Girls are more loving & caring but it’s rather very difficult to get them suitably married & settled

I left my client’s office at 8.30 P.M. and was driving back home when a call came on my mobile from an unlisted number. However, I put the mobile phone on speaker mode and started talking. The caller was one Mr. Rajbir Singh from Patiala and he was talking about his son’s marriage proposal with my daughter. He said his son was an IT-Engineer with a MBA degree, working in a multi-national company at Chennai as a Manager and earning around Rs. 75,000 per month. I was not very keen in the said discussion because my daughter wanted to continue with her studies for the time being.

Meanwhile, the caller also gave me the reference of a very dear friend of mine from Chandigarh from whom he got my number. Hearing this, I stopped my car at the road side corner and started talking to him in detail. After long discussion, I ended the conversation by saying that I will revert back to him, after consulting the matter with my family.

Back home, after dinner while going to bed, I told my wife about the marriage proposal received over phone for our daughter. In the beginning, she was much exited but later became emotional and all of a sudden, her eyes were filled with tears. I was wondering if these tears were for happiness or sorrow.

We were very happy the day our daughter was born; she was so beautiful, very fair and looked like an angel who was the blessing of the God Almighty, as if it was only yesterday and today we were talking about her marriage. Time flies so fast, why my Lord, why?

Next day morning, I told my little angel about the marriage proposal we received for her. She patiently listened to me and said at the end, “Papa, I am in no mood to get married now, I have just started my career as a school teacher and have to continue with my studies. Only after getting a PhD. degree, I would get married, I promise” and she closed the topic.

I was taken aback, as it meant I will have to wait for another three to four years for her marriage. Wasn't it too long a period, I wondered. Then I thought, she could continue with her PhD. studies even after marriage, if the boy gave his consent. We could talk to them in the beginning itself and only if they agreed; we would go ahead. Otherwise we would say 'no' to them, there is no big deal. We tried our best to convince our daughter to meet with the prospective groom at least and discuss each and every point in detail before taking any final decision. May be, the boy could accommodate and would allow her to continue with her studies after marriage. After lot of explanation and persuasion, we finally could convince her to meet with the boy’s family.

Meanwhile, we exchanged the bio-data and photographs and it seemed to be alright. So, we decided to visit Patiala and meet with the family of Mr. Rajbir Singh. We found them very civilized, decent, good and down to earth family. On the face of it, everything seemed to be good and perfect, as if, the Almighty had architected a “made for each other" couple.

Somehow, from inside, I was not comfortable the way things were going and I was wondering how everything was so smooth and hurdle free. I started doubting unnecessarily, although, I was not having any valid reason to say no to this proposal.

At the end, they wanted us to bless the boy by giving a token amount as "shagun", but I refused to honour their request by saying, please visit our house first, meet the girl, let both (boy and girl) talk to each other and let them take an appropriate decision, after all it was their lives and they must decide for their future life partner.

I could guess they did not like my suggestion. Mr. Rajbir Singh then gave a counter proposal and said, let both of them talk to each other over phone and seal the proposal. My wife immediately said no to this suggestion also, and again explained to them that over phone you can’t make a final decision. After all it’s a question of entire life of our children and how could you simply talk to someone over phone and take a final call, you are not buying a commodity, it’s the question of someone's entire life, which could be at a stake with one wrong decision; didn't it looked so absurd, stupid and unpractical, I said to them.

We finally convinced them and invited them to visit our house as per their convenience to meet with our family members including my daughter, for which they happily agreed.

Two days after we came back from Patiala, I got a call from Mr. Rajbir Singh that they would be visiting our place on that weekend. And as expected, their entire family came and met with our family. Later I requested my daughter to meet with the boy separately and discuss her concern. Both of them sat in a separate room and talked for about half an hour. My daughter told him about her hobbies, likes, future plans etc., and her intention to work as a teacher/lecturer after completing her studies and also asked him to talk about his views and future plans, freely and openly.

They left our place after lunch and promised to call us back within next few days. After a week or so, I got a SMS from Mr. Rajbir Singh, saying - “Boy not agreed”

I was shocked and stunned, what went wrong, why did they say no. Now my biggest problem was to convey this message to my wife and daughter. Moreover, what reason would I put forward for their refusal? I really didn’t know. I was in a dilemma. First I thought to talk to them over phone and ask the reason but later I decided to drop this idea and forget the whole episode as a bad dream. But how could I forget it so easily. I was angry and frustrated and did not know what to do and was not in a position to calm down either.

I came home and with great difficulty told my wife about the message from Patiala. As expected, my wife became very serious and started crying and within no time my daughter also came to know about it. But she did not utter a single word and went back to her room and closed the door.

