Guptaji was working in the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games. His father was a freedom fighter who died in the struggle for freedom. He was too young when India got its independence, but he had blood of his father. He always regretted to have taken birth near independence; else even he would have given away his life for the nation like his father.
Mrs Gupta was married to Guptaji for the last 29 years and their story was not different from the story of any other couple. Guptaji would come back from work and Mrs Gupta, after serving him water, would start complaining about everything.
‘Look at this TV it is so old. Even Mrs khanna has purchased an LCD now’. ‘Look at Prateeksha, she doesn’t concentrate on her studies, she is on phone all the time’ ‘Why don’t you say anything to Lau, he is becoming useless like you’ ’I want to take part in a new kitty, I need more money’
While his son, Lau, had passed engineering 3 years back, he had no job.
‘I want a new bike papa. This bike is now 3 years old. I want a 220 cc now’ ‘I want to go for higher studies in Australia’ ‘Papa X-Box... at least now you can afford’ ‘Papa please yaar’ ‘please can I take your car today’ ‘Papa there is party tomorrow night at RPM, I promise no alcohol but I need money’
The daughter, Prateeksha was no different, she was in class 12th, but her mind was already in sky:
‘Hey poopi Look at this stole, I got it from Janpath, only Rs 1000.’ ‘I want to be an air hostess, I don’t want to study’ ‘look at mummy she keeps telling me all the time what I should do’ ‘Isn’t my skin glowing today, I spent Rs 5000 in Kaira Skin Clinic.’ ‘Can I take these Rs 500 lying here, I need a new deo’
Sharmaji, who stayed in a flat right opposite to Guptaji’s house on the first floor, would park his car every evening in front of Guptaji’s house. Guptaji had to fight a battle after coming back from his office to let him park his own car inside his own house. But the next day Mr. Sharma would again park the car exactly in front of his gate.
“yeh tuade baap di sadak haigi’ (is this your father’s road) ‘who are you to tell me that I should not park my car here’ ‘I am having my tea, after it is over, only then I will remove my car’ ‘Hath lagake dikhao gaddi nu, hath kaatke phenk deyanga’ (dare you touch my car, I will cut your hands)’ ‘Give me money, from tomorrow I will park somewhere else’
The gardener cum Car Cleaner, Shivlal, wanted Guptaji to increase his salary
‘Sirji you are very miser, cant you give me another Rs 500’ ‘Kya sirji you still have Maruti 800, look at Sharmaji, he has Honda now’ ‘Sirji I will suggest you something, sell off this old kothi, I Know one party that will buy, I will take only 2%’
Mr. Gupta was involved in the construction of a stadium for Commonwealth Games. Mr Gupta one day came to know that sub standard quality building material was being used for the construction of that stadium. His boss Mr. Saini replied
‘What do you think you are? Don’t try to become a freedom fighter; one is enough for your family. ‘Do you think contractors of the stadium are dumb fools, you know better than them about the quality?’ ‘Next time you act smart, I will throw you out and would not let you have your salary’
Life had made this aspiring freedom fighter a lame duck.
*******
One day while checking the progress of the stadium, roof collapsed and a concrete block fell on the head of Guptaji. He was quickly taken to AIIMS. Doctor reported that lot of blood was lost due to accident and they would have to operate him right now. Guptaji’s family rushed to the hospital. They were informed on arriving that they would have to replace the blood used from the blood bank for the surgery. Mrs Gupta got worried and started crying. She didn’t know what to do. Finally Lau, Sharmaji, his two sons, the gardener and Mr Saini gave their blood to the blood bank.
For the next 7 days, Guptaji was in a state of unconsciousness.
Mrs Gupta cried all day, wondering how the family would survive, if anything happens to her husband. Lau forgot the bike. He decided he will quickly find a job for himself and prove himself to be a responsible son. Now he was thinking about appearing for IAS exam. Prateeksha stopped wearing makeup. She prepared food for the family instead of talking on phone.
Meanwhile Sharmaji realising his mistake stopped parking car in front of Guptaji’s house. Mrs. Sharma would prepare lunch for Mrs Gupta and the children and Sharmaji dropped the Tiffin in hospital on his way to office.
Shivlal praised the humble nature of Guptaji all day in front of others.
‘What a man he is? Simple living, high thinking.’ ‘He can buy 4 Hondas at once, but he is happy with his old Maruti’ ‘He just doesn’t believe in show off’ ‘What a son my malik is? He has retained his ancestral properties for years. I wish I have a son like him’
Soon the frauds in the Commonwealth Games came to light. Mr Kalmadi and all the other involved in the games were under the lens. Mr. Saini, to project himself as an honest official, reported the use of sub standard material first to the media. He realised it was Guptaji because of whom he was saved from being a part of corrupt officials’ list. He decided to give him bonus once he resumes his work.
