Page 37 - seniors today August issue
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Jagat and his wife were in Mumbai (Bombay)
and returned a week later. The next day after
they were back, Arun went over to meet them
and narrated the whole story. It was obvious
that he had outlived his hospitality. Lots of
conversation ensued between the men and Arun
left with a heavy heart.
Jagat and his wife usually took a Kothi in
Dehradun to get away from Delhi’s scorching
heat. It was a normal thing that a lot of Delhi
families did as the men hatched the plan.
The boys welcomed him and were delighted Somewhere in the middle of April Arun got a
that he was with them. Grandchildren and his letter. His grandson brought the letter to him,
daughter-in-laws doted on him, and Daddyji as and Arun said, “Just read it for me, my eyes are
he was called was a loved figure. Arun got into giving me a little problem.” The letter was from
a routine of life going for a walk, reading his Jagat, saying that the tenant of his Dehradun
papers and listening to the news. At 4 o’clock property was ready to vacate the house and
in the evening he went to the club, played cards wanted Rs 4 lakh whereas the church next to the
and returned home by 9 pm for dinner; an hour house would buy the entire plot for Rs 8 lakh.
later he would be asleep. During winters, Arun Seemed like a good deal and Jagat enquired
spent the morning sitting in the sun, soaking whether he would like to confirm this. Arun
in the heat. His spot was below the kitchen kept quiet and went about his daily routine
window. He ate a little bit of dry fruit and some without mentioning the letter. Sunday, his
jaggery sweets. younger son came for lunch, and the topic of the
Years passed by and he was pretty much happy Dehradun property was raised at the table. The
spending six months with each of his boys. Both elder son asked him, “Why didn’t you tell us
of them lived within a mile of each other. One about this?” Arun replied that he didn’t have Rs
day he told his elder daughter-in-law that there 4 lakh to pay the tenant. In an instant, both the
were fresh green peas in the market and asked boys said that they would contribute Rs 2 lakh
her to get some. A week went by, and he gently each and Arun should write to Jagat confirming
reminded her again about the green peas. Two the deal. A week later Arun left for Dehradun...
weeks later there were still no green peas on the Both the men couldn’t stop laughing.
table. The third time he told her and asked her On his return, it was “Daddyji Daddyji” all
why she hadn’t brought them. That morning over again. A couple of years later, Arun passed
he was sitting outside the kitchen window, and away and after the rituals of death were over
the younger daughter-in-law came over to meet Jagat invited both the boys and their wives to
her elder sister-in-law, who was in the kitchen. come for tea after which they could go out and
The conversation which Arun heard pierced a resume their life. “I have his will and I would
spear into his heart. The elder daughter-in-law like only the four of you to come” said Jagat.
said, “Budhdhe ke muh me daant nahi hai par The boys and their wives went, and Jagat gave
mataron ka swaad nahi gaya” – the old man has them the will where everything had been left to
no teeth but can’t get the taste of peas out of his various charities. Beyond the Rs 4 lakh there
mouth. Stunned, he could hardly believe what was another Rs 6 lakh from selling Shakuntala’s
he had heard. He got up and went to his room jewellery. They were in a state of shock and in
and cried, remembering Shakuntala. He asked the most polite manner, Jagat told the daughters-
for lunch to be served in his room, but the peas in-law the story of the green peas.
tasted like poison and Arun flushed them into Have you any stories like this? Do share them with
the drain. our readers. Write to editor@seniorstoday.in
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SENIORS TODAY | Volume 1 | Issue 2
