~ A Decade Meet...~

I met him after almost two decades today, as he kept looking at me whilst my morning stroll, we both surpassed each other with an eyeball-to-eyeball contact – both were feeling a little inhibited to say a formal “Hello”, though I was pretty sure he recognized me as well on the very first glance he put on me.

I still don’t know his name though he used to stay right across the street and his only son ‘Goldy’ was a toddler at that time – as neighbors , I used to  to exchange a formal ‘Namaste’ when I was young and he used to go to a office and after his retirement, he vacated his govt flat to relocate to  a private residency years passed and they turned into decades, then suddenly, one day I could see him, walking firmly with a stick – years had taken a toll on his health and I could sense that quite clearly.

Today, when we saw each other, we could instantaneously recognize each other but the gap of quite many years made us fall apart – the inhibition certainly had crept in. On the second round, uncle said a “Hello” and that was it, the quietness had to be broken and he inquired my name as he had remembered

“Are you Sanjeev Beta”, who used to stay across the street and play with my son “Goldy!”

I immediately affirmed, “Yes Uncle, I am Goldy’s friend, and I recognized you on the very first round but was feeling a little shy to start a conversation with you.!”, he laughed and enquired about my family and parents – his gesture was heart touching as he talked about those golden times that we shared – especially his reprimands when we used to go and call his son for a game of cricket – that time was for his tuition and he used to bunk that all important math’s tuition class and set tone with us, only to be caught red handed and thrashed!

He remembered all this naughtiness of our times as we were growing towards our adolescence. I inquired about his son “Goldy” as we used to call him, that was his nick name. He with numbness in his eyes reverted that he is in London and is working there as a chef, here I am along with my wife.

I told him to go and get settled for greener pastures, We can take care of ourselves till our health allows – though materially uncle was comfortable but seeing his son’s aspiration, he with a heavy heart had made up his mind and come to terms with his situation. 

I could well sense that he was not in his best of the health as he had severe medical condition pertaining to his legs but as a father, he wanted his son to achieve a milestone which many of our parents had thought of – his inner desire being suppressed – though his advancing age was a clear sign of fragility – surely as we walked he needed support to step down into the grassy field from the ailse of the pavement, but the man’s grit was exemplary –“ Son, this body will wither away as it is deemed to be , at 73 years of age, I have lived my life to the fullest, now I want my son to live his life as per his aspirations….”

A beautiful thought , but I wish his son could have done much better to be with his ailing father at the prime of his life, relationships are just as beautiful as they are close by, the fag end of their life will always be remembered as beautiful moments spend together, always to be cherished for rest of your life…