In Search of the lost father

a short story by Paramjit Sharma

In Search of the Lost Father

Bhanu , stop playing video games and go with your Dadu for the haircut. Your school is opening on Monday and you need to get your hair trimmed to avoid punishment from the Principal Bhusan, screamed loudly from his study when he noticed his son was passionately playing sports game on the TV monitor. But Papa, where is Dadu? Bhanu amazingly asked his father in the same tone. He should be back from the market and by now must have completed his Puja too Bhusan replied immediately. No Papa, today is Sunday and he hasnt come after buying vegetables. Bhusan who was working on his laptop on an important project of setting his Australian Companys office in India, got surprised to hear words of Bhanu. Left his work in between and dashed to the living room. It was 11.30 in the morning. His father usually go for buying vegetables quite early on Sundays at the main market and mostly returns after leisurely buying vegetables . He would often go back to his flat, where he was living alone, only after taking breakfast with the family. Buying vegetables & fruits for whole week has been his passion for years. Bhusan got worried and called his father on mobile. There was no reply from other side despite his frequent callings. He shouted for his younger brother Navin, who was living with his wife on first floor of the house. He came down running and shared his concern with him. Bhaiya dont worry, Babuji might have gone to his friends house who lives quite close to the market Navin tried to assure him. OK call uncle immediately as Babuji is not picking up his phone Navin equally became worried when Manjit uncle informed in negative about their fathers visit to his house. They ran to check for him at his flat and surprisingly found the front door opened and there was no trace of him inside. Navin let us go to the market, I wish Babuji is ok. I am quite scared someone might have hit his car or he has hit another. Bhusan told him feeling an air of sweat on his face and neck.
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They reached the market and got relieved to see their fathers Maruti 800 in the parking, while his mobile phone lying on the back seat of the car. I stay near the car and you go to the market to locate him Bhusan told Navin. Navin ran towards the vegetable market and completed hurriedly its round in ten minutes. But there was no trace of his father. He remained in constant touch with Bhusan on mobile to inform him about the details of his search. On Bhusans advice he even enquired from favourite vendors of his father. Sahib to aaj aaye nahi every vendor replied in the same tone. Tired and worried Navin returned back to his brother, who was frantically trying to enquire from some of his fathers friends on mobile. All got concerned on receiving such calls but replied to have no whereabouts of him. Navin you go back to Babujis flat and bring duplicate key of his car. Let us at least take it home and from his mobile we will try calling his other friends Bhusan told Navin while consolidating his own mental position. After reaching back home he told Navin to call Babujis other friends as he was sure of him getting lost in gupsup with some of them as has happened with their father on numerous occasions. But all calls proved futile. On the contrary his friends started calling back to enquire about him......Mile Kiya was the repeated question on phone by his friends. Dadu has been occasionally going to Anathalaya, located near the vegetable market. Twice he has also taken me there Bhanu gave them a useful piece of information. Nivedita, wife of Bhusan advised them to remain cool while Shobna, wife of Navin requested them to move to Orphanage immediately and also check for him at Rivoli theatre where Dev Anands film Hum Dono was released recently in colour. Everyone in the family knew Babuji was an ardent fan of Dev Anand. Chal Jaldi Bhusan asked Navin to drive to Orphanage. Before leaving he asked Nivedita to check for him at Rivoli after the morning show was over.

