RAJ KUMAR , THE PRINCE – A SHORT STORY
When he was born, his elated parents decided that he was no less than a prince, born to rule their hearts. Swelling with pride, on a son born in the family, the father named him Rajkumar. He was to be the saviour of the family name, protector of his parents, and the apple of everyone’s eyes. After all, he was the auspicious son born after three daughters.
Considering the circumstances of his birth, it was difficult to assume that Rajkumar would have a balanced upbringing. Pampered to the hilt, his misdeeds got looked over. When Rajkumar created a tantrum, his parents looked with love at him, when he screeched and beat his legs and hands, they told each other that they were blessed with an active son.
And, thus, Rajkumar grew up to adolescence. He decided when to attend school. The rest of the days were better off outside the walled premises. The latter being more than the former. The schoolmaster tried to discuss the matter with the father, in vain. Rajkumar, the prince strategised his days. Others only had to agree. So, while his sisters were able to gain some learning, Rajkumar perfected the art of surviving on the dusty, muddy by-lanes of the village.
At home, Rajkumar was the be-all, end-all. Unfortunately, the rest of the village children did not think so. Years of getting treated royally had softened Rajkumar. He was no match to the others. He would regularly get beaten and return home nursing his wounds.
His father would take up the mantle to fight back on his behalf. “My son gets a raw deal”, he could be heard lamenting to whomsoever was ready to listen, “People don’t see the barbarity of their own children.”
Resultantly, the family began to add to their pile of village adversaries.
People, however, did observe. They observed the demise of a family. They spoke about it when there was nothing else to gossip about. They spoke in hushed tones when the father passed by and oozed in sarcasm when the mother joined the other women for the evening prayers in the local temple. The youngsters ridiculed the sisters, who already living in misery, chose not to retaliate back. Their silent consent said it all.
CHANGE OF HEART
On a warm, muggy August morning, the interstate bus dropped Anil Kumar at the bus stand. Rajkumar, who was loitering around the area watched in awe as the smart military man disembarked the bus. Many bystanders ran towards Anil. He was laughing, a bright confident laugh. Anil’s father garlanded his son and warmly hugged him. The hero was returning home to a tumultuous welcome.
It was as if Rajkumar had found a branch to save himself from drowning.
That afternoon, while eating the simple lunch of vegetables and chapatti, Rajkumar announced his intention to join the Indian Army. Mixed emotions arose. The sisters smirked. The mother showed lines of worry. The father said he was not giving consent. Rajkumar, the prince was too precious to put himself on the line of duty.
Rajkumar, however, was adamant. It would be the Army or nothing.
In pursuit of his dream, he tried to change old habits. For the next few days, he woke up early to reach school on time. To strengthen himself physically, he began to jog daily to the neighbouring fields.
However, it is not without reason that elders say ‘Old habits die hard.’
Once the initial enthusiasm waned, so did the dream. With no real support and guidance from the family, Rajkumar soon gave up. In a short while, he was back to his good old self.
The love for the uniform stayed, though. If not the uniform of an Army man, it would be the uniform of a Security Guard, mused he. After all, many young men from the village had migrated to the cities and were now guarding homes, offices, and factories. What they could do, he would do better, pondered the young prince.
The journey to becoming a guard began with getting a degree. So, reluctantly though, it was back to school for Rajkumar. And struggle he did. By the time he reached the school leaving year, his compatriots had passed out and moved on with life.
The golden day arrived. Rajkumar had finally cleared the exams. The score sheet showed a ‘just pass’. It did not matter. There were celebrations abound in the family. Kheer and halwa got prepared, along with poori and potato curry.
The next morning, dressed in his best, with money borrowed from his father, Rajkumar took a Tuk Tuk Rickshaw to the nearby town. He got dropped off at the town centre. The hustle-bustle fascinated him. A sweets and savouries shop enticed him. The aroma of hot samosas weakened his knees. It was a herculean task to turn away from these temptations. Money was short. Life was so unfair, he reflected.
Still, the mission had to be fulfilled. After walking around for some time, he finally reached Pehelwan Dhabha, and right next to it was GG Security Agency.
“Leave everything to us. We will take care”, the big banner advertised. A smart-looking uniformed guard adorned one part of the banner. Skeptically, he entered the room. A broken desk and swinging chair took up most of the office. A stout middle-aged man in a washed-up uniform looked up.
