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THE BUS HAS COME TO A HALT NEAR THE ROAD SIDE DHABBA. IT IS TIME FOR REFRESHMENT FOR DRIVER AND CONDUCTOR OF THE BUS .OTHERS MAY JOIN. SOMEBODY WILL GET UP AT LEAST TO RELEASE. THE IDEA OF A FRESH CUP OF EARLY DAWN TEA IS NOT BAD. IT IS A SMALL SINGLE STORIED BUILDING WITH ASBESTOS ROOF WITH A STRETCHED OUT OPEN YARD. IN SUMMER YOU WILL FIND LOT MANY ROPE COTS ON THAT OPEN YARD. IT IS ALWAYS RELAXING FOR TRUCK DRIVERS ON A LONG JOURNEY TO STRETCH OUT THEIR BODIES AFTER A BOUT OF CHICKEN AND BEER.

MORNING IS YET TO SMILE. THE DRIVER OF THE BUS OPENED THE RIGHT HAND SIDE DOOR NEAR HIS SEAT AND JUMPED OUT SIDE. AS HE LANDED ON TWO LEGS HE RAISED HIS HANDS PARALLEL TO GROUND AND STARTED FLEXING THOSE. MUSCLES NEED SOME RELAXATION. JOHN FOLLOWED THE CONDUCTOR THROUGH THE USUAL OUT LET OF THE BUS. THROUGH OUT THE NIGHT THEY HAVE TALKED. THEY HAVE TALKED ON VARIOUS TOPICS. TOPICS MIXED WITH CRANKED IMAGINATION LACED WITH FALSEHOOD TO ADD THAT LITTLE SPICE TO MAKE IT INTERESTING. THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT AS THEY CONVERSED BUT THEY KNOW THAT THEIR TOPICS NEED TO KEEP THEM AWAKE. LITTLE CRANKINESS HERE AND THERE DOES NOT MATTER.

IT IS FOGGY WINTER NIGHT. FOG ALL AROUND LAMP POSTS MAKE AN INTERESTING VIEW ALONG WITH THOSE TINY INSECTS CLOGGING AROUND THE LAMPS FOR DEAR HEAT. DEEPAVALI, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT IS AFTER TWO DAYS. HOUSES WILL BE LIT WITH OIL LAMPS. CRACKERS WILL BE BLASTED IN CELEBRATION OF WIN OF GOOD OVER BAD. THESE INSECTS WILL HAVE THEIR END ON THAT DAY. IT IS THE TEMPTATIONS FOR MORE THAT WILL INVITE THEIR DEATH. IN ATTRACTION OF MORE LIGHT AND HEAT, THEY WILL BURN THEMSELVES BY JUMPING INTO CELEBRATION DEEPAVALI LIGHT. IT IS SHEER TEMPTATION NOTHING ELSE WHICH BRINGS THEIR END. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BUT NOBODY REALIZES THAT. NOBODY ASSESSES THAT. BY THE TIME REALIZATION COMES, IT IS ALL OVER. POINT OF NO RETURN HAS ALREADY KNOCKED THE DOOR.

THREE OF THEM WALKED DOWN TO THE DHABBA. THE HOT TEA IS BREWING ON THE KETTLE. THE SERVER BOY IN HIS BARE BODY STANDING NEAR THE COAL FIRED HEARTH. THE WARMTH OF HEARTH IS GOOD ENOUGH TO KEEP AWAY THAT COLD. HIS FACE IS LITTLE OILY IN HEAT OF FIRE. HE HAS OWN STYLE OF MIXING SUGAR BEFORE SERVING THE TEA. THE SERVING TEA TUMBLER IN LEFT HAND AND THE MUG CONTAINING TEA IN RIGHT HAND WILL GO AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AS TEA IS POURED TO TUMBLER. AN ARCH OF FLOATING TEA WILL BE MADE IN THE AIR AS TEA GETS MIXED WITH SUGAR BY INTERCHANGING ITS POSITION FROM TUMBLER TO MUG AND MUG TO TUMBLER. HIS SKILL IS APPRECIABLE AS NOT A SINGLE DROP OF TEA FALLS ON THE FLOOR IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS. PASSENGERS HAVE STARTED COMING DOWN FROM THE BUS. SOME OF THEM HAVE GONE INSIDE THE DHABBA. HOT TEA IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THEM IN THIS COLD NIGHT. THEY WANT A SPECIAL PEG OF COUNTRY LIQUOR. WITH THAT THEY WILL AGAIN SNORE TILL THE END OF JOURNEY.

THE SIGHT OF COUNTRY LIQUOR BROUGHT CERTAIN UNEASINESS TO JOHN. IT WAS MEMORY OF FEW DAYS BACK. IT HAPPENED IN THAT BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION SITE, HIS DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH HIS SENIORS REGARDING LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY. THE COMPANY HAD DECIDED TO GO FOR READY MIXED CONCRETE WHICH CAN BE PUMPED WHILE CASTING BRIDGE DECK. NO MORE REQUIREMENTS OF SO MANY LABOURERS. JOHN HAD PROTESTED THAT NOT FOR THE REASON THAT HE WAS AGAINST HIGHER TECHNOLOGY. HE WAS WORRIED FOR THAT GANG OF HUNDRED ODD LABOURERS. NOW THAT STRENGTH HAS TO BE REDUCED TO TWENTY FIVE. HARVESTING SEASON IS OVER. FROM WHERE THESE RETRENCHED LABOURERS WILL GET FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILY. THEY CAN NOT FIND ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION SITE ALL OF A SUDDEN. COMPANY MESSAGE WAS VERY CLEAR. CUT DOWN THE LABOUR STRENGTH.

