Citizen Gautam Naik shares his fiction.
My Phone rang on a chilly January
morning in office. And what happened next gave me the biggest of surprise in
life. I learnt lessons which I cannot forget rest of my life. The call was about Manish, my new neighbour
who lived next door.
I met Manish first time on the
same day he occupied house next door. It was a rainy night in June. I was
trying to get hold of TV Remote which was in the firm grip my wife. I hate
these soap operas. While my wife hates bombastic news anchors shouting at the
top of their voices and making life of other panellist miserable. She feels how
that can entertain anyone after a long
day in office? But then she doesn’t get my point. Who wants to cry over the
fate of a newly married lady in palatial house as shown in these soaps? Anyways
it’s an eternal dilemma across the families in India. Now both of us had a
competition from my eight years old daughter. She always wanted to see one of
those Japanese cartoons. But then time being you could scold her and ask her to
do her homework. Once she would be a teenager, and then god only knows what
would happen? Suddenly the bell rang. I
was wondering who it could be at that hour of the day. I opened the door.
I saw a tall guy with an athletic
build, dressed in three fourth jeans and T shirt. Did I know him?
He smiled and said “Hi, I am
Manish, Manish Brar. I have rented the flat next to yours.”
I said “Hello, nice to meet you”
and we shook hands.
I realized that finally Desai had
got a tenant. Desais stay in Mumbai and had bought the flat as an investment.
The family staying earlier on rent had shifted to Nagpur. He was showing the
flat to many prospective tenants.
Brar is a typical Punjabi
surname. Why did Desai rent the flat to a Punjabi? Was he unable to find any
Marathi family? Not that I had any problems with Punjabis but challenge was to
speak in Hindi. Speaking in English was easier but English conversation sounded
too formal to me.
He said “I am sorry for disturbing you at this
hour but wanted to know if you have an electric tester. I need to open a switch
board as fan is not working”
“I know I won’t get any electrician
at this hour. And we cannot sleep without fan in summer” said he with a
charming smile. I wanted to remind him that the monsoons had started and summer
had turned into rainy season.
I went to my room, searched for
the tester and luckily found it. Maybe some people are born lucky. I am unable
to find such odd tool even in my own house, when I need it.
I offered him coffee but he said
he did not want to give us more trouble. He promised that he will surely drop
in during weekend.
We made a point to call whole
family that weekend. They came is sharp at 6 pm. We had decided on that time as
its non lunch non dinner time. Now this is very typical of my clan as then we
can get away with serving tea-coffee and light snacks items. But then more
importantly we were not sure of eating preferences of that new family. It is
always rare for guest to turn sharp at decided time here in India so were bit
unprepared when they actually turned up at six pm. We felt embarrassed as we
had to make them wait for more than they expected to spend with us. Maybe they
had planned something after our home visit as we could feel their uneasiness
after 7.30.
It was good to know the man and
his family. Manish passed out from a premier management institute and was
working for a consulting company. His wife was into HR with IT Company. They
had two kids. Manish had come to Pune after working for fourteen years in the US.
And since the company he wanted to work for in India and the business group of
that company was located in Pune, he had chosen Pune over other Indian cities.
It was a poster book family of new Indian metropolis. They could go off as
models in any housing ad as we see in Pune. In fact his wife can pass off as
model in any ad herself. Some people have everything in life including Punjabi
background. Punjab is India and India is Punjab as they show in Indian films.
Everything about them is larger than life. And we Marathis always have
inferiority complex for their well built physic, handsome looks, fair colour,
fancy food and beverages, overhyped and over the top emotions, and so on. Manish also had an army background. His
father is a retired brigadier. Army people are made differently and you will
make out after a small conversation with them. My wife found out that Mrs
Sanjana Brar was from a Doon school background from affluent Delhi based
Business family. Manish and Sanjana met during a college fest in Delhi and were
going around 4 years. Then Manish migrated
to New York through a new job posting. They got married after a year. They are now married for 13 years . They had
two sons; 10 years old and 7 years old: Armaan and Arnav. They will now go to a
famous IB school just started in Pune. Kids speak in typical US accent adding
to discomfort for my daughter who goes to a vernacularly strong English medium
school popular among my clan and locality. Manish’s parents stay in Nainital
and have a great bungalow at a great hill location. Sanjana’s family had a flat
in good locality in Pune but they still decided to stay in our locality due to
proximity to SEZ where Manish‘s company was located. Sanjana had left her US job
and was supposed to join an IT major in the same SEZ next month. They had booked a big penthouse in upmarket
locality of Pune. The possession for said house was at least six months away so
had leased Desai’s flat temporarily. They liked our society and facilities for the
temporary stay.
