On the notice board of the S.R.K.N.E.C administrative block. We saw a notice about the "DREAM COMPANY". Package 5.2 L.P.A with other benefits. I wondered, I would not be allowed to appear for this company as I was already placed in WIPRO but I realized, my luck again had a pleasant surprise for me. In the red bold letters they had typed,
"NOTE: ALL THE PLACED STUDENTS ARE ALSO ALLOWED TO APPEAR.".
I made my mind to give the best shot and from the very day started preparing. Informatica decided to have campus recruitment on 9th July 2007 in S.R.K.N.E.C, Nagpur. As engineering exams would be comfortably over by then. Who cares about M.C.A. exams and students anyway? For us, it was a day between two papers. On seventh we had 'Computer Graphics' paper and on twelve we had 'Distributed Operating System' paper.
I never believed I would get into this dream company but I offered the best shot. I am short of first class in graduation and to add to this I am a failure in the last year of graduation. Academically, I have wasted one year of my life. Being a fifty nine pointer in my graduation I only targeted Lambent Technologies (of late called as Global Logic) but you never know what life has instore for you.
On the day of the interview, by mo0rning 7:30 or 8:00, we all assembled at the administrative block of S.R.K.N.E.C. We kept on talking with each other but I am sure noone was much interested in that talk. I was in my own reverie. After a long, enfeebling and hot day, I was the last person interviewed by Aditya Shangi and Shreesha Balakwadi, two wizes of Informatica. I was full of enthusiasm and energy. This is something I have learned during my pursuit of Cricket,
'to perform the best when it matters the most'. I believe, I performed my level best in the interview. Good wishes of beloveds and luck played its role and I got shortlisted in the last four candidates. You may somehow explain how it feels when dream comes true but how could you explain when something you never dreamt of, never even had in wildest of your thoughts, comes true?
Kalyani Taai and I reached "Dharampeth". I felt vibrations of mobile in my pocket as I was about to park my bike. I took my mobile out, thinking it was Bhau kaka. Yes. I saw, "Bhau Kaka calling..." on my mobile screen. Nither I disconnected his call nor I answered it, my mobile kept on ringing. We entered through the door without knocking it. I saw Bhau kaka was sitting on the sofa in his lily-white pajama and banyan having telephone receiver in his hand. He was kind of irritated and raring. He looked at us as we entered the hall. I waved my ringing mobile, he kept the receiver down. The thing about Bhau Kaka was his mood transformation from irritated to smiling was possible in no time. This is the thing with all innocent and genuine people. He gave us a welcome smile and I read curiosity in his eyes. I could not resist the enthusiasm and excitement exploding out of my heart. I held the black colored T-shirt I had brought with me. At the back of that T-shirt he read...
got innovation?
INFORMATICA
"The Data Integration Company"
I kept looking at his face as he read that out. I was eager as hell to see his expressions. I saw the copiousness of selflessness, innocence, satisfaction and happiness existed on his face. Bhau kaka is one of the most loved and admired person in my life. I explained him how the interview have been. He was very happy and satisfied that day. We could not talk much as it was pretty late night.
Bhau kaka, my eldest paternal uncle. A 58 year old (though always looked ten years younger), voluntarily retired person. He was a chieftain of our bizarre joint family. We have this wired concept of joint family, we live in separate abode yet share the joint family culture. Bhau Kaka was the simplest person you can imagine. Simple appearance, simple living and simple nature. He was principled yet mother-hearted person. Very disciplined yet forgiving. Innocent yet shrewd. Strict yet loving. A self made man. He had panopthic knowledge in almost all arenas, you name it. History, geography, civics, politics, current affairs, mythology, religion and even spirituality. He was a very honest person all he had was hard earned money yet never hesitated to spend it on needies. His nursing was tend. He was a great son and had all "Shravan baal" traits in him. In Kalyani Taai's words he was "Sacred". ( "Pavitra" ). He made incessant adjustments and sacrifices all his life.
I and Taai have brobdingnagian influence of his. Specially Taai and Bhaukaka had intimate bond between themselves. He was no less than a father for us.
Just after few days of this mega event of getting a dream job, on 15th July 2007, we invited all my uncles for dinner, simply. It was all my idea. I importuned Aai for inviting them for dinner.