JOHN WAS WORRIED AND DISTURBED. HE COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF BEATING DRUM. IT WAS SOUND FROM ONE DRUM UNLIKE THE SOUND OF DRUMS AT THE TIME OF ONE LEGGED NIGHT DANCE. IT WAS SOUND OF ANGER, PROTEST AND CHALLENGE SLOWLY TURNING INTO A CRESCENDO. JOHN CAME OUTSIDE. POUNDING SOUND OF SINGLE DRUM. IT WAS MENACING. THERE STOOD THE UNDISPUTED LEADER MARANDI, EYES RED, TOTALLY DROWNED IN COUNTRY LIQUOR, THE BALD HEAD COVERED WITH RED TURBAN OF PROTEST. HE IS ALONE, ALL ALONE. HE IS THE LEADER. HE HAS ASSURED ALL THE LABOURERS TO BE CALM. HE WILL NEGOTIATE WITH JOHN SAHIB AND FIND OUT THE SOLUTION.

JOHN KNEW MARANDI VERY WELL. THE ENTIRE LABOUR GANG MOVES IN HIS DIRECTION OF FINGER. JOHN RECALLED THOSE MASS CONCRETING TIMES, SIXTEEN HOURS OF CONCRETING AT A STRETCH. THE SAME GANG OF LABOURERS HAS TO DELIVER THE RESULT. COUNTRY LIQUOR WILL FLOW. MARANDI WILL MONITOR THE ACTIVITIES. HE WILL DROWN HIMSELF COUNTRY LIQUOR, JOKE, LAUGH, SING AND DANCE WHILE BEATING HIS DRUM IN RHYTHM TO KEEP THE TEMPO GOING. IT IS SIXTEEN HOURS OF CONTINUOUS UNTIRING HUMAN EFFORTS LED BY MARANDI, THE MOTIVATOR, THE DRUMMER, THE SINGER, THE ENTERTAINER AND THE UNDISPUTED LEADER. HE HAS DELIVERED THAT FOR JOHN SAHIB OUT OF SHEER RESPECT FOR JOHN.

TODAY HE BEATS THE DRUM WITH A DIFFERENT PURPOSE; HE HAS DROWNED HIMSELF IN COUNTRY LIQUOR FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE. HE DANCES IN FRONT JOHN SAHIB WITH A DIFFERENT PURPOSE. NO VOICE, MOUTH CLOSED, FOLDING HANDS IN BETWEEN BEATING OF DRUM, SUNKEN EYE LIDS CONVEY ALL. HE DANCES IN A HAUNCH BACK AS IF HE CARRIES THE BURDEN OF A MOUNTAIN. YES, HE CARRIES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FEED HUNDRED LABOURERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. HE IS THE LEADER. HE KNOWS HIS JOHN SAHIB WILL NOT DISAPPOINT HIM. JOHN MOVED FORWARD, HELD THE HANDS OF JOHN ASKED HIM TO CALM DOWN. JOHN STOPPED. HE IS HAPPY. JOHN SAHIB HAS UNDERSTOOD HIM. HE SALUTED JOHN, TURNED BACK AND MOVED TOWARDS THE LABOUR CAMP LEAVING JOHN THINKING UNDER THE HOT SUN.

NEXT DAY READY MIXED CONCRETE STARTED FLOWING IN THE DECK CONCRETING. NO PROTEST, ONLY ONE FOURTH OF THE LABOURERS HAVE BEEN CALLED. MARANDI IS MONITORING THE CONCRETING. HE LOOKS DISTURBED. AN UNEASY CALM IS FLOWING IN HIS FACE. THERE HAS BEEN INSTRUCTION TO JOHN FROM HEAD OFFICE TO CALL FOR POLICE PROTECTION. THERE MIGHT BE LABOURERS UNREST. JOHN HAS IGNORED THAT. HE HAS TALKED TO HIS COLLEAGUES IN OTHER CONSTRUCTION SITES IN REMOTE AREAS. HE HAS WORKED OUT A FORMULA TO SOLVE THE EXCESS LABOURERS PROBLEM IN HIS SITE. HE CAN RETAIN TWENTY FIVE AND REST OF THEM CAN BE DIVIDED AMONGST TWO REMOTELY PLACED CONSTRUCTION SITES. JOHN WALKED DOWN TO MARANDI. MARANDI IS TOTALLY ABSORBED IN WORK, HE DID NOT NOTICE JOHN UNTIL JOHN KEPT HIS HAND ON HIS SHOULDER. JOHN PUT FORTH HIS PROPOSAL IN A BOWING HEAD. MARANDI LISTENED, LOOKED TOWARDS JOHN AND SMILED AS HE BREATHED OUT HEAVILY. DO NOT WORRY SO MUCH SAHIB, I KNOW, YOU HAVE TRIED. LEAVE IT TO ME. RELAX; YOU HAVE BIGGER THINGS TO DO.