He also asked about us during the
conversation.
Reality then hit me. How his life
and mine were so different like chalk and cheese. I worked for a manufacturing
company as senior engineer amidst technicians. I had to climb manufacturing
facilities few times in a day. I would imagine Manish will never go out of an
AC corner cabin. My wife works for a cooperative bank to support our EMIs for
house. Our house is our biggest claim to fame or maybe full and final trophy of
life in such a good society. And we know price of it and sacrifices attached be
it in form of vacations forbidden, eating out restricted to joints we know will
be non ultra expensive, non-branded and need based shopping. But then why was I
complaining? My parents did not complain doing things for us all the time. But
then we as kids, we never introduced them with something called as peer
pressure as our kids make us face. My daughter always quoted about her friend
going to Europe for summer vacations or having birthday party at J W Marriott.
I had no answers for her. Looks wise Manish could be defined as tall, slim,
fair, fit and handsome. I am opposite on every counts. Manish had stayed in US
for 14 years and seen almost half the planet on his job while my only stampings
on passport had been when my company sent me to Italy for 15 days training when
I was a bachelor and when we took personal loan and went to Thailand just to
convince my daughter that we too can do a foreign trip. He had booked a Fortuner and his wife would
be driving Honda city next week from then. My Alto was five years old, needed
denting and painting but then it was maintenance free and has a great mileage
and my wife rides a Scooty.
But then I managed to hide my awe
while being polite and forthcoming in our introduction. Throughout the
conversation, Sanjana was calm detached and formal. We thought it must be
common for US returned NRIs. Manish on
other hand was talkative, enthusiastic and pleasant to all of us. That’s how my acquaintance with Manish and
his family started.
After that our interaction
restricted to occasional ‘hi-hello’ as we bumped across in society. They seemed
very busy as it was obvious as they had to get their routine set at new
offices, school. Lot of things were needed to get done and add to that entire
project management of buying and designing new house. It seemed that few others
in our society also got themselves introduced to Brars as typical for this showcase;
US returned Punjabi family which was bit rarity in our neighbourhood. Of course
there is a big nomadic IT tribe in my society who travel to US as if like
travelling to Mumbai. These out of college kids drive big cars, spend a lot on weekends
on eating out, shop at branded outlets.
Things have really changed in India and people like me always miss the
bus.
My wife got along well with Sanjana. She
helped her out a lot to arrange domestic staff which is essential these days.
And then my wife is good cook. She used to send traditional Marathi food and
her fancy dishes (even Punjabi ones) to their house without fail. And then
their kids had only my daughter to play with.
All this led us to an invite at
their house one weekend for dinner. We did not want to be embarrassed by being
late so reached sharp at 8 pm. And they were ready. The house was decorated
nicely even if they were going to occupy that only for few months. That’s one
thing about Punjabis with defence background: they need to be presentable at
any cost all the time. Light western music was on with dim lighting suiting a
relax Saturday evening atmosphere. After niceties, kids went to the kid’s room
and women sat on dining table discussing latest news in the neighbourhood.
Manish opened his Bar and offered me red label. My wife raised an eyebrow but
then who refuses such offer. He brings glasses and we break the ice. I heard
about his achievements during his IIM days, his job. He talked about places in
US, Europe and everywhere. He talked about his childhood roaming about
everywhere in India as a defence son. He showed snaps of his palatial US house,
his house in Nainital, his in laws house in Vasant Vihar Delhi. Everything was
a showcase. Some people get everything in life. And he was so full of life.