At dinner table, we all sat together and we called our angel. She came out and sat with us and was looking very normal but I knew for sure, she must be deeply hurt as was clear from her face. Somehow, I was feeling myself to be the culprit for the whole episode. As in the first place, she was not interested for marriage, but I insisted her to meet with the boy’s family. My guilt became unbearable and I said "sorry" to my daughter. Hearing this, she came rushing to me, grabbed me and said: “Papa you don’t have to say sorry, it’s not your fault” and she could not control her tears which were eagerly waiting to flood her face. We both cried and at that very crucial moment, as usual, my wife, as a truly matured woman and mother, very nicely took the whole-situation in her own hands and said: “No more discussions on this topic please, I have prepared a special dish, so let’s enjoy our dinner tonight.”

Later on, I came to know from our Chandigarh friend that the boy was in love with another girl, but his parents wanted him to marry a girl of their choice. After returning from our place, the boy told his parents that: “If you don’t accept my proposal I will not accept yours”. What I fail to understand in the whole episode is that, what was the fault of our daughter? And who had given them a right to intrude into our lives just like that and disturb the family's atmosphere just because we are the parents of a daughter. Could any one ask them?

Only today, I realize why my mother used to get upset whenever a baby girl was born in our family or friends or relations; because she always used to say: “Girls are more loving and caring but it’s rather very difficult to get them suitably married and settled in today’s cruel world.”

With Prayers

Gurcharan

The best gift of God in my life

I reached home very late that night and over the dinner, my wife informed me that one Mr. Jha had come to our house in the evening and delivered an urgent message of Mr. S. K. Swamy (Personal Officer of a public limited company at Jamshedpur) and he wanted to wait for the reply for Mr. Swamy’s message. My wife with great difficulty could convince Mr. Jha that my arrival will be sometime at mid-night and that only tomorrow morning it would be possible to get a reply from me.

Hearing this from my wife, I got worried and all sorts of thought started pouring into my mind; what could have happened there, may be the machine we sold to them last month was not working or there could be some other problem. Carrying lots of negative thoughts, I finally went to sleep very late, with so many worries and tension.

The next morning, when I called Mr. Swamy over phone, he sounded very worried and asked me to rush to his office immediately. Over a cup of tea, he explained to me the whole story. A few months back, I gave them one Bio-data of Mr. Alok Kumar Karmchandani, who was then working as a Finance Head in an engineering organization at Ranchi. He was short listed for the post of “Chief Finance Office.” Last week, the Chairman of the company came back from abroad and wanted to meet with this new CFO, to whom they were thinking of appointing, but could not trace him at his Ranchi address because by then he had already resigned from that company, almost three months back, and had not left his contact address.

And when the Chairman enquired about the source of his Bio-data, my name came to light because I had given them the CV. Now Mr. Swamy’s boss: Mr. S. C. Sen (Chief Personal Officer) sincerely wanted me to trace Mr. Karamchandani and bring him to their Calcutta office to meet with their Chairman, who was to reach Calcutta the day after morning by his own plane.

Mr. Swamy happened to be a very dear friend of mine and so was Mr. Karamchandani. I therefore took one day casual leave from my job and proceeded to Calcutta the very next day to try and locate Mr. Karamchandani.

On arrival at Calcutta, first I visited Mr. Karamchandani’s previous company’s registered office and met with all the people in that office who could possibly know his address, but no luck. Nobody could help me out in this regard and I left the office with a heavy heart. While stepping down from the office stair, an old Peon of that office came running after me and said “You are looking for Mr. Karamchandani, I had once seen him near about the Red Building fast food restaurant on Camac Street.” He also gave me a tip that probably Mr. Karamchandani was working with a big builder of Calcutta whose Office was located near the Red building on Camac Street itself.

I thanked the peon and rushed towards the Red Building on Camac Street and started enquiring about the builder’s office near the restaurant. After visiting a couple of offices nearby, I finally located the builder’s office and when enquired about Mr. Karamchandani, the Lady sitting on the reception counter confirmed to me that yes, Mr. Karamchandani was employed there but he had gone to the Bank and would be back after 2.00 P.M.

She then asked me to wait at the visitor’s room and sent hot cup of tea along with biscuits and few magazines to read and relax while waiting. Mr. Karamchandani came back to his office around 2.30 PM and immediately came rushing to the visitor’s room on hearing from the receptionist that I was waiting for him since long. He was surprised and almost in a dilemma and shocking stage, as to what had brought me to his office and more importantly, from where did I get his address.