After a long interview, which did not go as desired, Rajkumar got taken behind the office. “Now run around the field”, the man ordered. In pointed shoes and his Sunday best, Rajkumar ran, as if for life. And promptly collapsed at the feet of the man.
He got offered the job, anyhow. Much to the delight of his sisters and to mixed emotions from his parents.
ADVENTURE ANEW
The day dawned too soon. The family came to bid goodbye to their prince. Accompanying him was a small rag-a-tag steel box housing all the clothes he owned, a pair of new slippers, a new shaving kit, soap bar, a small jar of talcum powder, and a bottle of coconut hair oil.
They reached the bus stand much too early. Holding back tears, the mother stood quietly, the daughters by her side. The father, grim, stood by. Rajkumar twiddled his thumbs, praying that nothing would go wrong. Finally, the bus arrived. Rajkumar settled down in the front seat, pushing a couple of women out to the back. They mumbled and glowered at him. He maintained a poker face. An indicator of his true nature.
After a 9-hour bus ride, he reached the railway junction. The junction was a sight to behold. For a village dweller like him, the sight was overwhelming. Hundreds of people moving about, jostling coolies, people squatting in the middle of the platform, an old couple sleeping under a pushcart, little children crying unnecessarily, and blowing train horns indicating departures.
Suspicious of all, he was unsure who to approach for directions. Finally, believing that a geriatric would not cheat him, he approached an old couple. They turned out to be beggars. This was getting worse, and Rajkumar had not prepared any contingency plans. Just when he reached desperation, a sympathetic coolie helped him to the correct platform.
Hunger and thirst were making things more unbearable.Therefore, sufficed the young man, that first the belly had to be fed. The train was yet to arrive. Time was in hand. He now faced another challenge. How to open his wallet in public. Lurking, evil eyes were everywhere.
So thinking with suspicion, he walked to the walled end of the platform. Facing it, he took out the resin wallet from inside his trousers. Counting thirty rupees, he tucked the precious pouch back to its resting place. And then walked to ‘Bhola Aloo Puri’ shop.
Devouring the four puris and the curry, he washed down his meal with a cup of sweetened tea. Soon the train arrived and he pushed through others, again, to enter the wrong compartment, got into a tussle with the right passenger of the seat, and then had to run all the way down the platform to vouch for his correct seat.
As the train pulled out of the platform, all inconveniences got forgotten. There was a spark on Rajkumar’s sallow face. Excitement, adventure, the big city, all awaited him. That night, as the other passengers pulled up their sheets and blankets and slept, anticipation kept him awake. He felt in his bones that his game-changing moment had begun. Looking out of the window, he could see flickers of lights whenever the train passed a habitation, the dark waters of the river crossings and, passing stations. Whenever the train halted, he got tempted to step down, even though just for a moment. But he did not do so for fear of the train leaving him behind.
“Wake up, young man.” Someone was jostling Rajkumar. Sleepy eyes opened and after a moment of a blur, Rajkumar could see the Ticket Conductor. “New Delhi station has arrived. Don’t you want to get off the train”, he laughed, “Or is it back to the village for you?”
Sleep flew away immediately. Scrambling his belongings, Rajkumar rushed out. The platform was much bigger than he anticipated. A warm, balmy breeze was blowing, even though it was still very early in the morning. Standing there, lost and lonely, a wave of nostalgia swept him. What was he doing here, he thought. Home never felt so welcoming as now.
Shaking himself out of the stupor, he looked around, a little hesitatingly. He had been given a phone number to contact in case of any problems. But wasn’t someone to come to pick him up, he thought to himself.
A NEW BEGINNING
Looking around he saw a few more young men as dishevelled as him. They looked equally lost. Slowly he walked down the platform and reached the other end. “Walk back and turn right”, said an urchin, laughing.
Finally, the exit gate was in view. It was an entry to a completely new world. Noises of all kinds, blaring horns, loud conversations, autos and taxis, people everywhere. It was overwhelming to a village bumpkin. And just when he was getting fearful of what next to do, Rajkumar saw the uniformed man who had interviewed him. A huge relief swept over him. An auspicious beginning.
