SMALL WISHES

Perfection is one of the key things in Rajan’s life. He wants everything to be super perfect. Whether it comes to his choice of a new car to the selection of shoes to the interior alignment of house and much more, he always tries to get things perfect. He is into trading business which is doing good and he is on the verge of earning handsome money. His wife never gets tired of adding new collections of jewelry to her stock of jewelry. He has two kids who are sent to the best school in the city and having a good private tutor personally assigned by Rajan.

                

Rajan Mishra, a successful trader of construction materials and person of ‘my dear’ kind of image in society. The short description of his perfect lifestyle has already described. The only imperfect thing in his house is his old father. His father Mr. Deosaran Mishra is a retired government employee. He is the simplest man of all time. He passed his whole life as a simple man and saved whatever he had by his perfect planning and a controlled lifestyle. He always wore a single shirt throughout months for saving money, he never went for any trip or outing with family for the sake of avoiding unnecessary expenses. At the end of his employment, he saved a handsome amount of money as per his job profile. Without a single hesitation, he had given each penny of his savings to his only son, Rajan for the sake of betterment of his next generation.

                 

But nowadays, Mr. Deosaran is too old for his son that he never has time for sitting with him for a while. Mr. Deosaran was a partly short-tempered person even in his young days also. But nowadays this habit has increased to the top level. He always gets furious with small things. Almost everybody in the family tries to avoid him due to his over-offensive behavior. At this point of age, it is normal for anybody but this fact is not bearable for the family of Rajan even though Mr. Deosaran is earning sufficient pension at this point of age. But still, he is more or less an ignorant person for everybody.

                 

It was a time when Mr. Deosaran used to come to his home town after yearly leave from his organization, at that time he was treated like a godfather in his home. He was too short-tempered at that point of time also, but everybody cared for his anger also at that time. But nowadays, nobody care of his words. 

                

If we look upon the eyes of Mr. Deosaran, we will find that he is always hopeful. He is hopeful to see a happy family, He is hopeful to see his son become a really successful person, he is hopeful to secure the future of his family. Actually, he is a very simple person but his son Rajan is totally different to him. He always tries to do fishy things which he doesn’t like. And that is also a major reason for his short temper. Actually, at this point of age, he wants nothing but some attention from his beloved family. He doesn’t tell anyone but always waits for the arrival of his son from job. He is always hopeful that his son will come and sit with him for discussing things of his office or other but it never happens. His son comes back from the office and goes away straight to his room on the 1^st floor. He does not even properly look at him. This breaks his old heart everyday.

       

Mr. Deosaran worked in West Bengal where he was in a lower position in his organization but always remained at the top position in the hearts of his mates and neighbors. People loved to meet with him and discuss a lot of things starting from office, job to sports and weather also. It was a happy time for him with his dear ones. He passed almost whole of his life with them. Post-retirement, he shifted to his hometown and started living with his son. He helped him in buying a 2 story home in city and his favorite car. But still, his son never gives any attention to him which he always seeks from him.

      

Sometimes Mr. Deosaran thinks about the difference of his lifestyle as compared to his small house in Kolkata to his current 2 story building. But actually, he always finds no lifestyle here as according to him. Even that small house was far times better than this big house in terms of love, reality, attention, happiness, etc. He has got a corner in that big house where everybody just tries to fulfill their responsibility towards him and get away towards their works.

        

Rajan never wanted to sit with him without any reasons even during weekends also when he remains at home. According to him, he doesn’t have time to sit with Mr. Deosaran and discuss things but actually, he was always found scanning TV channels or unnecessarily talking on the phone for hours. Although Mr. Deosaran seems to be anguished on Rajan, he is always ready to help him with his one small request. Once Rajan did a horrible move in his business and encountered a huge loss, at that time nobody was ready to help him but Mr. Deosaran came to help him with a second of time. He sold all his remaining bonds and helped his son. But his son’s attitude never changed towards him. Rajan thinks himself greatest by keeping his parents along with him. According to him, at present nobody allows their parents to stay with themselves but he is the only one who does so...

             

One weekend Rajan woke up early and came downstairs to the ground floor and sat on a sofa in the hall. Don’t know why but that day, he wanted to have breakfast with his old father together. But he was not there.

             

“Kavita…” He asked his wife.

“What happened?” She replied by coming from the kitchen.

“Where is dad?” He said in a soft voice.

“I haven’t seen him. He might have gone for the morning walk…” She replied and went back to the kitchen.

“OK, yeah maybe...”Rajan said and started reading a newspaper.

             

He took his breakfast and again went to his room. Everything once again started as per their schedule. It was a weekend, so everybody was a little lazy in their works. Kids were also late time sleeping, Kavita finished her work and went to Rajan’s room.

            

It was 11 in the morning and again Rajan got to know that dad still had not returned to the home. It was a little panic situation for Rajan, he started searching for him starting from joggers park where the regular people confirmed of not seeing him that day. The situation became more panic-stricken and there was a silent environment created in the house. Rajan was calling every relative and preparing to go outside, then suddenly he got a note from the bed of Mr.Deosaran.

              

“Hi son, I know I was always tough to you. I always tried to make things according to me which is not possible in reality. I tried to get things done according to my wish. But please don’t mind for all my toughness and strict behaviors towards you all. Actually I was a typical 20th-century old man with conservative thinking but you guys are young and have dynamic exposure. So sometimes our thoughts don’t match. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. You are the best son in the world. I always love you and wish best for you. Yes, I had a small desire and that was a happy family. I want to have tea with my son with a discussion on multiple topics. Rest nothing else. But it is ok, I am still happy with you. Kavita is a very nice and well-mannered daughter-in-law. She always cares for me. And please don’t pressurize kids, they are still kids and will grow up as per time. Let them decide their career, hope so they will do best for their future. I am leaving now. I know, I can’t make a long journey with my old legs but still, I am going to fulfill some incomplete works. I will be always with you whenever you need me, you will find me. Your dad...”

           

Rajan becomes senseless for a while but it was the core reality. There was a pin drop silence at that place as they all got shocked for a minute. Actually this is what Rajan wants but the reality was totally different. The whole life of Rajan was scanning in front of him. His habits, his attitude, his anger, his happiness, and his love everything was revolving in front of Rajan. Actually that day he decided to sit with him but it was too late…