“The Old man’s Journey”

Bhai Sahab , Ye bus kaha jayegi ?

An old person of 55-57 years , with white beard and hairs and wearing cap like ‘Devanand’ asked as he entered from the front gate of the bus. Supporting himself with the rods and hanging pulleys of the bus , he came toward the seats reserved for senior citizen. One noble person who was sitting there , can be said in the 40s of his life quickly offered his seat. Adjusting himself comfortably on the seat in conjusted bus , his mind was still searching for the question he asked while boarding the bus. This time he asked this question to one other person sitting besides him.

Aapko jana kaha hai? The man who was supporting his spectacles at the lower portion of the nose like the government school teacher in older days and probably 4-5 years younger than the old man told in perhaps rude manner.

Indeed it wasn’t straight answer to the question asked by the old man.

“Chanakyapuri ” he said in the suppressed voice and gloomy tone than earlier in the dread of being rebuked again.

Aayega to bta denge , abhi thodi dur hai ..Aaram se baithe rahiye. He said again.

At this reply of him , the old man felt a little uneasy. He boarded bus at Nauroji nagar and after one station he asked again :

Kaha aa gaye , ye kaun sa stand hai ? and wherever the bus stopped even in the traffic , he continued to ask the location of bus. The man sitting beside him frowned at his behaviour.he was irritated by this behaviour of the old man. He told again in harsh tone :

‘ aayega to bta dene ke liye bole hai na ‘
This time , the old man didn’t seem to pay attention to his words. When the bus reached Nanankpura , motibag , he asked again that where we are now …

I said to make him clear that ‘ Abhi Motibag Gurudwara ‘ hi aaya hai !

Hearing that, he rose from the seat and steering the fellow passenger , went to the front door. The bus – door was closed and bus was heading towards Satya Niketan. In the meantime , he asked the driver :

‘ Jara Gate khol do , Gurudwara jana hai’

Baba , Bus abhi chal rhi hai bich me gate kaise khulega …Aap Satya utar ke chale jana. Bus driver replied in soft tone.

The old man was tired of walking but he didn’t have anyother option . Bus stopped at Satya , got down in haste in the direction of Gurudwara.

I was left wondering that the journey which was destined to end in Chanakyapuri , how it ended in Gurudwara?

Was he reminded of the ill behaviour of his family with the encounter with old man which made to change his way or any other reason. Can’t say ! What do you say?