GOAN SHORT STORY- BOSS

Peter was studying in standard ninth when his mother expired. Peter’s father sebastiao commonly known as boss in the village was working on ship. Boss left his job after his wife expired and started a bar and restaurant in his wife Fatima’s name. He did so because he wanted to look after his only child, Peter, very well. Boss was happy go lucky chap. He closed his bar on Fridays so that he could spend his time with his friends. These friends have grown up with boss some studied in same class. The names of his closer friends were Francis, Nilkhant, Joe, Pedro, Lawrance, Vishnu and Reginaldo.

As life folds its paper everyday, peter passed out 10th with a first class and then studied very hard in 11th and 12th standard so that he too become famous chef as his father. Boss never forced his son to take up the trade boss wanted; he gave independence to his son in taking decisions regarding his profession. So as planned he joined the famous cookery teaching institute to become a chef. He put all his effort to get good marks for every exam.

Boss too was happy because he thought that now peter will help in his business as soon as he passed from his chef’s course. So he would boast about his bar saying that his bar will be the best in the village and many from different parts of Goa will come here.

But destiny was something different. After completion peter joined a five star hotel as trainee chef. This left boss unhappy because he wanted him to be part of his business. Now peter is grown up. He talks very less with father. He works in shifts so very rarely he was seen helping father in his bar. Things went on this way for two years and then peter got a job in USA. He was luckiest person to be selected by a business man from US. This business man was impressed with the taste of sea food what peter cooked. So this guy went to US back and sent peter a Visa so that he could work for his 4 star hotel. This is what peter was looking forward and this is not what boss had been thinking. Boss shared his grief with his friends. Everyone said to boss that he should let him go, see the world, when he feels the heat he would return back.

On their advice boss gave permission to peter to leave Goa. That was the day when boss really felt sad and lonely, He gave up his job for this son, he never thought about himself he just was eager that his son grow bigger and bigger. However now son is going far from him…

Peter used to call his father on week ends and boss would share his son’s news with his friends. After two years Peter came for Christmas to Goa. He brought top scotch whiskies for father and his friends. Everyone was happy that Peter returned. Father and son enjoyed every moment they could with his father’s friends. And during this period Boss told peter not to go again and help his business grow. This didn't strike well with peter. Peter told father that he is in love with US. He is earning very well and his sponsor was very nice to him. After heart breaking arguments, Boss agreed unwillingly to peters wish.

Now its almost four years passed that peter last came to Goa. Instead of calling father in weekends, he started calling monthly and  now he rarely calls. Then one fine night peter calls and shared his happy news with father, that he has become a father now…and that he had married his sponsors daughter a year ago….. Boss was dumbstruck. How could he do this?.....he could not sleep that day. Boss called his friends and everyone was with boss to share his grief… don’t know how many whisky they all consumed remembering peter.

His friends called back peter on his cell in US and conveyed that his father was angry… atleast he could have told father that he was going to get married. Actually peter was so sober person that any girl would fall for him. He was also very handsome. Now peter had got green card and was now permanent citizen of US.

When asked when peter would come he said that two months back his wife’s father (Owner of the hotel) died and that he is looking after the hotel. So it is difficult for him to come back…..

Years passed … one fine day boss expired. He suddenly collapsed when having drink with his friends. His friends rushed him to hospital but alas he was no more. Since he was brought dead, hospital authorities referred to police and that postmortem would be done. His friends were all upset….. Happy boss is no more.  They all couldn't bear the grief. Suddenly Vishnu reminded them of peter and every one tried calling peter. After about 3 – 4 hrs of constant calling peter attended the call and Vishnu himself conveyed the message and asked him to come down to which peter replied that he was very sad to hear the news and due to his busy schedule, he would not make himself present at his father’s funeral. Also peter told Vishnu that he will send the money for his father’s funeral.

This was the limit… all the friends together collected money and did the last rites and vowed that they will never ask money from Peter. Boss had loved him so much and atleast for the funeral he should have been here…. Till death boss had a wish of looking after his grandchildren,,,,, that too not happened…..

