We miss you!!!!

It was Monday morning......the day and time Sam hated most.....with it ends whatever relaxing time Sam had and starts the mercilessly killing and tiring time dedicated to work.....same routine he following for last couple of years.....toiling in air conditioned boxes called as office......among cunning, manipulative, backstabbing colleagues and power thirsty bosses.....the clock buzzed 8 and his train of thought came to an abrupt halt....he couldn't afford to miss the 8 o'clock bus.....which would have his ever irritating boss made his week by having an opportunity to give lecture on importance of being punctual.....which Sam despised most.....he rushed to bus stop...he couldn't have his breakfast .....watching late night movie made him woke up late and denied break fast....they call it a brain damaging habit to deceive breakfast....who cares...does anybody care this for him.....off late he had developed this habit of not caring about the things nobody cares about him......may be he has been lonely for a bit too longer.....the city was waking up to its senses with cars carrying tie-ridden corporate, school buses full with chirping kids and public transport overflowing with the population of 'real' India......with sweepers cleaning streets, chai shops hoarded by city dwellers, and newspaper boys shouting as routine......the same site he is used to for last couple of years....how come people find same site interesting and arrange photo exhibitions on them, he amused.....but forgot that photography is about angle and outlook towards the things you see.....same logic he used to give his friends while arguing about photography.....one of the things he used to do and one of the many things he lost in the misery of life.....the fateful events of life which took everything away from him, he clutched so tightly to his heart and presented him this bitter, cold, dark loneliness.....scritttchhhhh!!!!! another train of thought derailed by a break of speeding car......driver started shouting.....Sam rushed to bus stop with apologetic face and mumbling sorry in lips.....

The city was starting to bustle.....bustle with life.....life? ......streets crowded with people, faces....which you see everyday but still they don't recognise you....where you feel equally lonely and stranger as you feel part of crowd.....where you can buy enough ways to entertain you but long to see a genuine smile.....where you can by all pleasures but nobody to care what you feel......and they call it life?

Buy the time he reached bus stop, the queue was already swelled like an anaconda....whose tail was wagging well outside the bus stop shed......he saw the familiar faces.....as if it was in the air of this big city....everybody always try to be aloof of others......the young guns and chicks were having their ears plugged with ipods.....working horses having their heads merged in the bull and bear fight.....even being co passengers for last couple years didn't change their attitude towards each other.....everybody was engulfed in their self.....except this old man....who always used to smile warmly to him....a rare thing.....Sam thought was extinct in this city of unknown faces.....the old man waved at him with his familiar smile....sam waived back.....today the old man was not alone.....an old lady was with him holding a bouquet of flowers....must be his better half.....the old man pointed at him saying something to her.....she waived a pale hi......but he could see her eyes fixed on him....was it a tear? Sam thought......and it started pouring.....to his misfortune he forgot umbrella in hurry....as he was standing outside the shed few seconds were enough to have him drenched.....

The bitterly cold air of AC in office added to his drench wet discomfort.......but he couldn't help....he had this mountain of work to conquer.....lots of meetings, reports....as all offices he too had his share of bad luck with clumsy, non co-operating and opportunist co workers......by the time he reached home....his body was aching, eyes and throat were soar.....nose was leaking......he changed cloths and retired to bed......within seconds he went unconscious....sometime next day he woke up....to see it was afternoon.....his body was hot like a tin roof on summer afternoons....he called office and informed that he was sick.....he made some tea.....had some biscuits....god know how many months old they were....galloped tea with some antibiotics and went to bed again....in evening he ordered something to eat.....but could hardly have it....it was too hot and spicy to bear on tongue......after drinking two glasses of water he again engulfed himself within bed.....he lost track of time.....

A knock on door woken him up.....the knock grew stronger as if somebody doing it for long time.....it took a while for him to get over the dizziness.....he gathered himself up....walked toward the door.....he was still trying to balance himself while walking.....opened the door.....and it was the old man from bus stop.......with the same heart warming smile....

"Hi....I didn't see you for last two days at bus stop....so thought to check if you ok....are you fine?"

