their luggage and children so Raj had to wait for many hours.Before he finally got one vehicle.After many hours of traveling under dust and sunlight he got so tried.He hated and loved this traveling at same time.He loved the nature and scenery and he hated dust or sunlight creating on his health.But most lovely thing was that he was returning to his village.He was returning to his family and friends.He went to Mumbai just because he needed money to survive.At that time he had two sisters and their education is not even complete.Now at least they were in good hostel.He still had remaining responsibilities like renovating his home.His father was a small farmer.He used to cultivate his land for many year.He hoped that one day Raj would do same thing.Raj would have loved to do it.But land had no longer that much capacity to give enough crop.They tried many fertilizers.But they could not get that much profits.Slowly expenditures and loans were increased.Many people told them to sell the land.But instead of selling that land Raj went to Mumbai.Raj earned money and told his father to manage land.But Raj always missed his friends and family.Today after so many days he finally got an opportunity to go there.
As soon as Raj reached home,he immediately ran towards his house.He was shocked to see lock on the door.His parents never left home like this.They always informed him before going out.Raj was confused he thought he might have to phone before coming.If his parents had gone out for some days,all his money and efforts would be wasted.He sat on doorsteps holding his name.He turned around his childhood friend Keshav was smiling at him.Raj was so happy to see him.After so many days he was seeing his friend.Raj was about to hug him.But then he noticed the dirt on his clothes.Keshav dedicated all his life to his land.Once Raj was also acted some way.Dirt was also part of his life.But now he had changed.He was afraid of germs.He was ashamed of that change.Keshav"So Raj you are now allergic to dust?""Stop it Keshav."Raj was very angry after hearing this.He never accepted this from Keshav.He never wanted to leave the village.But he was forced to go to Mumbai just because he had to save his land.Still all villagers were taunting him regarding it.As if he had willingly left the village because he wanted luxuries of city which was completely wrong.But they just didn't believe him so Raj went away from Keshav.He could clearly hear Keshav was calling his name from behind.But he decided to ignore him.Finally he reached near the river and sat on it's shore.He started angrily throwing stones in it.Keshav also came.He was running after him.When Keshav reached there.He literally lost his breath.Raj shocked to see his breathless like this.Raj"What happened?Why are you so tired after such small walk.""Last week I was sick with fever.""Oh my god!I don't think you are fully recovered.I think you need some rest.""Rest?!Who has time for rest?At my home I have mouths to feed.Even in my this situation.You can't tolerate my small joke.Don't you know how much I wished to go to city?But I was not clever enough to pass in school so here I am only a farmer.""Come on farming is not that bad thing.I wish I had land like your."Keshav smiled.Keshav"Of course with your touch of Midas you can turn anything into gold.""Now don't pretend.I know that your land is very good for farming.""But not without water.Last year there was no rain.""What?!But my Baba didn't inform me.""Your father didn't want to increase your tension.After all you couldn't change anything.You can't make the rain.""But I could have shared their problems.""I said same thing.But your father got some idea in his head.He was saying that if he worshiped properly.He would cure everything."Now Raj started laughing.Keshav also joined him.They always made fun of Raj's father's religious attitude.They both had faith in god.But Raj's father worship were too much.His father just loved to start a fast but most funny thing was he never managed to complete it.Always by the end of the day he started eating something.Gopikaka Raj's father were famous joke for whole village.Raj always enjoyed his father's this kind fame and he always added oil to the fire by providing more stories for villagers.But Gopikaka never found the culprit who spread such a stories.He always thought it was his enemy.He never suspected his son so Gopikaka's famous stories continued.They all laughed at his half baked religious practices.Raj never took them seriously.But Keshav suddenly stopped laughing."Raj this time he is a very serious.""Come on you know my Baba very well.He will stick to this things for just 2-3 days then he will forget it.""At first I thought the same way.But this time it seems something is fishy.Your father is getting too carried away.Now can't you see they are not even in home?""You are saying my parents are gone to a temple for so many hours."Raj started laughing.Raj"It's not possible.They must have gone to marketing and mom forgot about time.Mom did that many times.Shopping was like festival to her.She just forget about time.She also wanted to see shopping mall of city.Until now we can't manage.But this time I am planning to take them to city.Since there is no crops Baba don't need to stay here so they shall at least get change for few days.I will take them in Mumbai and show them many places there.""That's great.""Why don't you join us?""You forgot again I got mouths to feed.If you want to help me.Find a small job for me in the city.I am not asking for any big job.Small job like Peon or watchman will be enough."There was tears in his eyes.Raj knew Keshav was scared unnecessarily soon it would rain and he had once again money in his hand.But until then he needed emotional support so Raj nodded his head."But I think we shall wait until next month.May be it will rain by that time and then you are too busy for job.""You are right.If it rained I don't even need that stupid job."After saying this Keshav smiled and happily.Then he invited Raj for dinner.But Raj said he would eat with his mom and dad so Keshav went back to his home.