MARANDI VANISHED SOMEWHERE AFTER THE CONCRETING WORK. HE HAS NOT KEPT INFORMED ANYBODY ABOUT HIS WHERE ABOUT. HE HAS ARRANGED FOR COMMUNITY KITCHEN IN LABOUR CAMP FOR COMING ONE WEEK AND ENOUGH COUNTRY LIQUOR FOR ENJOYMENT.

IT WAS THIRD DAY EVENING AFTER THE READY MIXED CONCRETE WORK AND CURTAILMENT OF LABOUR FORCE, JOHN HEARD SOUND OF LABOURERS OUTSIDE HIS ROOM. HE STARTED BREATHING HEAVILY IN APPREHENSION AND ANTICIPATION OF LABOUR UNREST. MARANDI IS NOT THERE. WHO WILL CONTROL THEM? JOHN CAME OUT AND SAW LABOURERS ARE HAPPILY WAVING HIM. THERE STAND MARANDI AMONGST THEM IN ALL SMILES. MARANDI CAME FORWARD WHISPERED TO JOHN, I AM TAKING THEM ALL TO ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION SITE SOME THREE HUNDRED KILOMETERS AWAY. THE WORK THERE WILL LAST FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THAT. MAY BE, WE MAY GET ANOTHER BIGGER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AFTER THAT. WHO KNOWS? BUT SOME HOW I DO NOT WANT TO BREAK MY GROUP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE SOUND OF HORN OF THE BUS BROUGHT JOHN BACK TO THE PRESENCE. PASSENGERS HAVE REFRESHED THEMSELVES. THE BUS IS ABOUT TO LEAVE. JOHN STROLLED TOWARDS THE BUS AS HE LOOKED UP. IN THE SKY OF DAWN, HE SEES GEESE MOVING IN A "V" FORMATION. THEY ARE MOVING IN A GROUP INTERCHANGING THE POSITION OF LEADERSHIP. SYNERGY AT HIS BEST. THEY WILL ONLY STOP IF SOMEBODY AMONGST THEM WILL GET HURT AND BECOME SICK. THEY WILL AGAIN FLY IN A GROUP TILL THE SICK RECOVERS TO FLY OR DIES. NOBODY WILL MOVE ALONE. NOBODY WILL BE LEADER FOREVER. IT IS ALL ABOUT SHARING WHILE KEEPING THE UNITY. JOHN SEES MARANDI AND HIS TRIBAL LABOURERS GROUP AMONGST THE GEESE. IN THE FLOW OF DECENT MORNING BREEZE, JOHN GETS THE SWEET AROMA, THE AROMA OF PARIJATS SMILING TOGETHER IN THAT CEMENT FLOOR.

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THE BUS IS HAVING A SMOOTH GLIDE IN THE NEWLY LED BITUMEN ROAD. JOHN DOES NOT THE FEEL THE JERK THOUGH HE HAS OCCUPIED ONE OF THE REAR SEAT. THE PATH IS IN A STRAIGHT TRAJECTORY WITHOUT MUCH OF A BEND. IT NARROWS DOWN IN HORIZON LIKE THE ACHIEVABLE AMBITION OF THE PRESENT. LOOK UP YOU SEE THE SKY, LIMITLESS SKY, REACHABLE IF IT IS NARROWED TO HORIZON. THE JOURNEY IS ENJOYABLE IN THE COOL EVENING. IT IS LOOK OF COUNTRY SIDE. LINES OF SMALL HEIGHT PALM TREES ON THE BOTH THE SIDE OF ROAD, STAND ERECT IN THE WELCOME OF PASSER-BY. FROM THE DISTANCE, JOHN COULD GET THE SIGHT OF TALL PALM TREES WITH THE SWINGING NESTS OF WEAVER BIRDS. WATER BODIES ON THE BOTH SIDE OF ROAD CARRIES THE REFLECTION OF PRESENT .NO PLACE FOR PAST THERE IT PUSHES THOSE BACK TO ACCOMMODATE THE PRESENT. IT HAS NEVER SEEN THE FUTURE AND NEVER CAPTURED IT. FUTURE, IT IS SHAPELESS, IT IS ENDLESS, IT IS AN UNTIED KNOT, IT IS A MYSTERY, THERE IS NO FUN CAPTURING IT. THOSE WATER BODY CARRIES BOTH LILY AND LOTUS IN PLENTY. BOTH ARE HALF BLOOMED IN THE EVENING SKY. ONE IS CRYING IN SOMEBODY DEPARTURE AND OTHER IS SMILING IN SOMEBODY ARRIVAL. THE SAME TIME TELLS TWO DISSIMILAR STORIES, STORIES FULL OF OPPOSITES. DICHOTOMY AT ITS BEST. IT IS THE TIME WHICH CREATES ALL DIFFERENCES. OVER A SPECTRUM OF TIME THE STORY OF LILY AND LOTUS APPEARS SIMILAR. IT BECOMES STORY OF ANTICIPATION, EXPECTATION, UNION, SEPARATION AND REUNION. BUT THEY ARE UNIQUE. IT IS STORY OF DEVOTION, ATTACHMENT AND PERMANENCY. WAITING HAS ITS OWN PLEASURE. DEVOTION LEADS TO PERMANENCY. DETACHMENT LEADS TO ATTACHMENT. FRUITS GET DETACHED FROM THE TREE TO CREATE TREES. WATER EVAPORATES TO COME BACK AS RAIN. IT IS A CONTINUUM. EVERYTHING IS IN A CONTINUUM. DO NOT LOOK FOR THE SHAPE, LOOK FOR THE CHARACTER. NOTHING IS LOST THERE. NOTHING IS MISSED THERE; THE CHARACTER IS INTACT, ONLY THE SHAPE HAS CHANGED. THE TIME HAS CHANGED.

