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Bhuj Earthquake

05th April 2024

26/01/23:
"...But sir this meeting is important. The tender has to go today else we will lose the contract." saying that Shefali kept walking behind Hemant. "I have a flight to catch, if Piyush manages to make it to this meeting then good else I don't mind losing the contract," announces Hemant as the lift door closes when he departs.

Shefali stands in front of the lift helplessly, trying to contact Piyush continuously, but with no luck. Frustrated she walks to her desk. Prithvi gets a glass of water for him, "Shefali. Today, no matter what you say, Hemant Kaka will not stop. Let him go."
"I don't understand what's so important. More than this tender? Our annual turnover will be impacted if we lose this." informs Shefali to Prithvi, Hemant's nephew, and Piyush's son.




"He is going to his native place - Bhuj, like every year, to pay his homage. Exactly 22 years ago, he was moving out to settle here in Mumbai. He brought Pappa along. He asked Ba and Bapuji also, but they denied it. They said, "First you both settle, then we will follow." With a heavy heart, teary eyes, and hopeful mind they left Bhuj. The next morning they were trying to call their landline number from PCO, but the line seemed disturbed. Like every other outsider who comes to Mumbai in search of work, their hunt for their jobs began. They decided to stay at a relative's home till they could find a place. Back then, internet access to see a future accommodation was not a thing of convenience. After the tough first day, they again waited at PCO to call Ba and Bapuji, but could not get through.
Before they left the PCO, Hemant Kaka heard the radio announcement on the adjacent tea stall. He walked towards it and took a good time to digest that news. A massive earthquake occurred at Bhuj.
That was the reason his call could not get connected, the services were disrupted." Piyush wiped his wet eyes, took a sip of water, and continued, "For the next few days the travel to Bhuj was restricted. Kaka tried to contact the neighbors but was left empty-handed. All the updates they could get were from TV or Radio. The government was doing their best to provide all the help they could. On the 4th day, the news of Ba and Bapuji's demise was confirmed. Nobody knows who did their last rites. Pappa and Kaka only received the ashes. Bhuj was not only their native place, but it was also the place where their precious memorable childhood was spent; The place where they made their first friends, took their first steps, and created innumerable memories. The neighbors there are more than blood relatives, generations have made deep bonds which cannot be broken by the wave of urbanization or commercialization."
"Piyush, I understand everything. But it's been 22 years, why now? Isn't work important?" interrupted Shefali.
"You did not hear me properly. Wherever he may be on the 25th of January, he will always go to Bhuj on the 26th of January. All the survivors meet there, reminisce about their memories, and pay homage to all those who could not survive it. No tender can match what he feels there on the 26th. Let him go."
Shefali nods her head and leaves.

This post is a part of the #BlogchatterAtoZ challenge.

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