Raj waited on doorsteps for many hours.He saw sun had began to come on his head.It told him,it would be 12'o clock.From the childhood Raj always worked in his farm so he could guess time from sun's position.Watch on the hand was just showpiece to him.Now this was too much.He could not wait in sun and heat for his parents.He was now hungry.He decided to talk to neighbour.Raj went to their hut.His neighbour welcomed him.They said that his parents went to temple and they might not return until night so he should eat lunch at their house.Raj was now sure that his parents were in temple and he shocked.Raj"But why did they spend so many hours in temple?Is there any festival?"Neighbour"No there is no ceremony.But now a days Gopikaka just spend all his time in temple.All the times he walks on stairs of temple chanting god's name.At first he used to do it for some times.But now a days he do it for whole day.He didn't even stop to eat food so your mother force him to eat food.Your mother also had to walk whole time just because she wanted to talk to him and stop him.In beginning he was use to get convinced by your mother.Now it proves useless.Your mother walked with him and try to convince him.He don't even reply to her.She just walked with until she got too tired to walk.You are her son.I am telling personally that you have to do something about this nonsense.Your father is torturing himself and your mother is also tortured because of his attitude.Once I saw your mother crying.She was trying to hide it.But I could feel who will not cry if subjected to such torture.All these things just because he thinks if he stop chanting it will never rain.Now do you believe this madness?He was going to bring rain by chanting and what more risky is that even some people started believing him?""What ?They are believing that my father is saint and he can call rain."Neighbour nodded his head."Last time they were planning to arrange a big prayer in respect of Gopikaka.But they were scared of your mother.She was totally against it."Form inner heart Raj thanked his mother.Raj"Where are they now?""In Lord Shiva's temple.""I will go and talk to them.""But first eat your food."But Raj ran towards temple.He no longer cared about his hunger.
When Raj reached near the temple.He saw a tired old man whose cloths are too loose for his body.That old man's feet were no longer had strength to walk still he was walking.That old man seemed too thin and Raj remembered his father was never that thin.Then he noticed there was blood on steps.He was shocked to notice it was coming from that old man's cuts in his feet.Even after injuries on leg that man was walking.Then he noticed a small crowd around that old man.That crowd began to scream "Gopikaka Ki Jai."After hearing this sentence.He understood the Saint Gopikaka was his father who had lost so much weight because of unnecessary exercise.Then he saw his mother screaming on his father.She was trying to tell him that his feet were blooding.But his father was no longer in this world.He was in some sort of trance.Raj towards him.When he saw his face.He was shocked.He hardly able to recognize him.He forcibly started pushing him out of that crowd.But his father did not cooperate.His father was showing lot of strength.Then he saw Keshav.Raj called Keshav.Keshav rushed to his side.Then Raj and Keshav forcibly took Gopikaka to home.All the time he continued chanting like mad person.Raj was very scared after seeing this.Gopikaka's feet were so injured that Raj could not bear to see it.He immediately called doctor.The Doctor "My God how did his feet got so injured?He is a labour.""No."Raj told everything about Gopikaka's eccentric behaviour.Doctor"You don't have to tell me.He was chanting through out the dressing.He didn't even stopped for screaming from pain.""What?This is too much I just don't know how to handle my father.Doctor can you please help me.""I think he needs a psychiatrist and our village don't have any.You have to take him to city.""In this condition how do I take him to city?""I can't tell you a way.But if you want to cure him,you have to take him."So Raj decided to take Gopikaka to Mumbai.After seeing his problem Keshav decided to go with him.But as soon as they reached at railway station.Gopikaka started screaming.He even tried to run away.There was a big drama.Station master objected their going in railway like this.Finally they called the doctor and he gave sedative to Gopikaka.Gopikaka slept peacefully in all journey.But they all were too scared so they immediately took him to psychiatrist.They admitted him.Doctor"Actually your father is suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder.It happened due to depression in his farming.Gopi wanted to give his son a fertile land.Even Raj had shown interest in farming.But when his land didn't prove fertile,he felt because of his incomplete worships.This had happened.Then when it didn't rain his depression increased.In that small village no one understood his mental problem so it got such a serious.""So my husband will be cured.""Of course."After some months Gopikaka was cured.But they never went back to village.He just sold that land without considering Raj's objection.Gopikaka just wanted to stay away from his disappointment so he just sold that land.
The End
No comments:
Post a Comment