The American Indian
The American Indian
Rajan had just finished packing when Ryan entered and in his booming voice exclaimed “You’re Going to India. What for?”This was a question that had disturbed Rajan for the past many days. Why did he want to go to India and as Ryan had iterated what for. “C’mon man you’re not planning to settle there are you. This here is the world and it’s ours for the taking. You didn’t come to The US of A to go back to those filthy bylanes of your India did you. You came here for the world”. Ryan was right. There was no comparison between India and USA. This is where the world is as Ryan had said.” I am going only for a couple of months buddy. Vacation you can call it and when I return we are gonna work on that software we thought about, right. I will go to my village, meet my parents, relatives and lure some old fools into the business venture we’ve thought about. They will readily agree to fund us. After all I am gonna be the first America return for them” Rajan said still uncertain about what he had just spoken. ”Man you’re leaving us Americans behind in business are you”, chuckled Ryan. Rajan had migrated to the US for his education from India two years back. He had achieved what he had set out to do, A Degree from a prestigious Technical College and a Friend like Ryan. He had a future now and he knew how to shape it.
Climbing into his seat in the aeroplane brought back memories when he had arrived in this land of opportunities. How proud he had been then on making the transition from the 20th century old India to this 21st century place and how proud he was now about himself. The first thing he had done was to distance himself from his fellow countrymen in America and enter into the company of the elite Americans like Ryan. He had worked hard to make himself into a perfect American and had also succeeded at it. The earthy Rajan had turned into a refined gentleman. Busy in his thoughts Rajan saw an Indian Sardarji smile at him that familiar smile he had received whenever he had encountered his countrymen. Offended as he had always felt he looked away. Typical Indian he thought.
The New Delhi airport looked just as it had two years back when Rajan had been destined to USA. They work here at snails pace thought Rajan. Rajan lived at a place 800 Km from Delhi. It wasn’t a village actually but more of a village modeled on a town. A Taxi would be a proper transport thought Rajan as he moved towards the exit.
“It’ll be two thousand rupees Sir”, said the cabman hurling Rajan’s luggage into the vehicle. “ 2000 rupees! No No I will give you a maximum of 1500. That’s all”. What am I doing thought Rajan. Americans don’t do this. ”All right I will give you the 2000”, Rajan said correcting himself. The cabman nodded yet confused what had caused the babu to so frantically change his mind. The Babu is rich and has important stuff in his luggage thought the cabman who had transported a few smugglers in the past couple of months. He might be carrying Drugs or what if that big brown bag contains Gold. Smugglers made good customers. They paid off handsomely in the end. But today the cabman had other plans. Swirling past the crowded lanes of Delhi the cab found its way into the Delhi highway. Rajan had seen all this poverty and sheepishness before but now there was a comparison into play. What would Ryan feel if he were to see all this thought Rajan. “Where are you coming from sir?” asked the cabman. On getting no answer the cabman’s doubt was ascertained. So the gentleman is what I reckoned he thought. What if he has a gun? Anyway he decided to take his chances. The Delhi Highway is the shortest route to Rajan’s village but there is an alternate way too although it finds it’s way through small villages strewn along the way. The route is no way balmy and definitely not one for an American return unless you’re one of those ever smiling Americans who love seeing the vastness of India’s poverty stricken land. Rajan was not the latter and he quite predictably wasn’t enjoying this thoroughfare. The cabman had been more silent than Rajan now answering only in muffled sounds to his anxious queries.”What is this route man, where are we going?” asked Rajan. The cabman however was not interested in answering. It felt as if he was looking for something. Suddenly without warning he slammed the brakes bringing the vehicle to a stop in a shady growth of mango trees. No there are no gays in India thought Rajan trying to brush away the thought that had just crossed his mind. The cabman spun around with a lightning flash as if, by not speaking, he had been conserving his energy for this action.” Get out of the car now” he howled pointing the penknife at Rajan.The knife didn’t speak laurels of the cabman’s exploits but then even Rajan wasn’t a macho. He tried to reach for his luggage when the goon yelled, ”Leave the bag where it is and get down fast”. Rajan was relieved that he had been wrong. India still didn’t have gays. But then he also didn’t want to lose his stuff to the vagabond sitting in front of him. The cabman swashed the knife in the air to indicate he wasn’t joking. At this gesture Rajan jumped out of the vehicle as soon as he could. Down on the ground and back to his senses he heard the engine roar back to life and saw the car speed away into the distance visible enough for him to just jot down the number mentally.