In the will written by Boss, all the properties will be transferred to his son peter’s name and till peter takes over the bar, it will be run by boss’ friends…..

Sometimes in the journey of life we never know to realize the priorities we just happen to forget the important things which may be small but a great deal for some loved ones….…

Goanz……….

SHADOW

Sitting today and reflecting back to my childhood days… I feel I have missed many things… what could have been more beautiful, had many loopholes. When I listen to old songs it reflects the happy life as a child with my whole family that excludes my wife and includes my father. With the little what we had we been happy….sometimes struggling to make up for a day…. Things were not so easy but still enjoyed the days.. Whenever I make mistake I got a spank to discipline me. The final exams when over the days were for us…. Playing only outdoor games… hide and seek, lobio, cricket, badminton, marble etc were our favorite games.

Missing those beautiful golden days with friends….we fought a lot and then next moment we are friends… as if nothing happened. Many times fight ended in tears but still patch up soon. When I compare adult life with childhood life it’s so disgusting. Some new friends gathered during the course of life are not at all flexible. Slightest misunderstanding leads him to keeping anger. Then plot to make one low in the society.

But then when maturity ripens, I just think and think to understand life. Why should I struggle in life to pop up with elite world? What happiness am I gaining in the day to day robotic routine life? The life revolves around only with family and colleagues who work with you. The golden old times have got no place. Even the ones who had been closer many years back don’t have any emotions left. I sometimes think that I am too much emotional person.

Money is like something close to god for many. To achieve the wealth one strives day to day… in the end you may gather enormous wealth but after death one will not take with them any single pie. Even you may not be referred by your name. Every one will refer that person to just a body. That is all you have earned in life. One may have achieved wealth and be rich in society but what is the use when this money has not helped you purchasing more time for life?

There are times when we fight with our parents for small petty things. When they grow old we don’t have time for them. But when they die our minds have deep feelings. After achieving so many things we could not have looked after them properly. When they are alive we give them account of how much we are spending for them. Like buying medicines, help them money wise so as to go on a pilgrimage etc… When they share their views and wishes it sometimes are headache for us. But when we wanted something they never had headache. But instead they work harder so that they could satisfy our needs.

But why am I writing these feelings which are popping inside me. Suddenly today I happened to hear very old songs that were favorite of my father. He worked hard in life and then one day became part of the god’s beloved one. When good times shadowed us, the shadow of my father disappeared

Goanz

THE TRUNK - (A SHORT STORY)

It was a long journey from rags to riches. I remember the day when I set my foot out of my house with my wife Kiran and daughter Kajal. My parents had more affinity towards my younger sibling and I being the eldest many a times sidelined. Still remember the day when I had a heated argument with my father and mother over expenditure. My father would not allow my younger brothers to spend more on the household expenditure. Almost all the household expenditure was borne my self. Towards the month end I would be left with nothing. 

Even I could not buy good dress for my Kajal and keep my small family happy. So I decided to leave the house when my father refused to accept that household expenditure was all borne by me.

 I along with my wife and kid moved to Mumbai and stayed with my chacha (Father’s brother) they did not have any Children and was very fond of me. When one door shuts the next door opens…. God never leaves anyone on road.

They had a small one bedroom Flat where we adjusted. I will give full marks to my wife for being very supportive through out the difficult times. Never groaned for what little luxury in life we had. Always encouraged me that one day we will have the best life.

My chacha had a very small shop of ready made garments. He was never interested in investing more and expanding business. Because he would say he earns enough for him and his wife. So I joined him and slowly the business started to grow. The business flourished well in another six years. We earned good money and started a new shop in Vashi. I solely managed the business at Vashi and when we were comfortably placed with our new shop we sold out the old shop and along with chacha we shifted our base to Vashi. I would say chacha as god since he helped me well. My father was arrogant and his own brother was so good. My chacha always said that my father was a very selfish man. By now our family also grew bigger. Kiran gave birth to our son, Krish.

