The Mysterious Destiny

Damodar Pandey aged 35 was a daily wage labourer hired by Kavitha Constructions Pvt. Ltd in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. He lived in a hut which was quite near to his workplace, with his 29 year old wife Saraswati and a son Keshav who had just turned 3. They were happy and content, in spite of their meager income.

The wheels of time took an unfavourable turn, when Damodar lost his job because of the lawsuit against the construction company. He was devastated but didn’t lose hope. He convinced his wife to stay back with their kid, while he went to Mumbai in search of a job. He assured her that he will come back to fetch them, after his employment. He borrowed some money from his friends and mortgaged his wife’s gold bangles to meet the expenditure for the journey.

The day for his departure arrived. He called his wife and said, “ I can understand your feelings about this temporary separation. I can’t imagine a life without you and Keshav. But I can’t take you along with me until I find a job with accommodation. I promise you that I will come back soon to fetch you. Don’t shed tears.” Saraswati wiped away her tears and said, “ Please take care of yourself. Don’t neglect your food. If possible, call me at least twice a week. My eyes will always be searching for you.” He hugged her and then turned his attention to his dear son. He picked him up and hoisted him on his shoulders. He said, “Your Baba is going to the city to earn a lot of money. Be a good boy and look after your mother.” Damodar put him down and embraced him. He kissed him on the forehead and glanced at his wife for the last time. He gave her some money to meet the household expenses and then stepped out of his hut, carrying a bundle of clothes and a lunch bag.

Saraswati watched him without blinking her eyes for a moment, till he disappeared from her view. Though she appeared to be cheerful, she was troubled by negative thoughts. She had a strange premonition that she might not see her husband again. 

Unfortunately, her prediction was accurate. More than two weeks passed but there was no news from Damodar. He never called Saraswati after his departure from Chandrapur. She was wondering about his fate. She was even tempted to lodge a complaint with the police but she feared that they might not take her seriously.

It was nearly a month since Damodar left for Mumbai. “It is strange,” she thought, “ How can anyone vanish without a trace?” She decided to wait for sometime before coming to any conclusion about his mysterious disappearance. She started working as a domestic help in several houses to earn her livelihood. 

Saraswati’s life took a dramatic turn after six months. Damodar's friends began harassing her to recover their money. Some of them made sexual advances towards her. Unable to bear the humiliation, she packed her belongings and left for Mumbai with Keshav. After reaching her destination, she sat down on the wooden bench at the bus stop. She was about to feed chapatti to Keshav, when she noticed that a man had dropped his wallet. She immediately picked it up and went after him. She tapped him on his shoulders and said, “ Excuse me, Sir! Is this your wallet?” The man recognised it at once and gave her a grateful look. He took it from her and checked it’s content. Every thing was intact. He thanked her and offered to help her in return for her honesty. Saraswati briefed him about her predicament. The man introduced himself as Mr.Aravind Saxena, a wealthy businessman residing in Andheri. He offered her residence in the servants quarter outside his bungalow and hired her as a cook. He saw Keshav and told Saraswati that he would also pay for her son’s education. He brought them along to his house and introduced them to his family. His wife, Sharda liked Saraswati and welcomed her whole heartedly. Keshav was curious to explore the house and started to walk towards a room. Saraswati, however, restrained him from wandering. Sharda said, “ Don’t stop him, Saraswati.” Just then, a frail looking boy came out from the bedroom. He was around 4 years of age. Sharda called Keshav and introduced him to the boy whose name was Adarsh. Adarsh smiled at him and held out his hand as a mark of friendship. Saraswati encouraged Keshav to go ahead and shake hands with him. Thus, began a new era of a great friendship. Both of them adored each other, while their mothers were best friends, rather than an employer and a servant. Keshav was admitted in Adarsh's school. Keshav was a brilliant boy and got a firm grasp over all the subjects. They all lived together happily. Aravind and Sharda loved their cook and her son dearly. Saraswati was very happy except for a thought that was still nagging her. Was her husband alive or dead? If he was alive, where was he? Why didn’t he bother to contact her? All these questions troubled her. 

After 25 years, Keshav grew up to be a Police Inspector. His heroic deeds made the entire police department proud of him. He had nabbed many culprits and cracked difficult cases. His colleagues admired him whereas his subordinates looked at him with respect. He was very handsome and intelligent and had a great physique like a bodybuilder. He moved into a moderately furnished apartment of his own, with his mother. He would visit Aravind and Sharda very often. He loved them as much as they loved him. They were very proud of him. Adarsh became a doctor and shared a great rapport with Keshav. They always greeted each other with a bear hug, as if they were long lost brothers. Adarsh always looked upon Keshav' s mother as his own and she was also very fond of him.

One day, Keshav was summoned by ACP Rajat Kumar. He said, “ Inspector Keshav, we have received information that a faction of terrorist group 'The Jehad' is reportedly hiding in the forest near Satara. I want you to go there with a team of special officers and arrest them immediately.” Keshav replied, “ Sure, Sir. We will leave no stone unturned to capture them, even if we have to comb through the entire forest.” ACP smiled at him and said, “ That’s the spirit. Now hurry up, we can’t afford to lose them.” 

Keshav left for the deadly expedition with a handful of police officers. They reached Satara, next morning and their search operation in the adjoining forest area. They were divided into several groups and each group went in a different direction. After walking for several hours, Keshav and his colleagues spotted a small cave. Keshav directed his team to hide among the bushes and wait for his signal. He said, “ Guys, this cave might be a hide-out of the suspected terrorists. I will hoot like an owl, if there is any trouble. All of you take your position behind the thick bushes.” The men took their positions as instructed by Keshav. He crept silently carrying his pistol towards the cave. When he entered the cave, it was too dark. He shone his torch and went further,but there was no sign of anyone living there. When he was about to retrace his steps, he heard some one coughing. 

