(Recap – In the first part of the story, I mentioned why and how I intended to buy some property in the city side. I had no enough amount to buy at some posh locality. Instead, I succeeded to strike a deal at some medium class colony.)
By this deal, I was fully satisfied. I had struck the deal, merely on the price of of the old constructed house. The annexed orchard was like a bonus. In my city, people from the Punjabi community are in good numbers. On the day of the departure of the couple, I was there. The couple had specifically solicited my presence at the time.Their son too had come from Delhi to take them along with. They handed over the key of the house and gave me some address and phone numbers of their local relatives in the city. So that, if in near future, I happen to confront any problem with the issue of property, they could properly be contacted.
Couple threw a deep glance
Prior to handing over the key of the house, couple ceremoniously roamed in side the house with slow steps. Staidly, they threw a wistful glance at every nook and corner of the house. They gazed instantly over the walls of the house with anguish. After that, they came out and took the round of the orchard with tired steps. They halted under every tree, with their folded hands in salutation, eyes closed and murmured something. It was akin to, as if, on this moment of adieu, asking a forgiveness to leave them as forlorn. Their eyes mist with tears. Then they hugged every tree fondly. This was a heart melting scene for me.
Then, they came to me and old man entreated, ” if it could be possible, try not to fell down them. We have planted them with our hands and nourished as a child. The oldest tree is Jack fruit one. It was like a memoir of late father, he by himself had planted this tree.” Then with a long exhalation, old lady said woefully, ” Otherwise also, you re the master of the house. You are at liberty to manage and plan for your property as per your whim Son. May god bless you !” They boarded on the cab and left for next destination.
From the beginning to the last of their departure, their this demeanor was heart rending. I already had managed every thing before hand about taking of the possession. First of all, I hung my name plate on the main gate. The services of a man as a house keeper I already hired. I made him settle in the garage. Then, I gave him some more instructions about the maintenance of the property and too left the place with heavy heart.
Time elapsed
two long years got elapsed and came the year of 2005. In between, I put the orchard to the right. There in the orchard, I too found an old timed water hand pump in poorly working condition. Might be, an installation by the old man or his late father. A possibility was, in old time proper supply of drinking water was not feasible, hence hand pump got installed. I hired the services of a mechanic and got fixed the hand pump with an electric suction pump. This helped to manage the proper irrigation to the entire orchard.
All trees in the orchard, I made to get coated up to the height of five feet from the ground level, with lime stone powder paste. The proper round and deep structure in dish shape to contain the water I too got dug in. Some new varieties of grafted fruit trees, I too planted there as well. Occasionally, whenever I happened to visit the property, the ambiance ever helped me to get rid of all stress. My better-half had a plan to raze down the old roof and lay a new reinforced cemented concrete roof. Upon which a new, modern styled house too could be erected. The ground floor with some innovation too could be let as rented, as a source of extra income.
Found an old picture
With the same intent, one day when I was inspecting inside the house, an almirah that was made inside the wall of an inner room, attracted my attention. Otherwise also, in my every visit, I took notice of that, but never wished to open the doors of that. On that day I opened the doors of the almiarah. There lied heap of some old unused goods. Other wise also, no item was of any use, but a glass framed photograph focused my attention. It was a photo of some old times photo of a couple of bygone era.
Heavy layers of dirt was collected on the glass. I cleaned the glass of the frame. Now a clear picture surfaced up. Even some faint streak of red dot I noticed on the glass just on the head of the couple. It was akin to the fashion of our Hindus’ rituals, when on the auspicious occasions we don’t forget to remember our departed ancestors and pray them in semblance to deity. On every such occasion we adorn their pic with red dot to extend our reverence.
Vibes I experienced
I watched the photo intently. I found a similitude of features after the face of previous owner from whom I bought the property. It also felt to me, the couple in the picture too was peeping into my eyes with a wish. This all may sound mocking to the reader but indubitably a vibes I felt running into my whole being. This vibes was, as if, they implored me to send them to its right owner. Now, how could I leave this photo frame as discarded one.
The question nagging me was, how could the old couple afford to leave behind this photograph. The only answer, I could presume was, they might have been in possession of another similar photo with them. But harassing imagination was, despite there all engagements, they could not been able to trace this photo. As the emotional bend of mind they had, hardly they could afford to leave behind this heirloom. The peeping face of couple too seemed to implore their wish to hand over the pic to the rightful owner. God knows only, a desire I felt inside me to hand over this photo graph to its lawful inheritor. I took the photo frame into my safe custody. (Cont’d). Penned by — Vinay Pharasi …..
