A Strange Relationship - II

Bypassing time, we could have healthy interactions on gaining trust and faith.

 The story of the past life of Raghav Prasad was like this:-

 

Only they were three persons in the house including his father and mother. He was not interested in studies but still, he passed Intermediate somehow.

 

By the time he attained the age of 24, parents got him married. Five years after the marriage, his wife delivered a female child. He brought his wife and child to the city after the demise of parents. He bought land near the temple and built his own house. His daughter was 20 years old and was studying for her BA. His wife started pressuring him for her marriage.  

 

He got the news of his daughter's sickness at the place of posting. He took leave immediately and rushed home but his daughter had died before his reaching. He got heart-broken. The condition of his wife was still worse. Hard hit by the daughter's death, she simply gazed the sky absentmindedly. He took early retirement seeing the worsening condition of his wife.

 The condition of his wife deteriorated gradually and so even with his best efforts he could not save her life.

 

There was a religious discourse at the temple spiritual gurus. Though he could not attend it because of his indifferent health, he still managed to listen, lying on his bed. Without his knowledge he went to sleep, listening to the discourses. One day, suddenly in his sleepy condition, he heard as though somebody was telling him something.

 "Everyone lives for oneself. But the real meaning of living was to live for others".

 

Suddenly he got up from his slumber. As the temple discourse had already ended, he felt that his intuitive mind probably had prompted him something. He could not make out whether he heard someone or was it an aberration. 

 Probably that was divine providence. So he felt quite energetic after that. His mind became peaceful. His m

After careful considerations, he could fix his objective and divert his full attention to life's mission and goal.

 

<  5  >

 Due to the incessant monsoon and chilly days of December, I could not meet Raghav Prasad for some days. On a fair-weather day, I went to the house of Raghav prasad. His condition was not good. He complained about his fever for the last few days. I could arrange his medicines and food after consulting a doctor. When I was about to leave Raghav gave me an envelope for delivering it to the addressee named Devavrat Sharma. 

 

The next day, after finishing my school work, I set off to deliver the envelope to the addressee. After reaching there I could know that there was an orphanage functioning at that place.

 I could fairly get an idea of Raghav's aim of life.

 

I pressed the calling bell of the house when I lean and a thin man came out introducing himself as Devavrat Sharma. I gave my identity to him and presented the envelope given by Raghav. He gave me the indication to get inside the house.

 I could learn from Devavrat Ji that Raghav Prasad continued to give a major portion of his pension to the orphanage for the past ten years.

 

During the talk with him, I could learn that by the monetary help of Raghav Prasad the orphanage could make a child a doctor and another an engineer successfully.

 Special mention was made by Devavrat Ji in an episode relating to those children.

 

One day while brooding over the expenses of the orphanage, Raghav Prasad Ji came to hand over a cheque. Raghav Prasad wanted to know the reason for his anxiety.

 Raghav Prasad got an estimate of expenses from him and told after some thinking.

 

"Sharma Ji, what do I want, I am already old. Keeping aside my self-respect on one side, I will manage to live by begging. But if the children stretch their hands for help from others, they will lose their self-respect forever. Please don't worry, I shall do something".

 

From that day onward Raghav Ji started giving a cheque with an additional Rs 1000

 I could get the reason for the humble and simple living of Raghav Prasad after hearing about this incident.

 

Probably Raghav Prasad could all this, by his frugal living, without extending his arms before anybody in order to contribute more to the orphanage work.

 "Do the children know that their education is financed by Raghav Prasad?" I asked Devavrat.

 "No, Raghav Ji has got my assurance that no information will be divulged by me to anyone about the help rendered by him to this orphanage".

 

<  6   >

 The one and only object of Raghav Prasad is to extend maximum help to the orphanage.

 

Raghav Prasad was getting sick without giving proper attention to his food. The efforts of mine and Devavrat to make him understand went futile. Seeing his deteriorating health, one day I approached Devavrat Ji for finding a solution.

 

"Sharma Ji, the condition of Raghav Prasad is no good. He is not paying attention to his health. If the situation continues like this he may not survive for long. Would you please give me the addresses of those two boys who get financial help from Raghav Prasad.

