31st Aug,08
I was getting bored.I stopped gazing at the bunch of my colleagues howling in the swimming pool.
'Oh my God!When will we leave?',I sighed.
I turned my eyes towards the sea again.
I don't know why,everytime I look at the sea,I am amazed by its vastness.
It seems so powerful.
Anyways,I asked my friends to go to the nearby antique shop.We thought of passing some time by wandering there.I think even the shop owner knew why we came.He asked us to take our time to see the stuff.
The objects displayed were really authentic and beautiful.I just started inquiring about the things there.
"European tourists like these things and pay a handsome price as well", the owner said.
I just nodded.
"Even I am an outsider.I don't belong to Kerala",he continued.
"Then where are you from?",I asked out of curiosity.
"Kashmir".
"I am from Himachal",I replied instantly with a broad smile.
"How you came to Trivandrum,almost to the southern tip of India....?".
I couldn't resist myself asking further.
"I had to elope from Kashmir.My brother was killed by Indian army.Even I was sent to prison twice.They used to beat me whole night."
"My father also died and I was the only bread earner.I was very good in Mathematcs and Physics".
I could see a little twinkle in his eyes when he said that.
"But I had to leave my studies in between and came to Trivandrum in 1992 to assist my uncle in his antique business."
He paused for a few seconds and said ,"It has been a long time,but I don't like staying here.I even got some offers to go to Europe but I refused.My home is in Kashmir.I want to go back there.My mother is waiting for me."
"I have decided that after some years I will shift back to Kashmir.I am praying to God daily that hopefully I can return back home soon."
I heard what he was saying but I could listen to the mixed emotion of hope and pain that his eyes were trying to tell.
I didn't know what to say so I turned and started looking around the shop vaguely.
"Shall we go now?",asked my friend.
"Yes ,sure".
Before leaving,I looked at the shop owner and said,"I will pray for you."
"Thanks and please keep praying",he said with a smile.
"How many others might be hymning the same prayer...!!",I thought.
It was 6.30 in the evening when we boarded the boat to return from the island.I saw the resort slowly and slowly moving away from us.
Then I looked at the sky filled with the chirping of birds returning back to their nests.............
I was getting bored.I stopped gazing at the bunch of my colleagues howling in the swimming pool.
'Oh my God!When will we leave?',I sighed.
I turned my eyes towards the sea again.
I don't know why,everytime I look at the sea,I am amazed by its vastness.
It seems so powerful.
Anyways,I asked my friends to go to the nearby antique shop.We thought of passing some time by wandering there.I think even the shop owner knew why we came.He asked us to take our time to see the stuff.
The objects displayed were really authentic and beautiful.I just started inquiring about the things there.
"European tourists like these things and pay a handsome price as well", the owner said.
I just nodded.
"Even I am an outsider.I don't belong to Kerala",he continued.
"Then where are you from?",I asked out of curiosity.
"Kashmir".
"I am from Himachal",I replied instantly with a broad smile.
"How you came to Trivandrum,almost to the southern tip of India....?".
I couldn't resist myself asking further.
"I had to elope from Kashmir.My brother was killed by Indian army.Even I was sent to prison twice.They used to beat me whole night."
"My father also died and I was the only bread earner.I was very good in Mathematcs and Physics".
I could see a little twinkle in his eyes when he said that.
"But I had to leave my studies in between and came to Trivandrum in 1992 to assist my uncle in his antique business."
He paused for a few seconds and said ,"It has been a long time,but I don't like staying here.I even got some offers to go to Europe but I refused.My home is in Kashmir.I want to go back there.My mother is waiting for me."
"I have decided that after some years I will shift back to Kashmir.I am praying to God daily that hopefully I can return back home soon."
I heard what he was saying but I could listen to the mixed emotion of hope and pain that his eyes were trying to tell.
I didn't know what to say so I turned and started looking around the shop vaguely.
"Shall we go now?",asked my friend.
"Yes ,sure".
Before leaving,I looked at the shop owner and said,"I will pray for you."
"Thanks and please keep praying",he said with a smile.
"How many others might be hymning the same prayer...!!",I thought.
It was 6.30 in the evening when we boarded the boat to return from the island.I saw the resort slowly and slowly moving away from us.
Then I looked at the sky filled with the chirping of birds returning back to their nests.............
4 comments:
Hellooooo
Somehow gt to ur profle.
Really grt post that was.
Keep posting.
Mr. Somebody
Thanks for d encouragement Mr.Somebody.
U will see d new posts soon
Mast hai yaar.... This post was really an emotional one.. We think that we are so far from our families, but then to think of this person, we aren't even close to what he is experiencing each day of his life..
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