(Recap– In the last episode, I concluded that part of the story by saying, gradually my contact with Bind bro begun to ebb away and at the last it came to a perpetual halt for that had some reasons….)
firstly, the coffee-cafe, that served as a meeting place for local petty leaders, journalists, students and other sorts of activists was shuttered down. The proprietor of the main building evacuated all the shops and after renovation there came into existence a public Co-operative bank. Secondly, Bind bro were not inclined to entertain friends at his home. Thirdly, our this Himalayan foot hill city was under the grip of a rapid urbanization process. The precincts of the city were expanding beyond expectations. A trend of settlement of new colonies was in offing with full swing.
The old city, that once had recognition for Tonga carts and bicycles was being introduced new types of modern public transportation. With the rapid urbanization an afresh crowds of denizens from surrounding regions too thronged in the city. The old city was slowly dying down. In a way, old city was casting off its old slough and taking a new shape with a fresh decoration. Perhaps this is the law of eternal transformation and observed everywhere. But along with it, the cordial bond and harmonious accord of old time generation too were vanishing.
And with the lapse of time, there came a situation that in busy and hectic schedule of life seldom Bind bro happened to recall in the mind. His remembrance flashed in the mind and vanished side by side. The desire to meet him repeatedly also surged in the mind. Once captivated by the strong surge to see him, I decided to visit his residence. As I told in the beginning, he was not inclined to receive friends at the residence. But I was left with no option.
After climbing the stairs of his house when I reached at the main door, I found a heavy padlock waited for me. I could ably judge that padlock been fixed long back since the presence of old cobwebs announced that ostensibly. Troubled by the situation I descended the stairs; the same old tea- stall still was being run by the same owner. The owner too had grown older now. Under the agony of suspense, I queried, “Where I could ind Bind bro? There hung a heavy padlock on the main doors! It seems house is closed for long!”
He responded, ” they people had migrated to the city of Ahmadabad of Gujarat province. Yes, Bind bro happened to stay in this city till last month only. He was staying in a bungalow of his acquaintance of old time professor as a care taker. Actually, professor was in habit to visit his son in USA, hence he used to hand him over the care taking of the premise. But the health issues of Bind bro was not accommodating to continue the stay. Finally his friends persuaded him to join his family at Ahmadabad for he could be looked after properly there by the family. Those friend too arranged his train ticket and made him board on the train forcefully. Before departure he too had visited me to say a “good buy.” This incidence, I am reporting occurred about in the year of 1998.
With the beginning of new millennium, my city picked up the fast speed and with in few years its speedy transformation even confused to one and all. There firstly came the vanishing of those land marks of city which once were the glory of the city in shape of Cine- halls. In place of them mushroomed up new multi-storied shopping complexes. The trend of Cell phone introduced, that put land line phones into oblivion. Later on Android phone revolutionized all aspects of life, even it engulfed camera, calculator, note books and every thing in its perfect device system.
The population of the city too increased to multi-folds. The out come of money in the market was ostensible. Every where the honks of new model of cars and bikes disturbed the mental peace. My city that once was known for its picturesque ambiance got spoiled. The tranquility of the old city was no where was to be witnessed now. The old roads over them once upon a time people rode on bicycles freely were now crowded with cars and bikes. Even it became hard for a foot goer to stroll on main roads.
Further the expanse of the city, that once was confined hardly to a diameter of five km, now expanded to twenty km. Almost of the country side vicinity got engulfed by the Urbanization. In every place, in the name of new colonies’ set up the forest of concrete buildings mushroomed up. New generation of migratory population overshadowed the old generation of the city. In fact, it seemed, as if, old denizens got buried some where and city got assailed by migratory crowd. An altogether anew city was now in existence and this process nowhere seemed to come to a halt. It was an incessant process which still is going on and on.
In between came the assault of COVID 19 as a pandemic. Every one was forced to get confined with in the walls of the home. That was the period of time when Jio communication launched her free of cost data scheme for every one. It was felt so alluring and quality time passed means; every one lying on the couch inside home, busy in hand phone. Truly say, this scheme enslaved people largely at that part of time. During that time when I was scrolling down the phone, my sight got stuck to a Face Book account. The account wore some collage pics as an abstract fine arts.
I noticed the name, it wore some name not known to me as an acquaintance one. On DP flashed a dim face of an old, grey haired man with emaciated face. The face grew an impression in the mind, as if, I had seen him before. The holder of that account was in my friend list. At that time I was in habit to send friend requests to people in bulk. Perhaps in that drive, this account holder had accepted my friend request. In coming days so many collage pics regularly kept on surfaced up in that account intermittently.
On one day, that account relayed a reportage in detail, I went through the contents. The contents distinctly wore the sweet smell of my old time city. It reminisced me about the ambiance and literary circle of my that bygone days of city with an agony saturated with nostalgia. The description of some peoples names mentioned in the article, I knew them by name if not personally. After that, various articles began to surfaced up into that account with the name of my city distinctly.Almost in every contribution, I could smell the scent of my that old city.
On one day I poked the same Face book account and keenly looked into the display profile (DP.)Some where it felt to me that this account belonged to Bind bro. A strong desire surged up in side and on one of the contents I made a comment, ” if I am not wrong, you seem to me Bind bro?” ( End of the part 8th. Cont’d.) Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–