It was afternoon and Rajan was thankful for the irony that he had been hoodwinked near the mango trees. Atleast they provided some cool and tranquil shade in this hot weather. Rajan had no Idea what he was going to do. He had no money now with all of it gone in that car. Why did I have to come to India he thought. Why. The Cuckoo’s call made him look up. Even at such a disastrous moment she sounded euphonious. Rajan looked at the mango trees and recollected how as a child he had tried to climb them and how bad the experience had been. A faint smile flickered on his face.”Namaste Sir” said a voice behind him. Turning behind he found the owner of the voice to be a middle aged short lean fellow. He seemed to be more unhealthy than the American beggars.”Namaste Sir”, he repeated “What are you doing here Sir?” Rajan recited his tale to the man who listened intently not flinching an eyelid.” It’s very bad Sir what happened to you. May the Goddess punish the rascal.” he said. ”Who are you?” asked Rajan. “I sir my name is Dinu. I am a shepherd sir. There those are my sheep,” he said pointing towards a grassy field.” Is there a telephone around here somewhere?” Rajan enquired. Dinu gave an innocent smile. He didn’t know what a telephone was.”Ok is there a police station out here?”, Rajan pressed. Dinu’s expression changed drastically at the mention of the police.” Yes sir there is one but it’s far away from here. We can reach there by evening.,” said Dinu.”You must be hungry sir. We can have a bite. I have enough for both of us.” Dinu said reaching for the bag that hung on his shoulder. The bag didn’t look impressively clean and Rajan decided no matter what came out of it he wasn’t going to put it in his mouth. Dinu was no McDonalds server and predictably the bags contents weren’t a neat wrapped burger or a large French fry. But what caught Rajan’s attention was the meager amount of food Dinu had. He’s a fool wanting to share that with me he thought. It won’t fill his stomach even if he had a double of that and he wants to share it with me. Squatting down Dinu looked up to see a reluctant Rajan stare back at him. The next moment Rajan found himself biting on the chapattis and the chilly pickle. This tasted better than the McDonalds burger admitted Rajan. That’s because you’re hungry man said a voice somewhere in the back of his head.” I know sir my humble offering isn’t what you must be accustomed to. I hope this will suffice,” said Dinu.Rajan nodded in assurance munching on the green chilly. Dinu was looking towards his sheep now. Rajan noticed his look and recollected that he had seen this look before. In America? No it wasn’t there. Yes he thought, he had seen it on his fathers face when he looked at his fields during the harvesting season. It was not pride. It was something else. ”Sir are you from Delhi?” asked Dinu shifting his gaze back on Rajan.The look was still there.” No “, said Rajan”I am from America”. “Ok Ok where is it in Delhi, Sir?” asked Dinu. “Its not in India.I have come from outside India”. Rajan said smiling. “You mean from Englishtan. But you look like an Indian, Sir”. Rajan decided against explaining that there was no Englishtan and that England and America were different. ”No I had gone there for education,” he said. “To study Sir, but why did you have to go to Englishtan to do that. One can do it in India too.”Dinu explained. ”Well in India they don’t teach new things,” Rajan answered. “New Things?” Dinu said clueless about what the babu was saying.” Look here”, said Rajan trying to exemplify the phrase he had just used. ”In America there are new methods and machines which can extract three to four times more fur and milk from your sheep than now. Is’nt it great. You can earn more money.” But Sir, my sheep are not American.”Dinu defended.” That doesn’t matter. Even I am not an American but I did go for studies.”Rajan replied. ”But would that make them any more happy?” asked Dinu. Rajan thought he hadn’t heard it right. What was this man talking about? Happiness of Animals. The only people interested in such emotions in the US were those WWF assholes as Ryan called them. Rajan had heard a couple of their speeches. But it was different here. There they spoke in terms of aims and commitments, about resolves and morality. Sitting here before this lean man, this non-entity he felt something more concrete. “Sir”, said Dinu disturbing Rajan’s thoughts “When I shear them myself they seem very happy and content. Will it be the same there? And even I feel satisfied sir. After all it’s been years since they have been with me”.” I think we should move now,” Rajan said trying to shrug off what he had just felt.” Do you have any water?” he asked. ”We’ll have to go to the stream for that sir. Please come”, Dinu said leading the way. Of all the things drinking unclean water was the last thing Rajan wanted to do. But he found himself following Dinu towards it.
