Rooh Afza

By Latika Bhatia

He was seated in the circular front yard of dharamshala which was surrounded by rooms, verandas and almaris (cupboards).

“Munna Bhai, fill my glass, too! Let it flow,” said Chicha.

Munnabhai had rented the almari for Rs. 3 per month to stay at Dharamshala. Now he needs a room as the 3 ft X 4 ft size cupboard won’t be suffice because his kids are coming…Or it is what he feels.

He’s happy. The hot desert winds of Kota do not remind him anymore of the harsh time he’d faced so far. Only thing important is that he has found them and hence the cheer. Celebrating with family which he made here at this Dharamshala. It’s on the house for everyone - Rooh Afza - served chilled with ice, milk & water. ‘Rooh Afza’ meaning ‘Refresher of the Soul’.

He has to now decide on number of things like booking appointment with Adv. Tyagi, preparing paperwork, planning his next moves to shift them & asking doctor saab for advance.

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The Diwali of 1990 was cheerful as every year. Nothing really struck him about what was in the offing.

It was the wedding invitation from his in-laws in Kota, Rajasthan that made him believe that happy times will continue till eternity. It was time to mend bitter and broken relations –for family’s sake, at least.

Owning an automobile painting business and being a skilled painter himself, he was sure that he will take care of everything pretty well. He’s the only one in the town who could afford to turn his customers down, politely of course, for being full.

His wife Rajani (whom he called Rajjo with love. He’d only named her Rajani.) and kids, Kapil & Kritika showed up at his garage to say good bye to him for next 10 days for Mama’s wedding.

Long distance from Panvel to Kota will calm the simmering angst for one another. Better to travel distances than creating them, he thought. Second chance? May be worth it…

Kritika wasn’t really happy leaving daddy. Even if it meant going with mom. While she hugged and kissed him good bye, she complained that mom had been rough with her and almost dragged her from school to go with her or else they’d miss the train. He gave Rajjo a stern, warning look but changed it to friendly smile, asking for assurance. Gave Kritika her favourite orange color 20 rupees note, dated it 25/10/90.

Alright, time to practice his calligraphy in the evenings, if friends didn’t turn up for drink or TV. His house was the only place to own TV in the village. He wasn’t considered well-off for nothing.

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December 12, ’90.

‘What’s wrong? Why aren’t back yet? No phone call, no letter. No answers to letter. This is why I have to be rough with them. All of them. Even Rajjo. Why test my patience and draw my wrath…Alright, this was the last time I allowed anyone to travel without me..what about Kritika’s school? Uneducated Qureshi clan, can never understand what it means to go to school, @##@%***’ He was reasonably appalled at having to wait for so long & hear no news from Rajani.

His dad was right, how can there be a match between a Dwivedi Brahmin boy and Rukhsana, a golden hearted girl from Muslim family….but match was made, by their circumstantial choices and Rukhsana became Rajani.

He must now catch the first train he can to fetch them back. He talked to all his clients, & instructed his workers about the line of work. Promising to return next week, he left for Kota. Being an affluent man he could arrange anything, anyhow. His Safari suit, perfume and gold watch did some magic on the TTE to secure berth in train to Kota.

Arriving at wee hours he calmed down. ‘Let’s surprize Kritika, Kapil, Rajjo & everyone with sumptuous breakfast. Daal Baati Choorma and Bedmi Puri Halwa!’

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There was a stranger at the door. Turned out that his in-laws have moved to another address – on account of their daughter’s marriage. Was it not their son who was to be married? For a moment he thought he was at a wrong door. But he thanked the lady for the information & new address. Find the new address then : Nayapura, Kota.

He arrived at Nayapura, Kota to find no one even there. Neighbour said they are off to Bijnaur, UP to their daughter’s in-laws’ Haveli.

‘What? Who got married? The youngest Rubina? But what has Rajjo to do with Bijnaur?? Stupid woman! Who goes from Maharashtra to Rajasthan to UP? Uninformed? Just for a marriage….’ His anger swelled up high again.

What neighbour said next was even more unsettling than his wife’s unplanned and irresponsible trip : It was Rukhsana, his Rajani, who got married to a wealthy man in Bijnaur. Then, where are kids? Did she take them along??

“They are in Yateemkhana” Said the neighour. Where, she didn’t know.