It was about 19:00, I and my youngest uncle, Bala Kaka, were watching "Aaj Tak" on television. Prabhu Chawala was having "Seedhi Baat" with Himesh Reshmiya. Actually we were not much intrested in "Seedhi Baat" we were waiting for other two uncles to come. Aai was in kitchen preparing "Dashmaya" (A recipe in Maharashtrians.). Taai was out for some work and pops went out to deliver tiffin for Aaji.
A mobile rang. Uncle sitting beside me took the call and in a moment his facial expressions sunk. Looking at his expressions I got the gut feeling and I pretty much sensed the approaching cataclysm. In shivering voice he said, "Bhau Kaka cha accident zala aahe." (Bhau Kaka met with an accident.). Call was still on. I and Bala kaka, we rushed towards the door. I asked Bala kaka, while putting on shoes, "Who is on the call?", anticipating it was some stranger calling from the accident spot. Bala kaka replied, still in shivering voice, "It's Raju, (My other uncle) who lodged Bhau kaka in the car, rushing him to the "CIMS" Hospital". He added, "Truck hit him."
We rushed to CIMS hospital. I ran inside the hospital and inquired the receptionist about the casualty while catching my breath. She said no casualty reported latterly. I was bewildered and asked her to arrange a doctor urgently. I was literally panic-stricken. I kept running in the hospital in the hope of catching the doctor. In the meantime the car carrying Bhau kaka reached in front of hospital. When I saw Bhau Kaka, He didn't have major wounds. I felt a bit relaxed. But when I took a closer look he was unconscious. We took him to the stretcher and rushed him to the casualty ward. Doctor took him inside the ward and closed the door. I heard words from Raju Kaka, "Gela to". ( "He has passed away".) . I wanted to believe, I didn't hear that. I wanted to believe I heard something mistakenly. We waited for doctor to come out of the ward.
Doctor came out of the casualty ward and said "He is not alive". These are the ethics in the medical field. A doctor would never say someone has died. They use better words to put it in front of the relatives of a dead. Which doesn't make any difference to the relatives anyway. My senses froze for a moment and I missed a heart beat. As if time had stopped for a moment. Doctor's words echoed in my mind. I felt a prompt impuissance. Beside me was Raju kaka. Who probably had the hint earlier. As he was the one who received Bhau kaka from the accident spot and took him to the hospital. I bosomed him tightly. I don't know why? May be I needed an immediate support.
A thought about my Aai rushed my mind. What if Aai comes to know about this news? What if she asks Taai to take her to the hospital. I knew it would be difficult for Taai to ride after knowing all this. Thoughts occupied my mind, How am I going to tell this news to Taai? How we are going to tell this to Aaji and Aatya. How would they react? How can this happen? How can Bhau kaka leave us? How? How? How?
I became overly concerned. I felt no one should ride a vehicle as it is gonna be extremely difficult to ride a vehicle having such jumbling of thoughts in mind, impuissance in body and grief in heart.
I made Raju kaka sit on the bench. I asked him not to ride the bike. I took the bike keys from Bala kaka and started riding the bike towards the home. I experienced how difficult a bike riding could be. My senses were throttled. I felt lack of coordination. My legs were trembling and I felt immense difficulty while changing the gears of the bike. I somehow managed to reach home. I made my mind not to tell this news to Aai and Taai, immediately. As I never wanted to loose the control of the situation. I wanted to take both Aai and Taai to the Aaji's place where everyone was supposed to gather. As I never wanted Taai to ride, which meant I had to make a double trip to the Aaji's place. I never wanted to take the risk of telling them before taking them to the Aaji's place. As it would have been extremely difficult for me to ride double seat after they knew it.
I parked the bike and stood near it. Took a breath. I took my shivering hands to the face. I rubbed my eyes and face as if to wipe off the facial expressions and entered inside the home. I told Aai that Bhau kaka is okay and having minor wounds. I told her to come to Aaji's place with me. Taai had a gut feeling. I don't know how but she sensed some cataclysm. She started boohooing. I told her that nothing had happened and told her that her gut feeling is wrong. To convince her, I told her that Bhau kaka shook hands with me and is perfectly fine.