Shit its two days, I've been sleeping....thought Sam....'I'm fine.....just a bit of fever....please come in'

'Actually she was worried for you'.....old man pointed to the lady he saw the other day at bus stop....she was kind of hiding behind him......she came out....Sam was seeing her from close for the first time.....he immediately noticed the eyes....sad, gloomy.....eyes which has hopes lost....eyes full of longing for something precious lost.....he could resemble them to.....to his eyes?.....he shakes his head....but her wrinkled face had the same motherly love....he could see in his moms face......and her eyes were fixed on him as the other day......

'Give it to him' old man said......she handed him a packet......

'Please come in and this was not required'...replied sam.....

The couple sat on chair....she was still hiding behind the old man.....and eyes fixed on Sam....Sam was feeling a bit nervous........
The old man asked 'you seem quite sick....didn't you go to doctor?'

'Its ok....I'll be fine...i've taken medicine....I'll make you some tea'.....

'No its okk' said the old man....old lady patted oh his shoulder.....'Ahh she'll make'.....

Sam guided her to kitchen and handed her the ingredients.....he left kitchen but felt as if those eyes still following him.....he joined the old man in drawing room.....old man asked him to open the packet....

Sam opened it....air in the room filled with vanilla flavour....it was cake......Sam suddenly had a lump in his throat......he took a piece to his mouth with shivering hands....took first bite and he found it impossible to gulp....his throat was choked.....and eyes invaded by dark clouds, ready to burst any moment......it can't be coincidence how come a cake smell and taste same as his mom used to make.....may be the materials all mothers in world are made up of is same......a drop roll down his eyes onto the cake and got absorbed immediately into it.....

The lady appeared in room with wafting tea......aroma filled the room......next few minutes Sam was engrossed in helping himself with tea and cake as if he was hungry for decades......he was for at least two days.....he even forgot to offer cake to the couple....it was as if he was back in civilisation....some change to his life.....he was not exposed to such affection and food for so long.....he was starved for both.....he was finding it difficult to control emotions......he rushed to bathroom.....washed his face and came back....

All the time the lady was having her eyes on Sam.....felt as if his mother is moving her hand on head......it was so soothing.....he was feeling calm from inside.....after they finished....few moments went with awkward silence and the old man got up to leave.....the lady was still seating....but when the man started to leave, she got up reluctantly......Sam accompanied them to the door....

'Take good care of you' said the old man patting on his shoulder....and same said the old lady with her eyes.....all the time its her eyes she talked with....

Sam closed the door and started walking towards bed when he heard the knock .....it was the old man again.....

'Sorry for bothering you today' said the old man 'As you were not their at bus stop for couple of days and the other day you caught in rain.....I thought you must be sick......when i told this to her, she started forcing me to find your whereabouts....i got address from your friend in our bus......the other day when she saw you at bus stop....we were on way to visit our son's grave....it was his death anniversary......my son Major Vijay died in Kargil 12 yrs back......he had to leave for Kargil when he was on vacation for his marriage and was sick.....he and his unit fought with enemy when they were starved for food for two days....they fought bravely....till their last breath....till they didn't kill every single enemy....but none of them could make it to home.....she lost her speech since then.....I used to tell her about you....how you being nice and helpful to all....how you give your seat to elders....how you give money to poor for ticket......on Monday she saw you and felt the same as I was feeling all this time.....you resembles a lot like our son.....since morning she was happy as we had to meet you.....she woke up early....baked cake for you....I've never seen her so happy in a decade....thanks'.....he couldn't speak further and hurried past to gate.....

Sam stood frozen.....speechless for minutes......he couldn't understand....its the same city....same heartless, emotionless city....but today he found a spring of emotions and affection hidden beneath the rocky surface.....a flower on frozen bed of ice.......he felt as if he found something his eyes searching and heart was longing for.....suddenly the dark clouds started dispersing and sun brightened the sky......

Note from Author -

My dear friends....this might be a piece of fiction....but its equally true that we all need a touch of love, a look of affection and hug to say 'I care' than anything else....it is specially important to the people who need it....lets not be selfish by thinking about only ourselves and our emotions....it was 'Vijay day' yesterday....commemorated for the martyrs of the Kargil wars....soldiers who face the most atrocious conditions when we are sleeping in our cosy homes......they are brave souls who sacrifice their happiness, go through the pains of leaving their loved ones....and braver are their families who inspire them for such a great sacrifice....these brave soldiers don't ask much except us to assure that we are their to take care of their families......

To all those who couldn't make back to their homes....we miss you!!!!