He came rushing in waiting room and first hugged me and literally pulled me-up, started laughing with great joy and said in an overwhelming tone, “So, at last, you have caught me, what’s up?” He met me as if we were meeting after ages and was so happy seeing me today at his new office. His emotions could not be explained in words and the genuineness of warmth was so clear and visible on his face. He immediately called his staff member to arrange lunch for us and started enquiring about me, my family and my job etc. I then told him about the purpose of my visit. He agreed to meet with the Chairman. He also invited me to have breakfast with him the next morning at his residence and from there he said, we would go together to meet with the Chairman.

We reached at the destination on schedule time and came to know that the Chairman had already reached Calcutta and would be in office within half an hour. On arrival, the Chairman immediately called Mr. Karamchandani and within fifteen minutes their meeting was over. Thereafter, the Chairman called me and first thanked me for locating and bringing Mr. Karamchandani to his office and later told me to meet him at Jamshedpur next Friday morning without fail.

I returned to Jamshedpur same night; and then became busy with my own job and almost forgot about the invitation of the Chairman. As expected, I again got an urgent message from my friend Mr. Swamy that the Chairman wanted to meet me today before dawn, it’s urgent.

I was sitting with a client when I got this message and the Chairman’s office was approximately 45 K.M. away from my present location. First I thought to make an excuse and avoid the visit, but later, I decided to meet with the Chairman; and it was mandatory also for me to visit him because, after all they were my existing client’s.

Therefore, after finishing my work, I rushed to meet the Chairman; and on arrival at his office, Mr. Swamy asked me to proceed to the Chairman’s chamber immediately, because he is waiting for me since morning and also wished me good luck.

The Chairman gave me a warm welcome and again thanked me for my sincere efforts. He then requested me to collect the expenses I had incurred on my Calcutta visit and at the end said: “I would like you to join my company, just sit with Mr. S. C. Sen (CPO Sir), discuss your emoluments and take your offer letter today itself, alright, and welcome aboard.”

I was shocked, stunned and almost fainted, what is he talking about? I never ever thought of joining this company even in my dreams and here the Chairman of the company himself offering me a job. Was I day-dreaming or is it true? After expressing my sincere thanks and gratitude, I came out of his chamber and went straight to Mr. Swamy’s cabin.

Mr. Swamy first congratulated me and said with his big smile “You did it Charan, Chairman Sir is very happy with you, now come and join us fast." He also told me that, the Company was offering me a job in marketing division, which I should accept without any hitch or hesitation. He then asked me to follow him to the CPO sir's cabin, for final discussions on my induction.

On my way back home, I was thinking and wondering about the whole episode. I never thought that I would ever join one of my client’s companies which not only gave me a good salary but also offered a Bungalow with servant quarter, company car with driver, free school bus facilities for children and full medical facilities for my entire family.

Mr. Karamscandani did not join them; instead he went back to Delhi to be with his previous employer. Now, after 23 years, when I think in retrospect, I strongly believe that it was all HIS doing and the blessings of my parents that a dear friend like Mr. S. L. Swamy, came into my life, who happens to be one of the best gifts of God in my life.

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Why all the Mothers are so Loving, Caring and Godly?

Three days have passed without any major hurdle and today being a Saturday, everything was closed at Shanghai city of China and I was all alone in my hotel room. The guests who had visited along with me had gone to see the Exhibition at another city and they were returning only on Monday morning.

I was totally a stranger to this city, no friends and no acquaintance with the place. I was not in a position to visit new sites in the city or make new friends due to the language problem. I even couldn’t take a long drive and go to a nearby village to meet with local people due the communication barrier.

The biggest problem which I could foresee was communication and that’s why I was not in a position to speak with the local people. They all spoke Chinese language only and English speaking people were very few except couple of hotel staffs at the hotel reception, who knew English, but for how long can someone talk to them.

The second more severe problem with me was my food habits. I being a pure vegetarian and teetotaler, alcoholic drinks were not in my menu; and in my prohibited food list, onion, garlic, chilies, eggs and beer were also not be included. Although this restriction was self-imposed and it was solely my own decision because I didn’t feel like having it and it was that simple. Although, I had never avoided the company of those people who were fond of non-vegetarian foods and alcoholic beverages, it’s purely their personal choices and I am nobody to raise an objection to it.

Therefore, I was left out with a very few food and drink options, which included soft drinks, fruit/fruit juice, bread, butter, green tea and tea/coffee. I couldn’t even eat pastries, cakes and biscuits because all of them were prepared with eggs. And whatever ration I had brought with me from India was exhausted last night.