“Sir the water of this stream is very good. They say it comes from the Ganga.”Dinu said. The water looked clean and Rajan had no intention to let his thirst grow. It felt sweet and invigorating. Rajan splashed it on his face and felt the drops trickle down his face. It didn’t matter if it was from Ganga.It felt equally divine at this moment.” Sir our life is just like this stream”, said Dinu”just as this water flows so do the years of our life and we are like those pebbles moving along with our life. The pebbles don’t take anything from the water nor do they give away anything. Shouldn’t we also live like them? But the truth is we don’t. We try to make our life too complicated but life is as simple as this stream Sir, It’s as simple as this water”. Rajan eyed Dinu with a thoughtful gaze. More than what Dinu had said it was the way he had said it that bemused him. His voice was devoid of any histrionics and yet had immense power behind it. He looked into the stream to see his reflection. The person was him but the reflection looked clearer.” Let’s go Sir we have to get to the Police Station before Dusk”, Dinu said.
Dinu had been right, The Police station was far enough but what Rajan was not prepared for was the perilous route to it. They had already crossed a couple of sugarcane fields and the road seemed unending. Dinu had left his sheep back at a friends place and had agreed to be Rajan’s guide till the Police Station even though it meant traveling diametrically opposite to where he lived.” Dinu tell me something about yourself, your family”, Rajan said.” How many children do you have?” “ Three Sir, Two are boys and one is a girl. They study at the village school. The master has exempted them from the fees because I provide him with sheep’s milk every Sunday”.” But how do you manage with your meager income. Does it suffice?” Rajan asked.” I know sir it’s difficult but we manage”. They had just crossed another field when Dinu stopped and pointed towards a drenched field. “Sir you’ll have to be careful here. It’s better if you remove your shoes. You won’t slip.”Dinu said. ”Is there no other way? I mean I don’t want to soil my legs with this dirt.”Rajan said.” Many people have died to call this dirt India Sir. And this very dirt provides all of us with food. No Sir there is no other way”, Dinu said somewhat offended. The next moment Rajan found himself wading through the field carrying his shoes in his hands. What Dinu had said made him feel proud about what he had called dirt sometime ago. The dirt had somehow washed something off his heart than soil it.” It’s only a kilometer away from here sir”, Dinu said. The Sun had declined to a balmy red and emanated profound calm. It was on its way to the other side of the world.
The Police station where Dinu took Rajan had a large area under its jurisdiction and seemed big enough for the job. It was located near the crowded marketplace and seemed to blend into the environment. “Sir “, Dinu said, a troubled look on his face “I’ll wait outside. You go in and speak to the Inspector.”“Allright” Rajan said,” you can wait outside”. It was difficult finding the Inspector inside the police station. Having done so Rajan narrated the entire incident to him.”Gopal”the inspector called his subordinate” bring the bag we got at that accident site”. Gopal didn’t look like retaliating and rushed inside to do the bidding. When he arrived with the bags, Rajan was on his feet. He couldn’t believe that he was staring at his own luggage.” Is this your’s”the inspector beckoned.” Yes Sir”, said Rajan too overjoyed to find his words.” Well the person who looted you of them met with an accident. We found it there. He’s in the hospital presently but soon he’ll be behind the bars. You can check if all your belongings are in there.” the inspector explained. The luggage had not been touched and Rajan found everything intact. Thanking the inspector he took his leave.
