Vindictive is the Nature .

Fiction, but 99.9% close to real situations around the author.

Almost a decade before on a cool evening of November at Jammu, he along with his youngest son visited one of his friends, Bushan. Full moon, cool atmosphere, lush green lawn was inviting for an outdoor sitting. Despite taken unaware without any prior notice, the host managed the show successfully. Carpet was spread in the open lawn and three round pillows ‘Tukiyay’ were placed to add to the grandeur of the natural scene. Two drinks multiplied inhibition with zero. It is said that when holy water goes in the truth comes out. Personality ceases to be duel. Time passed on nicely with relevant and irrelevant gossip. Grim situation was responded with a thunderous laughter and the pleasant one with remorse. Nothing short of ‘zarie asuen’ (Smile of the deaf). With dual purpose, to pass time pleasantly and to convey a message with moral, the host narrated a story that his father used to narrate at specific occasions with specific reason.

Thus goes the story: “Radha Krishan (fake name) was used to listen to complaints against his old father Nand Lal from his wife Radhika. Radha Krishan had a lot of patience and tolerance. Experience had made him an expert trouble shooter without offending any of the two. One day as usual, on his return from his office, Radhika gave an ultimatum. He begged Radhika to bear with him just for a few hours. He assured her end to the nuisance before twilight. He suggested to his father: “Bub nav hakeem chu amuet. Dupan sue chue kuran kuarmauetch. Bue nimovea tumis te tohie guchie ye chaas khutum.(Father, some reputed Hakeem has come in the area. It is said that he does miracles. I will take you to him and he will treat you for your chronic cough.” Nand Lal consented. Primitive days, no transport was available. Radha Krishan carried his father in a conical basket (The basket that is used for collection of tealeaves in Assam tea-fields.) En route, while crossing a bridge, he stopped near the first pillar of the bridge for a while to take rest. His father Nand Lal said: “Go a little ahead to the second pillar.” Radha Krishan said:”I got tired and so wanted to take rest for a little while. Here or there, it hardly makes any difference.” Nand Lal said that it was action replay. He threw his father into the river from the second pillar. Better not to break or alter the routine. Radha Krishan realized that it was the natural phenomenon. Nand Lal had to reap the fruit of his doings, why should he become party to it. He left his father there and did not return to his home. He broke the chain and went in renunciation .” The host advised the younger guest to be wiser and not to treat his parents the way his father treated his parents. It was better for him to break the chain of events. Unfortunately the advice went haywire and ineffective. 4th August, 2016, Bushan’s phone buzzed. It was his friend at the other end. He said: “I want to operate upon the Locker and distribute its contents equally among my three sons in my lifetime. My eldest son does not cooperate. He shows little interest in it. What to do?” Bushan replied: “Let you keep his share in the locker and distribute the rest among the other two.” “Who will pay rent for the retention of the locker” said the ailing friend. 5th August, 2016, the ailing friend in utter helplessness said: “My youngest son shunted me out to the elder (middle) one’s for I rejected his demand for all the contents of the locker to him. He already took my signatures on the transfer form for transfer of my car in his name. He exploits my ailing health and physical incapability. The elder one did not accept me. I am back to my home under hostile environment” Bushan had to leave for Pune on 8th August, 2016. He sought help from one of the leading lawyers and a social worker from the community. The Lawyer said: “Nobody can come to his rescue. It is only a new copy of the old film. It is only a beginning. He used to play shuttle cock to his old mother, and today he is in her shoes. He used to beat his mother and soon you will hear that he is being beaten by his son. He has to reap what he has sown. He has to face his Karma.” Bushan left for Pune on 8th August, 2016. He remained in touch with his friend. 10th September, 2016 his friend, a retired class one officer moaned: “But for English pot, I would not mind to go to some ‘Old-Age Home’.” Bushan phoned one of his contacts for his admission in BEN Hospital at Canal Road. The contact made the requisite inquiries and reported that the Hospital with arrangement for such inmates is available on payment of Rs 13,000/pm. Though affordable for a person with a pension of Rs.45,000/month yet the arrangement was declined. 