A funny story: figures.

- Coordination: Pratibha Thakkar

- pratibhathakker@yahoo.com

"Hey Khushi, get up quickly, son, now your grandfather will come with a mongook. If his tea-breakfast is not ready, then he will not have breakfast saying 'I'm not hungry'." Come on son, get up. Today you are going to make your grandfather's favorite eight pan cakes and parij. If I have carrots and peas ready. 'Amitabh cheered for his eighteen year old daughter. There the darbell rang.

Khushi jumped straight out of bed and ran straight to the main door and opened the door and clung to Grandpa's neck. 'Just Grandpa, breakfast will be ready in two minutes then we will have breakfast together ...!' Saying that she kept going to freshen up. Shortly after, he prepared a hot special breakfast for Dadu and sat down to have tea and breakfast together. 'Dadu, today your favorite parij has been made by your dear granddaughter, let's start eating' - Khushi insisted on eating Dadu as soon as she finished the prayer and started eating breakfast herself.

Amitabh, Khushi's mom, was watching from the kitchen, seeing that Dad was having tea and breakfast but his mind was not calm. Today the thoughts have gone up again. Something seems sad. He came to the dining table from the kitchen.

'Papaji, how did your darling make parij? Did you like it or not Amitabh asked his father-in-law Madhukarbhai. 'Hmm, yes ... yes, my daughter has done a great job. It makes me so nice, how much he loves me! ' Madhukarbhai started eating without looking at Amitabh. Amitabh approached Madhukarbhai and started asking him, "Papaji, what happened today, is your mind sad or not?" Finished breakfast and went to his room to get ready to go to the factory.

They would happily go to the factory every day, happily drop off at the college on the way and then they would reach the factory. Madhukarbhai was sixty four years old. Retired from government job and going to support his son at the factory he set up. One day his son Anu and his mother Maliniben had a road accident and both died tragically on the spot. Anuna's departure robbed her of fourteen years of happiness and Amitabh. In this previous state, the responsibility of the house fell back on Madhukarbhai. In a situation where who can comfort anyone, Amitabh gave up his pier to convince his father-in-law Madhukarbhai that he was not his daughter-in-law but a daughter. Moreover, even a small happiness prepared Dadu to take over the factory by sprinkling his affection. And Madhukarbhai became the 'support' of mother and daughter.

But the emptiness that was years old in one corner of his heart was often exposed. They started working for 22 years and soon married Maliniben. Anu was born in the second year of their marriage. But then who knows why Maliniben's temper got irritated. He remained like that all his life. He was losing something somewhere, but Madhukarbhai could not understand it. Maliniben often vented his anger on little Anu. Madhukarbhai's heart melted with the beating of Anu. Madhukarbhai used to change his uniform and take him to his office. Anu, who had stopped crying after being beaten, used to be happy when he went to the office with his father.

A beautiful river outside the window in Dad's section ... a big tree on the river bank and the peacock's sweet chirping filled his mind with joy. In the recesses, when Dad was taking him for a swing on a tree branch, People's Aunty would also come there and both of them would feed him a swing. After the recess, Peoplekar Aunty would take him to her section and feed him the breakfast he had brought for her. Leaving the office, Peoplekar would come with Aunty and Dad to drop him off at the bus stop and then go to his quarters. Thus, Maliniben's chirping often ate Madhukarbhai inside. He did not say anything but an emptiness had formed in his heart. Yes, Mrs. Peepalkar would calm her mind by going to the office and pouring out her mind.

Today, seeing her father-in-law sad, Amitabh remembered these words repeated by her late husband Anupam. How to fill this emptiness of father's heart ....! He became our 'base' but his' base '.... !!!'

It was almost midnight. Khushi came back from college. She was very tired so she made a black tea and stood in the gallery with a cup in her hand as per her habit and started sipping tea. He also remembered Grandpa's morning condition. She immediately went to Amitabh's bedroom. 'Mommy, wake up ?? Went inside saying. Khushi tried to hide her sadness by saying that she did not want to eat, she was very tired and was drinking cold coffee. As Amitabh got better, he said happily, 'Son, who is the support of our grandfather who will be our support? Who do they tell about the shadow of their mind ?? When I was working, there was Mrs. Peoplekar but now .... ???? ' And the mind of happiness flickered. As soon as she finished talking to her mother, she finished her tea and went to rest in her room.

But where is the sleep in the eyes of happiness! He started searching for Dadu's support by chugging Mrs. People'skar's name in the search option on Facebook. And ..... Mrs. Meghna Peepalkar got it. Reading his key, he thought this must be Mrs. Peepalkar! She became cheerful.

Today, Khushi took up her work sooner than usual. The sun had also set early today. Today was Poonam so the night was bright.

Kshitij Punam's moon was moving to light. In the evening, Madhukarbhai came home from the factory, so Khushi told Dadu about his intention to go to the ground. Yes, today was Poonam. Madhukarbhai remembered that Poonam. The day Meghna's husband divorced her. Meghna was very sad in the office. So Madhukarbhai went to his quarters in the evening with Anu. Meghna could not cry because she was with the children but there was helplessness in her wet wet eyes. They said, 'People, tell me what to do ... my situation is the same as yours ... I can't even divorce her ...! But yes, I am ready to be your 'base'. Don't worry at all. As long as we are together anytime any need, tell me, I am present for you .... any time, any place ...! Your two children and my son will be our children from now on ... OK ...! On the way home after a while, Meghna's youngest daughter said childishly, "Let's go, Peepalkar, let's go."

'Grandpa, let's have dinner.' That is why happiness boomed from outside. Madhukarbhai came out of Chandra. 'Yes, son like this.' Saying they went out. The atmosphere seemed mild. The three ate together. Then Khushi pulled Dadu to the floor. Amitabh kept saying, 'Papaji, don't tell me what's on your mind? If you are sad, the mind is sad. Please, Papaji, speak your mind! '

Madhukarbhai and Khushi were sitting quietly in the gentle light of the moon. Khushi started talking and said, 'Grandpa, if you tell me your mind, you will feel better. The mind will be relaxed. Otherwise I have to give you the answers to the questions I want to ask you 'Madhukarbhai did not understand anything. Khushi asked the question, 'Grandpa, what was the name of the office you were working for? Where is it located? Name one of your colleagues. ' I was happy to ask some questions like Facebook profile. Hearing the last question, Madhukarbhai's eyes sparkled. He was the first to give the answer. After hearing some other things from Dadu's mouth, how good it would be if this cold moon's kaley rains like this ....! Thinking so, she came down with her grandfather.

The next day Khushi arrived alone in a taxi at an old age home far from the city.

'I want to meet Mrs. Meghna Peepalkar. He told the administrator of the old age home after giving his full identity. In a few moments, with the gleam of meeting someone in big big eyes .. Tattar walks ... Mrs. Meghna Peepalkar, dressed in a normal Punjabi dress, arrived. Staring. "I'm here to pick you up ... can you be my grandfather's 'support'?" Before she could think of anything else, Mrs. Peoplekar happily took a bath.

Meghna Madhukar arrived at his bungalow with Satyakam's granddaughter. Khushi took Mrs. Peepalkar's hand and took it to Dadu. Staring in amazement, he said to his grandfather, 'Grandpa, take this Father's Day gift. Look, I came for your 'support'. Now you will be the support of all of us ...! '

Both were ready to be each other's 'base' once again in the same cool moonlight ..... !!!

Author - Neelam Roy