In the first trip I dropped Aai to the Aaji's place and in the second trip I took Taai. On our way, Taai kept asking me if I am telling the truth or not. She kept asking me if Bhau kaka is okay or not. While I was riding the bike she had kept her hand on my shoulder. I kept my left hand on her hand and reassured her. Somehow I managed to convince Taai that Bhau kaka is alright.
I dropped Taai to the grani's place by this time, almost everyone from the apartments, relatives and friends gathered. This mob created a doubt in my Aai's mind. She obviously thought, if Bhau kaka is alright, why so many people have gathered? She felt that Bhau kaka is severely injured and is admitted to the ICU. She insisted me to take her to the hospital. I tried to refuse but she didn't listen. One aunty from the apparent signaled me not to take my Aai to the hospital. My senses were frozen and I was feeling great difficulty in driving the bike. I didn't want to ride double seat. That too Aai. I wanted to avoid the risk. But Aai insisted persistently. Finally I gathered some courage and strength, I don't know from where, and agreed.
On our way to the hospital Aai kept asking me if everything is okay or not. I answered her patiently. I was also in deep grief and on top of which I had to pretend as if nothing had happened. She kept on asking me and I lost my patience. I kind of shouted on her, "Nothing has happened. Now would you keep some patience? We are reaching hospital, you see him by your own eyes. And please be quiet. Let me ride properly."
We reached hospital. I parked my bike, by the time Aai started walking inside the hospital. I ran behind her to catch her. I held her hand and said, "Aai, Bhau kaka gela." ("Bhau kaka passed away."). Aaai kept looking at me. May be in my eyes or may be in zero.
As it was an road accident it became a police case and body had to undergo postmortem. The next challenge for us was to tell this news to Aaji and Aatya.
After sometime Bala kaka reached home and started sobbing loudly. He is very emotional sorts. He lost his conscious twice after knowing this mishap. Because of his loud cry Taai felt strongly about the mishap and immediately called me. She asked me directly if Bhau kaka has passed. I said "Yes". As it became very difficult to hide by then and ofcourse it was easier for me to tell this unpleasant news to Taai on the telephone than in person. She asked "What 'Yes'?" and started asking me "How can this happen?", "How can he leave us?" I didn't have the clue what to answer.
Noone slept that night. Next day morning, Raju kaka took the responsibility of telling this unpleasant news to Aaji and Aatya. Indeed it was a very difficult task to tell a mother that her son is nomore. Rahu kaka told Aaji in presence of our family doctor, "Bhau aataa aaplayat nahi."(Bhau is nomore with us.). We received the body from GMC. As Bhau kaka was a bachelor I assumed and honoured with the responsibility of his last rituals. Bhau kaka was a person who used to care about things when it had meaning, and never used to cry on the things that had happened. Bhau kaka took immense care of grandpa when he was alive but when our grandpa passed away he didn't shed a tear. He was a "Karma Yogi" and had a divine wisdom. Learning from him, I told myself to study for the C#.NET paper, I had after two days. (On 18th July 2007).
Just after returning back from the funereal. I called my friend Makarand and told him about this tragedy. I told him that I could not study here at my home. So I asked him if I could join him in studies. He immediately agreed. But I asked his mother saying that I have "
Sutak" (In
Hindus '
Sutak' is the period of 10 days after a demise of a family member. For these 10 days
Hindus are not supposed to go to anyone's place.) and is it okay for her if I study at their place. She being a great person accepted gladly. I and Makarand, we studied together. On 16th I was very disturbed and hence could not concentrate much. Without much preparation I appeared for that paper.
Next few days were a nightmare for us. I believe my family members are blessed with high emotional quotient and wisdom as everyone accepted the situation in short time. Literally on the tenth day the environment of our home seemed sacred. People who visited our place said it doesn't seem atrocious infact it seems a festive environment like the day of
Ganesh Chaturthi.
I and Raju kaka, we scattered the
asthis in
Narmada. My life changed entirely after this event of loosing a person we worshiped. Really, those days would never comeback. Sad.
When we came back from the
Ash scattering ceremony. Kalyani Taai said, "Ek Parva Sampala".
Datta.
Nagpur/Bangalore.
