Broken House

Getting down on the railway station of my home town, gives me goose bumps. Seems 25 years and nothing changed. May be somethings are best untouched.

I remember as a kid we boarded train to Indore from this place many times, to visit granny house. The bookstall still is at the same place. For a minute I stood to scan if still few of my childhood books have place on rack. The canteen from where papa get us samosa packed is still warm.

After taking taxi, I sat silently on the back seat. The city is still the same, the small lanes of Banaras, temples on every few meters and sound of bells of prayers. Taxi driver enquired me If it was my first time here?

I said yes kind of. 

25 years back I left Chandanpur in Banaras. But before that my each day was spent here. Playing around in the lanes, riding cycle and every evening playing street cricket. It was our beautiful world once.

Today I am here for my friend's daughter's wedding. He insisted hard to come. While I left years back and then took my parents too, Vikas stayed here. 

Finally getting dropped I walked through lanes. Few houses have changed, but many have aged with time. The shop still holds in place but I could not recognize any one.

As a kid me and bhai would come with Baba to buy small item from shop. Walking down slowly, my body was becoming heavy. And finally I felt lifeless as I crossed the door of Prem Nivas. Our sweet home, of years back.

Silently it stood, shaking and trembling down. The trees have penetrated the roof and it looks more of jungle. Hardly it had the strength to face another monsoon

With heavy heart I stepped in. The lock was broken and seems somebody robbed off all the leftovers. But it was still full of memories.

Sitting down on the floor, I felt myself as a kid playing cheerfully. The rusted hand pipe was once our favourite time pass in summer holidays. 

Today the house is fully wrapped in webs, but once maa would climb on a broken ladder to clean every single dust on walls. The broken kitchen reminds of the aroma of maa food. And how bhai and me would wait eagerly when she cooked our special food.

As a child, we were so happy. Living in this house for years was like a bliss. But I only realized today, when I have lost my parents, my home and my childhood. 

I still remember how much maa cried on my departure for job. And the way dad consoled her by saying, he is not going on moon. He can visit us any time. But I was so much taken by my new life and comfort that I forgot what maa waited for.

I wish if I could have spent more time at home, if destiny had not taken my parents away forever from me. If I could have come back and saved this home from turning into a jungle. May be I would have saved few valuables of my childhood from being robbed.

 May be as I grew up and turned into selfish. 

Soon my phone rang, it was Vikas to enquire about my arrival. 

It was time to move on once again, carrying the pain of growing up in life.