Dhan-Deep

By Manojkumar Prakash

An old woman was sitting under a bridge overlooking the building amid the piles of garbage , veiled in a torn saree, while a very busy and crowd was scurrying here and there into a large building. 

Those longing, pained eyes affected me so much that I couldn't see the face properly so I moved a little closer, and she refused to look at me. I didn't say anything that day, those painful eyes affected me so much that I didn't sleep that day. Next day I went to the same mall again, this time with a food parcel in my hand. As I was coming alone, I went to the old women without waiting for anyone, and a couple was there with a food parcel. Another man was standing with a camera in his hand, he is telling to take a picture as they gave it to her, but that women never bought the food, and the old lady refused to buy it despite their insistence. I was watching all this from a distance, and the couple went away after cursing the old women. 

I reluctantly put the food parcel near that old women and went from there and stood at a tea shop, I started smoking and looking at the old lady, she looked at the parcel and looked around and started eating as she saw the building. Furthermore, I wanted to know something about that old lady, she was so mysterious .??? Who was she? Why is she here? What is the reason for sitting there without asking others for alms.??? Many questions arose in me.. I started going there every day to know the answer to this.. A week passed like that. This time I handed the food parcel to her.. She recognized the parcel and received the parcel without removing her veil. I didn't feel like asking any questions to her, who was eating well. I was confused. I tried so hard to see her face, But I couldn't able to see her face. Similarly, the next day, I took a saree with a packet of food. This time, I called out, "Grandma, Grandma", hesitantly, twice with the intention of talking. She told me to keep the parcel aside and motioned me to sit there. I sat in front of her..I kept the saree aside and told her to eat. She didn't talk anything, and She always used to look at the building and eat. That day, she sat facing me and ate without showing her face!. 

After she finished eating, I began to ask my questions to her.. Who are you? Why are you staying here, I kept on layering my questions. After listening to all these, she said your name is Manudeep right.?? . I was so shocked while hearing my name from her.... she slowly unveiled her face .... And looked at me , I was speechless and shattered ...... I held her hands ....and moved towards her, Why are you here.?? What happened to grandpa? Where is brother ?.... Grandma held my hand tightly and comforted me." And she said, " Grandfather died of a heart attack, she said that it has been 10 years since he died, and she has been here for 6 years. I hesitantly asked about brother, Grandma thought for a while and said in a slightly sad voice that he is in the same town."

 Manu : Is he not taking good care of you? 

 Grandma.?? 

 Grandma : I took care of him till marriage, after marriage he could not take care of him by himself . I watched as long as I could. But I'm old too...I can't either.. 

 Manu : Didn't you see him after that, Grandma???? 

 Grandma: I saw... he came to see me last week... 

 Manu: what did he say.??? 

 Grandma: He gave me a parcel of food and 100 rupees ,I refused to buy it, he scolded me and left with his wife. She said with her eyes tears rolling . I was not able to ask further questions....

In that moment ,  I decided and asked grandma to come with me, But she refused to come with me , I requested and begged her to come with me. She accepted and Both of us went to my house. I didn't talk much to her , she finished her bath and slept peacefully. That day, my blanket and pillow helped her to have a peaceful sleep. The next day I gave her a new saree and asked her to come and wear it. She bought it without asking any questions and went inside. That's when I started to realize how she only bought the food I gave instead of what others gave! 

I tied her eyes with kerchief and we both went in a car , to a familiar place After parking the car, I untied her eyes ...she looked mesmerized, and it was the entrance of that big mall. That is the first time she looked closely to the mall. The exterior of the building, which till then had been seen with pain and longing, was seen with wonder and beauty that day. Just like grandma's heart... ‌

                                                           " TWENTY YEARS AGO"...

 An 8-year-old boy was playing in the verandah outside the house, and nearby the owner of the house, Krishnan, was cleaning his bike.. His wife Dhanalakshmi called the boy in, "Come in! , Take this .... She gave him a handful of sweets. Dhanalakshmi swept his head and told him to finish eating before his mother came. He was eating it happily and was playing and teasing Krishnan on the verandah and Krishnan picked that boy and tickled him ,and he played with him

Dhanalakshmi also stood at the door and smiled, looking at both of them.. The verandah where he was playing that day is where he parked his car today. And That boy's name is Manudeep......!!!