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Ranveer entered his room silently, his father supporting him to the bed. It had been a week since the incident and Ranveer was finally discharged from the hospital that evening. Kailash made Ranveer lie down on the bed and covered him up with a blanket before sitting beside him, looking worried.
"How are you feeling now?" Ranveer gave him a small smile as he took his father's hand in his own.
"I'm better, Baba. And I'm sorry for giving you such a scare."
"No, I'm sorry that I couldn't be here for you when you needed me the most." Ranveer gave him a guilty look as he shook his head reproachfully.
"No Baba, please don't say sorry. It was my fault."
"Shh. Don't strain yourself now. You've just gotten better. Take some rest, I'll be right back."
Kailash got up, making his way outside the room. He had barely reached the doorpost when Harshad Parekh came into view, a blank look on his face. Kailash quickly saluted him and bent his head, while Harshad shook his head.
"Kailash ji, please. Don't keep doing that."
"But saab-"
"No ifs and buts," said Harshad firmly yet not unkindly. Looking at Kailash slightly confused, he asked curiously. "And where are you going?"
"I was headed to the car." Harshad shook his head.
"No, you are on a five-day leave. Take rest and help Ranveer recover quickly as well."
"But-"
"-Kailash ji, it is alright. You've been of tremendous help in these fifteen days to me. I appreciate it, hence I do want you to take the necessary leave. Don't worry-" added Harshad when he saw the tense look on Kailash's face, "-this is your paid leave. I won't be cutting your salary."
Kailash gave him a shaky smile as he joint his hands in front of the former.
"Thank you, saab. It means a lot to the two of us."
"Don't thank me. I should thank Ranveer for what he's done for my girl," said Harshad with a loving smile on his face. Kailash turned behind and gave Ranveer a proud smile.
"My son is like that. Values loyalty above all." Harshad nodded his head and smiled. Looking ahead at Ranveer, who was now staring at the two men inquisitively, the former spoke again, this time his voice slightly hesitant.
"If you don't mind, can I talk to Ranveer alone for a few minutes?" Both Kailash and Ranveer looked confused, giving each other a perturbed look. Finally not seeing what the harm was with it, Ranveer nodded his head and Kailash turned his attention towards Harshad.
"Yes, ofcourse. I'll be outside if you need anything, saab."
Harshad nodded his head as Kailash left the room, shutting the door silently behind him. Harshad smiled at Ranveer, who now had a slightly petrified look on his face as he wondered what his master wanted to talk to him about. Harshad came and took a seat beside Ranveer's bed and asked him softly.
"How are you now?"
"I'm feeling much better."
"Good." Harshad gave Ranveer a satisfactory look, while the latter now shut his eyes. After a few moments, Ranveer spoke swiftly.
"Kaka, thank you."
"For?"
"For taking my side in school."
"It's no big deal, Ranveer."
"It is, Kaka. It is for me. You don't come across many people who put a case over a school and get seven students suspended just because they were involved in the ragging of a servant's son. I've heard about your greatness and humility, Kaka, but it was only yesterday when Baba told me about it did I truly realize how blessed I am to be working under you."
Harshad gave him an understanding smile before he admitted honestly.
"You know Ranveer, loyalty is something I appreciate a lot in any person apart from honesty. But these days, neither of these two are to be seen in any person at all. And yet I find this in a nine-year old boy who was ready to get himself nearly killed for his friend and for the man he works, out of loyalty. So yes, I should be the one saying thank you. And if I wouldn't have taken your side, I would be the world's most heartless man."
"No no, Kaka, please, you're embarrassing me."
"Truth be said, I'm embarrassed that you had to face so much on your own while that none of us helped you out."
"Oh no, Mota Babuji, I-" protested Ranveer, stopping abruptly at the term he used, flushing dully. Harshad gave him a stunned look.
"Mota Babuji?"
"Sorry, Kaka, I didn't mean to, it just..." began Ranveer but trailed off when Harshad gave him a knowing smile.
"Just what?" asked Harshad kindly even though he now looked curious. Ranveer sighed.
"In my village, my Baba has a mentor. He always calls him Mota Babuji. And I... you... well..." stuttered Ranveer, trying to find for the right words.
Harshad gave him an overwhelmed look.
"You consider me as your... mentor?" Ranveer nodded his head, speaking with a sudden rush of affection.
"Yes. I want to grow up to become like you. Not just make a name for myself but to be as humble and ground-to-earth a person as you are. I want to make my parents proud. I want their hard work and sufferings to be worthwhile."
Harshad and Ranveer shared a strong look between themselves that spoke much more than words ever could. It was after some time that the former spoke again, his mind now wandering away to distant memories.
"You know, I was very young when my father died. My mother had to shoulder a lot of responsibilities and I was barely of age when I had to sacrifice my education to sustain my family. It's with a lot of compromises and sacrifices that I've reached where I am today, starting from a teacher, who was also my mentor, who believed in me and helped me learn everything I know today. He helped me become the man I am today. But in all those years, I always had the fire in my heart to do something, to create a niche for myself in this world. I see that same fire in your eyes today, Ranveer. I've been seeing it in your eyes since the day you stepped foot into this threshold."
