Wish

Jagdish Prasad Ji was my neighbour for the last 25 years. As the time passed my family became too close to his family. His family comprised of his wife, a son and a daughter. He was elder to me, so I addressed him as Jagdish Bhai.

Once during our conversation, Jagdish Bhai told me that his father was very poor. In spite of his hard work he could feed the family with great difficulties. As a result he had to discontinue his studies after eighth standard. Hardships in the family got him matured too early. He determined to work hard and help his father from an early age.

Jagdish Bhai's family was happy but had only one complaint seeing his strange behavior during the period of Diwali. He got irritated and became indifferent just before Diwali. He never used to answer properly and looked almost lost to a different world. I too noted the change in him but whenever I wanted to ask him the reason he avoided answering.

The incident was of the ensuing Diwali. My wife wanted me to get some essential items from the market for Diwali. When I got ready and went towards the gate with my scooter I found Jagdish Bhai near the gate of his house in deep contemplation. I asked him whether he would accompany me to the market and he readily agreed..

Because of Diwali, there was a heavy traffic. On both sides of the road customers were found buying Diwali items from shops. In some shops there were candles, in some sweet batasha, in others earthen dolls and lamps. The amount of enthusiasm seen in the customers were greater than that of the shopkeepers. Finding a parking place close by I parked my scooter. It was an open space where I had parked my scooter. Here too the small shops were selling candles, earthen lamps, dolls, cotton etc. In all there were about 50- 60 shops. Picking up my bag I signalled Jagdish Bhai to join me in shopping but he preferred to wait near the scooter.

Last rays of the sun were almost disappearing. Also the light was fading..The small shop keepers had started making arrangements for lighting. When I came near my scooter, after shopping, Jagdish Bhai was nowhere to be seen. I kept the purchases in my scooter and looked around for Jagdish Bhai. I found him standing near a close by shop which was selling earthen lamps and dolls. In that noisy atmosphere, my sound would not have been heard by him had I tried to call him. So I moved towards him. When I reached almost near, I found him giving something from his pocket to the vendor of earthen lamps. I wanted to know why he was buying those lamps when his wife had already purchased them while shopping with my wife three days’ back. As he was busy looking at the shopkeeper and his younger son packing his items, he could not pay attention to my words .After finishing his deal with the shopkeeper he could see me when he turned. I wondered to see happiness in his face with tears rolling from his eyes. He started moving forward silently. Seeing him in that condition I caught hold of his hand. He started wiping out the tears after seeing me. In my anxiety I asked him whether he was well or needed a visit to the doctor.

No, I am quite well. Today I got something for which I had waited for long. During my childhood something was lurking in my heart like a ghost. Today that ghost has got liberated.

His words had strange happiness.

As I could not comprehend his words "desire" and "ghost" I had to ask him what he meant by those words.

He looked at me for a while and told that to know the meaning of those words he has to go to his childhood days.

I was born in a poor family in a village named Kaitha. My father toiled hard for the whole day and my mother too worked in the fields to help my father. Even then we couldn’t get two square meals. I was studying in the fourth standard of a government school while my younger sister stayed at home.

It was the day of Diwali. My father managed to get some earthen lamps and dolls, one day before, with the idea of earning some money by selling. As he was ready to go to the market to sell those items I too accompanied him.

I felt happy thinking that while returning in the evening with father I would buy a lot of phooljhadi and crackers. I could convince my sister also about my small dream. She too became very happy. With my cherished dream I set off with my father to the market . Two to three kilometres away from our village there was a market where the vendors came to sell their wares. My father spread a gunny bag in an empty space and displayed the items. I too helped him in his work and waited eagerly for the customers to come. I repeatedly reminded my father about the purchase of phooljhadi and crackers but he gave me a simple smile.

It was almost evening but unfortunately there were no customers to buy our items. It was becoming dark. The shopkeepers were winding up. I tried hard to remind my father about my fond wishes but was shocked to see his eyes full of tears. I extended my hand and to hold my father's hand. But he wiped off his tears before holding my hand. On this sad day I lost my childhood and turned into an adult. My dream got hidden seeing an adult in me. After reaching home my mother could gauge the anxiety of my father from his depressed face and so she did not ask anything.

After this incident I became serious with the desire to earn money .I started making use of my leisure in school to work and earn some money for the family. My whole attention was diverted towards earning money. I strived hard to earn for consolidating our family. With my diligent labour I have reached this stage today.

When you had gone for shopping I surveyed the whole area. At a corner I found a person sitting with his little child for selling earthen lamps and dolls. I stood before them curiously. I heard the son reading the list of crackers for his father to buy and the father simply nodded. Suddenly the 50 year old picture started appearing before me when I had also placed a list before my father. It was getting dark and their faces were getting hazy. There was no sign of any customer. The anxiety on their faces was discernible. I saw the boy stretching his hand to hold father and looking at him pensively. Father was in tears and was trying hard to hide them. I could see the 50 year old story getting repeated. I started thinking that, seeing the helplessness of his father, this little boy may also be compelled to bury his small dream and mature early, like me. My feet moved towards them.

I sat with them and tried to find out the total cost of all items.

With a saddened heart he told Babu you give whatever is reasonable. Whatever I get now is acceptable to me.

I estimated that the whole items may cost not less than Rs 400. I added a little from my side and gave him Rs 700 for all items. The boy and his father were overwhelmed with my benevolence and their happiness was clearly seen on their faces.

Jagdish Bhai became peaceful after this act. I was looking at Jagdish Bhai's face more intensively and found that his noble act had brought back the happiness again.

Original Story:- A Short Story In Hindi By Arun Gupta