“You will get your bus from this stop sir. It will reach you to your village by morning”, said Dinu pointing towards a banyan tree.” Thank You Dinu very much for helping me”, Rajan said.” Here take this as a reward” he said pushing a 100 rupee note towards him.” No sir I can’t take it. The goddess will punish me if I do. I didn’t do it for money Sir.”Dinu confessed. Rajan knew he was saying the truth.” Can I do anything for you then, anything”, he asked. Next to the Banyan tree a mithaiwallah was preparing hot jalebis for the evening. People were buying them in all denominations. Dinu looked at him with eager eyes.” Sir can you just lend me 20 rupees. I’ll buy some jalebis Sir. My girl likes them very much. She’ll be very happy to see them.”Dinu said.” You can take the 100 Dinu.You can buy your children some good food too. Go ahead take it. Don’t worry the Gods don’t punish good people.”Rajan said. With shaking hands Dinu took the money. He bade Rajan goodbye and headed towards the mithaiwallah. Rajan felt heavy at heart as if he didn’t want to loose this shepherds company. In less than twelve hours he had witnessed what being an Indian really meant. It was this that had prompted him to get back to India. He was sure that the Dinus didn’t exist in USA.
At dawn the bus stopped at Rajan’s village. He alighted the bus and felt the morning air brush past him. It felt great.”Jaihind Sir”, said the Driver as he started the bus again.”Jaihind “, said Rajan.
“Ryan? Hi I am Rajan here”Rajan said.”Rajan! Hi man how are you and how’s India. So planning to return tomorrow. I bet you’ve seen too much of it already. So when should I meet you at the airport.” Ryan said.” Sorry Ryan but I am not coming back. You see I have found my world. My world is here,Ryan.My world is here. And one more thing Ryan thank you for being a good friend. Jaihind”.
By
Anupam Tyagi.
Rajan had just finished packing when Ryan entered and in his booming voice exclaimed “You’re Going to India. What for?”This was a question that had disturbed Rajan for the past many days. Why did he want to go to India and as Ryan had iterated what for. “C’mon man you’re not planning to settle there are you. This here is the world and it’s ours for the taking. You didn’t come to The US of A to go back to those filthy bylanes of your India did you. You came here for the world”. Ryan was right. There was no comparison between India and USA. This is where the world is as Ryan had said.” I am going only for a couple of months buddy. Vacation you can call it and when I return we are gonna work on that software we thought about, right. I will go to my village, meet my parents, relatives and lure some old fools into the business venture we’ve thought about. They will readily agree to fund us. After all I am gonna be the first America return for them” Rajan said still uncertain about what he had just spoken. ”Man you’re leaving us Americans behind in business are you”, chuckled Ryan. Rajan had migrated to the US for his education from India two years back. He had achieved what he had set out to do, A Degree from a prestigious Technical College and a Friend like Ryan. He had a future now and he knew how to shape it.
Climbing into his seat in the aeroplane brought back memories when he had arrived in this land of opportunities. How proud he had been then on making the transition from the 20th century old India to this 21st century place and how proud he was now about himself. The first thing he had done was to distance himself from his fellow countrymen in America and enter into the company of the elite Americans like Ryan. He had worked hard to make himself into a perfect American and had also succeeded at it. The earthy Rajan had turned into a refined gentleman. Busy in his thoughts Rajan saw an Indian Sardarji smile at him that familiar smile he had received whenever he had encountered his countrymen. Offended as he had always felt he looked away. Typical Indian he thought.
The New Delhi airport looked just as it had two years back when Rajan had been destined to USA. They work here at snails pace thought Rajan. Rajan lived at a place 800 Km from Delhi. It wasn’t a village actually but more of a village modeled on a town. A Taxi would be a proper transport thought Rajan as he moved towards the exit.