THERE IS A RUSH OF THOUGHT IN JOHN’S MIND AS THE BUS MOVES UP. IT IS COLD WINTER IN HILLY TERRAIN. IT IS SERENE AND SILENT OUTSIDE. COLD WINTER NIGHT LOOKS SLEEPY. IT IS DARK. PITCH DARK. JOHN PULLED THE BLANKET UP AS HE STRETCHED BACK. STILL HE FEELS THE COLD. HE RECALLED HIS CHILDHOOD, THOSE COLD NIGHT WHEN HE AND HIS ELDER BROTHER USED TO FIGHT FOR THE SINGLE BLANKET THEY HAVE TO SHARE. JOHN WILL ROLL HIMSELF IN THE BLANKET LEAVING NOTHING FOR HIS BROTHER. HIS BROTHER WILL SHOUT AND ULTIMATELY THEY WILL END WITH A COMPROMISE THAT ELDER BROTHER WILL BUY A KASHMIR BLANKET FOR JOHN AS SOON AS HE GETS A JOB. THE CHILD INSIDE THE JOHN IS GROWING; HE WANTS TO ROLL HIMSELF IN THE BLANKET. THE PASSENGER NEAR BY IS COMFORTABLY SLEPT. JOHN LOOKED AROUND; ALMOST EVERYBODY INSIDE THE BUS HAS SLEPT. SOME OF THEM ARE SNORING LOUDLY. THE BUS CONDUCTOR IS CHATTING WITH THE DRIVER. THEY NEED TO TALK EACH OTHER LEST THEY MIGHT FEEL SLEEPY. IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF TRAVELING PASSENGERS. JOHN STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS STRANGE CHARACTER OF HUMAN BEING. HE DOES NOT WANT TO KEEP HIMSELF ALERT FOR HIS OWN SAFETY. HE THINKS IT IS NOT HIS DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY. SOMEBODY HAS BEEN PAID TO TAKE CARE OF THAT SAFETY. JOHN REMEMBERED THOSE BRAVE SOLDIERS OF THE BORDER WHO KEEP THEMSELVES AWAKE SO THAT WE CAN SLEEP PEACEFULLY. HE LEAVES AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY SO THAT WE CAN LIVE PEACEFULLY WITH OUR FAMILY. CAN MERE MONEY BUY THOSE SACRIFICES AND DEVOTIONS? IT WAS NOT FAR FROM HIS MEMORY WHEN HE SAW THOSE SOLDIERS GOING TO THE BATTLE FIELD. JOHN WAS TRAVELING FROM WESTERN PART TO EASTERN PART OF INDIA. THE TRAIN HAS HALTED NEAR A STATION CALLED VIJAYWARDA JUNCTION. THE WAR AT THE BORDER WAS AT ITS HEIGHT. JOHN SAW A TRAIN FULL OF SOLDIERS GOING TOWARDS NORTH. THEY ARE IN OPEN TRAIN BUGGIES WITH THEIR AMMUNITIONS. THEY ALL ARE LAUGHING AND SMILING WHEN THEY ARE WAIVING TO PASSENGERS OF THE STATIONS AS THEIR TRAIN MOVES ON. NO TRACE OF FEARS, NO TRACE OF REMORSE IN THOSE FACES, RATHER THOSE ARE FULL WITH DETERMINATIONS AND JUBILATIONS. IT IS SHEAR DEVOTIONS. JOHN HAD JOINED THE CROWD IN CHEERING OFF THOSE BRAVE SOULS. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILY. WE DO NOT KNOW IF ANYBODY AMONGST US HAS KEPT A COUNT OF THAT. MAY BE IT HAS BECOME ANOTHER MILITARY STATICS. NOBODY HAS KEPT A COUNT HOW MANY BRAVE FATHERS HAVE SHED THEIR TEARS; HOW MANY BRAVE LADIES HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING IN THE GREAT ALTAR OF SUPREME SACRIFICE. THEY HAVE SACRIFICED FOR US TO GROW AND SMILE, FOR US TO LIVE AND ENJOY. BUT DO WE RECOGNIZE THEM?

THOSE BRAVE SOULS ARE JUST LIKE THOSE PARIJATS. THEY GIVE US PLEASURE. THEY GIVE US HAPPINESS. CAST OFF ON THEIR OWN TO TELL THEIR STORIES. WE MAKE GARLAND OUT OF THOSE , SOME OF THOSE FIND THEIR WAYS TO HAIRS OF HONEYMOON LADIES , SOME FIND THEIR WAYS TO GODS’ PLACES , SOME GOES TO WRISTS OF BEAUX DROWN IN HOUSE OF INFAMOUS. STORY DOES NOT END THERE. GARLANDS ARE COLLECTED ONCE AGAIN FOR SEPARATING THOSE RED TUBES AND TO MAKE DYE SO THAT THE WORLD BECOMES COLORFUL. THIS IS STORY OF DEVOTION, STORY OF SACRIFICE AND STORY OF PERMANENCY. LOOK OVER A CONTINUUM OF TIME YOU FIND THE PERMANENCY; RECOGNIZE THAT PERMANENCY. THE PERMANENCY OF PARIJATS.