In my hotel room, I was left with the choice to either read my favorite novel or watch TV, where again the choice was very limited to very few English news channel and suddenly I got a call from my wife and after listening to my pathetic story she suggested me to contact Mr. S. K Roy, (who were neighbour at our Kolkata flat), and was presently staying with his daughter and son-in-law, who were working in an Indian multinational company at Shanghai. I took my wife’s advice seriously and contacted Mr. Roy, which really proved a blessing in disguise.

I called Mr. Roy’s daughter’s local number from my hotel room, which was attended by Mr. Roy’s daughter Ms. Mona, and after listening to me for few seconds in Bengali, she shouted in her extreme voice and asked me in great excitement: “When did you come to Shanghai, Dada (brother), from where are you speaking now, wait I am giving the phone line to my father.”

She sounded very exited over the phone and asked so many questions in a row without waiting for my reply and simultaneously called her father in her loud voice: “Baba, come-fast, see who has called,” and I could clearly hear Mr. Roy's voice over the phone, who was asking: “Mona, who is calling” and after receiving the phone he uttered only one word: “Hellow” and I said “Namaskar, I am Gurcharan speaking” he again asked in a curious tone “From where are you calling” and I then told him in detail about the purpose of my visit to Shanghai city and my present location.

He immediately told me to pack-up my luggage, check out from my hotel room and proceed to his house without any further delay and stay with them till I am staying in Shanghai. I explained to him that I am on official tour and I can’t checkout from my hotel room. Moreover, my guests would be back on Monday and I had to receive them from the domestic airport and thereafter need to proceed to our local office. He then told me to come that evening and requested me to stay with them, atleast, till Sunday night. I again explained to him my difficulties in doing so but assured him that I will definitely visit them next morning and stay for the whole day and after lot of explanation, I could make him understand my position and convinced him about my Sunday visit.

I left my Hotel-room at eight o’clock the very next day morning and reached Mr. Roy’s house by 10 O’ clock sharp in the morning and after ringing the door-bell, Mr. Roy’s daughter, Monadi opened the door and after exchange of greetings asked me “Dada, where is my father?” I replied “I didn’t know? She then told me that her father was so excited about my coming that he had gone to the Metro station since the morning to receive me.

I was feeling uncomfortable to hear about it, at this old age Mr. Roy had gone all the way to the Metro station on foot just to receive me, so that I should not face any difficulty in finding his house, which was only 4 K.M. away from their flat. His daughter along with me rushed back to the station and to my utter surprise, we saw Mr. Roy still standing at platform number one, looking attentatively at all the passengers coming out of the in-coming train/s.

And at the station, when I called him from the back, he immediately made a u-turn and after looking at both of us said, “Mona, from where did you get him?” And she said to her father “You are standing here and Dada had reached home directly.” And when I bowed down to touch his feet, he stopped me in-between and held me in his hands and embraced me so tightly and I could see his eyes wet with tears.

Mr. Roy’s this act deeply touched my heart, although, I was not his son nor a relative or a friend, we were just neighbours but still, it was also true that we both were Indians, Bengali by heart and disciple of Goddess Kali, which was an emotional bond between both of us.

We reached back home and saw Maamuni (Mother: Mrs. Roy) standing at the balcony of their second floor flat and looking at the main entrance gate towards the building; she must be wondering, where had we all gone? When she saw us, she raised her hand, started smiling and rushed back to open the main door of her flat. As soon as I saw her, I first touched her feet in respect and she profoundly grabbed me by both hands and embraced me. She started touching my face by her both hands and repeated the same sentence again and again: “Charan, you have come, very good, very good.”

They first offered me breakfast, full meal at lunch and snacks etc. in the evening with tea. And to my utmost surprise everything was served exactly of my choice and I was wondering how they knew about my choice, liking and taste. And at late evening when I wanted to bid good-bye, Maamuni gave me one big bag and told me to open only after reaching my hotel. I did not argue with her and finally Mr. Roy came along with me till the Metro station and left only after my train’s departure.

After reaching my hotel room, I first opened the bag and got the surprise of my lifetime, there were five different air-tight plastic containers and on each container, there were instructions written in Bengali, which said what to eat, when to eat and where to keep rest of the food, in my hotel room so that it may not get spoiled.

After a week, when I reached home at Gurgaon, my wife told me that Maamuni (Mrs. Roy) had called my wife and enquired about my food habits, taste and likings in detail and that’s how she was able to cook all the food of my choice with right contents of spices and oil without adding onion, garlic and chilies, so that I had sufficient food of my choice while staying in Shanghai. I sometimes wonder, why all the Mothers are so loving, caring and Godly?

May lord almighty always keep the Roy family happy and healthy and may they always keep such good hearts to treat each and everyone as their own.