In half an hour they reached Seth Gokulnath Anathalya and straight away walked down to the managers room and informed him about their concern. I am so worried to know about Babuji Nath, the Manager said while consoling them. By any chance did he visit here today? Bhusan worriedly enquired. Not today, but last time he came at Madams Barsi. I remember, he was telling me of going to Amarnath Yatra at least once in his life time as Madam wished to have Shivling Darshan and he unfortunately, could not fulfil her wish while she was alive. Manager informed them after reading from the register the date of his visit. Both brothers looked at each other on hearing about their mothers Barsi. When was that? Bhusan asked Navin. Bhaiya you were in Australia and I was busy because Chief Justice of Supreme Court was in town on that day Navin tried to justify his absence. In presence of the manager they avoided further discussions on that topic to save themselves from embarrassment for each other and made a silent prayer to their departed mother for a pardon. It was month of December and Yatra to Amarnath starts only at the end of June every year. It was foolishness to think of their father going to Amarnath in those cold months without informing the family. Not finding much at the Anathalya , they decided to drive straight to the nearest Police Station to lodge the FIR and inform the Media too , when Nivedita also could not locate him at Revoli. Seven days have gone but there was no trace of their father. Police was giving all support as Navin was a Judicial Magistrate and enjoyed excellent reputation and public relations with the Police & Press. By then they were sure that he might have been kidnapped because Navin recently sentenced few criminals to gallows and someone close to them could have tried to settle the scores through harming their father. They expected ransom demand for releasing him, could come at any time. Bhusan asked Navin to check funds they had in the banks accounts including the value of family jewellery lying in the lockers.
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They decided to keep the cash ready by selling the jewellery, though the females at home had few reservations. Babujis absence was felt by everyone at home. He used to pick and drop Bhanu to the school and even handled all his school related activities including his home work. For open days at the school Babuji used to meet his teachers. The family was even finding extremely difficult to manage at home without him. Attending to the daily needs from the market, banks and other petty works were handled by him alone, despite his old age and week eye sight. Almost five months have gone since their father disappeared. They have looked for him everywhere but without any trace. Even some of their close relatives were contacted, with whom their father enjoyed comfortable relations. Perhaps they have erred in taking enough care of him and failed miserably to acknowledge his contribution in their life...... Couples of weeks before Babujis disappearance, he was taken to doctor by Nivedita, when he occasionally missed taking his regular dose of medicines. She informed the doctor that he would often forget to switch off geyser after bath, open the fridge and keep the door open for more than five minutes and then close the door without taking anything from it, many a times forget their names, bring bread from the market instead of milk, once he went out bearing two different chappals, on two three occasions parked his car in a neighbouring building, left change of more than Rs six hundred with the medical store who later came home to return the balance. Doctor told Nivedita about early symptoms of Alzheimer in him and prescribed suitable treatment. Babuji told Nivedita to keep it to her as he was alright and his sons would unnecessarily be worried about him on hearing that unreliable diagnose. Bhusan was quite annoyed with Nivedita for not sharing that vital information. He was sure that his father got lost under the influence of Alzheimer. A call from Ujjain suddenly ignited their hopes. The caller asked them to reach Ujjain at the earliest as he saw their father in front of the Mahakal temple. Both brothers took the first available flight to Indore and reached Ujjain by night to meet the caller.
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His first response was unbelievable. I noticed your father amongst the beggars sitting in front of the temple, waiting for the largesses from the devotees including money that persons said confidently. But where is he now? Bhusan angrily asked the stranger who called them on phone. All these beggars come here after 4.30 in the morning to beg. We need to wait for them at that time as their place of stay may be difficult to locate. Next morning they waited till noon in front of the Mahakal temple. But the person that stranger identified was not seen at all. They did not believe the stranger for two reasons. First, how their father would have reached Ujjain and secondly why shall he beg? Without contesting much with the stranger they dejectedly returned back to Delhi. Bhusans employers in Australia were sending number of mails to hurry up in selecting a site for starting his office in India, as arrangements at Canberra are getting over shortly to coordinate with him in India. His mind was just not working in selection of the site. After fifteen days another strange thing happened. Navin got a SMS from J&K police that his father was seen at Katra near Vaishnodevi. All of them were quite amazed at the information they were receiving. He was noticed at the religious places where he always avoided visiting. They could not take chances as Bhusan proceeded to Vaisnodevi with a great hope. At Katra Police Station, the SHO called the person who has seen his father and reported the matter. In a short time that person came running to the police station with a newspaper cutting of his father which appeared in a local daily. Sir, I serve at Gulshan Kumars Jai Mata di Bhojnalya and I have seen him twice taking food and cleaning floor there. He further said, that man was supporting beard and wearing coat and a tie with bathroom chappals on his feet. I was wondering to see a strange person like that coming to eat and serve there. Therefore, I reported it to police but from last two days I have not seen him. He might have gone up to have darshan of Mata Vaishnodevi. The police official instructed that man to accompany Bhusan to the Bhawan.