After few drinks he got bit quiet. Some people go talkative after few drinks
while some talkative go into shell. Alcohol can have strange effects to various
people. Now the ladies joined us. So we started on usual family talks revolving
about kids. Normally for an NRI family such conversations start around a
sentence” when we were in the US” or it ends with “in US its different”. But
with Sanjana it was different. She seemed to focus only on future. She was bit
worried about how kids will fare in new environment. Strangely Manish was quieter on front. So we
deduced that anything about household needs to be taken care of by Sanjana and
rest by Manish. Simple division of labour typically US styled. I asked her how she feels to be in India? She said very practically so far so good, but
keeping fingers crossed. Manish strangely interrupted her and joked indicating
she being too happy here in India. Sanjana interrupted the conversation asking us
for more starters. And she had made very good non veg starters. I complemented
her for that but Manish clarified that they were ordered from a good non veg
joint in the locality.
“Oh she heats them very well in
the microwave” said Manish. That was a needless but commonplace Male chauvinist
joke from Manish after downing few pegs.
There was no retort from Sanjana.
It seemed like she was silent types. I had to envy Manish again as a silent
wife is an added benefit to marital life.
As we headed towards dining after
few pegs ladies again departed for preparation. I took opportunity asking
question which I was very curious about. I told him that people like us die to
be settled in US and why on earth did he come back. Maybe I was bit tipsy and
speaking about the Achilles heel of my own. He went silent into deepest
thoughts and made an unpleasant face. Curiosity kills the cat as they say and i
was feeling embarrassed for asking this stupid question. I apologized for
asking him personal question. He said “Come on there is nothing personal it’s
all about India. India is the place to be today as compared to US”. He then
successfully side tracked the conversation to latest things in Indian economy,
politics, cricket and movies. These were the conversation topics all the time
during the dinner which was ordered from another good restaurant. After ice-creams
we said good night and ended a great weekend dinner.
We then met occasionally. Once we
met at one of our neighbour’s place for some family function. Both of them were
dressed traditionally and were formal to everyone. He asked me about my work
and then we talked about latest defeat of Indian cricket team at T20 WC. I
asked whether he had settled now. He said everything was as per plan including
new house which they planned to shift next month. It was almost four months
that they were staying in the rented flat by now.
I knew he had joined a club where
he played Tennis every morning. I bumped across him occasionally whenever I was
bit late for my company bus as he returned after his game. I also saw him one
weekend with his rack sack and hunter shoes. I asked him where he was heading
to. Guy also had formed a group at office to go for hiking. He was totally
outdoor personality. As compared to him only sport I play is cards that too
very rarely. Only hiking I do is to climb my own stairs when the elevator is
out for maintenance. We also saw his Fortuner out on family outing every Sunday
afternoon. My wife tried to pull Sanjana into various women’s groups she was a
part of, but Sanjana tactfully avoided that. Of course the usual interaction of
food exchange programs, kids playing at mutual houses went on as well.
I was informed by my daughter
that both Armaan and Arnav were stars of their IB school. Armaan the elder one
went to next level of informatics Olympiad and Arnav won sports awards. I scolded
my daughter for not winning anything in school except a silly race called ‘three legged race’. Some people are blessed
genetically as well.
There was a Kojagiri event in the
society. Manish volunteered to sing an old Hindi song and he sang really well.
And I am scared to sing even in bathroom. How can some people have everything
in life?
It was some day in Nov after
Diwali the Brar family came to our house and announced that 30th Nov
was their last day in our society. Their new penthouse was ready to be occupied
and they had given notice to Desai about vacation of the flat. Poor Desai now
has to find another tenant. It was nice of them to turn up with sweets box for
new house and a thank you card to us for helping them. We were bit sad but
always anticipated this moment as we knew very well about that. Human mind is
strange. Even when we know what’s going to happen especially when something
good is going to end, but still we end up feeling sad or down when that actual
moment comes. All fathers know that their daughters are going to leave them
some day but I have seen strong minded fathers breaking down when that moment
arrives after marriage. That’s same
paradox as posted by Yaksha to Yudhishthira in Mahabharata. The story was
narrated by safety head in our company. As the story goes Yaksha had asked
Yudhishthira, “What is the biggest paradox?” Everyone knows that someday one
has to die. But then no one thinks about it and death by accident always comes
as surprise. The biggest paradox is that the biggest surprise is the death that
too when we all know death itself is inevitable. So better be prepared all time
as proclaimed by Safety officer.
