NANHEIN PARINDEY

"Pranav, when will you return?", asked the old trembling voice. "Baba, now this is ridiculous. I work here. I can't demand vacations always. Amma and you are happy there. I am sending you quite a lump sum amount of money.... I guess that's more than sufficient for you two", cimplained an angered Pranav over an international call. "Your Amma is not keeping well for few days and she wishes to meet our grandson Arav. Money is sufficient but your presence...", before the feeble voice could speak the line was disconnected. With welled eyes, the old man replaced the Nokia cell phone on his cot.

"Baba, baba, I will fall...please don't leave my hand... Baba why did you remove the stabilizer from my cycle", a little Pranav spoke anxiously.

"You need to learn to balance beta. Start, I am holding you...I will never let go off my hands from you. "... Pranav's old father reminisced his childhood as he kept staring at the rusted stack of the debris kept in the room's corner.

"What happened? He denied to come", asked his Amma. "I knew this would happen"(coughs vigorously).."forget him.. ", after a brief pause she continues," after my demise, you shift to your sister's place in Bhubaneshwar. They will take good care of you."(chewing her medicine in between) " donate this house to the local NGO. They were saying that they...(coughs) are hunting for a good place to open their orphanage."

Shrugging off his cotton towel from his shoulders the old legs made his way out of the house.

4 months later...

"Yes, Pranav speaking... what.. when... but that's my house... how can you guys barge in and... listen I will not leave you guys... ", bewildered as well as a bit depressed Pranav sat on the couch. His 8-year-old son Arav was sitting there and scribbling on paper. Suddenly his eyesight caught a glimpse at the scribbled picture that Arav drew. Tears rolled down his cheeks and with shaky lips he spoke, "Arav, what are you drawing..."

"Dad, this is the stages of life. Our SST teacher gave us this empty picture of steps. She asked us to stir our imagination and draw something relevant. What could be more resonating than showing the growth of human species from an infant to the aged", replied the confident Arav?

The picture cleared the clogged and veiled mind of Pranav. He was cursing himself for not assisting his parent's when they needed him the most. He recalled his childhood days, how his parent's always safeguarded him from any event of danger. But he failed to meet up to their expectations. Now that they are gone he can do nothing but sulk.

"Yes, I, Pranav Yadav, don't propose any claims on my father's establishment now or in future. If he had decided to donate this shelter for the welfare of those orphan kids...I hold no claims or grudges. Please proceed forward." With this declaration, Pranav felt a bit relieved. He knew he was never present physically beside his ailing parents and now since they are gone he can at least fulfill their last desire.

"Nanhein Parindey", the orphanage was finally inaugurated on his father's death anniversary.