Mumbai (Sapno Ki Nagri: The
Place Of Dreams) where people come from different regions with their dreams and
do many sacrifices to achieve it. I am sharing a real story of someone’s life
with whom I met fortunately on my visit to Mumbai. She came here 40 years ago
with her husband in the search of good job and better life, but what god had
written on her way was very painful and tough.
The story begins here:
It was a Ganesha Festival time
where Mumbai crowded with a lot of devotees to get a glance of Ganesha. Some
people joined long queue (of 1.5+ lakhs people) for Lalbaugh Charan-Darshan and
some did Mukh-Darshan. Some people wanted to have “Siddhivinayak” Darshan where
some visited nearby Pandaal.
While crossing the narrow
street after having Darshan of Ganesha; I noticed a woman was selling beautiful
flowers and garlands. I wanted to capture those natural colors of flowers
through my camera so I stepped little bit toward her. While changing the
setting of my camera to take the perfect shot; I noticed she was making garland
of flowers from small needle with tears in her eyes. It seems she was in any pain,
to know more in detailed I walked further. I asked “Amma (Aai: In Marathi) –
Yeh Phoolon Ki Mala Kitne Ki hain” and she replied – 30 INR. I started more
conversations in a different approach to get the reason behind her tears, but
she didn’t tell anything. So many thoughts were coming on my mind e.g., “No-one
purchased anything from her shop since morning”, “May be she is not feeling well”
or “Having problem at her home”.
I requested a lot and shared tough
phases of my family; also promised her “Will purchase more stuff from her shop”
but she was replying the same phrase all the time “Kuch NHI Huya Beta, Main
Thik Hun”. I replied “If you are okay, then why tears are in your eyes”; I was
sure that she was hiding something. Finally, I convinced her & she agreed
to reveal the reason behind her tears and few incidents.
Sudha belongs to a small town in Uttar Pradesh
and came to Bombay 40 years ago with her husband after marriage. She had higher
dreams and excited to start new phase of her life. Initial few days they had spent
their day & night around station, park, street and sometime near temple to
find out some job to do. After some days,
her husband got the job to load and unload the items for new building
construction. To help her husband she also wanted to join, but her husband
didn’t agree. He wanted his wife should do something different so she started
making garlands of flower and selling it near temples. Both got the shelter
near the construction area and every day they go for their jobs & return in
the evening with handful of money. Month by month; Year by year things improved
and they started putting their steps to fulfill their basic needs.
Added new member in the family that was a boy
“Vinod”. They wanted to give all the happiness to their son that they didn’t
get it. They started working hard and hard; extend the working times and
sacrificed many things in order to save something for Vinod’s education and
fulfill his necessities. When Vinod turned to 4 years then they shifted to
their own small home (a box shaped room having one window and door where people
can customize it according to their needs; I mean to say use the little space
for Kitchen, Bed Room and Bath, etc.)
Sudha wanted her son to study more and become an
Engineer in the future. After some days of struggle, she got one ray of hope;
her son got an admission in some school. Ramesh (Sudha’s husband) advised Sudha
to reduce her working time and give some time to Vinod in order to take care
and all where he was ready to work 16+ hours every day. Sudha was very strong,
had will power and always wanted to help her husband so she came up with one
option. She decided to work near temple in the morning to mid-noon and after
that tailoring work at her home under small bulb so that she would take care of
her son and contribute something for her family. In parallel Ramesh learned
from his co-workers and got an expertise over Tiles, Granite and Pipe fitting.
He switched to new firm with his new skill sets and started earning good money.
Both Ramesh and Sudha followed the same routine next 15 years and managed to
fulfill all the things for their son.
Whereas Vinod was growing day by day and
completed his 1oth & college with good marks. He joined electrical firm and
got the hold on some technical stuff.