Then Mr Sharma opened his eyes. He saw the development around him. What he could not do when he was healthy, his ’near death’ did it. He was happy. He thanked God for this blessing in disguise. He came to know about the Games as well, and also about his bonus. He thought life will be smooth from now onwards. Doctors advice him bed rest for 6 weeks rest.
*******
Lau and Prateeksha had decorated the house with diyas for his home coming. He noticed Sharmaji and his sons had parked their cars somewhere else. He was jubilant. The moment he arrived, mali Shivlal fell on Guptaji’s feet and started crying in happiness.
Seeing that everything has changed around him forever, he thought it is high time that he does he had always wanted to do in his life. In the second week he knew what he wants to do.
I will start an organisatio that will book corrupt officials. We will file cases under Right to Information Act, against those who ask for money in the government office. I will change the whole system now.
By the third week things started becoming normal again. Prateeksha started going to school, Lau looked was sending his resumes to company. He realised IAS is too tough for him. So he dropped the idea. He thought corporate world is forte. Shivlal came one day and asked Guptaji if he colud increase his salary at least by Rs 200, though Guptaji refused it straightaway, it didn’t offend Shivlal. ‘I understand sirji, lots of money has been spend from your pocket. Kuch nahi hota’ Commonwealth Games started on a high note with splendid opening ceremony in Delhi. Sharmaji visited Guptaji every alternate day with his wife. Mr. Saini also came home twice, once with his family and next time alone.
Fourth week was pretty much the same, there were occasional fights at home between Prateeksha and Mrs Gupta, but they would resolve their issues within minutes. Towards the end of fourth week Guptaji got his insurance money from the bank. It was Rs 5 lakhs in total. Though government had paid for his operation at AIIMS, Guptaji still applied for the insurance as he thought it was a good opportunity to avail the money as his family would be requiring it in the near futre for Lau’s marriage or Prateeksha’s further studies. He thought of depositing the entire money in the bank.
On Monday, the fifth week, Lau decided to speak about the bike.
‘Papa I need the new Karizma bike. I know you have got lot of money from insurance company, what you will do with it?’ On hearing this Prateeksha, who was outside, came in the room and taunted ‘ahahaha.. I know very well why you want that bike, its cause of that girl Diya, she likes it I need that money I want to join Frankfin Airhostess Academy after my board exams.’ Mrs Gupta, who was till now cooking in the kitchen came inside and shouted at Lau, ‘Don’t you have a brain? Look at your age, you don’t have a job and you want a Rs 1 lakh bike for you girlfriend! You are absolutely useless like your father’
Shivlal was watering plants in the garden. He overheard the conversation that was taking place inside the house. Next morning he approached Guptaji and said ‘Sirji did you think about increasing my wage?’ Guptaji refused like every time. But this time Shivlal threw the leaf cutter on the floor and shouted back at him ‘I haven’t seen a miser person like you. Keep that Rs 5 lakh in your underwear and roam around in your old maruti. I am leaving this job’
Commonwealth Games was over and CBI had started raiding the houses of senior officials who were in the Organising Committee. They raided Mr. Saini’s house as well. Though there was no case of misappropriation of funds filed against him, he was booked under a section of Indian Penal Code for negligence on his part allowing the use of sub standard quality material in the stadium’s construction. In his statement to the authority, Mr. Saini named Guptaji as prime accused as according to him, in his team, it was his duty to check the quality of material being used.
It was Sixth week now. Guptaji sitting alone in his room, was laughing at himself. He was thinking of correcting the system when he can’t correct his own life! He was feeling thirsty but there was no one at home to serve him water. Mrs Gupta that day had two kitty parties to attend. Lau had gone out with his girl friend. Prateeksha had gone to Sarojini Nagar with her pals for shopping. There was no power in house as the inverter had stopped working 2 days back and despite of Guptaji’s repeated request no one had cared to call up the electrician. And as the power wasn’t there, he could not switch on the motor for water, so there was no water in taps as well.
He heard a horn of a car outside. He expected Lau as he took Guptaji’s car these days, till he gets his own bike. He went outside. He saw it was Sharmaji who was parking the car right in front of Guptaji’s gate. Guptaji came forward and requested ‘Sharmaji will you please park your car somewhere else, Lau will be coming any time soon. He would need this space to park our car’
To which Sharmaji replied, ’Yeh tuade baap di sadak haigi?’