With Prayers

Gurcharan

It’s the right mix of patience and passion which gets right kind of job.

I was waiting at Hotel New Kenilworth, Kolkata, at nine o’clock sharp in the morning, because I was told by Mr. Mukherjee, who had taken my first interview a day before at the same hotel, to visit again the next day morning at 9.00 A.M. to meet with his boss, Mr. Anand-General Manager (Marketing), who was to come from Mumbai by the morning flight for the final interview.

The Receptionist at the Hotel was very courteous and very kindly allowed me to wait for so long at the reception and also offered me a cup of tea. It was almost 8:00 P.M. in the evening but nobody by the name of Mr. Anand had checked into the Hotel that evening till then.

Meanwhile, the new team had come at the reception and they enquired again from me about the purpose of my waiting. I narrated the whole story to the new person, who took charge at reception counter for the night shift and after carefully listening to my story, informed me that Mr. Anand’s visit has been cancelled but in his place one Mr. Sharma from the same Company, had just checked in from Poona.

I was very exited and tensed because in place of Mr. Anand, now Mr. Sharma had come and with great excitement I asked his room number. The Receptionist gave me the room number on the condition that I would first speak to Mr. Sharma before going into his room. Therefore, as per the instructions of the receptionist, I called Mr. Sharma on the intercom from the hotel lobby: “Good evening Sir, my name is Gurcharan and I was told by Mr. Mukherjee that Mr. Anand would come today morning for taking my final interview, but had not come, is everything okay with him?” Mr. Sharma very politely greeted me and said sorry for having kept me waiting for so long for Mr. Anand. Besides, he also informed me that Mr. Anand could not come due to hypertension and that his Doctor had advised him not to travel for a week and take complete rest. Hence, in place of Mr. Anand, he had come.

I asked so many questions in a row about his health, the reason of flight delay etc. and if he was feeling alright at this point in time and finally suggested to him in a very hesitant voice: “Sir, you must be feeling tired and exhausted coming all the way from Poona, and therefore, I would come the next day morning for the interview, if it’s alright with you”. But Mr. Sharma immediately responded in his very cool and soft tone: “No no, you better wait for five more minutes please and I would call you right away and we would finish the interview today itself, because tomorrow morning I am flying to Delhi, alright.”

The Receptionist called me within five minutes: “Mr. Singh, Mr. Sharma was calling you in his room; you know his room number?” I said yes and gave him a big smile, thanked him and immediately proceeded towards the elevator to meet with Mr. Sharma in room no. 203 which was on the second floor.

The distance between the reception and room no. 203 was only of three minutes but for me it was as if three hours and all sorts of negative feelings and fear started coming to my mind. What will he think about me as I had waited for more than 11 hours for this interview and there was no guarantee that I would get this job. They were looking for an engineer to sell capital equipments in Eastern Region which were very expensive Tool Room machines but I being commerce graduate who was having the experince of selling commercial vehicles till then. I didn’t know what all questions he was going to ask me in the final interview. I thought, he may be angry also, at this hour of night could any sensible person ever bother someone for interview at this odd hour? I was a stupid fool waiting like an idiot for them for so long, why?

There were two more candidates, who had come in the morning to meet Mr. Anand along with me and had left within half an hour of waiting, but here I was waiting for eleven hours like a fool for the said interview without any information from the person supposed to interview me.

Before I could knock the room door, I found the door being opened by a five feet six inches tall, very fair, good looking, handsome, gentleman, who shook my hand with a very warm smile and immediately made me very comfortable with his gesture and body language, making me easy and relaxed within few seconds and asked me: “What will you have, I am ordering some snacks & coffee, what about you?” I immediately said no to his offer, but he insisted, “You must be feeling hungry, have something” and ordered one pot of tea and veg. sandwiches for me to the room service.

Within next fifteen minutes the Coffee, Tea and Sandwiches arrived and he first offered me a cup of tea and said: “first let’s eat something then we will start our interview? Meanwhile, he started enquiring about me, my family and my job. After finishing the tea, he told me to wait at the Reception and fill in the Bio data form. He said, he would call me back within next ten to fifteen minutes.

It took fifteen minutes to complete the said bio-data form and when I returned to his room, he was talking to someone over phone about me, when he saw me at the door; he waived his left hand and called me inside. After finishing his talk with his boss at Poona, he took back the said bio-data form and started asking questions. And at the end, he asked me: “You like reading books, which one is your favourite” I said I have many favourite books but “Fountain Head by Ayn Rand” is very special.

