A Strange Relationship-Part - I

Early morning, while checking my emails in my office, my office boy brought to me a marriage invitation card. Over the cover it was written in golden letters, Dr. Ravi Prakash weds Dr. Suhaani. I was surprised to see the name of Dr. Ravi Prakash and so I opened the envelope immediately and took out the card to read. The contents read like this: You are cordially invited to attend the marriage ceremony of Mr. Raghav Prasad's son Chi Dr. Ravi Prakash and Sow Dr. Suhani daughter of Dr. Triyoginath and Srimati Poonam.

 

Although the writing was simple, the name of Raghav Prasad as the father of the bridegroom made the invitation card something special for me. I had not imagined that Raghav Prasad would have had a son at that age.

 

Just then as I was holding the card and imagining there was a call on my mobile.

"Hello, I am Kamal Kant speaking "

"Kamal Kant Ji, I am Suresh speaking. Namaskar, how are you?"

Hi Suresh, how are you?"

I am well, I hope you would have received the invitation card for the marriage of Ravi. Father was remembering you and telling that you must attend the marriage with family. Without you, the baraat will not move. Ravi was also of the same opinion.

 

"Please don't worry Suresh. I shall positively attend. Be relaxed."

<  2  >

After the talk with Suresh, memories of the past 4-5 years came afresh into my mind.

On holidays Jilebi and Kachori were my most favorite morning breakfast. Only because of this interest, it became my habit to go to the Prasadi Halwayi Shop every morning on holidays. Invariably, I could find an old man standing silently at one corner of the counter of the Halwayi Shop. He was almost aged 60. He could be seen wearing old clothes, holding a stick in hand and with rubber sandals at his feet. He almost looked like a beggar.

 

On one of the holidays, I had reached the shop a little early in the morning. There were only one or two customers. I could sight the old man standing at the corner. I do not know what made me buy two samosas from Prasadi and move towards that old man. After looking at the samosas he turned to me but refused to take it. It was strange to see him refuse.

 

Seeing him refuse I told Prasadi, "He is a strange person."

Prasadi said," Babuji, leave him. He is always like that. Never accepts anything from anybody."

Thereafter, he took out three coins from his pocket and placed it before Prasadi. Prasadi took those coins and gave him something in a bag which the old man took to a corner and started eating.

 

Seeing me confused Prasadi said," Are Babuji, why do you bother so much. He is not that poor as you think. He is a big miser."

 People say that he was in the army before. He gets 8 to 9 thousand as a pension. But he will not spend on food for himself and you very well see his clothes. He has neither a wife nor any children, and for whom he saves money. It is not known why people have the habit to hoard money.

 I became curious to know more about the old man, after hearing the words of Prasadi.

<  3   >

One evening, while passing through Shiva temple, I got interested to have darshan of Lord Shiva. I parked my scooter outside and entered the temple. When I came out after darshan, I found the old man of Prasadi shop sitting on a concrete bench under a banyan tree. Finding it an opportune moment to interact, I moved toward his direction.

Reaching near him I said, "Babaji, Namaskar, how are you?"

"Namaste, I could not recognise you"

 

Yes, you are right, you do not recognise me because you meet me for the first time. My name is Kamal Kant and I am the Principal of the nearby Inter College.

 "Well do you have any business with me"

 

Before I could answer his question, a poojari passed by enquiring him, " How are you, Raghav Prasad. You are seen less these days."

 

"Panditji, I am not keeping well these days"

After the poojari left I said, "Baba probably you were in the army. You may go to the military hospital for your treatment."

He gave me a suspicious look, after hearing me.

Gaining his confidence I said, " I stay close by. If you have no objection I would go with you to the hospital"

He was silent for a while and said," I shall be highly obliged if you help me to go to the hospital."

Giving him the assurance I returned home.

His health improved after getting proper treatment.

One day I told casually," Baba, it is learnt that you get a military pension. You are in a position to manage your affairs properly."

Without showing any reaction to my words he replied in an unaffected manner. From his attitude, I could make out that he was not interested to talk on that subject. So I too felt that it was not proper for me to prolong the discussion.

END OF PART I ( To Be Continued)

ANOKHA RISHTA

HINDI SHORT STORY BY ARUN GUPTA IN YOUR STORY CLUB

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