The Family......

Ashok Kumar is sitting on the sofa and sipping the morning tea. This is a Sunday morning and day for relaxing. Shanti Devi his wife joined him with her cup of tea. Both of them looked at the big ground in front of their house, which is very calm and quite as if of no use to anybody. Ashok asked Shanti about the children and grandchildren. They have two sons Ajay and Bijoy. Ajay is a software engineer and Bijoy is a MBA and both of them has joined with Ashok in the business. Both his sons are married. Ajay’s son Atul is just 10 years old and Bijoy’s daughter Sanjana is 8 years old. Both are in school. Shanti Devi told Ashok,’’ Ajay is in his room sitting with computer and busy with phone calls. Bijoy is sitting with some papers in his room and busy with calculator. Their wives Sarita (Ajay’s wife) and Manasi (Bijoy’s wife) are busy with their mobile phone.

Atul and Sanjana are busy with their study.’’ Ashok listened to her took a deep breath and said,’’ do you remember Shanti since how many years we all sat together in a day and had our tea?’’ Shanti replied,’’ I don’t remember that. Only I could remember the happy days we spend with our family. After shifting to this place, I had only spent time with you every Sunday and the life is just like a machine.’’ Ashok looked at her and said,’’ Yes you may be right Shanti. Now I too am missing the charm of family life. I am missing the happiness and togetherness. Do you think I had done a mistake of shifting to this place? But that time Papa, Maa and all brothers had encouraged me to start this business here!’’ Shanti said,’’ They all love you and never stopped to achieve your goal. But they are still missing you .Since last 5 years you had not gone to meet them and I used to go alone every year and the time I spend there was something different. All of them are still missing you and our children.’’

Ashok Kumar is a renowned manufacturer of garments in New Delhi and his native place is Rampur village of UP. His father Rajesh Kumar is a land lord of the village. He has two elder brothers Ashish Kumar and Anjani Kumar. Ashish is the eldest and having a rice mill near the village and one of the biggest suppliers of rice. Anjani is having the biggest poultry farm and supplying eggs and chicken to the nearby towns. The family is still having their traditional agriculture business. All stay together. The family has a tradition of having tea, breakfast, lunch and dinner together. All used to assemble in evening and discuss very less about business and more about personal amusements. Ashok was the youngest in the family and loved by all

He was good in study and was send for doing engineering in Textile Technology. But every year during vacation Ashok used to spend his time with family. Even after marriage and till Ajay and Bijoy burned he was with family. He joined a big Textile company in Delhi and was staying alone in Delhi for six days a week and every Sunday used to spend his time with family. Then after a years of job Ashok discussed with his family to start a garment manufacturing unit in Delhi. They all listened to him and encouraged to do so. Ashok started the unit and started missing his Sundays with family. As it was a new venture, he even used to visit his village for few hours after 2 to 3 months. His both sons were too growing. He was missing his family too.

During his one visit he was very upset due to this and it was noticed by his brothers. They asked him the reasons for that. After listening to him they discussed with their parents and all together decided to leave the decision to Ashok. During that day evening when all were sitting together, his father Rajesh asked him,’’ what are you thinking my son? Tell us freely. Don’t get upset, it will affect your work.’’ That day Ashok had told them to shift along with Shanti, Ajay and Bijoy to Delhi. All were silent for a while then his father and all had given him permission with smile and told him to be relaxed. Then he got shifted to Delhi. He was going to village during Diwali, Durga Puja and other festival times along with the family. Even his both sons’ marriage was been held in his village. But due to work pressure since last five years he couldn’t go there and his sons too had not gone there. Shanti was going every year and spending her time with family. Now even staying in one house here in Delhi he is not getting a happy and enjoyable family life. All are so busy in their life that forgotten to give the quality time for each other. Now Ashok was feeling guilty for all this. He is missing the real happiness of the family life. He had decided to rectify it.

Ashok spoke to Shanti and requested her to bring all together in the evening and something very important thing he has to discuss. Shanti looked at him and left the place saying ,’’ ok ,as you wish.’’ In the evening all of them sat together and had their tea. Ashok started his conversation.

‘’I am very happy that after so many years we all are sitting together. The purpose may be anything, but at least we got the time. Now our factory is in a good shape and we had employed experienced people. You both Ajay and Bijoy are too very efficient in managing the same. I and Shanti are missing something very seriously in our life. We both are missing our entire family and our village. I had decided that Shanti and myself will be shifting permanently to our village. We will have our rest of the life there with all. We don’t force you, but if you people wish can come with us. Now you people decide and take your time. Ajay and Bijoy looked at each other. Ashok told them our decision is final. You take your time. I wanted to tell you this.’’

 Shanti was delighted and whispered to Ashok,’’ The best decision of your life. ‘’ They were about to leave the hall, Ajay said,’’ Papa we all will come with you. We have made a plan and want to discuss there. We too are missing The Family and our village.’’ Both Ashok and Shanti were very happy to listen it. It took just a week’s time to make arrangements and all of them started the shifting. Ashok spoke to his father and informed about his decision and the date of reaching there. All of them with their luggage had reached their village. They all were in tears seeing the welcome by the family. It was just like a celebration. After a weeks’ time in the evening when they all were sitting together Ajay requested all to listen to his one proposal. All were again silent and looked at him. He felt little nervous and his grandfather and both uncles told him to start.

Ajay said,’’ As I have some good software with me, Bijoy has expertise in accounts Shakti (son of Ashish) has expertise in ware housing and Shyam(son of Anjani) handles transportation nicely, we can make our Delhi house as our ware house for rice, eggs and agriculture product. Here we will have office and will operate from here. We all four brothers will go once in a week to Delhi and supervise all business work including garments. Papa and both uncles will guide us and supervise our work. Our children will study here as our grandfather had made a big school here. So that we all can stay together and have our happiness. The Family will not be missed by anybody.’’

Rajesh called Ajay and hugged him saying,’’ My little Ajay has grown up now. I am happy that you gave a very good idea for business and as well as how to keep The Family together.’’ The tears of happiness were rolling down from his eyes and all his son’s eyes. Then the youngest of the family Sanjana with laughing and dancing saying,’’ The Family is first ‘’.