JOHN MOVED UP FROM HIS SEAT AND WENT TO THE DRIVER AND CONDUCTOR OF BUS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES. THEY HAVE MILES TO GO!

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JOHN STRETCHED HIS BODY ON CEMENT BENCH. HE FELT ACHE ALL OVER HIS BODY. HE MOVED HIS FINGERS IN HIS HAIRS. IT IS ALL WET IN MORNING DEWDROPS. HE LOOKED TO THE PARIJAT TREE. IT LOOKS WET GREEN WITH DEW DROPS. CLUSTERS OF BUDS LOOKING UP IN ENTHUSIASM TO WELCOME TO THEIR DAY. FROM THE CORNER OF THE NEEM TREE, A CROW STARTED CALLING ONLY TO BE JOINED BY OTHERS IN SUCCESSION. LEAVES IN THE NEEM TREE ARE SLOWLY BECOMING VISIBLE. THE SKY IS BLUE, DEEP BLUE. SMALL PATCHES OF WHITE SCATTERED CLOUDS ARE LOOKING DOWN LIKE THE HURRIED WHITE STROKES FROM THE QUILL OF THAT ENIGMATIC YET BRILLIANT ARTIST WORKING ON A MASSIVE BLUE CANVAS. CROWS ARE MOVING AROUND WITH THAT CAW, CAW SOUND ALL WELCOMING AND GREETING THAT NEW MORNING. CROWS ARE MOVING IN A GROUP TOWARDS THAT TERRACE. THEY ARE CALLING EACH OTHER LOUDLY AS UP THERE IN THE TERRACE SOMEBODY HAS LEFT GRAINS FOR THEM.

JOHN LOOKED TOWARDS THE RIVER. THE OLD PRIEST OF THE NEAR BY HINDU TEMPLE IS COMING BACK AFTER TAKING BATH IN RIVER. HE WALKS BACK WITH THAT BRASS POT ON THE PALM OF LEFT HAND. BRASS POT FULL OF RIVER WATER. AS HE WALKS AND CHANTS VEDIC MANTRA, HE SPRINKLES WATER TO THE FRONT AND BACK ALTERNATIVELY. JOHN HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE MANY TIMES. HE HAS GONE TO THE TEMPLE MANY TIMES ALONG WITH HIS HINDU FRIENDS. ONE DAY, HE MUSTERED ENOUGH COURAGE TO ASK THE OLD PRIEST. GRAND PA, WHY DO YOU SPRINKLE WATER TO THE FRONT AND BACK WHILE YOU COME BACK FROM RIVER AFTER TAKING BATH? HE WAS ANTICIPATING THAT THE OLD PRIEST WILL TURN RED AND SHOUT OR HE MAY ANSWER VERY PHILOSOPHICALLY OR DOGMATICALLY. HE MAY QUOTE SOME RELIGIOUS SCRIPTURES. HOWEVER, NOTHING THAT SORT HAPPENED. THE OLD PRIEST SMILED A PLAIN SMILE. NONE OF HIS FACIAL MUSCLE QUIVERED. HE ANSWERED, SON, I CLEAN THE PATH THAT I HAVE TO WALK ON AND I CLEAN IT FOR OTHERS AFTER I WALKED ON.

PARIJATS HAVE FALLEN WITH THAT RED TUBE UPWARDS. THERE ARE DEW DROPS ON THE TUBE, WHICH PRESENTS A MAGNIFYING VIEW. THEY ALL ARE SMILING TOGETHER, SINGING TOGETHER IN A CHOIR IN WELCOME OF THAT NEW MORNING. LEAVES OF THE NEEM TREE ARE BECOMING DISTINCT. THE ENIGMATIC ARTIST IS BUSY IN THAT BLUE CANVAS. CLOUDS ARE TURNING CRIMSON BY HIS DEFT AND SWIFT TOUCH. CRIMSON RAYS ARE COMING THROUGH DARK GREEN NEEM LEAVES LIKE THE VERMILION ON NICELY COMBED HAIRS OF A NEWLY MARRIED NUBILE.

SOMEBODY IS KNOCKING ON THE MAIN DOOR. JOHN STEEPED INTO THE ROOM AND OPENED THE MAIN DOOR. LOCAL WORKERS HAVE COME FOR PACKING HIS BELONGINGS AND DO SOME ODD JOBS FOR HIM. JOHN GUIDED THEM TO A DISTANCE. UNDER THE NEEM TREE, THE CYCLE RICKSHAW IS STILL WAITING FOR WILLIUM, LUNATIC, UGLY AND ARROGANT WILLIUM, WHO HAS VANISHED IN THIN AIR. JOHN HELPED THE LABOURERS TO LIFT THAT RICKSHAW. IT WAS BROUGHT UNDER THE PARIJAT TREE. SUN HAS COME UP IN THE SKY. EARTH IS TURNING WARM. JOHN ASKED THE LABOURERS TO ERECT A LOW HEIGHT PARTITION ALL AROUND THE PARIJAT TREE AND CYCLE RICKSHAW. THE NEWLY APPOINTED BRIDGE MAINTENANCE ENGINEER HAS PROMISED JOHN TO TAKE CARE OF THE PARIJAT TREE, CEMENT FLOOR AND THAT CYCLE RICKSHAW. SOMEHOW, JOHN BELIEVES THAT HE WILL DO THE NEEDFUL.