“It’ll be two thousand rupees Sir”, said the cabman hurling Rajan’s luggage into the vehicle. “ 2000 rupees! No No I will give you a maximum of 1500. That’s all”. What am I doing thought Rajan. Americans don’t do this. ”All right I will give you the 2000”, Rajan said correcting himself. The cabman nodded yet confused what had caused the babu to so frantically change his mind. The Babu is rich and has important stuff in his luggage thought the cabman who had transported a few smugglers in the past couple of months. He might be carrying Drugs or what if that big brown bag contains Gold. Smugglers made good customers. They paid off handsomely in the end. But today the cabman had other plans. Swirling past the crowded lanes of Delhi the cab found its way into the Delhi highway. Rajan had seen all this poverty and sheepishness before but now there was a comparison into play. What would Ryan feel if he were to see all this thought Rajan. “Where are you coming from sir?” asked the cabman. On getting no answer the cabman’s doubt was ascertained. So the gentleman is what I reckoned he thought. What if he has a gun? Anyway he decided to take his chances. The Delhi Highway is the shortest route to Rajan’s village but there is an alternate way too although it finds it’s way through small villages strewn along the way. The route is no way balmy and definitely not one for an American return unless you’re one of those ever smiling Americans who love seeing the vastness of India’s poverty stricken land. Rajan was not the latter and he quite predictably wasn’t enjoying this thoroughfare. The cabman had been more silent than Rajan now answering only in muffled sounds to his anxious queries.”What is this route man, where are we going?” asked Rajan. The cabman however was not interested in answering. It felt as if he was looking for something. Suddenly without warning he slammed the brakes bringing the vehicle to a stop in a shady growth of mango trees. No there are no gays in India thought Rajan trying to brush away the thought that had just crossed his mind. The cabman spun around with a lightning flash as if, by not speaking, he had been conserving his energy for this action.” Get out of the car now” he howled pointing the penknife at Rajan.The knife didn’t speak laurels of the cabman’s exploits but then even Rajan wasn’t a macho. He tried to reach for his luggage when the goon yelled, ”Leave the bag where it is and get down fast”. Rajan was relieved that he had been wrong. India still didn’t have gays. But then he also didn’t want to lose his stuff to the vagabond sitting in front of him. The cabman swashed the knife in the air to indicate he wasn’t joking. At this gesture Rajan jumped out of the vehicle as soon as he could. Down on the ground and back to his senses he heard the engine roar back to life and saw the car speed away into the distance visible enough for him to just jot down the number mentally.
It was afternoon and Rajan was thankful for the irony that he had been hoodwinked near the mango trees. Atleast they provided some cool and tranquil shade in this hot weather. Rajan had no Idea what he was going to do. He had no money now with all of it gone in that car. Why did I have to come to India he thought. Why. The Cuckoo’s call made him look up. Even at such a disastrous moment she sounded euphonious. Rajan looked at the mango trees and recollected how as a child he had tried to climb them and how bad the experience had been. A faint smile flickered on his face.”Namaste Sir” said a voice behind him. Turning behind he found the owner of the voice to be a middle aged short lean fellow. He seemed to be more unhealthy than the American beggars.”Namaste Sir”, he repeated “What are you doing here Sir?” Rajan recited his tale to the man who listened intently not flinching an eyelid.” It’s very bad Sir what happened to you. May the Goddess punish the rascal.” he said. ”Who are you?” asked Rajan. “I sir my name is Dinu. I am a shepherd sir. There those are my sheep,” he said pointing towards a grassy field.” Is there a telephone around here somewhere?” Rajan enquired. Dinu gave an innocent smile. He didn’t know what a telephone was.”Ok is there a police station out here?”, Rajan pressed. Dinu’s expression changed drastically at the mention of the police.” Yes sir there is one but it’s far away from here. We can reach there by evening.,” said Dinu.”You must be hungry sir. We can have a bite. I have enough for both of us.” Dinu said reaching for