Slowly-Slowly he became a good Electrical Technician in his firm. By god
grace they purchased new home (First 1 bhk around 400 sq. ft. in remote area) and
sold the old one. Vinod had taken some loan where maximum contribution done by
Sudha & Ramesh (that was the only Punji which they saved for their future
use).
At least they got the space to live their life
comfortably. During the same course of time Ramesh got infection on his eyes
because of dust and tiny particles which were coming out while cutting the
tiles. Therefore, he stopped doing tiles work and continued with only Pipe
fitting and Sudha continued only her tailoring work.
Everything was happening very well and they were
enjoying their life with all the basic amenities. Vinod got married after 2
years and added a new baby in his family that was “Welcome of Sudha’s Grandson”. He was so cute and spending plenty of time
with his grandmother/father.
As we know that No-one holds the time; One side Sudha’s
grandson was growing up and another side health of Ramesh was getting down.
Economically they were getting little bit weak and Vinod/his wife was worrying
about the future of their son. Sudha earned sufficient to manage her and her
husband medical expense from tailoring stuff, but the atmosphere of house was
getting changed.
Day by day peaceful home turned into intense and
Sudha & Ramesh were getting indirect remarks from Vinod/his wife. One month
Sudha didn’t get any consignment to work so she asked Vinod to give some money
for his dad medicine and check-up. Vinod replied “Sure with unhappy expression”
and went to office. Vinod’s wife listened everything; she added some comments in
the absence of Vinod to Ramesh which hurts a lot to Sudha & Ramesh. Vinod
returned very late on that day with upset mood. When Sudha asked him “Beta Tum
Late Ho Gaye… Aaj Kaam Jada Tha Kya” but she got unexpected response in a
different tone “Ab Ghar Ki Condition Eshi Hogi to Extra Kaam Karna Padega Na”.
Sudha and Ramesh were tolerating a lot because it
was a wish of Ramesh to live together. Sudha had already anticipated about the
coming time therefore she requested Ramesh to leave this house with me. Finally,
Ramesh agreed and both left the home with a small note in the absence of Vinod
& his wife.
She started following her old routine “selling of
flowers near temple and tailoring stuff” and was staying with her husband in
Dharam Shaala.
The day when she shared this incident with me; it
was “Birthday of her son”. While making garland of flowers she was remembering
the happiest moment of her life history and requesting God to “Ignore My Tears,
but Add More Happiness to My Son’s Life.”
After listening her story tears
automatically came from my eyes, but what she has written in the note before
leaving the house that is still a question? My intention to put this story is
not to force anyone, but just one request… please read the below lines:
Our parents have done a lot of
sacrifices for us; today wherever we are and whatever position we have achieved
just because of them.
·
They don’t sleep at
night when we are in pain…
·
They don’t care
about their dreams when it comes to their son/daughter dreams…
·
They don’t care
about their health when it comes to fulfill the necessities of their
son/daughter…
·
They awake several
nights / days when we land in this world to provide the comfort zone…
·
They protect us
from the outer world when something goes wrong around their children…
·
They support us
when we are not wrong…
·
They correct and
guide us when we do mistake…
Must respect your parents and always stand with them till the end of your last breath because you can get anything in your life again but “Parents only one time”.
11 comments:
Ankit very nice writeup. You have beautifully coated the story..keep up the good work.
Very nice story with morale at the end.
Nice one.. touching story..
A very good first attempt in the world of writing.. Very neatly and crisply written..
Hope to see many more like these from you in future..
All the best..
Very nice step Ankit. Touching story.. All the best for coming blogs..
Very nice step Ankit. Touching story.. All the best for coming blogs..
Nice 1 and very well expressed in simple words...Created interest to read the entire blog.
Nice 1 and very well expressed in simple words...Created interest to read the entire blog.
Good going Ankit. Keep it up and agree with your message 100%
Very touching story!! Completely agree with your story..never hurt your parents, they are the most beautiful gift to us from God. Keep up the good work Ankit!
Nicely written... very true story of nowadays..
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