LABOURERS ARE WORKING ON THE BARRICADE. JOHN CAME INSIDE. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR HIM. SO MUCH WORKS ARE THERE FOR HIM TO DO. HE WENT INSIDE THE BATHROOM, STOOD UNDER THE SHOWER AND OPENED THE TAP. SHOWER WAS NOT IN USE FOR MANY DAYS. WATER STARTED FALLING HAPHAZARDLY ON HIM. HIS EYES STARTED SCANNING THE BATHROOM. OVER THE VENTILATOR THE LADIES BLOUSE IS STILL HANGING. JOHN TRIED TO REMEMBER THOSE MOMENTS, THE ABERRATION OF HIS PROCLAIMED BACHELORHOOD. IT WAS OUT AND OUT PHYSICAL WITH THAT MUSCULAR FEMALE LABOURER. PURE HUNGER, PHYSICAL HUNGER. NO FEELING, NO LOVE. HOWEVER, IT WAS LUST. THEY HAVE NOT TALKED. THEY HAVE ONLY GRUNTED TOGETHER, PERSPIRED TOGETHER AND GRASPED FOR BREATHES TOGETHER OUT OF THAT FRICTIONAL PLEASURE. MIND HAS NEVER MET. FEELING HAS NEVER MET. THEY HAVE NOT SEEN EACH OTHER PROPERLY, BUT THEY HAVE DISCOVERED THAT PHYSICAL COMPATIBILITY IN THAT SENSUAL MOMENT WHEN EVERY LOGIC, EVERY RATIONALITY TAKE A BACK SEAT. IT IS CALL OF HUNGER, CARNAL HUNGER. JOHN HAS NEVER REALIZED THAT, NEVER TRIED TO RATIONALIZE THAT. WHY IT HAPPENS ? WHEN IT HAPPENS? DOES IT HAPPEN TO EVERYBODY? WHAT IS THAT RELATIONSHIP? HOW YOU DEFINE THAT? DOES EVERY BODY SUCCUMB TO CALL OF THAT HUNGER? DOES THE RATIONALIZATION, REALIZATION REALLY VANISH? MAY BE WE ARE TOO INTELLIGENT TO RATIONALIZE EVERYTHING AND INTERPRET SAME THING IN DIFFERENT MANNER IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND ALSO IN THE SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

WORKERS HAVE STARTED PACKING JOHN BELONGINGS. JOHN PULLED OUT THAT OLD BOX OF WILLIUM FROM THAT CUB WEBS. PULLED OUT THAT BLOUSE FROM VENTILATOR. ALONG WITH THE WILLIUM BOX, HE PACKED THAT BLOUSE IN A CARD BOARD BOX. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY HE CARRIES THOSE THINGS, BUT THERE WAS AN INNER URGE INSISTING HIM TO CARRY THOSE. ---------------------------------------------------------------

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FAST FOR JOHN. THE BELONGINGS WILL GO FIRST. HE WILL CATCH THE EVENING BUS TO THE NEW CONSTRUCTION SITE.

HE LEFT THE HOUSE AND KEPT IT OPEN FOR WORKERS TO PACK THE BELONGINGS. CAME TO THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL. IN THE ENTRANCE OF THE SCHOOL, MADAM MULLER SAW HIM AND ALMOST SHOUTED IN EXCITEMENT. HEY JOHN WE HAVE ADDED JOHN IN YOUR CHILD NAME. NOW SHE IS CALLED AS MINI JOHN JACOB. THEN SHE STARTED CALLING IN HER TOP OF VOICE, MINI, HEY MINI, WHERE ARE YOU, LITTLE ONE. YOUR PAPA IS WAITING FOR YOU. FROM THE UPSTAIRS OF RESIDENTIAL HOSTEL, JOHN COULD SEE MINI IS COMING, NO, SHE IS RUNNING AND JUMPING, COVERING TWO STEPS OF STAIRCASE IN ONE GO. JOHN COULD SEE THE EXCITEMENT. HE HAS SEEN THE EXCITEMENTS EARLIER WHEN HE WAS COMING WITH JACOB. MINI JACOB, YES MINI JACOB, NOW MINI JOHN JACOB. THANKS JACOB WHEREVER YOU ARE! JACOB, YOU GREAT SOUL! MINI IS RUNNING, RUNNING FAST TOWARDS JOHN. NEXT MOMENT MINI HAS ALMOST JUMPED ON JOHN. IT WAS HUG. HUG WHEN SOULS MEET. WHO SAYS OFFSPRING RELATIONSHIPS ARE BY BIRTH? NO, IT IS MADE HERE, ON THIS EARTH, IT IS NOT BY BIRTH. THANKS JACOB. THANKS A LOT. THANKS FOR YOUR LOVELY GIFT.