The uniformed man was professional to the hilt. Poker-faced, he questioned Rajkumar for the delay. “The others are all here”, he said pointing to the young men standing behind him. They were the ones Rajkumar had noticed earlier in the platform.
Rajkumar thought it better to keep his mouth shut, a habit that was to hold him in good stead in times to come.
A rickety minibus took them all to an office in a crowded part of the city. Climbing up an iron ladder, the troupe reached the office. What followed was a whirlwind of signing papers, pasting of photographs, and listening to instructions. He looked around the room in hope of some refreshments. With the stomach rumbling in hunger, a lecture was the last thing he was interested in.
Just as he was about to give up hope, again, the instructor curtly announced a break. Tea, biscuits, and samosas were served. Rajkumar got saved.
Later in the evening, the tired men got shown their accommodation. “These rooms are available for a month only. Find your own quarters as soon as possible.” were the parting words of the uniformed man.
Rajkumar slept fretfully that night. Tiredness notwithstanding, he was too excited, anxious, fearful, all emotions overtaking him. The others were snoring their tiredness away. Rajkumar turned and twisted. The bed was anyway too new for him to sleep on. Home never felt so distant. Tears welled up in his eyes. How was he to manage, he thought, pitying himself. Sleep finally overtook the tired soul.
The next morning, Rajkumar was the last to awaken. The others were in varying processes of dressing up. A little lost, it took a few minutes for him to get a hold of himself. Scrambling up he rushed to spruce up.
The day got spent on further instructions and physical training. Rajkumar, naturally a tad bit portly, found the going tough. His heart beat faster. He could notice a wave of doubt sweep by the instructors’ faces. “They can’t fire me now”, thought he smugly. “ I have signed all papers.”
“You need to become fitter, Rajkumar”, a stern voice said from behind him. As he turned, he saw a tall tough looking man talking to him. Col. Shekhar, the owner of the Security Agency looked at him, a little unsure on whether to retain him or not. “ Yes sir”, mumbled Rajkumar.
GOOD TIMES
Thus began Rajkumar’s journey into becoming a Security Guard. He and the rest got assigned to a residential gated society. Rajkumar’s pride knew no bounds. He would prove what an asset he was to the Agency.
Slowly he got settled in a routine. Waking up early he would do a few push-ups, and cooperate, though not very willingly, with his roommates in preparing tea and lunch. All skipped breakfast. It was expensive to eat 3 meals a day. A few biscuits would do fine. He washed his uniform daily and polished his shoes every morning. When he wore his cap and walked up to work his gait was stiffer, head held a bit higher. It was as if all eyes were only on him.
There were very few residents living in the Society. The going was easy. Rajkumar became ‘a man Friday’ for many. Grocery goods had to be brought up to the 3rd floor, an apartment had to be shown to a prospective client, a house help was needed for the madam on the 7th floor, a child’s cycle puncture had to be repaired, it was Rajkumar everyone went to. And in return, they thanked him monetarily.
As time went on, Rajkumar’s greed became bigger. He would spend more time completing errands and receiving a tip, rather than fulfill his duties. Several times the Supervisors would notice an empty seat as the CCTV camera would swing to his dedicated spot. And yet, when he would be questioned on dereliction of duty, he always had an answer ready. “Sir, madam sent me for an errand”, or “The child was crying. What could I do?” The Supervisors attempted to shift him to another building. But he resisted.
Rajkumar thrived.
THE HOUSEHOLDER
By now Rajkumar had taken a small room on rent. His father came to visit him. “Here is the photo of the girl you are going to marry soon”, he said, pushing a picture of a young non-descript girl towards him. Rajkumar looked shyly at the photo, thought he deserved better but did not have the courage to express his opinion. Accordingly, on an auspicious day, Rajkumar wed the girl. He was now a householder. His responsibilities increased. He needed to supplement his income further, Rajkumar pondered.
A year passed by.
“You are not doing your duty well, Rajkumar. Don’t make me take action against you.” Col. Shekhar said, irritation reflecting in his tone of voice. This was not the first time the complaint had reached the boss. Rajkumar kept quiet, knowing that letting the moment pass was a more intelligent thing to do. His mind was racing, though. Who could have complained?
By the time he reached home, his irritation had converted into anger. And his wife became the victim. “What is the matter?” she queried.
“What is it to you?” he retorted. “You are living like a queen. I am the one who has to face all injustices of life.”
