Too much of the heat is outside these days. And the uncleansed
room unkempt furniture and the thick layer of dust. This room has been locked
and kept this way for quite some time. As they say the relics of the past- lock
them up in the black box and keep them away, away from you, away from your life
so that they stay preserved forever.
Arijit was staying in his hometown for some time now. Fifty-eight
years of age, he has retired for around six years now. Wife stays with their son in London and their daughter is a consultant. Such are the
families these days, the children are well settled abroad and no one wants to
stick their heads in this country which they see as a sink hole. Only emotions can
hold them back. Emotions like love for their parents the care of their grand-parents.
Unfortunately for Arijit and his wife Atraee none of that happened much. Both
of them dedicated their life to information technology that was a boom in those
days. Long working hours in office less time with the kids and less personal
time off were the reasons his kids never knew what a family was. Still Arijit
was happy that he could see both of his kids settled by the time he retired, so
that he could go and stay in his home the one which his dad built and live
there for the rest of his life in peace.
His decision to move in was not an easy one. He remembers
talking to his wife and kids.
His son Anirban says- “Baba who will look out for you there?
Maa wants to stay with me, please come
stay with us”.
His daughter Anushree says- “Baba you stay here with me. Let
maa be there with dada. You can go visit her whenever you want. Liverpool and
Manchester are not that far either.”
He remembers talking to his wife at night lying in their bed
room in the dark- “Anu you be here- look out for them. I was born there and I
want to live there. I have been out from home very long. I want to go back.”
Anu sobs as tears roll down her cheek into his t-shirt and
replies- “Please take me with you”. Arijit hugs her tight and replies- “Let me
go there and settle down. After a while you come stay with me.”
to be continued...