JOHN SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME WITH MINI. MINI KNEW JOHN IS GOING TO A NEW PLACE. THERE IS A PANG IN HER HEART REGARDING JOHN’S DEPARTURE. BUT SHE WAS AHEAD OF HER AGE BY REALIZING THE REALITY. IT IS SAD BUT TRUE. EVERYBODY HAS TO GO. SOME GO EARLY. SOME GO TO COME BACK. SOME GO FOREVER, NEVER EVER TO COME BACK. SHE HAS SEEN THAT, SEEN THAT FROM A CLOSE ANGLE, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. DEPARTURE IS NOT NEW HER.---------------------------------. IT WAS A HUG ONCE AGAIN , JOHN COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF THUMPING HEART . EVERYTHING APPEARS TO HAVE STOPPED FOR A MOMENT. MINI LOOKED TO JOHN, AVOIDED THE DIRECT LOOK. SUDDENLY BITE THE EAR LOBE OF JOHN AS SHE USED TO DO TO JACOB. TURNED BACK, STARTED RUNNING TOWARDS HOSTEL AWAY FROM JOHN, WENT TO THE TERRACE OF HOSTEL AND SHOUTED PAPA, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ONE THING, PAPA, I HAVE BEEN DECLARED AS THE BEST STUDENT OF THE CLASS. BELIEVE ME PAPA. SEE IN THE NOTICE BOARD. THEN SHE STARTED WAIVING TO JOHN FROM TERRACE WITH A SIGN OF DEPARTURE BUT WITH A HOPE AND WISH TO MEET SOON. JOHN SMILED AND RAISED HIS THUMB TO CONGRATULATE MINI. BUT THE THUMB WAS ALSO CONVEYING ASSURANCE OF COMING BACK AND MEETING SOON.

JOHN TOUCHED HIS EAR LOBE AS HE STARTED TO GO AWAY FROM SCHOOL. HE SMILED AND ALMOST BURST INTO THE LAUGHTER AS HE DISCOVERED THE SALIVA OF MINI IN HIS EAR LOBE. HE MUTTERED AS HE LAUGHED –YOU NAUGHTY. SUN IS ALSO LAUGHING OVERHEAD WITH ALL MAJESTY.

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EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE IN A HURRY. THREE WHEELS CYCLE TROLLEYS ARE BEING LOADED. BELONGINGS ARE ARRENGED WITH CARE. BIG SIZED UNBREAKABLES ARE PUSHED INSIDE. SMALL VALUABLES ARE KEPT IN THE MIDDLE. CUSHIONS MADE OUT OF TORN CLOTHES ARE SPREAD IN THE END PART OF TROLLEY. THEN THE LABOUR COUPLE WILL SIT IN THE END WITH THEIR CHILDREN WITH PETS. IT COULD BE ANYTHING A SMALL KITTEN OR A PUPPY OR COULD BE A HEN. CHILDREN ARE HALF NAKED. MAY BE THE STOMACH IS HALF-FILLED ALSO. EVERYTHING REMAINS HALF FOR THEM. HALF NAKED, HALF FILLED STOMACH, HALF CLOSED EYES IN HOT AND BRIGHT SUN. BUT STILL THEY GIGGLE IN INNOCENCE. LOOK TO YOU IN STRANGE EYES WHEN THEY SEE YOU COVERED HEAD TO FEET. IT IS UNUSUAL FOR THEM. THEY SMILE AT YOU, IN A STRANGE WAY, SURPRISE MIX WITH SUSPICION AND FEAR. BUT THE INNOCENCE IN THE FACE IS SWEET, CLEAN AND BRIGHT. IT IS COVERED WITH DREAM, DREAM OF TOMMOROW, DREAM FOR ACHIEVEMENT, THE DREAM TO CONVERT EVERYTHING INTO FULL. THEIR DREAMS MOVE SLOWLY LIKE THOSE CYCLE TROLLEYS, STRUGGLING TO GATHER PACE IN THAT BUMPY ROADS. TROLLEYS ARE MOVING ONE AFTER OTHER AS THE LABOUR COLONY GETTING VACATED.

JOHN LOOKED TOWARDS THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BRIDGE. HIS JOB IS OVER, HE HAS TO MOVE BEFORE THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY LEAVING THE SITE CLEAN. ALMOST TWO YEARS HE HAD SPENT HERE. LONG TIME, BUT IT APPEARS ALL YESTERDAYS, SO FRESH AND SO RECENT. EVERYTHING HAS COME AROUND IN A CIRCLE. THE FIRST DAY AND LAST DAY IT ALL APPEARS SAME .IT WAS CLEANING ON THE FIRST DAY AND CLEANING ON THE LAST DAY. BUT IT IS NOT ALL THE SAME IN REALITY.IT IS DIFEERENCE OF BIRTH AND DEATH THOUGH YOU FIND FLOWERS AND FRAGRANCES IN THE BOTH THE OCCASIONS .PEOPLE SING IN BOTH THE OCCASIONS BUT IT IS ALL DIFFERENT.DIFFERENT FLOWERS ,DIFFERENT FRAGRANCES, DIFFERENT SONGS, DIFFERENT MUSIC,DIFFERENT TUNES AND DIFFERENT EMOTIONS. FIRST DAY IT WAS EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM OF A NEW BEGINNING. LAST DAY IT WAS HEAVY HEART OF LEAVING SOMETHING. FIRST DAY IT WAS SONG OF WELCOME WHILE FEMALE WORKERS CONSTRUCT THEIR HUTS. LAST DAY, IT IS CACOPHONY AND RUMBLING SOUNDS AS MALE WORKERS PULLING DOWN THOSE HUTS.

