The Old Man

“For how long, have you not met them?” I asked.
“It’s been 2 years,” replied the old man sitting with me on the bench.
“You don’t even talk to them on phone?” I asked again.
I was feeling bad for him.
“They call me once in a while.
Look son, I am very little educated and know nothing about these phones.” He groaned as he pulled out an old Nokia 1100 from his pocket.
“Oh!” I really didn’t have any answer.
I was really sad for the old man, Arnab.
Arnab is a retired bank employee. But unlike him, his son Vikram wanted to study abroad.
Arnab wasn’t like other government employee fathers who want their sons to do government job as well.
So, he supported him, spent his lifetime savings on his studies, and helped him go to the US for higher studies.
Arnab was sure that his son will come back.
But Viki (as Arnab fondly called him) had other plans. He married a US resident Jennifer and permanently settled there.
His father still had hopes that his son will come back to India someday but he didn’t. Not even when Mrs. Pathik (Arnab’s better half & Viki’s mom) died.
“Dad! We’re expecting a baby. It’s not safe for Jennifer to travel. I also can’t come because I have to be with her in this condition.
I hope you understand. I miss mom and I feel sorry for the loss. But you have to do it without me”
- It was the recorded video message he received from his son.
Nothing was more shocking for him than this message.
“So, a mother’s cremation is going to happen without her son.” He wondered.
“But bahu (daughter-in-law) is also pregnant. He should remain there” He thought.
And replied to his son: Take care son. But try to come on the Tehrawin (an occasion held on the 13th day of a person’s death).
Mr Pathik laid fire to his wife’s funeral.
According to sashtras, it was prohibited but he didn’t have any other option.
Some people were cursing his bad luck for producing such a son. While others were calling him foolish that he had spent everything on a son who disgraced him completely.
There were also some who were laughing on his plea, people who take pleasure in seeing other suffering.
I still remember what my father said that day:
“Become anything, son. But don’t be like Mr Pathik’s son.”
I still remember those words.
Anyway, the prodigal son arrived on Dharamshanti. He stayed for 1-day and then left. Guess he was a guest in his home.
But he had delivered 2 news to his father:
First, his wife had delivered a son. So, Arnab was now a grandfather.
Second, he wanted Arnab to come with him and live in the US.
“So, what did you do?” I asked him breaking the silence.
“I woke up the next day and called Vikram to my room. There I handed over a pair of golden Kangans and a golden pendant to him.
Viki was surprised. I told him that it was Rukmani Ji’s (his wife’s name) wish to give these Kangans to Bahu and her kid but she never got the chance to meet them.
Then I told him that I couldn’t come with him. ”
“Why? ” I couldn’t understand. Who wouldn’t want to meet his little grandson. Is this fellow crazy?
“Because this is my home, my country. And this is my country. I have spent my whole life here. There are so many memories. How can I leave all this?
Also, I feel that I would be invading their personal space. This, I never want.
Now, they call me every once in a month. Ask me to come and live with them. But I don’t want to go. So, I live here alone.
My son is not bad. He’s just caught up in priories. So do I.”
As he said this, I sat there speechless. How can a person go through so much and still remain so thoughtful?
“Ok son, now I leave. Sorry, if I spoiled your mood.” Mr Pathik said in an apologetic tone
Meanwhile, I was thinking how I could bring a smile on the old man’s face.
“Uncle, do you want to see how your grandson looks like?” I asked after giving a thought.
“Can you do that?” For a moment the old man thought that I was some god. The gleam in his eyes was something I can’t even forget today.
“Yes” I replied with a smile.
Then I logged into my Facebook, searched his son’s name, and asked him to tell which profile was of his son.
“That one!” He pointed out to a guy holding his son and a blonde lady standing with him.
I could literally see the old man bursting into tears as he rolled his fingers on the screen.
For 5 minutes he kept looking at that and I sat there watching him.
Then I showed him more photos until there were not anymore left… For the old man, it was a dream that just shattered.
Coming into his senses, he said:
“Son, I have to go. And thank you, you made my day.”
And he left. By then I had seen tears in his eyes that were ready to burst because he had seen the people he was missing badly.
As I watched him going, my cellphone rang.
It was from dad. Usually, I get irritated on seeing his call.
But this time, I didn’t.
“Where are you ? Come home soon.” My dad continued in his usual tone.
“I am in the park. Coming soon. And..” I replied.
Dad: And what?
Me: I love you dad..
Dad: Kitne paise chahiye? (How much money do you want?)
I knew the expected response. But that’s ok. I will not feel angry. This incident has opened my eyes.
Thank You Mr Arnab Pathik!
PS: Please spread this as much as you can and respect your parents. They have done a lot for us. Please don’t make them miss us so much.