11th September, the ailing friend moaned that till date he got three beatings from his youngest son. Bushan phoned the President of the Welfare Association of retired officials of his friend’s department. The President phoned Police Control Room for care of the senior citizen. Bushan cut short his stay at Pune and rushed back to Jammu by the earliest train available on 15th September, 2016. 16th September on his arrival Bushan was forbidden by his friend for a visit directly from the Railway Station. He was told that the atmosphere was hostile because of the care taken by the Police Control Room. Bushan could not resist the situation any longer. 18th September, as a precautionary measure, he took Anil along with to face the hostile music and visited his friend at 10 AM. He was welcomed by ‘gilay shikvay’. Bushan pleaded on an oath that he had not phoned the Control Room. He confessed that he phoned the President of the Welfare Association of his Department. Bushan was exonerated of all the charges. The ailing friend asked Bushan to sort out the issue of hostility with his son and daughter-in-law. Anil was asked to remain outdoor. His son harshly justified his demand for Rs.20, 000/PM for the maintenance of his father. He said that his other two brothers challenged him that they would come only after the death of their father to claim their share from the movable and immovable property. The daughter-in-law complained that her eldest sister-in-law and the eldest brother-in-law left for their Ludhiana address on the fourth day of the death of her mother-in-law who died in 2015. She performed the last rites of her mother-in-law all alone. Their claim on the saris and shawls of the deceased mother-in-law is unjustified. Mama ji proposed division of the movable and immovable property into four equal parts, one to each including the ailing father. After his demise, his share will go to the youngest for his services to his ailing father. The proposal proposed by Mama ji is acceptable to her. She calculated it and reconciled as it would give her 50% instead of 33% of the property. The edge over other claimants would adequately compensate her for her services to her ailing father-in-law. Bushan praised her for her virtues ‘sanskar’ that she inherited from her parents. Bushan and his ailing friend responded to the call for the lunch. On the table, the ailing friend said that for his services to him, he would give his house to the youngest one. Knowing his wavering mind, Bushan said that he can’t and will not. He said that it was his property and he was legally entitled to do so. Bushan said that his emotions would be heavier. Bushan succeeded in persuading his family members to let the ailing friend be with him for some time for a change. Anil had left at 1PM and so Bushan was left with no conveyance. Key of the car was handed to Bushan and both left for Channi Himmat, a drive of 10 minutes. At 9:30 PM, medicine for the ailing friend was purchased. 19th September at 4 in the morning Bushan was awakened to be in readiness for the day’s job. It was not before 11 AM that Bushan could come on to the wheel. Jobs were enumerated on the basis of priority. Top priority was for doctor’s consultation. Second was withdrawal of money from the bank. Third was purchase of chapels, clothing with elastic belt. 11 AM, the two stood in the queue for doctor’s consultation. 3PM doctor advised sugar test and ECG before he would start treatment. Strangely, the ailing friend refused to go for tests and doctor’s advice. 20th September, Bushan somehow managed his fasting test. He refused the post breakfast test and argued that each test would cost him not less than Rs.1500 on petrol for giving the sample and collection of the report. He did not change his decision when Bushan pleaded that the tank filled with petrol worth Rs.500 on 19th evening was still left with enough to last for some appreciable mileage. 20th 1:11 PM he abruptly turned violent. He accused Bushan of his collaboration with his son. He gave a slip to Bushan at Channi Himmat and accused him of looting him of 24 lac. He showered curses on him. After a long search Bushan located his ailing friend behind some bushes. He sought help from some passersby and successfully handed him over to his son. Bushan came to the conclusion that the Nature is vindictive. It does not spare anyone. The Nature is completing the circle and supplementing to its conclusion the fiction ‘Kakani & the Veith’. Bushan recalled the scene when in his childhood; he used to throw a Seashell through the window to street urchins and say “Gazi tchaki”. The street urchins used to fight with one another and say “Har mai” (The seashell to me).It is the ailing friend who spoiled the family and the brotherhood of the real brothers. Money makes the mare go is a mere myth.