KRISSHU

 

“KRISHU”

“Krishhhhuuuu !!!”   I heard it aloud. I turned back to see who was screaming. I found an old woman in white cotton wrinkled saree. Her fair skin and wrinkled face complimented with her wrinkled saree that looked as if it was not washed for ages. She was looking for someone called Krishu. I was in complete defocus or maybe you can say that she completely ignored me while she was busy searching for Krishu. Her fair skin and weak poster compelled me to move ahead and offer her some help, but poor me! She didn’t even notice me standing on a one hand distance from her. She stretched her hand in the front direction as if trying to stop Krishu. Tears cornered her eyes. I felt sad and pity on her. Without thinking much, I took a step closer to her and held her hand. It was soft, it was wrinkled, it had thin green veins which were clearly seen due to her thin and fair skin, and her palm was cold when I held it. She was close to tears, she continued to stare in the direction she was looking at since a few minutes ago.

I wrapped my other hand over her shoulder while comforted her gently.  She realised my presence. She turned and looked at me with teary eyes. I offered her my white handkerchief and asked her softly “Daadi, whom are you searching? Who is krishu?” She gave me a questioned look. I realised, we are new to each other. I took my hand from her shoulder and politely introduced myself. “Daadi, I am Keshav. “Keshav Mishra. I am an architect by profession, ghar banata hu, I added. My office is there, I said pointing out at a multi-storeyed tall building that stood in front of us.” She shifted her gaze from me to the place I was pointing out at. Then she looked at me, as if wanting to know something more. I added further, “Today, I finished off early and was going this way towards shanti Niketan, so thought of waiting for a moment and ordering a cup of masala tea at your tea stall I simply love your hand made – adrak ki chaii, hence I stopped by daadi.” We ordered tea and coffee from your tea stall quiet often hence, before I could finish my line, she intervened and said, “I was looking for my grandson, who is missing since last three days. His name is Krishu. Before you walked in, I saw a group of young teenagers passing by, I thought my Krishu was there so I ran after them, leaving everything behind as it is”

I was taken aback to learn this. She looked at me and said, Krishu is in standard 7 right now. He is very intelligent, very helpful and hardworking, before she could say anything further; I looked at the empty road that lay ahead of us. It was dark and had just one dim light blinking. Then I looked at her helpless face. Her pale face and teary eyes made me heartbroken. Suddenly, I felt a strong urge to help her in finding her grandchild. I looked at her and said, “daadi, aapne FIR nahi likhwayi? apka pota missing hone ki?” Looking at me she said, “beta FIR is registered for those who are alive”

A cold perspiration rushed down my spine. I was frozen. I was emotionless, I was speechless. I was hurt, but she looked calm, composed, as if she accepted this bitter condition of her life. I went near her and hugged her. Her soft hands caressed me and held me firm in her arms. I felt so warm and blessed in her embrace that I could never express in words.

She looked at me and said, “The only reason behind me opening a tea stall here was to connect with the kids who study at the nearby Shanti Niketan school. I feel my Krishu in these school going kids. I cook for them poha and upma in the morning as breakfast and they love to eat sheera that I cook for them on every Ekadashi. She looked at me and said, tomorrow is Ekadashi, but the school is having a summer vacation, so no child would turn up tomorrow for the sheera.”  Tears rolled down her eyes. I wiped off her tears and said, daadi – “kal aap sheera jarur banana please” I said and left the place.

The next morning as she was busy preparing the sheera, a white car stopped by her tea stall and a small boy of 7 years jumped out of the car and ran towards her tea stall counter. She was engrossed in making the final garnishing work for her sheera, when a cute voice fell on her ears, “daadiiii mujhe sheera khana hain” She looked up with a surprise and saw a cute little kid standing near her platform eager to taste the first spoon of the sheera in his mouth. She was amazed by his charm and cuteness. She left the vessel at once and extended her hand towards the little boy in enormous love and affection. Putting her soft wrinkled palm on his cheek, she asked, “beta aap kon ho, kya naam hain apka,?” Krishav, my son looked at me innocently as if needed a prompt response from me!

I entered the tea stall and clearing my voice, I uttered – “Daadi ka krishu”

Leaving the platform, daadi went near him and kissed on his forehead with an abundant affection and care, I literally had goose bumps while I watched them both.

I received a message on my phone – It was a reminder alert! – The message highlighted today’s date – 16^th October with a note added to it that read – “EKADASHI TODAY!”

I looked at the screen of my phone and smiled.

Thank you for reading my story. Hope you liked it! Please comment and let me know and stay tuned for my next story - next Friday.