In this context the moment we
always knew which would arrive had finally arrived. Anyways so all that were
good, had to end in life so was our acquaintance with Brars. Of course we could
meet them in Pune always. They promised to invite us for house warming they had
planned in December.
And we got the invite for the
event. It was a great house: Spacious,
well decorated and had a different class about it. We were the only ones invited from our apartment.
All the others were typical high society crowd. Some of the guests he
introduced were CXOs of companies, entrepreneurs, financial wizards. Later a well known musician also graced the
party for some time. We were bit overawed amongst that beautiful crowd. Of
course the kids were happy to meet again and started playing on their own.
That’s an advantage of being young. You don’t carry any complexes. Everyone was
discussing yearend plans. Some were going abroad, some were joining their
families, and some mentioned very popular places and parties. For us it was
usual cup of coffee watching TV. Only difference between other nights and New
Year eve was that I would be awake till 12.30 while on other days I retire at
11. I don’t know whether I do it out of peer pressure or just to avoid getting
disturbed by loud music in neighbourhood and crackers at midnight.
Year passed by, One January
morning, I got a call from my wife. She was frenetic. I could make no sense of
her initial conversation but later myself was shocked to know that week earlier
Manish had committed suicide.
“What??” I said. “Are you joking?
How can someone as vibrant, happy like Manish can do this and for what reason?”
I had lots of questions. I then came to know bits and pieces of the news.
Sanjana had called my wife
bidding goodbye to Pune. She was moving with kids to Delhi with her parents.
And my wife was the only person in Pune she felt saying goodbye. My wife could
not ask further about the suicide or reasons. She knew Sanjana won’t share that
part with her. My wife could come out of her shock to offer Sanjana any help
needed in Pune. She said her brother and her father in law were there in Pune
to manage everything following such event. And i knew they were well connected
to resolve everything....
Manish was by no means someone
close to me but somehow his life reflected someone whom one wants to emulate.
That was the only emotional attachment with Manish. Not that they were not down
to earth interacting normally with people like us beyond their dignity. But
then such people are always like something you look up to. But then who would end
this life and for what reason?
Next few days and following
weekend we all were bit sad following such event. I was imagining mental status
of Sanjana and especially the smaller ones.
Other guys in society also knew
about it as someone had read in last week’s papers. Some people can connect
names and follow the news. For me newspapers are only meant to be glanced and
unless there is some very high profile news like 9/11, 26/11, or world cup win
2011.
The International business expert
in our society: Nadkarni, said that he knew that Manish was working with a big
corporate as consultant representing his company and faced a malpractice suit
after which he was fired and may be the result
of that case was out in the US. Other Global expert Shintre with whom also Manish
had a drinking session some day, said that he knew Manish’s Company as he was
in the same field. “Know it all” Shintre also knew few colleagues of
Manish. He can swear an oath that matter
was very personal: His wife and he never went on well. In fact some nastier
colleagues claimed an affair based on college romances at Doon school for
Sanjana. But then you never trust Shintre who claims to know it all.
Whatever might be the reason? I
don’t know about the reason neither I want to know about it. Things are not
what they appear as I learnt from Brar episode which might have happened next
door to a guy next door. And always, don’t denounce what you have as that same
thing might be that something which some who has it all but except for that
thing will always yearn for.
Next day I took my family to
outing, dinner and a late night out. I told them that you live only once as one
Mr Yudhishitra advised us to be prepared for an ultimate surprise....
Time for all of us to know that
the Grass has been always greener on our side as well just that we never
noticed it... It’s the grass on other side which is a problem... and that’s the
cause of human misery since ages...
Author runs a blog http://nayakgiri.blogspot.com
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