One day I received a call saying that father expired. I along with chacha, Chachi and my kids went to our native place. But before reaching there the funeral was over. My mother was crying when she saw me and my kids it’s so many years passed I had met my mother. Though she would support my father in the arguments, I knew that she loved me somewhere in her heart.

After all the rituals I returned back to Mumbai and told mother that I did not want anything of the property or money. So it was shared among my brothers.

As time passed by from one shop we went on to buy one more big shop of two floors. One floor of the shop was exclusively for ladies and kids wear well managed by my wife and lower floor for gents.

In the coming years, I lost my chacha, then my mother and last my chachi. Now the life was only for us. Kiran and I had the best and special bond. Our children grew up in luxurious way. Every point of time we told them how the life was for us and how it changed.

My daughter went to UK as nurse and my son did business management and helped me in our business. Sooner it was time for my Kajal to get married. She married the man of her Choice. She married an Indian Christian, John. John’s family was very much liberal and there was no problem from their side. Even I and kiran did not oppose because it was kajal’s decision. She is now big enough to know what is right and what is wrong.

Then fine day Kiran left me alone in this world. She died of a heart attack. I lost the one half of my body. The woman who had known me so well, the woman who was part of my difficult phase left me alone when I needed her the most. I was almost touching sixty and all the plan of older age collapsed. I became alone.

Slowly I gave all my shop responsibly to my son and started living a secluded life. My son got married and purchased new flat. So he along with his wife was living separately.

When time came for partition of the wealth and property, my son and daughter came along with their spouses. I presented the shop to son and flat to daughter. But this was not enough also they did not agree about the partition. There were heated arguments saying each should get equal share and that I did not share things equally. I was completely a broken man. Wish my kiran was here with me…….

The things did not end here. They never agreed to the partition I provided them. They filed case in the court. The case went on and each hearing I would go to see how the advocates of each my son and daughter would argue.

In one of the arguments, my son and daughter had come to the court. There my daughter mentioned about one trunk. She said that I would everyday go to my bedroom and open a trunk. She said that the wealth in the trunk should be equally distributed among her and brother.

After hearing that I was shocked, that’s because the trunk was very special for me. The trunk can never be partitioned and I thought of fighting out for my trunk. However as the argument was so strong from daughter’s side that the court ordered the Trunk to be sealed and brought to the court and the wealth would be divided equally among them. I was crying aloud and shouting at top of the voice that this trunk is my wealth and no one had the right to touch it. However court said that its verdict on trunk should be respected. I was lost… Feeling very feeble…..longing to leave this earth… and be with my kiran………Kiran was so lucky…she never had to see these days…..

Next hearing was  bad for me because I had to part with my secret…part with my trunk…As expected after brief argument on trunk the judge ordered the trunk to be opened… atlast the trunk was opened and what was inside the trunk?... everyone was looking with great expectations…. The person opened the trunk and removed one by one all the ingredients… first some old snaps… some new snaps than some clothes…other than that nothing was inside… every one surprised…. Even my son and daughter…..nobody could say anything….. I slowly went upto the items and held the snaps in hand and explained…these are snaps of my parents and siblings….my wedding snap…..snaps of my kids growing…..some of the people who witnessed the incidence had wet eyes by now….

The pair of shirt and pant, the cotton sari and the small kid’s dress of my daughter were the only clothes we wore when we left my father’s house… …….The other ones are the clothes we worn for our wedding… my kurtha and my wife’s wedding sari….apart from this we never had anything to take from my father’s house……

Turning to Kajal I said… you two my own blood fighting for every wealth…. Do you know why I used to open this trunk everyday... I open this trunk everyday so that whenever I am growing big wealth wise, I should never forget the path which I came…. I wanted to ensure that I didn’t become rich automatically…. My condition was rags…. Then to riches… if you remember when your mother was there, we would both open the trunk together… and refresh our bad patch in life then I cried loudly without control…. And suddenly  I fell to the ground… gasping for air with deep pain in my chest…thats all I remember……..

By

GOANZ…..