I awoke early, as often I did, just before sunrise to walk by the side of flower garden. I felt cool breeze touching my face. I was wondering where I was. Slowly I realized we were far away from my hometown. I was in deep sleep.
I thought if I slept anymore I might deprive me the chance of seeing this wonderful place, Kohima.
Giri was already awake. He was moving along the other side of the garden with Ani. Guards were standing near the gate with guns. Giri was a top Civil Servant of Government of India. The guards were very friendly and wished me when I turned towards them.
As I was about to get up driver Limbesh appeared and wished me good morning.
"Sir what is the plan for today" I recollected the reason for my trip all the way to the Middle East. I was reluctant earlier when my brother called me to visit him.
It was on my brother's suggestion that I had planned this trip to this beautiful North Indian state. Our dad served had served in the Indian Army and was once posted in Kohima.
At that time, towards the end of the Second World War, the Indian and the British troops were together. We had been so curious and excited when he told us stories from his Army days. My dad was the first hero in my life. He used to narrate the Army stories and it had made an everlasting impression on me. Once by he had accidentally crossed the border to Pakistan and luckily was able to return to our soil.
The sun was about set when we reached our destination the Army cemetery and memorial site. It was starting to drizzle. We walked inside and saw a number of sone memorials. As we entered we saw a stone board with so many familiar names of our community. Among the many names ending with the surname Nair, I was sure my dad's name was not listed.
But my eyes filled with tears when I read the writing on the big stone in front of the memorial:
"WHEN YOU GO HOME, TELL THEM OF US AND SAY - FOR THEIR TOMORROW WE GAVE OUR TODAY”
These words made me miss my father a lot. When we reached home, I lied down to relax. I couldn't fall asleep, my thoughts were all about my father. I was just lying there, with my eyes wide open. I felt fortunate about being born and lived this life, slowly my eyes embraced sleep. A dream took me back to my past.
I used to work in the Gulf. It was one early morning on a Friday. We used to have an off day on Friday. A phone call to India was not as easy as it is today. Coin phones were away from our accommodation. I walked towards to telephone booth with a lot of anxiety. It was early morning so there wasn't much traffic. Those phone calls were my only respite from the lonely life I used to lead there.
My mother, not my father picked up my call. I was surprised because it was usually dad who attended phone calls. A little later, my mother handed the phone to my father. He was finding difficult to talk to me. I wondered what was happening. Was he still suffering?
I couldn't sleep that night. A silent slight pain shot through my chest. It was a dull day. Back then when I was in Saudi I used to go back home during vacations almost every year. I was filled with dread inside. Will my father survive till the vacation?
That day I decided that I would leave that place, just to be close enough to see my old parents as often as possible. After a long struggle, God had heard my prayers and a job was offered to me. My Gulf life was going to end after completing thirteen years.
There was a lot of work to do, and I had been hoping that my boss Gopal will help me. But I was wrong. He threw my resignation away and said, "No way... You cannot leave. I cannot accept your resignation."
I did not argue with him anymore, it was not the right time. I planned to give him some time before I approached him about it again. Two three days later, after praying to God, I pleaded with him, "Sir, my father is ill. It is difficult to reach India in time in an emergency. My parents are old."
I told him that I was not leaving for money. He used to like me a lot. Maybe due to my sincerity and frankness. He gave me a lot of room to do a good job with confidence in the past. It was difficult to explain my state of mind to him. Maybe he felt sorry for me and my good name and hard work paid back. He accepted my resignation. So I left Saudi with a heavy heart, taking with me lots of good memories.
I thanked God when I finally landed in India and saw my parents. Mother was very happy and hugged me. "Raja" call reached my ears. It was so nice. I felt very happy. My father was not able to speak well. Poor daddy, I thought. He was coughing too much. I slept beside him on a wooden cot.
Even though I didn't get proper sleep due to his cough, I was happy I to be by his side. I was grateful that God had helped me to be beside them during those tough days. It was very hard leaving them behind in Kerala and I left for Bangalore with a lot of pain. I had few days before I had to leave Muscat for the new job.
The formalities went smoothly. All of a sudden the telephone rang. My mother was on the line.
"Daddy in the hospital” “come fast".
I didn't know what to do. It was difficult to get train tickets on such short notice. Ani asked me how could I leave. I said, "I have to go." I packed a small bag and hurried to the bus station and caught the first available bus to Coimbatore and reached Trichur hospital early morning. I felt happy; I reached in time with few Saudi Riyals in the pocket. A friend helped me with the currency exchange.
Soon an ambulance was arranged to leave for Trivandrum hospital. My
brother Giri, my strength was there to support me. We landed in the hospital and then I thought it was nice we took my father to a better hospital.
I stayed with my mummy stayed in a small hospital room side next to dad's. We discussed many things about dad. My mother was a strong person and had always been our rock and she was still holding all of us together.
There weren't many days left before I had to join my new job when my dad called me to his side. He was struggling to speak. "Raja you go”. I didn't understand his words. My mother told me that he was telling me to leave for a new job without delay. I was worried. I told mummy, "How can I? Leaving him like this?"
When I said this, I saw tears in his eyes. He was trying to tell me that I will be able to see him again. Dad was such a nice person. He didn't want any hardship for anyone. Even more so when it came to his children. I assured him that I would come back after a month and by then he will have recovered. I knew his days were numbered from what I heard from the Doctor. He was suffering from some Pancreas disease.
I couldn't make myself feel excited or anything about the new job. My mind was still with dad in the hospital bed. Then all of a sudden the telephone ringed. Giri told me that dad was no more. I couldn't do anything for some time. When I came to my senses, the manager offered to return to India without delay. The visa formalities were all ready. But I remembered dad's last words and his wish. Brother told not travel now. You can come late. Days passed, the festival time arrived in the Gulf. I thought it is time to see mother. Seeing mother alone at home, it was very hurting for me. We all cried for a long time and consoled each other.
We had many stories of our hero to narrate. She went to the room and bought me a small Astrology book called Panchangam. I asked her what that was. She told me just go through. I was turning pages then suddenly something caught my attention. "10 Oct 2005" in RED ink. It was my father's handwriting. I was stunned. It was the date my dad left this world. I couldn't believe my eyes. I always felt father was just wonderful. My eyes filled with tears. Oh my God. He knew he was going to die. Even then he forced me to leave India for the job. I thought what a wonderful dad. Even at the time of death also, he wished comforts and happiness for children. Can anyone have such a nice father? I thought “What a rare person he is”
Ani touched my shoulders. "Get up we have to get ready to leave to Airport".