In one Tea time..!
Recently I went to Delhi and Jaipur on a Short trip,
Near a village on the way to Pushkar, i have met an aged man.
Whether his age or his hard life,
which, make his body to shrink?
I don't know, but his body seems shrinked. also his skin and face.
he slowly walked and comes near to me. my friends near me, looked at him on a watchy eye on him, while we drinking Tea in a tea shop.
When he come close to me, my friends shouted at him.
"go go away, old man!".
My friends are locals, so they may know about these kind of people.
I am looking on him, he is in heavy dusty bijamas and long time used slippery old chapppels.
After seeing this, i thought, this poor old man may come for asking money, he thought my friends won't give, so he came to me, to ask.
one my Rajastani friend shouted at him, go away, we don't have coins, go and look somebody else.
by hearing this shouts, he felt Saddened.
I seen his pain and ashame on his tiredsome face and his wobble walk.
His situation makes me, feel guilty.
He may ask, some little cash or coins only.
once collects, he will leave.
Why my friends behave so harsh, with this poor old man?
I stopped my friends not to threaten him further.
Looking at the old man's face and asked,
What you want?
Chai (Tea), or snacks?!
he turns his head slowly by the way of refusing and in a low voice he replied.
Sir, I don't want anything, your money or food.
I have it.
On hearing this, my friends are wondered. and one asked him , if so what you need?
why you go to him?
He is our friend. coming from Chennai. (Madras)
He looking at their eyes in little smile by his tiny blurred eyes,
he saying slowly in low unclear voice.
I think, he may lost his teeth.
We keep our ears more sharp to listen his talk.
He pointed to me and said,
"I heared sir speaking in Tamil, to some one over phone. In between his speech, he said salem and trichy.
(which is south tamilnadu's one of major cities. )
So that i come near and wanted to talk with him.
My son working in a dhaba (hotel) there in salem trichy highway. since the past one year, he is not talked with us. My wife got sick as she think about his son alltime, she missed his voice, and i am aged and sick, we cannot able to travel that much distance.
We give complaint in police station and gave grievance letter to our govt. to search my son, but no remedies reached yet.
Here no one is to help us, to know where about of my only son. His mobile phone also switched off.
Sir, can you help me?
Are you go there and enquire about him?, please. It's a helpless old man's humble request.
Can you please find him there?
We will be grateful till our life!
His words broken.. He cannot able to speak anymore. His eyes filled with tears.
His humble request on his pathetic situation, makes me sadden.
My friends fed up with this unexpected developments, they having shy to see his face.
I hold his hands closely and saying, don't worry,
I will find your son and let him talk to your wife soon. Ok?!
Relax baai. Nothing happens to your son. Give your mobile number.
I stored his mobile number, in my mobile. Also got his son's photo.
We are slowly moving from that place, saying bye to him.
He suddenly runs closer to me and put something in my hand and closing it by his hands, telling in my ears,
"Please keep this money.
For your expenses to trace him."
When heard this voice am speechless. My friends felt ashamed on their prejudice about him. Also me.
They may not heard what he says. but they knew he put money in my hand.
I took his hand and put his money back to him and said,
"am also your son, don't make me differentiate to do my duty! "
after,
I turn and walked away. Without seeing his face.
I have no guts to see, Such a real human's kind face!
why we don't know, even after tea, we feel bitter!
🌿🙏🌿
- Gnaanaa.