He than asked me about the Fountain Head and names of the characters, I gave him the brief of each and every important character of the said book, starting with the main character: Howard Roark followed by Dominique Franken, Peter Keating and Gail Waynand.

I was really very surprised to meet with Mr. Sharma, who remembered each and every character of the book “Fountain Head” and we both were sharing similar opinions about all these characters. The discussions continued for an hour and suddenly he said: “It’s too late now, you better go home and we would continue our discussions at Poona when you will come to join us, alright, all the very best for your future and good night”.

At the end of the day, I feel, its patience and passion along with requisite qualification definitely makes the right-mix to get suitable career opportunity in the corporate world today.

I got the letter of appointment within 15 days and as per the plan joined his company in first week of May at Poona. I spent best years of my professional and personal life in the said company. I not only got a good job in a good company but also association of a very caring, kind, loving and nice human being whom I love even today the most. May God bless him and may all his dreams come true, Amen!

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Life is not just learning and teaching Management (subjects), it’s much more than that

I had just left the office in the evening when a call came on my mobile from an unknown number, and the caller introduced himself as Mr. Abhijeet Roy, Senior Advocate of Kolkata High court. He told me that it’s an emergency and I must fly down to Kolkata immediately. He also promised to pay for my travel expense in cash on arrival at Kolkata airport. He was repeating his request again and again by saying: “Aapna ke aastei hobe, jaabar aage, aamar Maa apna ke kichu bolte chaiche,” (you have to come by all mean, my mother wants to say something to you in-person before proceeding to her final destination).

I was shocked, tense and worried after getting the call from an advocate. I have never done anything wrong throughout my life; then why all of a sudden this call? I asked him very frankly “Why me Mr. Roy, what have I done to you or your mother?” Although it was an awkward question to ask at this point of time which sounded abnormal as I had no other option.

I don’t know him and he wanted me to come to Kolkata, just to meet with his old-aged ailing mother; was he mad or what, I thought he must be a crazy man. Why should I go to Kolkata in the first place and for what? Neither am I a Doctor nor a Tantarik (Priest) who could solve the problem of this old lady. Were they expecting some sort of miracle from me?

I started praying to my lord for HIS intervention at this crucial very moment, but to be honest, I could not concentrate even on my prayers due to this unexpected turn out of the event. I had indulged in an emotional mess by one strange man, who happened to be an advocate. However, I didn’t want to buy any problem unnecessarily for me or for my family at any cost, that’s it.

But it was easier said then done and in-spite of my repeated denial the situation was getting out of my control, because here someone else was making decision on my behalf, I just could not do anything, I was fully convinced that it’s my destiny which was knocking at my doors; how disgusting and frustrated it sounded, but it’s true. I had no option but to face the situation without asking any more questions.

After getting the late evening flight ticket for Kolkata, I proceeded towards the Airport with one overnight travel bag. I did not say anything about Mr. Roy’s episode to my family, instead I simply told them that I am going to Kolkata for an official tour and will be back within a day, but I was proved totally wrong within next four hours.

I reached Dum-dum airport the same night at 10:20 PM; Mr. Roy was waiting at the arrival gate holding a big placard in his hand on which my name was printed in capital letters. As soon as I approached him, his face lit with a broad smile and he said “Mr. Charan, finally you have made it, I am so happy to see you!” and before I could respond, he simply hugged me, his eyes filled with tears and he started thanking me, for coming at such short notice, with his folded hands.

It was almost mid-night when we entered Grandma’s room (Mr. Roy’s mother), the whole family was in that big room, an old lady with grey-hair lying in the bed, a nurse standing next to her bed, her face was covered with an oxygen mask but as soon as she saw me, she removed her mask but the nurse wanted to stop her in between, but could not be successful. After lot of effort, and with big force, she got up in the bed. With her hands stretched wide open she cried very loudly “Channa, tumi escho baba, khub bhalo, esho” (Charan, you have come, great, come to me). She hugged me and started kissing my hands her eyes filled with tears which were flowing uninterruptedly on her face, not knowing weather they were in happiness or an indication of sorrow.

With great difficulty, we made the old lady sleep only on one condition that I would stay in her house and will meet her again in the morning. I was still in a dilemma, almost lost and not in a position to think anything concrete, meaningful and positive. Whatever was happening to me was strange and unpredictable. What was I doing here tonight at Kolkata that too far away from my family spending the night with an unknown family?

Next morning, after a long nightmare, it was revealed to me that Grandma was a disciple of my late father. It came as a big shock to me. My father’s black and white photo-frame was hanging on the wall of that old lady's bedroom and everyone addressed my father as “Bapuji,” I being his son was looked upon by the family in the same spirit with lot of love, affection and respect.

