The Bus Journey

‘Hi Sameer, you are looking really happy today, is it love or is it dove?’ mocked my colleague as I entered my workplace.

‘Neither’, I said with a smile ‘I’m going back home for a week.’

‘Even better, enjoy the holidays.’

It was my first leave after 2 years and I was delighted. The day went as usual and I completed my work by 5 in the evening. I carried my luggage to office that day not knowing if I’d be able to finish my work early. I had forgotten my mobile charger and the battery was already a bit low. I left office and started for the bus station. In about 30 minutes I was at the bus stop. I had booked my tickets for the 7 p.m. bus and was sitting idly reading my book. Almost 1 hour passed and the bus arrived at 6:45. As I was getting up, I saw a well dressed man hurry to the ticket office. The bus cleaner took about 10 minutes to tidy the bus and by that time I called up at home and told them the bus number MH31 5055 and the time of arrival 7 am. As I was about to pick up my luggage to board the bus, I saw that man again, this time right in front of me.

‘I know I am troubling you, but I really need to get on this bus. I have an emergency and the next bus is at 10 pm. Please help me out. I would pay double the amount for the ticket, please let me travel on your seat.’

‘But even I need to be home early tomorrow’, I tried to argue.

‘I have purchased the ticket for the 10 pm bus, you can take this too.’

‘Not a bad deal’, I thought and agreed, took my fare and the 10 p.m. ticket and started reading the book again.

I had dinner and boarded the bus at 10 p.m., tuned in my IPod and went off to sleep. At about 2 a.m. the bus stopped in the jungle due to a flat tire. With nothing more to do I dozed off. In the morning I got to know that they took almost 2 hours to repair the puncture and we were about 3 hours off the scheduled time. When I reached the destination it was almost 1 in the noon.

The bus stop was walking distance from my place, so I decided to walk. When I reached home I saw a big crowd gathered around my house. A chill ran down my spine. What must have happened? Was papa alright? He didn’t keep well these days and that was one reason for me to come home. Even my younger brother rides the bike rashly? Did anything happen to him? I almost ran to my house, trying to push everyone aside as I tried to go in.

I could hear murmurs all around me.

‘He was such a good man.’ ‘How can god be so ignorant to good people?’ ‘God bless his soul.’ ‘This is such a great loss to the family.’

And suddenly I heard a shout from behind me, ‘Sameer’s here.’ There was pin drop silence for a moment and everyone turned to look at me.

The murmurs started getting louder. ‘What happened?’ I asked ‘tell me, is everyone all right?’

I glanced around the room to see my brother and my mother sitting at the far corner of the room. They stood up and ran towards me. I could see multiple emotions on their face at once. ‘What happened?’ I thought trying to clear my mind. And then I saw a small framed photograph on the table besides them. I squinted to see it clearly. It was my father’s photograph. He passed away this morning when he heard that the bus number MH31 5055 had met with an accident.

I wish I had not been ignorant and charged my mobile. I wish I had informed my family that I had changed my schedule. I wish I was responsible enough to understand why my father would always tell me ‘Keep calling, wherever you go.’


Epilogue: This story is dedicated to the several youngsters who get irritated when their parents ask them where they are. They feel the parents are not giving them the ‘FREEDOM’ they deserve. Please think twice before you switch off you mobile or ignore calls from your parents.

Pyaare Bete

Kehta hu tujhe jeene ka sahaara
ungli pakad kar teri main chalta hu
Tujhe chalna sikhate hue bhi
Sahaare se tere hi chalta hu


Thaamta hai jab haath tu mera
Un nanhi si unglion se
Karta hu mehsoos ek mazbooti ajeeb si
Tere in masoom se hathoon mein


Chalte hai tere nanahe kadam
Ek atal vishwaas ke saath
Na jaane thaam sakunga kab tak
Is tez duniya mein tera haath


Utrega jab tu duniya ki daud mein
Seekh lega jab daudna tu teez
Karna chahuna aaraam main thoda sa
La dena mujhe ek kursi aur ek meez.


Chodne padenge humein haath kuch der
Jab Na hoga mujh mein who junoon
Karne hoge saare sapne tujhe poore
Aur main chahunga thoda sa sukoon


Sahaara chahunga main tera us din
Na karega jab zamaana mujhe kabool
Kam ho jayegi samaj thodi duniya ki
Karne lagunga jab baatein main fizool


Thaamunga un hathoon ko fir se
Honge kamzoor jab mere haath
Na thama dena mujhe laathi us din
Rakhna mujhe hamesha apne hi saath


Na thukra dena mujhe bojh samaj kar
Na chood dena mujhe akela
Aashayen hai bohot mujhe tujhse
Bhool na jaana bachpan yeh tera


.

The best father and son song.

My dad told me he used to sing this song for me when I was very young but I had never got a chance to listen to this song until I became a dad. And then I realised how amazing this song actually is and how aptly this song fits dad-son relationship. Given below are the lyrics of the song and the youtube link to the song.

Tujhe sooraj kahoon ya chanda
Tujhe deep kahoon ya taara
Mera naam karega roshan
Jag mein mera raaj dulaara

Main kab se taras raha tha
Mere aangan mein koi khele
Nanhi si hansi ke badle
Meri saari duniya le le
Tere sang jhool raha hai
Meri baahon mein jag saara
Mera naam karega roshan
Jag mein mera raaj dulaara

Aaj ungli thaamke teri
Tujhe main chalna sikh laaoon
Kal haath pakadna mera
Jab main buddha ho jaaoon
Tu mila to maine paaya
Jeena ka naya sahaara
Mera naam karega roshan
Jag mein mera raaj dulaara

Meere baad bhi is duniya mein
Zinda mera naam rahega
Jo bhi tujhko dekhega
Tujhe mera laal kahega
Tere roop mein mil jaayega
Mujhko jeevan do baara
Mera naam karega roshan
Jag mein mera raaj dulaara

Tujhe sooraj kahoon ya chanda
Tujhe deep kahoon ya taara
Mera naam karega roshan
Jag mein mera raaj dulaara

Check out the video.



.

My son got his head shaved.

I recently had to have my son's head shaved. Its a strange kind of concept and belief that I never really understood. Anyways, I am posting the "before" and "after" pics. I hope I keep blogging till he is old enough to understand and see my blog. Please feel free to leave comments.