"But I am a servant," spoke Ranveer blankly, yet Harshad caught on to the resentment in his voice.
"No, you are not. You are boy who has a long way to go to carve his own destiny. A boy who wears loyalty and honestly on his sleeves. You will become a big man someday, Ranveer. And between you and me, this is saying something. Mark my words."
"Is it possible?"
"Yes. Nothing in this world is impossible, Ranveer. You can even find God if you will to, remember that. I will make sure to give you the proper education of your choice to make sure that you can do something worthwhile with your life, and that you carve your place in this hypocritical society as a man, not a servant."
"Thank you, Mota Ba- I mean Harshad Kaka," correctly Ranveer swiftly, flushing red yet again. Harshad gave him a sweet smile.
"You can call me Mota Babuji from today, Ranveer. It is an honour that you think so highly of me, especially when I have done nothing more than be the cause of your pain and suffering."
"Please don't apologize, Mota Babuji, it is alright."
"No it is not. My mother had no right to indulge in such cruelty when you were so badly hurt." Ranveer gulped uneasily before speaking in a hesitant voice.
"Ishaani told me that you scolded her and that your anger was formidable." Harshad chuckled and Ranveer let a small smile cross his face.
"I'm afraid she is right," laughed Harshad uneasily while Ranveer let out a chuckle as well. Ranveer looked at Harshad in contemplation for a few minutes before asking him curiously.
"You love her a lot now, don't you?"
"Yes, as much as you do," said Harshad lovingly, not missing the cue about the person being spoken about. Ranveer's gaze faltered..
"Me?" Harshad smiled and spoke with a glint in his eyes.
"Yes. What you did for her is something that no blood would also do. Loyalty and friendship one side, this is love."
"Love?" asked Ranveer, flabbergasted as though he was caught at some wrong-doing. Harshad smiled at him and nodded his head, giving him a keen look now. When he spoke next, his voice was deep.
"Yes. Love. It is a beautiful yet terrible privilege, Ranveer. You are young, you won't understand it completely, but the day you do..." trailed off Harshad, suddenly looking a littke embarrassed at flowing free with his thoughts. He patted Ranveer's hand and smiled.
"Never mind that, now is not the time for this conversation. You need to rest." Ranveer nodded his head and Harshad got up, stroking his head gently.
"Goodnight, Mota Babuji."
"Goodnight, beta." Harshad had almost made his way out from the room when Ranveer spoke quickly.
"Mota Babuji, can I ask you something?" Harshad stopped in his tracks and turned behind.
"Anything."
"Apart from what you told me, I always notice that you treat me like all the children in this house and care for me like your own. Why?" Harshad chuckled softly before replying sincerely, a tear leaving his eye.
"Well, I've always hoped to have a son one day with all your attributes. You remind me a lot about myself, something that I hope to see in my son as well, if I have one someday. Maybe that's why I take you as my son. Any more questions?" Ranveer shook his head and smiled.
"Good, now take some rest. I need you perfectly fit."
Harshad smiled as he left the room, leaving behind a Ranveer deep in thought.
23th June, 1996:
It feels so good to see you after so long. Truth be said, I've missed you. Sorry for scaring you earlier, I promise I'll be good from now on.
But in this one week, I've learnt a lot more than I expected to. Truth be said, life is funny. Sometimes, you are abandoned by your own, and sometimes you are accepted by strangers as their own. I never knew that anyone could love me that much, and I was lucky to find not one, but two such people.
It is funny how destiny plays its hand, how it makes one the richest person on Earth in one moment and the poorest one in the other. Four months ago, when I stepped foot into this threshold, I was made to believe how insignificant my existence was because this world ran with the one thing I did not possess - money.
My identity was associated with the same, my reason of living immaterial. I was categorized as a servant who was meant to be the dirt on our master's shoes. Someone who had no right to feel and emote. Just bear. But if someone asks me today whether money is the most important thing in the world, I would still disagree because there are things apart from money that mean and matter a lot more. Things which define the person you truly are rather than the person money makes you.
Today, I find two people who appreciate my loyalty and honestly; who appreciate my friendship and love. One sees a son in me; the other sees a very close friend. Mota Babuji and Ishaani have proved without a doubt why money isn't the only thing that matters, and why loyalty and trust still weigh higher.
But then again, I did make a mistake in judgment. I was too quick to judge Falguni Maa, but now when I think about it from her point of view, I can see why she did what she did. But at the end of the end, she proved what a mother was made up of. She proved to be the woman of element I had thought her to be.
And from now on, my life has a new motive - to live up to the love that these three people have showered upon me and to let my loyalty remain unwavering, no matter what happens from this point forth.
Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :) :)
Next chapter:
Epistle 11
Rihana, yearning to break free from the predetermined fate of being a tawaif's ...
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