On 92nd birthday of Grandma, all of a sudden, she fell sick and then she realized that she had got only few more days to live and must complete all her pending work within next few days, as she was told by my father long time back that, “You will be successfully completing 92 years of your life and you will leave behind your big family with your children, grand children and great grand children and that your family will live happily ever after and all of them will be blessed by the God Almighty, you be rest assured”.

On falling sick suddenly she remembered me and had started asking for me, because she knew that my father was no more and I being his eldest son must be contacted immediately, so that she could convey her feelings, gratitude, love, regard and thanks to “Bapuji”, through me. Mr. Roy, with great difficulty got my contact number, and here I was sitting in her house wondering and imagining the whole situation from beginning to the end.

That night, I was feeling so low, down and sad and I didn’t know when I started crying and remembering my beloved father, whom I loved the most but I did nothing significant which could make him feel happy and proud of me as his son; whereas, see what my father had done to me. Even after his death, I get so much of attention, care and love from his friends and disciples, beyond my imagination. Once again it was proved by my Lord that life was not just learning and teaching management (subjects), it’s much more than that.

With Prayers

Gurcharan

Why good people had to suffer so much pain in life?

One beautiful middle aged lady standing at the check-in counter of domestic airlines at Delhi airport was shouting in her full voice and demanding a boarding pass for Kolkata flight. There were many people at the check-in counter who were also waiting for the boarding pass. But this particular lady was someone special and her very loud and thick voice attracted the attention of everyone standing in the nearby area.

As expected she came out with a boarding pass and turned towards the security check. The moment I saw her face, I realized that she was looking like my childhood friend Miss Sutopa Mukherjee. But Sutopadi used to be very fair, slim, thin and looked very beautiful. This lady, though resembling like Sutopadi but was very fat and heavy. In spite of her bulky figure, she was still looking very beautiful specially her face, which was very attractive, glowing and shining. Hesitatingly, after giving much thought, I could muster courage to call her by her name “Sutopadi”. She immediately turned back towards me; first stared with her very big and beautiful eyes, gave a deep look at me with a very sharp glaze and then cried with her usual loud voice “Are Channa, tumi ekhane?” (Charan, how come you are here) and I said “I live here at Gurgaon” and she came running towards me and hugged me with the same affection, intensity and warmness, which she always used to have for me during our childhood days. Now, no doubt was left that she was my very own Sutopadi, a very caring, lovable and a nice human being.

We together went towards the security check and she started talking non-stop and her questions and queries never stopped till we both boarded our respective flights. I was going to Mumbai and she was flying back home to Kolkata that night.

She got married to an engineer, who was employed in a private firm. Since he was also involved in local politics he had to leave his job and now was working full time for his party in north Bengal. Sutopadi is working as a professor of Political Science in a Graduate College at Behala besides she is also holding a portfolio of Counsellor in her area and doing a great job. She has been blessed with a son who has gone for higher studies abroad but never returned and now was working in a multinational company in London after completing his studies.

Today evening she was flying back home after attending two days seminar at Delhi. Everything sounded very normal and soothing in the beginning, but one thing was disturbing me since the beginning of our conversation and I didn’t know why she was not behaving her normal self. I knew her from my childhood days. She was very aggressive, bold, dynamic, extrovert and a very out spoken person. She never used to hesitate in her conversation and we sometimes used to warn her also about her this frankness, because being a female she must not talk so openly and frankly with people, but she never used listen to our advice as she was never afraid of anything and her pet answer used to be “It’s my style”.

Today, she discussed about everything except her married life and somehow I was getting the feel that she was not comfortable talking about her personal life with me or may be she was not yet ready to discuss with me about her married life. I felt something was wrong some where and I couldn’t stop thinking about that aspect of her life anymore.

Suddenly, the Kolkota flight departure announcement came and she got up from her seat and said “I have to go, we will talk on phone, please be in touch”. Meanwhile, we exchanged our visiting cards and also noted down each others mobile numbers; but somehow, I could not control myself anymore and finally with lot of courage I asked her about her husband and as was expected she turned-back, looked into my eyes, which were filled in with so much of pain that she could speak but her tears did not support her and started rolling out uninterruptedly without any fear unfolding the dark secrets of her life, standing at the airport that night.

Although she was expecting something like this to happen since long but she was trying to behave normally till the end. Somehow my last question deeply moved her, she could not control herself any more and she bursted out abrutly and her eyes filled in with tears pouring out slowly the bitter truth of her life that “O amar shonge aar thake naa” (He no more stays with me), holding both my hands tightly near the departure zone.

