This is not your way ( Story)

This is not your way ( Story )

Akhil sitting in a chair in courtyard adjacent to his house, opened a book to read. He has mango fruits in a plate kept in front of him on a wooden table. His mother who was cooking for lunch, once came to him from kitchen and enquired whether he wanted tea. He said, “No”.

He is going to stay for another 15 days. He is working abroad in a company in a country of South Asia. He came on leave to his native place to spend with his family consisting of his parents, grandparents, a sister, and a brother living in the village. Both the siblings are younger to him.

His childhood friends in the village, came for the first three days to chat with him but now they stopped coming.

They could not find the same Akhil that they had seen before he went to a foreign country.

He went abroad three years back. He studied there for 18 months and then got a job there only. He came once after he got the job and this is second time. His friends could find an explicit change in him.

Even his family members also found the difference in him.

He became self-centered. He cares for himself and never worries about others.

Earlier he used to help his grandparents by neatly arranging their bed, keeping water glasses in their room during the night. Now, he never worried about them.

He used to mobilize family members for dining and help them by serving food items and supplying water in emergency while eating.

He used to iron the dresses of his father, sister and clean the motor bike of his father. He used to teach mathematics to his brother and play with him chess. Now and then he used to beat him also. He would be center of attraction among his friends with jovial nature.

Now there is a drastic change in him.

He serves food for himself and eats alone not waiting for anybody. Most of the time he spends with his costly mobile or laptop and sometimes with books. He gives short smiles, brief replies. He uses his head mostly for nodding either for yes or no.

Previous day his mother prepared sweet. She called everybody to dining table to have the sweet. Akhil had his bowl of sweet without waiting for anybody. They have a practice of all sitting together for taking special food. But in contrary to the general practice, Akhil had the sweet alone and that too a big quantity, without minding the others’ share.

When his father called him for Lunch he said, “Dad, I have taken”. His mother insisted him to have at least few grabs along with them. But he bluntly refused and said,” What Ma..? Is it a formality for me for having called to take food? Don’t worry I take food whenever I feel hungry.” She got offended for his comment and others got surprised.

While coming from abroad he brought variety of biscuits and chocolates.

He gave the pack to his mother to distribute. But before giving to somebody, he started eating biscuits without offering to anybody. His grandfather is fond of biscuits and grandmother is fond of chocolates. He never offered them anything.

His sister advised him to offer biscuits to grandparents. Then he said, "whatever they liked they can take and eat you know? All the edibles are kept open. For your information in Foreign countries these formalities are not followed. They eat and drink whatever they like. We are making our systems too much complicated. Better we simplify them. We have too many sentiments.”

His sister is doing her graduation. Though she is younger to him, she will not go back to have a debate with him.

She said,” Brother India is strong because of these sentiments only.”

“More sentiments will spoil the growth”. He replied. She did not continue because he is going to stay for few days, and she doesn’t want to hurt him.

Akhil was not talking like this earlier. He used to take much care of his grandparents. If he brings anything from outside, he used to show first to them. If anything is given by his mother or father to eat, he used to give part of his share to his younger brother and sister.

Everyone liked him in the house and outside also for his kind nature and care for others. His friends also liked him as he spent more time for them and helped them within his limits of possession.

He got basic change in his attitude while he started working abroad. He keenly observed in the country where he was working, that 'people think individually. They try to be secured by taking care of themselves. Young people start to earn after their schooling. They have their own savings with that they share the expenses of house. They have relations but not too many sentiments.' Akhil has an impression that society must change to that level. For him too much human bonding is a hypocrisy.

His leaves are melting day by day. In a weekdays Akhil must go abroad

Suddenly, he fell ill. He was downed with fever and severe cold. Akhil is worried if his company will sanction leave or not. He thought of checking with a doctor on his health issues. His father took him to a doctor and the doctor confirmed that Akhil got Malaria fever. Akhil got upset with this hurdle. He tried to extend his leave. But his reporting manager has not accepted for leave extension since they have some priorities. If Akhil does not go, his 'Employment pass' may be cancelled.

Family members of Akhil soothed him saying he will recover in a day or two. With the effect of fever, he had body pains, recurring fever, and headache. He was bed ridden and everything came to his bed. His grandparents sat completely beside his bed and pampered him with easing words and praying the god to relieving him from ill health.

His mother prepared tasty and choice food for him. His brother arranged TV near to his bed viewable by Akhil. Everybody in the house underwent some pressure for his quick recovery. His sister took duty of changing his bedsheet and cleaning his room. His father also took leave to be available for any emergency. Akhil’s friends came in turns to greet him. They chatted with him recollecting their memories.

Within 3 days Akhil became normal recovering his health. He came out of his bed completely. A big change came in him after he recovered from fever. He witnessed the real care of his family members and friends. He became normal Akhil, what he was earlier.

The day has come for Akhil to leave abroad. He must go to city by car, from there he must take a flight. He took blessings from his parents and grandparents. He became emotional when talking to them. They hugged him and blessed.

The car started to city and Akhil’s father alone accompanied in the car to bid farewell to his son at Airport. While travelling in the car Akhil’s father spoke to his son in a gentle and pampering voice.

“My son, I found some change in you within a short span of your living in some other country. It is a very small country and off course a developed country. You will find multicolored life and free style of living. Our country is not like that. Our country is very big, and we are attached with many things, and we generate values from them. If the values are not there these many people with different income levels and problems, will not survive.

I expect my son to be a role model of my country and not of some other country. I think you understand. Here we live in a group, sharing the emotions of one another. We are bonded hence live together and feel for others and we care for one another. I think you missed this basic sense.”

“Yes Dad. I am sorry. I think I lost my identity for some time. This fever would have come before only to open my eyes. Now I am alright Dad.”

“That’s fine. Come on! forget it, reset your password to become more integrated.”

Car reached Airport. Akhil moved to security point waving hands to say bye to his father who stood outside the check in area.

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