मौसम से बातें
कल से ये हवा ने ना जाने क्या,
बेरुखी सी अपनाई है
जहाँ कल मौसम लेता था मस्ती की, अंगडाई सी ,
आज सिर्फ़ तनहाई है; और तनहाई है
ना जाने कहाँ से हवा ने झूटपुट ,
सी अश्क पाई थी
सूर्य की उष्मा से ये धरती,
तू ना सहलाई थी ?
ले गया ये बादल मेरे उष्मा के,
उस स्रोत को ;
जिसकी ठंडी धुप में मैं ,
चल रहा था , पल रहा था
और छोड़ गया मुझे उस लौ में ,
तप्त होने को ;
जो उसकी थी ,
और मैनें पाई थी
लोग मुझे कहते है बीमार ,
पर ये है सिर्फ़, उस धुप का खुमार ,
बताओ ! बताओ की कब धुप में , फसल उगाने वाले ने ,
छाए में जश्न मनाई थी
- कमल कान्त गुप्ता
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
मौसम से बातें
Profession (A Short Story)
Kartikey is a Chai-Wallah at a local railway platform. He is 17 years old and earns bread for himself and his family from this not so high profile job.
I often visit his tea-stall, most of my evenings, when I am free of my copy checking and lesson plans. Once during one of my visits, I found him talking in his cell-phone to some body, on the other side.
Normally Kartikey is a jolly good fellow, always having his trademark smile on his face. While talking in his mobile that day, the ample seriousness in his face revealed that something was wrong and worrying. There was about 15 or so, customers waiting before him, for their cup of tea, some of them checking out local train timings on their watches, some of them with exhausted faces and ruined shirts just stepped out of train from their day long office hours, heading for another bus journey from station to their home after having a cup of tea. In midst of all these, Kartikey was still chatting on his mobile phone. Some customers after waiting a moment of frustrated seconds, interrupted him between his talks, but he carelessly replied back to them: “Aare daran Moshay”, just wait for a minute Sir.
After having fifteen minutes of serious talk, while turning back to his services, he uttered in a grieved sound, “Jodi Oyi Obola Poshu ke baachano jeto” If that poor pet, could be saved. His face immersed in deep anxiety and sadness. Meanwhile most of his customers who were in hurry left his stall, without having their tea.
I calculated in my mind that due to this telephonic conversation he actually lost around Rs. 15 and 75 paise out of his , not so earning business.
After half an hour when his stall was bit emptied of people, I asked him in my not so profound Bengali accent, what sort of talking he was involved in, for which he lost his share of fortune( I mean to say Rs. 15)?
In a state of deep thought and anxiety he replied me, “Sir Yesterday Kalu got stuck between slowing trains at the station…” his throat being lumped, stopping him from saying anymore words. I was not comforted by his answer. Clearing his voice he said “I took the dog to a veterinary specialist, the condition of the dog was very pathetic”. He added “Doctor is suggesting to amputate one of his legs to save him from further danger”.
His words of kindness touched me; his profession made my profession, look worthless before his.
- Kamal Kant Gupta
I often visit his tea-stall, most of my evenings, when I am free of my copy checking and lesson plans. Once during one of my visits, I found him talking in his cell-phone to some body, on the other side.
Normally Kartikey is a jolly good fellow, always having his trademark smile on his face. While talking in his mobile that day, the ample seriousness in his face revealed that something was wrong and worrying. There was about 15 or so, customers waiting before him, for their cup of tea, some of them checking out local train timings on their watches, some of them with exhausted faces and ruined shirts just stepped out of train from their day long office hours, heading for another bus journey from station to their home after having a cup of tea. In midst of all these, Kartikey was still chatting on his mobile phone. Some customers after waiting a moment of frustrated seconds, interrupted him between his talks, but he carelessly replied back to them: “Aare daran Moshay”, just wait for a minute Sir.
After having fifteen minutes of serious talk, while turning back to his services, he uttered in a grieved sound, “Jodi Oyi Obola Poshu ke baachano jeto” If that poor pet, could be saved. His face immersed in deep anxiety and sadness. Meanwhile most of his customers who were in hurry left his stall, without having their tea.
I calculated in my mind that due to this telephonic conversation he actually lost around Rs. 15 and 75 paise out of his , not so earning business.
After half an hour when his stall was bit emptied of people, I asked him in my not so profound Bengali accent, what sort of talking he was involved in, for which he lost his share of fortune( I mean to say Rs. 15)?
In a state of deep thought and anxiety he replied me, “Sir Yesterday Kalu got stuck between slowing trains at the station…” his throat being lumped, stopping him from saying anymore words. I was not comforted by his answer. Clearing his voice he said “I took the dog to a veterinary specialist, the condition of the dog was very pathetic”. He added “Doctor is suggesting to amputate one of his legs to save him from further danger”.
His words of kindness touched me; his profession made my profession, look worthless before his.
- Kamal Kant Gupta
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