Her eyes were filled with tears and her pain was so severe that she could not control herself and started crying loudly like a little child; she again hugged me and whispered in my ears “I am sorry Charan, that’s why I could not discuss about him, jano, O amke shob shomoe jalae” (his memories always gives me immense pain) and said at the end, “Bhalo theko, jogajog rakhabe, kamon” (take care of yourself and be in touch, alright).

She left me alone at the airport wondering about her life. She is all alone in this world, separated from her husband and far away from her only son; but still living her life as if nothing has happened, it’s really our great, Sutopadi.

She has gone, but I don’t know when and how I had started crying and I realized that my eyes were also filled with tears. I was thinking about her pain and have realized one thing clearly that the pain is the same for everyone but the tears were so godly that made me so calm, quiet and comfortable within few minutes, as if her pain had become my pain and the tears of pain which were earlier coming out from her eyes were now flowing from my eyes.

At the end, I pray to God Almighty to bless her and always take care of her. And tonight during my night-prayer, I will ask my Lord, why good people, like Sutopadi, had to suffer so much of pain in life?

With Prayers
Gurcharan

Sometimes a good soul comes in your life without knocking

She used to call me every alternate day to buy a new credit card of a reputed bank where the entrance charges and annual fee were on a higher-side. I was having couple of credit cards of other banks already and I was in no mood to buy yet another credit card just for the sake of it and that too by paying a hefty joining fee, to be honest, I was not prepared for it, in anyway.

Our telephonic conversation continued for almost a month; she was very consistent, regular and strong in her follow up; in spite of my unwillingness, I had to accept her suggestion and said yes to her offer to buy yet another credit card by paying a very handsome joining fee, at last. Within next 21 days, I got the said credit card with lots of free gift vouchers. Finally, I was relieved that everything was over and I would get no-more phone calls from another telemarketing executive any more, but I was so wrong in my calculation.

Almost 50 days later, I got a phone call from a stranger, who straight away started talking about my family as if she was the part and parcel of my family and I didn't know that member? How ridiculous it sounded but it was true. Then I realized she must be my wife’s relative, but again I was proved wrong by her statement: “You could not recognize me, I am Ismita Patel, remember?" But I heard her saying “Smita Patil, she was my favourite Hindi film actress but she died long time back. Then, how come she was calling me now, why and from where? I was much exited and asked her in a very harsh-tone, “Are you joking with me?”, in reply she said “Sir, it’s me Ismita, you remember me, I used to call you for a credit card…” I was deeply embarrassed and felt very bad after realizing my mistake; how could I forget her so soon, and I immediately tendered my sincere apology for not recognizing her at the first instance.

Thereafter, she started calling me occasionally, in the beginning it was once a week, which became twice a week later on every alternate day she used to call except the week ends and holidays and her first sentance used to be "Can we talk, if yoy are busy, I will call you later". And after my consent only, she continued her conversation, otherwise, she used to hang-up. She always talked about her family, job, relatives and friends.  Slowly, she started enquiring about my job profile, my family members and this continued for few more months. Gradually, she became my well wisher and I used to feel uneasy if she did not call me by the weekend.

And all of a sudden, I stopped getting her calls. I waited for a full one week but I did not get her phone call. I had never met her personally; moreover, it never occurred to me to meet her once. I only knew this much that she was working in an outsourcing company, married with children, that’s all. I was having only her mobile number and she never gave me her alternate mobile or landline phone numbers, office or residential address. And to my utmost surprise, after waiting for her call for ten days to be precise, when I tried to contact for the first time, her mobile phone was not answering my calls and later on, when I tried again, her mobile phone was under switched-off mode. There was no way through which I could contact her; I was feeling so helpless, idiot and stupid that in spite of my best, honest and sincere efforts, I could not trace her.

I don't understand one thing, why she was calling me repeatedly at the first place. She had never ever asked for any assistance, favour and/or help. She neither invited me to meet with her family members nor she expressed her inclination or desire to meet with my family members even once, but she always used to ask about their well beings.

More than seven years have passed since her last call; I never heard from her again till date. I don’t know how she is, where she is, what she is doing. I sometimes get negative feelings also but then I immediately start praying to God Almighty to keep her and her family in good esteem and right spirit, wherever they are; they should all be happy, healthy and safe.

At the end, I only ask my Lord, why it happens with me that from nowhere a good soul comes in your life without knocking, stay with you for sometime, try to make your life comfortable, give you many valuable advices, makes you feel important, pampered, special, wanted and then, all of a sudden, without any notice, leaves you all alone again in this cruel world only to wait for her indefinitely with her beautiful, sweet, warm and unforgettable memories.

With Prayer

Gurcharan