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Sir go and have darshan, Mata aapki sunegi, the police officer said. Bhusan had darshan and kept on roaming near the holy cave for two days but could not trace his father. He returned back to Delhi after frantically looking for his lost father at Katra and Bhawan. There was a definite pressure on the minds of both brothers particularly on Bhusan who has been getting regularly calls from his new employers in Australia to select the office in India and start operations and Navin was missing courts too often. Ultimately they decided to go to Amarnath as there was still some time left for the completion of annual Yatra . Their chances of getting him there were remote but some where the words of Manager of Anathalya were hitting them that he was telling of going to Amarnath. They also could not find him there despite completing the Yatra with great difficulty. The silver lining of this Yatra was the list prepared by the Shrine Board of all the devotees. Their fathers name figured in 2 nd Jatha and they completed the Yatra in the 26th batch. It was happy for them to note that he was alive and then the problem was to locate him. Navin told this story to the SP of Delhi and requested him to coordinate with the J&K police to find whereabouts of him. They were sure of his presence in that area only. His posters were also displayed at strategic places. Bete Maine inko Amritsar main Dekha hai one man of his fathers age told him while keeping his hand affectionately on Bhusans head at a tea stall. Their eyes brighten up to hear those words. Jahan ane se pehle main apne Bete ke sath Golden Temple Gaya tha, While doing Parikarma we noticed a person falling suddenly on the ground. We all picked him up and took him to a side. He was hit on the forehead and bled for some time. Since I am a doctor, I gave him first aid and sent him to the Hospital located near to the Temple. In the evening, I visited him in the hospital and asked him his name and place of stay To my surprise he did not remember his name and native place. But decent person to talk to . I am very sure he is your father as he matches with the portrait. he confidently said.
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Thanks Sir, we will always be grateful to you. We just cant explain our anxiety of searching him over a year Bhusan told the Doctor while touching his feet. My dear the doctor gave a parting advice while holding Bhusan, We not only need to love our parents, but also continuously need to show, how much love and care we have for them. Doctor said while keeping a hand on the shoulders of his son who accompanied him on that Yatra. Navin called DCP of his area at Delhi to immediately contact his counterpart at Amritsar and request him to visit the hospital to check for his father. They were quite disappointed to know that their father was discharged from the hospital but he managed to get an address of a person who took him home after his treatment. Let us leave for Amritsar Navin, we have found Babuji. Bhusan boisterously told him, who was amazed to see his elder brother suddenly moving with an air of confidence. Bhusan sent Navin to Delhi and asked him to wait for his call and he took a taxi to reach the address after flying to Amritsar from Srinagar. It did not take him much time to reach the destination. It was a huge Haveli type construction in the outskirts of Amritsar with raised boundary walls on three sides and having five shops on one side of the building. The huge steel gate gave a royal look. He recognised Gita Bhawan his grandfather built and named after his mother. He was born in that house and spent first few years of his childhood there before his father moved to Delhi for his job and better education for his son. Navin was not born by then. He has heard from his mother many a times the reasons and stubbornness of his father of leaving their ancestral home. His Grandfather wanted him not to take his family with him to a distant and unknown place. If you dont listen to me then leave this house for ever his grandfather spoke in anger to his father. Babuji did not like his words and decided to take his family with him to Delhi. Babuji never visited his father again nor ever taken his family to see him either, despite knowing that his younger brother has migrated to New Zealand with his family. Bhusan tried to peep through the main grill of gate to have a view of the inside. But nothing was visible to him except having a look at his grandfathers vintage light blue coloured Fiat Car. He moved to backyard where there was another small iron gate with a grill.