He felt a deafening silence…gulped his disbelief and stood there, gathering his courage as he didn’t know how to react to this joke that his kids are in orphanage! Wife is remarried!!

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He remembered his childhood, deprived of love that forced him to run away from his big wealthy home in Benaras. All his struggles appeared before him: his education & life’s lessons learned at remand home. How he escaped the dirty world of smuggling and crime which was imposed on him by his elder brother. How he learned to earn a respectful living and a skill that built his business. How he kept his promise to provide daily bread to his staff. And finally

how he struggled to fend off his inner demons of anger, violence, mood swings, uncontrolled gushing of love, enthusiasm for everyone and his extreme outrage at appalling behaviour of a disloyal few. It was tough to accept he would land here, like this. Unprepared.

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He looked for all orphanages in and around Kota.

He relied on what people told him about the locality.

No compass, no companion. But he had to look for them.

Once a Mallakhamb champion, he didn’t know he could not withstand the harsh winters of Rajasthan. Disappointed with no traces of Kritika & Kapil, his tired swollen feet and hunger made him take a halt at a dhaba. The kind cook massaged his feet and fed him warm food. It was only when the cook told him he learned that he had walked 12 milometers all night, trading through a way notorious for more deaths by robbery and snake bite than accidents.

He discovered his own physical & mental strengths & weaknesses once again in a long time when he met with scares and surprizes.

He smiled.

He was losing on money and time. Luckily he got a job of painting a doctor’s bungalow. It was a time show his craftsmanship. With his charming nature, doctor’s family grew fond of him. He shared his predicament with them and what really brought him here. They said, ‘just check out next lane.’

It turned out to be an administration office of some orphanage. He prepared himself to go through the list of kids – maybe to find them there or be disappointed again…after all, all this time he’d been reassuring himself ‘ better luck next time’.

Voila!! Kritika and Kapil. He read four times to confirm, ‘admitted on the same date. Siblings. Six and three.’ Wow!! It’s them. Wow..

He reached the orphanage, to initially being denied access. But his charm has to work, right?

Sweet talked the staff and entered the hall way and called Kritika with a secret pet name “Nannhu.”

She ran to him with a lightning speed, as if this was it she had been waiting to hear from past 3 months, since their departure. Emotions can be best expressed through tears. That’s what happened with father, kids and the by-standers! He must celebrate with everyone. Time for Rooh Afza. That’s all he can afford for time being.

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By now his in-laws Salim, Haneesa, Abdul & even the tiny Faheem (who couldn’t stop hugging him with love) were aware of his arrival in Kota. They have been following him wherever he went : from doctor’s bungalow, to nullah crossing, the railway crossing, to market & to orphanage, of course. They are fully prepared to eliminate him.

And he has sensed the threat and decided to move faster. Each day is important. He’s got important things on his checklist:

✔ Find a lawyer & file a custody battle.

✔ Take orphanage staff in confidence

✔ Call money order from Panvel

✔ Money comes in or not still look for another work

✔ Shift kids

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Adv. Dharmendra Tyagi, a stern looking man in his late 40s was both moved and proud about the man’s plight and fight. He decided to fight this case pro-bono. While his ‘new client’ looked tensed Adv. Tyagi lightened up the mood with his weird but trademark humour.

Many subpoenas were served to summon Rajani along with her folks. But of course, they failed to respond. That didn’t mean his side has gotten any stronger or better. As per court’s regulations, Kritika would stay with mom until she turned 18. Only boy’s custody can be granted. Chahiye to le lo.

How would he jump this, besides proving that he is wanted, too? Absence of the other party put a dent in his confidence and he couldn’t prove anything in court. He lost. Without fighting.

From a well-to-do man reduced to a daily wage worker, he has to remember all tricks to survive and stay motivated. Besides, care for his life and his children’s, too? When relatives who are supposed to be your support system are your enemies now and when you are in their territory – anything can flip just like that, whether it’s your mistake or not, whether you have time or not.

Four months went by. From freezing winter to torrid summer, he has seen all seasons of life. “Mangal Bhavan Amangal Haari,”

“Sri Ramchandra Kripalu Bhaja Mana,” it is Hanuman Jayanti and songs blaring on loudspeaker tell him there is feast somewhere nearby.

He walked with barrage of questions in his mind. Hungry and thirsty, he has to still live to love his kids. He has to choose between a meal and a rickshaw fare to the court. What should he spend on?