SLOWLY AND SURELY, THE SUN IS MOVING DOWN IN THE HORIZON. SAND IN THE RIVER EMITS A GOLDEN GLITTER. THE BREEZE FROM RIVER COMING FAST AS IT IS ALL VACANT. ALL THE LABOUR HUTS ARE GONE AND DEBRIS HAS BEEN CLEANED. JOHN CLOSED THE DOOR AND CAME TO THE BACK YARD. HE HAS TO LEAVE TOMORROW AND THIS HOUSE AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE WILL BE CONVERTED IN TO BRIDGE MAINTENANCE OFFICE. THE BACK YARD IS RELATIVELY CALM. BREEZE IS SLOW AND PLEASANT. JOHN SAT IN THE CEMENT CHAIR AND STRECHED HIS LEGS. DUSK IS ARRIVING FAST, THE SUN HAS SLEPT. IT IS GOLDEN, FAST DIMINISHING GOLDEN. GOLDEN MIXED WITH DARK. THEN IT IS FAINT DARK. BREEZE IS FAST BECOMING COOL, PLEASANTLY COOL. JOHN LOOKED TO THE SKY. HE COULD SEE THE SOLITARY STAR FLICKERING AND SMILING. CLOUDS MOVE ON COVERED THE LONELY STAR. IT IS DARK. COMPLETELY DARK. JOHN COULD HEAR THE WAILING OF FOXES. CLOUDS ARE MOVING SLOWLY UNFOLDING STARS FROM THEIR TAILS. THERE ARE STARS, GLITTERING STARS EVERY WHERE WITH THAT CRESCENT GOLDEN MOON. IT IS SILVERY NOW, BRIGHT SILVERY. CRESCENT MOON WITH THOSE GLITERING STARS LOOK TO THEIR FACES IN RIVER WATER. BREEZE HAS STOPPED. WATER IS CALM, NO WAVES, AND NO RIPPLES. SILENT, SILENT AS HERMIT IN DEEP MEDITATION.

AIR IS FILLED WITH SWEET AROMA OF PARIJAT (NIGHT JASMINE} FLOWERS. THE TALL PARIJAT TREE IN THE CORNNER OF BACK YARD HAS STARTED BLOOMING. PARIJAT FLOWERS WITH THOSE WHITE COROLLA AND ORANGE RED TUBE IN CENTRE ARE SPARKLING LIKE STARS IN THE SKY.

JOHN LOOKED TO THE TREE .IN THE SILVERY MOON LIGHT WHITE PARIJATS ARE JUST LIKE THOSE BEAUTIFUL ANGELS FLOATING AROUND AND BLESSING AROUND. JOHN COULD SEE THE CEMENT CARPET UNDER THE PARIJAT TREE. THAT CARPET -------, CEMENT CARPET, SILENT CARPET, OUGHH GOD-----------.JOHN COULD NOT BEAR THE LOOK OF THAT CARPET. HE LOOKED TO THE SKY. REMEMBERING SOMEBODY. SEARCHING SOMEBODY. SOMEBODY FACE BECAME APARANT IN THAT CRESENT MOON. IT IS HAZY IN THE BEGINNING LIKE THAT MEMORY SLOWLY BLOOMING UP. HE COULD SEE HIS FRIEND JACOB, THE STEEL REINFORCEMENT FABRICATOR JACOB, SLOWLY GETTING DETACHED FROM THE CRESENT MOON, FALLING AND WHIRLING ON AIR BEFORE FALLING ON CHEST ON THAT CEMENT CARPET.

THE PARIJAT TREE HAS GROWN WITH THE MEMORY OF JACOB BLOOMING WITH FLOWERS SO SWEET, SO AROMATIC, SO SMILING, SO SHORT AS JACOB WAS. GOOD PERSON NEVER LASTS. GOD TAKES AWAY FOR HIS OWN REQUIREMENT. WHAT REMAINS FOR US IS MEMORY, THAT SHORT AND YET AGONIZING MEMORY. IT BURNS. IT HURTS. YES IT IS WORTH BURNING IN THAT FIRE OF MEMORY.

IT IS COOL MIST AIR OF DAWN CAJOLED JOHN TO OPEN HIS EYES. HE HAD SLEPT IN THAT CEMENT BENCH IN THE OPEN AIR THROUGH OUT THE NIGHT LOOKING TO THE CEMENT CARPET AND PARIJAT FLOWERS. IT IS STILL MISTY DARK, BUT IT IS FADING FAST. HE COULD NO LONGER SEE THE CEMENT CARPET. IT IS FULL WITH CARPET OF WHITE PARIJATS WITH THAT ORANGE RED TUBE. PARIJATS THE FLOWER OF SARROW HAVE DROPPED FROM THE STEMS. THEY HAVE TO GO BEFORE SUN RISE. THEY ARE FOR ONE NIGHT, SO SWEET, YET SO SHORT. FEW IN THE BRANCHES ARE SLOWLY CASTING OFF LIKE THAT VANISHING STARS OF NIGHT. BUT IT IS WORTH TO CHERISH THEIR MEMORY.

SLEEP MY FRIEND, JACOB, SLEEP MY FRIEND. YOU WERE SO SHORT AND SO SWEET LIKE THOSE PARIJATS AND STARS IN THE SKY. ONLY MUNDANE LIVES LONG!!!