It was a usual day - like any other. I went to Ramu's nearby - one of the places in my locality that attracted me a lot! It was the favourite meeting spot for VISHWA and me(for those of you who don't know who VISHWA is, read my previous posts). However, it had been a long long time since I had gone there. It pained me to sit in Ramu's all alone - without VISHWA and his talks......
A few months ago....One morning....VISHWA - who would appear at my gate at 8.30 sharp - did not turn up. Given that I had a few other engagements that day, I didn't bother to worry about VISHWA. Even the next day, there was no sight of him....Something must have gone wrong. I went to the address VISHWA had given me long ago. On enquiring I found that VISHWA had suddenly disappeared from his "house" overnight all of a sudden! Why did he have to do that? The rent was paid(VISHWA never found himself a job. Yet, he was never short of money!! I wonder how!). There were no dues. There were no issues bothering him - else I would have been the first one to know! And yet, the fact was that VISHWA had disappeared! I waited for a few days. When even after a week's time VISHWA was not to be seen, I gave up and just hoped that he was safe! You may ask why I never approached the police! I was never let to approach the police by my parents - who did not like VISHWA(Heaven knows why!). They felt I was in the wrong company - and yet they had no reasons to substantiate their view - something is seriously wrong with the elder generation!!
....However, that day, I felt a strong urge to go to Ramu's. Probably, I missed Ramu's coffee very dearly. Something tempted me to go there....It was the usual crowd - the same old tailor in his same old patched shirt, the same set of elderly people from the locality discussing the same old topic - how long it would take the incumbent CM to relinquish his position, a few unemployed young men - discussing about cricket and the latest movie over a pack of cigarettes, "by-2" coffees and loud music. Ramu came to greet me. He seemed excited today. That was not usual. Ramu was always composed - sporting a simple smile even in the toughest of times. Today, he had a wide grin on his face - had he won a game of rummy last night? "There is a surprise for you!", Ramu said, grinning.
What could it be? What surprise could the familiar Ramu's hold for me? Is that why I was compelled by some unseen force to go to Ramu's after a long time?
I went to our - VISHWA's and mine - usual table. Surprisingly, it was occupied by somebody else. I was seeing him for the first time. Yet, there was air of familiarity around that man - sporting a beard, shabby hair, a shirt that seemed unwashed for ages. I looked into his eyes...."VISHWA!!!".
Everybody in Ramu's turned towards the table! Yes - VISHWA - THE MASTER STORYTELLER - had returned after nearly 5 long months! Nobody had taken notice of that shabby looking man sitting alone at a table. The moment they realised it was VISHWA, people gathered in a circle around him - shooting questions: "Where did you go?","Why did you go?","Why did you not tell anybody?" - questions rained. The same questions were bothering me too....
VISHWA - THE MASTER STORYTELLER - began in his inimitable style - "I was sleeping in my house that night. Suddenly, I heard a voice - somebody was calling me by name...A lady. I thought those were hallucinations and tried to sleep. But somebody pulled my blanket away - I was all alone in the house. The voice was growing louder and stronger...". All of us at Ramu's were listening intently. "....It said I had to go to my village. My mother was ill, the voice told. I never believe in such stuff. So I decided to ignore it and get back to sleep. But the voice did not let me to - it began all over again. Finally, I decided to go to my village - fearing for my mother's health. I left right then - without informing anybody.
"I went to my village home. People had gathered outside. I feared the worst. I went inside - it had been years since I went to my village. My mother and I had had a heated argument and I had left home.- She was on her deathbed. She saw me. With tears in her eyes, she held my hand. And then, she was gone! That voice helped my mother die in peace! People said she was down with fever for the past few weeks. They had tried to contact me - but did not know where to contact.
"I performed her last rites and decided to stay back in my village. But I felt the urge to come back here - to where I belong, to the familiar faces, to the very own Ramu's...That's why I came back.".
I felt sorry for VISHWA. People had tears in their eyes. Gradually, the crowd dispersed. VISHWA and I were free to talk to ourselves. "Sorry VISHWA..." I said.
"Why sorry? Did you believe it too?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I never saw my mother's face. I was orphaned at birth. I never told you this all these years because I never felt it was required. I felt locked in this city. I just wanted to go and get some fresh air! Had I told the others this, their master storyteller would be passed off as a lunatic!"
VISHWA, indeed was a master storyteller!!!
"Ramu bhai, by-2 coffee" VISHWA ordered.....
