Living in a metropolitan can be quite hectic sometimes. For one reason, you have a job that steals 10 hrs of your precious day (8 hrs in the job and 2 hrs in travelling considering the threshold value of traffic in Mumbai). Hence, you don't have enough time for your family. Two, your wife is associated with some social committee (the ones which are created by house-wives of a colony and apparently perform social work, but secretly organise kitty parties under the pertext of that cause). Therefore she isn't left with any time for the house hold chores after taking up the kid's homework. And finally, getting a maid or servant in Mumbai is very 'easy'. Whoever has said the famous idiom ''Dhoondne se toh khuda bhi mil jata hai....'' wasn't a resident of Mumbai for sure. So, my point is, the remaining four hours of your hopefully peaceful life are spent listeng to your wife, who keeps on harping on about silly problems.
I swear to God I tried my level best to get a servant and I found some, but demanding a price within which you can easily raise a kid. When I told this to my wife she came up with a brilliant idea. I tell you, women can come up with amazing ideas sometimes. I said sometimes. She said, ''Why don't we go to an Anaath-ashram and get a boy around 7-8 yrs of age ? One, it'll save our monthly charges of a servant, two, he'll take care of Rucha when i'm out, and finally, its easier compared to getting a servant.'' I actually liked the idea ! As it is there are thousands of homeless children in India so it wouldn't be difficult at all !
So, next week I was in 'Nivaara', an NGO which ran a small asylum for homeless children. I had heard they breeded stout kids. My wife had warned me to behave properly because if I let out even by mistake that I'm not in a mood to grow up a child of my own, they'd be reluctant to hand over any child to me. That's the reason why I didn't even tell them that I already have one baby girl at home.
''Its very kind of you Mr.Shukla. People like you exist, and this is the only reason why atleast some of the homeless children in India are fortunate enough to start their life with a new beginning.'' The chairperson,Mr. Ashwin Deshpande was speaking with utter gratitude. ''But I don't understand why you chose an elder boy? I mean you can very well grow up a small kid.''
''Well....errr...The thing is that...'' I was thinking of a good reason, ''Actually...I feel that he should know right from the beginning that we are not his real parents but are adopting him just for affection...Nothing else...'' I hoped that had satisfied him.I added,''Because,it seems the shock is traumatic when one fine day they come to know the reality. I've seen in movies - they are mentally shattered...'' I tried making it more reasonable.
''Oh,ya ya...No issues at all...Its in fact very good. Everyone takes small kids, and its a notion that the probability of a child being chosen by anyone is inversely propotional to his/her age.'' He turned around, ''Aho Joshi, kiti vel lavtay...Sahebanna jaychay...'' Then he turned to me, '' It'll take just a few minutes Mr.Shukla.''
Then Mr.Joshi emerged from inside with a wheatish skinned boy, the one I had chosen the day before. He had a finally-I-got-my-chance look on his face. I had partly started feeling guilty because I knew that once he comes home, his expectations are going to be crashed. At this moment he didn't even know what was in store for him. Poor guy, I really felt sorry for him. By now I was getting pushed into a dillema as in to take him or not. I didn't want to screw his remaining life. Maybe some genuine person might come some day, who'll really give him the love he deserved...!
Mr.Joshi interrupted my thoughts, ''Say hello to Papa,Ratan..'' he was saying to the boy. Ratan was giving me a blank look. That intensified my guilt even more.
''Ye papa thodi hai,'' he said in a monotonous tone, ''ye toh malik hai...''
I was shocked !
'' Boliye malik,kya kya kaam karna hoga aapke ghar me...? Kapde,bartan, jhadu-ponchha,baccho ka khayal rakhna...Itna hi ya aur bhi kuch baki hai?''
The three of us were watching the scene with awe.''Nahi beta,aisa kyu keh rahe ho?'' It was Mr Joshi who spoke.
'' Isiliye toh aate hai ye log...Aajkal naukar kaha milte hai aasani se...Boliye malik...sabzi lana,kachra fekna,bathroom saaf karna...Karunga,saare kaam karunga...Yahi toh meri kismat hai...Sab kuch mehnat se karunga...Par meri ek ichha hai malik?'' There was silence. I was filled with grief.With lots of effort I managed to say,''What?''
'' Kya main apko Papa bula sakta hoon..?''
Those words struck my heart like a thunderbolt. When the heart overflows, the eyes water. I went over to him, knelt down, and gave him a big bear hug. He embraced me equally tightly. The feelings at that moment were inexpilicable. It was as if I had found my own son. Lene gaya tha naukar, beta mil gaya.
''Dhoondhne se toh khuda bhi mil jata hai...'' Sahi kaha tha kisine....!
Short story by Rohan