He moved towards the source of the sound. At last, he saw an old tramp lying on the cavern floor. Keshav went near the man and was rather appalled by the sight of the tramp. He had shaggy hair and overgrown beard. His cough was getting worse. Keshav saw a pot kept nearby. He offered the old man a glass of water and said, “ Baba, Why are you living in such an isolated place? Don’t you have any family?”

The old man replied, “Son, it’s a long story.It seems you are in a great hurry. Why don’t you go ahead with your job?” Keshav said, “I can’t leave you alone in this deserted cave. It seems that you have not eaten anything for a long time. Please consider me as your son and come with me.” The tramp had tears in his eyes and got up holding Keshav's hand for support. At that moment, a very old photograph fell from his pocket. Keshav picked it up and was shocked to find that it was the picture taken in his childhood. He was in the arms of his father and his mother stood smiling besides him. Keshav questioned him, “ How did you get this photo?” The old man told him that he always carried the photo with him. It was the picture of his family, from whom he had been separated for 25 years. Keshav was choking with emotion. He suddenly touched the feet of the old man and said, “ What an unfortunate fellow am I to introduce myself to my own father! I am your Keshav, Baba.” Tears of joy flowed from both father's and son's eyes. Fate had separated them and now they were reunited under strange circumstances. Damodar asked him, “ Why have you come here?” “I am on a mission to nab suspected terrorists belonging to a group called 'The Jehad'. His father's eyes were open wide with fear. He was trembling. He had another bout of cough and was about to fall, when Keshav caught him in his arms. He made Damodar sit and went out to call his colleagues. They came back with him and helped his father to stand on his feet. Damodar was getting restless. He beckoned Keshav and said, “I can help you arrest those criminals. They are now hiding in Kas plateau, planning terrorist attack. Don’t ask me any questions now. First take them in your custody and then I will tell you how I knew about their whereabouts.” Keshav merely nodded and asked two of his team members to take Damodar to the hospital. He told his father that he would come back to see him after completing his mission. His father left for the hospital in the police van accompanied by two officers. 

Keshav called rest of the officers through wireless phone and left for Kas plateau. After an extensive search for twelve hours, they came across a dilapidated building and conducted surprise raid. All the terrorists were arrested and handcuffed. All of them left for Mumbai. The terrorists were safely locked up in jail. The police also recovered arms and ammunition from them. Keshav and other police officers were highly appreciated by the Police Commissioner himself. He also gave them promotion. Keshav was permitted to take leave for a couple of days. He went home straight away and called his mother Saraswati. He said, “Get ready quickly. I want you to meet some one very special. Wear your best saree.” She looked bewildered, “ What are you talking about? Where are you taking me?” Keshav replied with a twinkle in his eyes, “ Don’t ask anything. Please come with me and see for yourself.” Saraswati was clad in a gorgeous pink chiffon saree, her grey hair was tied in a bun. They left in his car. 

He stopped his car outside a hospital. They got down and Keshav approached the receptionist and asked for Damodar’s room. She pointed out the room. Keshav thanked her and asked Saraswati to follow him. He gently tapped on the door and his father's voice asked him to come in. Keshav entered the room with his mother. Saraswati was astonished to see her husband lying on the bed. She was so happy to see him alive after 25 years, that she reached his bedside and squeezed it gently. Damodar was equally thrilled to be reunited with his beloved wife and son. “ Where have you been all these years?” she cried, “ Why didn’t you get in touch with us? You left us in a lurch. I have waited endlessly all these years.” Damodar replied with a smile, “ You have no idea what I have gone through all these years!”

He told them that after reaching Mumbai, he was busy searching for a job. He was wandering aimlessly in the streets of Mumbai when a car came to a screeching halt near him. The driver appeared to be a wealthy businessman. He was wearing an expensive suit and a hat with sunglasses on his eyes. He asked Damodar whether he was in search of a job. When he replied in affirmative, the business man asked him to sit in the car and promised him a lucrative job with a handsome salary. Damodar didn’t suspect any foul play and readily agreed to work for him. He was hired as a domestic help. His jobs included buying groceries and vegetables, cooking, housekeeping and gardening. He was paid well for some months. However with passage of time, he was paid less wages than promised by the business man who was in fact a member of the terrorist group, ‘The Jehad’. Damodar discovered his true identity while he was sweeping the floor and overheard the conversation of the wealthy man. The latter threatened him with dire consequences if he opened his mouth. The bungalow was frequently visited by sinister looking men who were rest of the gang members. Damodar was forced to work for them much against his wishes, as they were afraid that he would approach the police. They threatened him saying that his wife and child would be killed, if he didn’t do as he was told. He had become indispensable to them and they took along, wherever they went. He was not allowed to call anyone. He had served them faithfully for all these years, before they decided to do away with him for good. One day, he heard one of the terrorist suggest that they should kill Damodar as he was getting old and was useless to serve them. The leader , however, decided to spare his life but dump in a deserted place where he would die naturally out of starvation and thirst. That is how, he ended up in that cave in a forest. Both mother and son were listening with rapt attention. They hugged him after he concluded narrating his ordeal to them. Keshav finally said, “ Don’t worry, Baba. Our miserable days are over. Now we will all live together peacefully.”

His parents beamed at him in pleasure. Damodar was discharged from the hospital in a couple of weeks and went to live forever with his family.