the bag that hung on his shoulder. The bag didn’t look impressively clean and Rajan decided no matter what came out of it he wasn’t going to put it in his mouth. Dinu was no McDonalds server and predictably the bags contents weren’t a neat wrapped burger or a large French fry. But what caught Rajan’s attention was the meager amount of food Dinu had. He’s a fool wanting to share that with me he thought. It won’t fill his stomach even if he had a double of that and he wants to share it with me. Squatting down Dinu looked up to see a reluctant Rajan stare back at him. The next moment Rajan found himself biting on the chapattis and the chilly pickle. This tasted better than the McDonalds burger admitted Rajan. That’s because you’re hungry man said a voice somewhere in the back of his head.” I know sir my humble offering isn’t what you must be accustomed to. I hope this will suffice,” said Dinu.Rajan nodded in assurance munching on the green chilly. Dinu was looking towards his sheep now. Rajan noticed his look and recollected that he had seen this look before. In America? No it wasn’t there. Yes he thought, he had seen it on his fathers face when he looked at his fields during the harvesting season. It was not pride. It was something else. ”Sir are you from Delhi?” asked Dinu shifting his gaze back on Rajan.The look was still there.” No “, said Rajan”I am from America”. “Ok Ok where is it in Delhi, Sir?” asked Dinu. “Its not in India.I have come from outside India”. Rajan said smiling. “You mean from Englishtan. But you look like an Indian, Sir”. Rajan decided against explaining that there was no Englishtan and that England and America were different. ”No I had gone there for education,” he said. “To study Sir, but why did you have to go to Englishtan to do that. One can do it in India too.”Dinu explained. ”Well in India they don’t teach new things,” Rajan answered. “New Things?” Dinu said clueless about what the babu was saying.” Look here”, said Rajan trying to exemplify the phrase he had just used. ”In America there are new methods and machines which can extract three to four times more fur and milk from your sheep than now. Is’nt it great. You can earn more money.” But Sir, my sheep are not American.”Dinu defended.” That doesn’t matter. Even I am not an American but I did go for studies.”Rajan replied. ”But would that make them any more happy?” asked Dinu. Rajan thought he hadn’t heard it right. What was this man talking about? Happiness of Animals. The only people interested in such emotions in the US were those WWF assholes as Ryan called them. Rajan had heard a couple of their speeches. But it was different here. There they spoke in terms of aims and commitments, about resolves and morality. Sitting here before this lean man, this non-entity he felt something more concrete. “Sir”, said Dinu disturbing Rajan’s thoughts “When I shear them myself they seem very happy and content. Will it be the same there? And even I feel satisfied sir. After all it’s been years since they have been with me”.” I think we should move now,” Rajan said trying to shrug off what he had just felt.” Do you have any water?” he asked. ”We’ll have to go to the stream for that sir. Please come”, Dinu said leading the way. Of all the things drinking unclean water was the last thing Rajan wanted to do. But he found himself following Dinu towards it.
“Sir the water of this stream is very good. They say it comes from the Ganga.”Dinu said. The water looked clean and Rajan had no intention to let his thirst grow. It felt sweet and invigorating. Rajan splashed it on his face and felt the drops trickle down his face. It didn’t matter if it was from Ganga.It felt equally divine at this moment.” Sir our life is just like this stream”, said Dinu”just as this water flows so do the years of our life and we are like those pebbles moving along with our life. The pebbles don’t take anything from the water nor do they give away anything. Shouldn’t we also live like them? But the truth is we don’t. We try to make our life too complicated but life is as simple as this stream Sir, It’s as simple as this water”. Rajan eyed Dinu with a thoughtful gaze. More than what Dinu had said it was the way he had said it that bemused him. His voice was devoid of any histrionics and yet had immense power behind it. He looked into the stream to see his reflection. The person was him but the reflection looked clearer.” Let’s go Sir we have to get to the Police Station before Dusk”, Dinu said.