 

"Since I have given words not to divulge the facts about Raghavji's help in the running of the orphanage this may be a sacrilege if I breach his trust ".

 "Devavrat Ji, you are right in your stand. But should we see Raghav Ji meeting an untimely death?"

 

It may be possible. if those two boys tell Raghav Prasad to show more concern about his health. Alternatively, let us not bring them in the picture. I don't think there is any harm in trying all resources.

 

Sharma Ji kept silent and after thinking for a while he told," OK, by accepting your proposal, I break my promise given to RaghavJi today. I pray to God for your first statement to come true.

 He wrote the addresses of those two boys in a piece of paper and gave it to me. Both were from Lucknow.

 

The next day I started for Lucknow after taking leave from my office. I had no difficulty in locating the clinic of Dr. Ravi Prakash.

 "I wish to meet Dr. Ravi Prakash", I told the clerk sitting at reception.

 But the doctor has completed his work of seeing all patients for the day. Please come tomorrow."

 "I have not to consult doctor, but wish to see him on private work".

 

The clerk wrote my name on a piece of paper and sent it to the doctor inside. After 2-3 patients the clerk allowed me to go inside.

 

"Doctor, I am Kamal Kant coming from Kanpur. Your address was given to me by Devavrat Sharma." I handed over the letter of Devavrat Sharma also to Dr. Ravi Prakash.

 After reading the letter of Deva Vrat Ji, Dr. Ravi Prakash asked, " Tell me, what help you want."

 

"Doctor Saheb, would you not like to know about the person who helped you and Suresh financially to complete your studies "?

 

After hearing my words, Dr. Ravi Prakash got up from his seat. The same happiness of a boy getting his lost doll was found in the eyes of Dr. Ravi Prakash.

 

"Kamal Kant Ji, is it true that you know about this Godlike person? I and Suresh tried to find our best, but could not succeed".

  I nodded my head and got them ready to go with me to Kanpur.

 

After disposing of all patients Dr. Ravi Prakash got ready to go to Kanpur. Suresh was picked up on the way. On the way, I narrated the whole story to both of them. Before sunset three of us reached Kanpur. As directed Dr. Ravi parked his car in front of Raghav Prasad's house. Raghav Prasad was sitting at his verandah. I showed them to Raghav Prasad

 

Both of them fell at the feet of Raghav Prasad. By seeing them touching his feet Raghav Prasad asked," Who are you? Why do you fall like this on my feet? Do you need any help from me?

 

"Baba, what we are today is only due to your benevolence," Ravi said.

  I introduced both of them to Raghav Prasad.

 "Kamal Kant, it looks Sharma Ji has broken his promise today. He has not done the right thing."

 

"No, Raghav Prasad, in my opinion, if by breaking the promise we can help someone, the promise must be broken."By breaking your promise Devavrat has not committed any crime.

 

"Even in spite of my repeated request you had not paid proper attention to your health...So both of us had no other alternative than to bring them to make you understand as to how valuable you are for all of us."

 

"Taking a thread from my words Suresh told, "Baba, we have come to take you along with us. From now onwards you will stay with both of us".

  "Oh! my son why do you bother yourselves. It is a matter of a few days for me which will pass away somehow. Wherever you are both of you must be happy. These are my blessings".

 "Baba if you do not join us, we shall also not move out from here", said Ravi.

 

With constant persuasion from my side and all cajoling from Ravi and Suresh, finally, Raghav Prasad agreed to proceed with them to Lucknow.

 His house was locked by Suresh and keys handed over to me. Dr. Ravi assisted him and made him sit comfortably inside his car.  

 

From a distance, I was watching Raghav Prasad getting the support from two strong shoulders to start a new life. A relationship which was much stronger than the blood relation

 

THE END

ANOKHA RISHTA

HINDI SHORT STORY PUBLISHED BY ARUN GUPTA IN YOUR STORY CLUB

https://yourstoryclub.com/short-stories-social-moral/hindi-moral-story-anokha-rishta/