The wife thought it better to leave him alone. This irritated Rajkumar further. He refused to eat the simple dinner. “Cannot a man ever get some decent food”, he shouted at her. She cowered, picking up the thrown plate and cleaning the spilled curry.
That night Rajkumar could not sleep. Hunger gnawed him. Pride stopped him from asking for food. He woke up early and quietly ate the breakfast served to him. But the desire for good food remained. On the way to work, he stopped at a roadside chowmein shop and ordered noodles with a boiled egg. Once satiated he moved on. Life was not so bad, after all.
TRAGEDY
“Rajkumar, can you get my groceries from the car,” said a resident handing him over the car keys.
“Yes madam”, replied he knowing that he would get compensated well. In happy anticipation, he walked down to the basement. As he went down the ramp, he could see a tempo stop by and two young men jump out and enter the building. “Some shifting must be taking place”, he thought. “But why have I not been informed?” he muttered to himself.
Within an hour, there was confusion all around. The resident of an apartment on the 8th floor came down flustered and panicked. She had returned from work a few minutes ago. “Why is she in such a state?” wondered he. While Rajkumar tried to make sense of her incomprehensive talks, the Supervisor and a few more guards joined them. Within minutes some residents and staff also joined. Rajkumar panicked. A sinking feeling enveloped him, he felt nauseous. He could not understand what was happening but knew it was concerning him. Everyone was talking simultaneously. Rajkumar felt he would faint any moment. He took support from the side table.
“Don’t let him out of sight”, said the Supervisor. “The police are arriving.”
The lady of the house meantime got joined by her husband, both shrieking at the same time. By now a mele of residents, guards, society staff all had joined the commotion. Rajkumar, weak in the knees was now sitting on his chair holding his head.
The police arrived. They spoke with some people and then a constable came up to Rajkumar.
“Come with us”, he said gruffly.
“I have done nothing” squirmed Rajkumar, now with tears in his eyes.
Rajkumar got pushed into a cell in the police chowki. He was now the accused. Accused of conniving with the two young men in conducting a burglary.
In the coming days, CCCTV cameras got scanned, the local newspapers carried the news, the police searched all around, questioned several people, interrogated Rajkumar several times. Nothing came out.
Rajkumar hoped that all the residents whom he had worked for on the sly would come to his rescue. None came forward. Only his weeping wife and stoic father visited, begging the police authorities for a release.
Lack of evidence came to Rajkumar’s rescue. He got released by the end of the month. However, freedom came at a price. He had to report to the chowki every alternate day. Naturally, he got fired from the job he had come to love. He had now nowhere to go, nothing to do. The family fell in destitute.
6 months went by. Slowly things began to get normal. But Rajkumar was now a broken man, a mental wreck. He felt betrayed.
With great difficulty, he got a job in another residential society, albeit with a reduced salary. His stint at the police station had marred him forever. He couldn’t decide what had hurt him more, the false case of burglary against him or the lack of support from people.
He kept getting transferred from one part of the society to another and finally found himself guarding the vehicles parked by the main road. Life was now only a compromise. His days of glory were over. He wanted to return to his village. But the news had travelled faster than fire. With what face would he return? He was now the laughing stock for all.
Rajkumar became a study of failure, of desperation. His shoulders stooped when he walked. He could not see people in the eyes, even going up to the grocer became a struggle.
One good came out, though. All quarrels with his wife ended. He ate what she prepared. No questions asked, no outbursts. His worried wife looked on helplessly.
THE PRINCE
It was a fine October afternoon. Children were returning from school, housewives were basking in the bright afternoon sun, a cat in all regality was sleeping under the shade of a tree, an auto-rickshaw driver was enjoying his lunch. Rajkumar also came home. In a depressed voice, he asked his wife what was for lunch. “Khichdi” she replied. Silently he sat awaiting.
All of a sudden he felt a wave of heat envelop his body. He felt a scathing pull in his back. Simultaneously a severe chest pain began. He tried to call out to his wife, but no word came out. As a last attempt, he lunged his arm towards a chair.
His wife turned at the sound of the falling chair. Shocked she ran towards the fallen Rajkumar.
A few days later, Rajkumar returned to his village. It was not the return he had envisaged. It was no hero’s welcome. But people did come out of their homes as the hearse van brought the prince back.
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