Songs got louder as he approached the venue. Temple, of course. Wow! It’s amazing. It’s such a spread. He thought he asked for food and here it is. He wished had he asked for his kids, they would be here, too.. Even in that weary situation, he smiled at that innocent thought. Dad’s love.

What a spread that was! God bless all those who started this Langar.

He sat at the end of a row. His first morsel and all he saw was the sand and dust blown into his plate by the hot wind. That was the last straw and he felt so collapsed. ‘Oh God, is it going to be tougher than this?? Do I deserve no answer, no respite? Or is this your answer??’

“Yeah some days, you have to go without food. Tell yourself, ‘it’s by choice’.” Said another voice from inside.

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None of his friends sent any help. No money order. No paperwork. No proof. This time, it was a journey without ticket from Kota to Bombay Central.

Fake it till you make it. Safari, perfume and the gold plated watch worked this time, too. Plus he vanished from the compartment in between to elude the ticket checker.

He never knew that family photographs, and investment papers will be so critical in proving him a responsible, prudent & sensitive father. Armed with substantial proof, money and high vigour, he marched upon again back to Kota to bring his little ones.

When you know you’re going to win, that confidence works just as Rooh Afza. Soothing. Invigorating.

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Adv. Tyagi reassured him, “so what if lost it in Kota. We’ll go to higher ups. Please bring your kids along.”

As things would fall in place when the time is right & ripe, it was after six long months he got to cuddle with the kids. It was such a fortune to bathe them while all three played with soap lather, cook, dance, jump and eat animal shaped biscuits, learn how to comb Kritika’s hair (this was the toughest though), and teach Kapil to speak words.

It felt like his wealth had increased manifold when they switched from an Almari (Cupboard) to a room. It was also heart-warming to see how Dharamshala residents would protect them in his absence.

Kids had regained their health which had deteriorated when they lived in unliveable conditions. Kritika had lost her first tooth in orphanage. No one wanted to clean or comb her waist-long hair so her head was shaven. She looked more like an inmate than child. And Kapil had learned not to wet his bed in sleep. He would get blisters for playing in dirty soil all the time. He’d often be down pneumonia and conjunctivitis. He was branded with stick for scribbling lines in someone’s notebook. No one realized or cared that he was just learning to hold a pencil.

He learned that they also had to work on a farm. And sleep on floor, compromising a bed sheet and recite prayers which they never understood the meaning of.

All this made the father feel numerous stabs in his stomach. But he swallowed all those shocking revelations. He didn’t want his sorrow to overpower his determination.

Children had learned a lot before time. It was time to rejoice at zoo, fairs, parks and restaurants; to watch the ‘Kathputali’ show and go to ‘Aina Ghar’? , roll on the floor laughing to see their own funny faces…. Bring back the cheers and enjoy the silly banter.

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The D-Day:

Being a newly married woman, Rajjo wasn’t present.

In-Laws accused him of luring their daughter into marriage & domestic violence.

Funniest thing was a family photo in which Rajjo was clad in an expensive, blue saree. Haneesa (Rajjo’s mother) and Kritika wore salwar kameez stitched out of the same saree. Pathetic, funny, and still helpful coincidence.

The mud-slinging turned futile as the in-laws found their ground losing when he just told the judge following thing:

“Judge saab, 22 years their daughter lived with them. They said she never became theirs as she married me, a hindu. Alright, for 8 years she lived with me, and left. Six years with Kritika and merely 3 years with Kapil, she warned kids not to call her mom but as ‘Khaala’ (Aunt), how and why will she keep them with her for lifetime…Both parents are alive and kids are in orphanage. Can it get any worse than this?”

Magistrate saw it was a clear case. Yet, the law presides: girl has to stay with mom or maternal grandparents.

However the judge asked a bold question,” Who do you want, beta?”

“Pappa! I want Pappa.” Kritika.

Kapil cried “I want Pappa and Didi.”

It was a defining moment when full custody of kids was granted to a father who travelled thousands of kilometres, not knowing what future held for them.

Who says one needs to be a woman to be a mother?

Temperature soared at 47 degrees outside but the heart was drenched with love and victory. He’d forget anything and everything to soak in it. That’s when 3 & half year old Kapil brought him back to reality,”Pappa, I want Rooh Afza”.

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By Latika Bhatia