Dinu had been right, The Police station was far enough but what Rajan was not prepared for was the perilous route to it. They had already crossed a couple of sugarcane fields and the road seemed unending. Dinu had left his sheep back at a friends place and had agreed to be Rajan’s guide till the Police Station even though it meant traveling diametrically opposite to where he lived.” Dinu tell me something about yourself, your family”, Rajan said.” How many children do you have?” “ Three Sir, Two are boys and one is a girl. They study at the village school. The master has exempted them from the fees because I provide him with sheep’s milk every Sunday”.” But how do you manage with your meager income. Does it suffice?” Rajan asked.” I know sir it’s difficult but we manage”. They had just crossed another field when Dinu stopped and pointed towards a drenched field. “Sir you’ll have to be careful here. It’s better if you remove your shoes. You won’t slip.”Dinu said. ”Is there no other way? I mean I don’t want to soil my legs with this dirt.”Rajan said.” Many people have died to call this dirt India Sir. And this very dirt provides all of us with food. No Sir there is no other way”, Dinu said somewhat offended. The next moment Rajan found himself wading through the field carrying his shoes in his hands. What Dinu had said made him feel proud about what he had called dirt sometime ago. The dirt had somehow washed something off his heart than soil it.” It’s only a kilometer away from here sir”, Dinu said. The Sun had declined to a balmy red and emanated profound calm. It was on its way to the other side of the world.
The Police station where Dinu took Rajan had a large area under its jurisdiction and seemed big enough for the job. It was located near the crowded marketplace and seemed to blend into the environment. “Sir “, Dinu said, a troubled look on his face “I’ll wait outside. You go in and speak to the Inspector.”“Allright” Rajan said,” you can wait outside”. It was difficult finding the Inspector inside the police station. Having done so Rajan narrated the entire incident to him.”Gopal”the inspector called his subordinate” bring the bag we got at that accident site”. Gopal didn’t look like retaliating and rushed inside to do the bidding. When he arrived with the bags, Rajan was on his feet. He couldn’t believe that he was staring at his own luggage.” Is this your’s”the inspector beckoned.” Yes Sir”, said Rajan too overjoyed to find his words.” Well the person who looted you of them met with an accident. We found it there. He’s in the hospital presently but soon he’ll be behind the bars. You can check if all your belongings are in there.” the inspector explained. The luggage had not been touched and Rajan found everything intact. Thanking the inspector he took his leave.
“You will get your bus from this stop sir. It will reach you to your village by morning”, said Dinu pointing towards a banyan tree.” Thank You Dinu very much for helping me”, Rajan said.” Here take this as a reward” he said pushing a 100 rupee note towards him.” No sir I can’t take it. The goddess will punish me if I do. I didn’t do it for money Sir.”Dinu confessed. Rajan knew he was saying the truth.” Can I do anything for you then, anything”, he asked. Next to the Banyan tree a mithaiwallah was preparing hot jalebis for the evening. People were buying them in all denominations. Dinu looked at him with eager eyes.” Sir can you just lend me 20 rupees. I’ll buy some jalebis Sir. My girl likes them very much. She’ll be very happy to see them.”Dinu said.” You can take the 100 Dinu.You can buy your children some good food too. Go ahead take it. Don’t worry the Gods don’t punish good people.”Rajan said. With shaking hands Dinu took the money. He bade Rajan goodbye and headed towards the mithaiwallah. Rajan felt heavy at heart as if he didn’t want to loose this shepherds company. In less than twelve hours he had witnessed what being an Indian really meant. It was this that had prompted him to get back to India. He was sure that the Dinus didn’t exist in USA.
At dawn the bus stopped at Rajan’s village. He alighted the bus and felt the morning air brush past him. It felt great.”Jaihind Sir”, said the Driver as he started the bus again.”Jaihind “, said Rajan.
“Ryan? Hi I am Rajan here”Rajan said.”Rajan! Hi man how are you and how’s India. So planning to return tomorrow. I bet you’ve seen too much of it already. So when should I meet you at the airport.” Ryan said.” Sorry Ryan but I am not coming back. You see I have found my world. My world is here,Ryan.My world is here. And one more thing Ryan thank you for being a good friend. Jaihind”.
By
Anupam Tyagi.
posted by anupam at
11:23 AM
0 Comments
