The Untouched Thread…………..

Raj Kishore is a very busy and senior I A S officer, who has been assigned with very important tasks of central government. He is staying in Delhi with his family. His mother is staying alone in a village of Bihar and very far from Delhi. Many a times Raj asked his mother Shanti Devi to come and stay with him, but she had refused to leave her village who had given her everything. Shanti Devi knows that her son is a very busy person and she believes her son is serving the nations for its betterment.

Shanti Devi is not having any college degree for her education, but she is full of knowledge to inspire thousands of people of the society to lead a meaningful life. Her late husband Prem Kishore was an eminent social reformer and had spend his whole life for the upliftment of poor and backward class people. Both of them had only son Raj and had given the teachings to their son about sacrifice, honesty and patriotism from his childhood. Raj had completed his schooling in the village and joined college in Patna.

Raj was a very brilliant student. Prem and Shanti Devi had never given any pressure on Raj and let him to choose his own career. Raj had seen during his childhood many times his father Prem Kishore had raised his voice for betterment of poor and backward class people and been arrested by the authorities for the same. Sometimes Raj used to ask his father why the authorities are punishing him for none of his mistakes. Then his father Prem Kishore used to tell him with a smile,’’ They are not to be blamed for this.

Our system has to be rectified. The honest and sincere officers and political leaders can only rectify this.’’ These words of his father had inspired him to be an I A S officer and give his sincere honest efforts to rectify the system. Raj had seen his mother Shanti Devi used to sit with ladies and teach them the family values and how to lead their life. He used to feel very proud of his parents. When Raj was in the final year of his post-graduation, he lost his father. His mother had encouraged and supported him to fulfil his dream. Raj was successful in his first attempt and became a I A S officer.

After his training he was posted in Delhi. Then Raj had came in contact with his college friend Sunita, who too was an I R S officer in income tax department. During college days both of them knew each other and that relationship got converted to love. Raj told everything about Sunita to his mother Shanti Devi and she made all arrangements to get them married. Shanti Devi is a very broad-minded person and had no problem with her only son’s marriage to Sunita. After the marriage Raj and Sunita stayed in Delhi. They had requested many times Shanti Devi to stay with them, but she had refused to leave her village and society. After two years of their marriage Raj was blessed with a son and Shanti Devi came to Delhi to see her grandson. She named him Akash. After staying for a few days, she went back to her village. Raj used to communicate with his mother over telephone.

It is for 10 years after Akash’s birth Raj and Sunita had not gone to their village. But Raj always keeps information about his mother’s health over telephone. Now Raj has been given the assignment of a new project of government for development of education and health care. It is very tough to change the old systems and both the departments need to have changes from grassroot level. Raj knows and understands this as he had come across the problems during his childhood. He had seen his father fighting for this and been arrested for that too. Raj was thanking God for this. He used to say silently to his late father that now he will bring the changes in the system. Raj is giving his all the times to implement the new plans, to renovate the school and hospital buildings, to train the teachers and recruiting more healthcare staffs. But he had not missed to talked to his mother. Suddenly since last two weeks Raj tried to speak to his mother, but all his call went unanswered.

He was very much worried. He couldn’t sleep in the night. The connection of The untouched Thread between him and his mother was disturbing him. He was getting himself connected to his mother’s mind and heart. Neither his wife Sunita nor anybody was aware of it. But Raj couldn’t talk about it to anybody. He always wanted to make his parents wishes fulfilled. He knew their blessings will give him success. But at the same time he can’t afford to miss his mother, who had always inspired him from the childhood to till date. Raj was praying God to take care of his mother. Then he got the opportunity to go on a official visit for opening new school and hospital in his district. He reached there ,made the discussions with local officials and after completing the meeting straight headed for his village to meet his mother.

Now his anxiety has increased, he was looking at his watch again and again as if the time is running late. He reached his village at about 8pm and rushed in to his house. He could see some ladies are sitting near his mother’s bed. When Shanti Devi saw her son, she gave a a smile and said,’’ Raj you came! Who told you? My son focus on your work. You have to bring the changes from the grass root level. I had told everybody not to disturb you.’’ Raj sat near his mother. With tears rolling down from his eyes he said,’’ nobody told me Maa. But I couldn’t sleep since last two weeks properly and was disturbed as my calls to you got unanswered. You could have told me that you are sick. I would have taken you for treatment. Now I will take you with me to Delhi. You will be fine.’’ Shanti Devi put her hand on Raj’s head and said,’’ no my son. I am not in a position to move. Why are you worried? I may or may not be physically with you, but my heart and mind will always be tied with your heart and mind with The Untouched Thread of love and affection.

Now may be God wanted me to see you at the end of my life and you came here. I love you my son forever.’’ Then Raj could see that her hand fall down and she became speechless. Raj could understand that he lost his mother. He cried and control himself. Then he made call to his wife and informed her. Then he spoke to his office secretary and informed about this sad demise of his mother. He told his village people to have patience and let her mother have a peaceful sleep. Sunita with son immediately arranged her travel and started for the village to complete the rituals. Raj was holding his mother’s hand and sitting near her with a pale eye waiting for others to prepare all rituals for his mothers last journey of life…….