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What he saw gave him a magnificent relief. His grandpa was sitting on a wheel chair and Babuji was giving him a head message. A young boy was sitting atop the Guava tree, plucking fruits and putting in a bag. Babuji was giving him instructions. One big Guava fell from the tree and rolled toward a gutter in a corner of the lawn. His father virtually ran after that Guava to prevent it falling into the gutter. Tears rolled down his eyes and he wanted to run down and hug his father and grandfather. He controlled himself to see more of them. That was the lawn where he learnt how to walk and later play with a rubber ball with his father who sometimes substituted the ball with the guavas. The tree was there in the house at that time too. Bhusan was happy to locate back his father and he knew that his other family members would also be thrilled to see Babuji again. He kept his eye firmly glued on the hole from where he constantly looked at the relationship of father and son... and their reunion which was lost for more than three decades back. It became dark and nothing was visible to him from that hole. Climbing on the Guava tree may be a better idea to watch the inside movement. But the tree was located behind one of the shop. Between two shops there was a leeway of nearly seven feet. When Bhusan went near the shop he noticed Bantta Bottle Soda being sold by the shopkeeper. That was his weakness since childhood. The moment he ordered, the shopkeeper asked him a question which surprised Bhusan like anything.Sahib Aap Behanji ki Barsi Par Aaye Ho Ji HaanBhusan answered without thinking much, though shocked to hear such words, but also asked for Soda with lemon and rock salt. While making the mixture, the shop keeper continued his talk.Chote sahib ne Parso 250 bottle ka intzam karne ko kaha hai, Mujhe Bahut Kaam Hai Bhusan was happy at the new piece of information. His soda with lemon was ready in his hand but it was not going down his throat.
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His father has invited more than two fifty persons and no message for them. He went a side, called Navin and asked them to reach Amritsar by next day and they should not miss that opportunity to meet father and praying for their departed mother. After speaking to Navin he was feeling much relieved? He sat down on the parapet of the shop and gulped the whole soda in one go and asked the shopkeeper to make another because sooner he and his family would be facing their father who may greet them with lot of fire. He went towards the road, took a mini bus which was full to the throttle. The driver asked him to settle on the roof. Everyone sitting on the top looked disturbed except Bhusan. The cool breeze on the top of the bus gave him lot of relief. On reaching the hotel he had a shower and kept on curling on his sides thinking of struggled life their father must have spent for nearly a year. While curling on the bed, he remembered the words of the Doctor whom they met while performing the Yatra to Amarnath. We not only need to love our parents, but also continuously need to show, how much love and care we have for them. His thought process was broken with a call from an unknown number on his mobile. He picked up to answer. Bhusan tomorrow is your mothers Barsi. If you have time, the programme is at 3.30 pm. I am sending you the address through a sms. The caller cut the phone but Bhusan knew it was his father. Thank you, Babuji for the call.He thanked in his heart. He immediately called Navin to share the joy and confirmed again about their journey, to Amritsar. His curling on the bed stopped, his heart beat became normal as he read the sms from his father. He picked up his mobile to text the reply. Baba, we all are reaching tomorrow. Please pardon your sons, though they dont deserve any mercy. You and Mom took every care and made both of us capable of not only surviving but also grow in this competitive world. We have not only hurt you but also let you down for not only taking enough care but also not
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appropriately displaying our love for you. We are culprits; therefore, would present ourselves before you for any amount of punishment. If you approve, I would like to stay at Amritsar along with you, Grandpa, Navedita and Bhanu. Operate my office from home. We all are reaching tomorrow to join you to pray for our dear mother and seek your pardon and accept our punishment for ignoring to repay your love and affection for all of us He read the text many times, made few corrections and later deleted the whole message except the last line. Took a deep breath and gathered courage to press the send command on his mobile. After sending the SMS he slept till there was a huge knock on the door in the morning, signalling arrival of his family from Delhi in search of their long lost Babuji.

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