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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