Scene -1
Place : Our Rented House near Swagath Theater, Jayanagar 4th Block
Date and time : June 22nd 1988; around 9:30 AM
Dad is getting ready to go to office. He removes hishalf-exposing Panche and changes over to a Pant. Ready to move. Slowly Ramachandra Rao approaches him. RR is a paper vendor, aged around 45, his main earning is from selling periodicals through young boys he had hired. We all know why he has come. He wants some favor from my Dad’s office. I can overhear what they are talking. As usual dad is in denial mode and RR is almost begging. Even though it is not late, he pretends to rush and leaves home. RR looks on helplessly. Mom offers him a cuppa half-heartedly which he denies. He too climbs on to his cycle and peddles away. My Dad works for PWD, as a first division Clerk. I know from his friends and colleagues, he is very influencial.. their ‘Sahebru’ the chief Engineer does whatever my dad says. This was known to all. I know . Either my wish for a hero cycle or my mom’s advice to do favors and get ‘something’ are unable to change his stand. Instead he boasts of how his Chief Engineer simply signs wherever he shows. Mom and I grumble that he doesn’t know how to live in this practical world. Obviously I am attached to my mom, who wanted desperately to live in our own shelter and my father’s meager income allows us only to be in a small rented house. With two growing children, his salary is just sufficient to meet two ends. As in the last stage of teenage, I too am confused about supporting my idealistic Dad or my caring mom who wants be like anyone else
Scene-2
Place: My own house in Padmanabhanagar, Banashankari
Date and Time: June 22nd 2013 ; around 7:30 AM
I am unfolding my chair to sit in the Balcony ; to sip a cup of coffee with my morning newspaper is heaven for me; I glance through the pages, the usual news – so many died, so many murdered. One eye-catching headline - train derails near Ranipet, killing 5 . Roopa is putting Rangoli in front of the house. Adarsh is reading aloud his Sanskrit slokas ; Aditi slowly opening the toothpaste tube - Roopa is shouting to me ‘ri… some one has come to visit you “ Surprised that even after 17 years of marriage she cannot identify ‘someone’, I come down – a frail figure –an old man – hard to identify, yes --I remember him as our Paper vendor – RR. – he has obviously grown old ; may be 75 years -I invite him inside and offer a chair. He looks all around house from his chair – I sense his admiration; He asks for my Dad – without any expression or feeling – I say both my parents have been dead for long. Ask him how did he find my house – he mumbles ; cannot understand him fully – nod my head as if I am listening carefully. It hardsly matters to me. One thing I clearly recognize is his cotton shoulder bag. It is as old as him . My wife half-heartedly offers a cuppa, which he refuses. He can sense my restlessness; he says that he is not looking for any favor now. His son is very well settled, and my dad did him a favour – he praises him – he didn’t take any ‘Gift’ – He says that he owes– RuNa to me– so please accept this – he gives his torn bag to me and slowly walks out. Without looking what it is inside the bag, I climb upstairs to continue my reading.. This train derailment is working in the background of my mind. I start reading details – it is nothing very interesting - 5 people killed and turn to page 3 for details ; I turn the page; page 3 has photos – my eyebrows move up – I shout – Roopa ,come at once! She comes slowly – I show her this page – Does this man shown in the photo look like the person who visited us a few mins back! - she confirms – now both of us are shocked – they have given the names – Yes, it is Ramachandra Rao… I check out when this accident happened, – it was yesterday evening., Now I run down – what is that ‘gift’ in the bag he left behind? I open the Zip and look into it – All bones, skulls! I wonder what sort of a gift this is!. My wife says – it is what a dead person can gift!! Anyway he cleared off his RuNa
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