Anubhav was getting ready to go for work, when he noticed snow flurries floating down. He ran inside shouting ‘Meera! Is Rohini ready? Have you packed my lunch? It is already late and flurries are usually a harbinger of heavy snow.’
‘Yes, I was getting Rohini ready for the School.’ said Meera handing over the lunch box to her husband Anubhav. Then she dressed up Rohini with her playschool uniform, Muffler and Boots. Anubhav used to drop Rohini to her school and Meera would bring her back at noon.
Meera had married Anubhav six years ago. She proved to be a competent housewife. They had a little girl Rohini who had just turned five. Anubhav was the only son of Kedar Kaul and his wife Parajika. The five of them lived in a tiny 2 bedroom house in a small town Shalina, which was some distance from Srinagar. Kedar used to cycle his way to the Houseboat where he worked in Dal Lake. Parajika was not in good health and suffered from joint pain which became worse during winter.
Five years ago their fairly comfortable world had turned upside down. Kedar used to look after the House Boats of his master Mir Kasim in Dal Lake near Srinagar. Due to the unstable political scenario and violence, the tourist traffic had slowed down to a trickle in Srinagar. Mir Kasim had no option but to shut shop, with the result Kedar lost his job as a houseboat keeper. Kedar became depressed and started to while away his time sleeping and loitering in the town. It was especially tough during the winter months whereby they had to gather and keep a stock of firewood for heating water and cooking. They used to have their supper while chattering about their day. Heavy woolen blankets kept the family warm during the cold unforgiving nights of the winter months.
To supplement the income of Anubhav, Meera began working as a house maid in some houses. One house in particular was special to her. This house belonged to Joseph Braganza, a businessman in Bangalore, who kept this ancestral house where they lived during the holidays. His wife Maria Braganza liked Meera and Anubhav very much for their honesty and diligent work and for taking care of the house in their absence.
Anubhav did odd jobs in the town. Anubhav was good in account keeping and did part-time work as an accountant for a small export firm. He was also deft with his hands and he became skilled in repairing all kinds of electrical appliances. Meera had learnt tailoring and embroidery. She loved it. They had a hand driven sewing machine at home which she used to generate some extra income.
One day while returning home from his two jobs, Anubhav met the village gossip Mufti near the town square. While sharing a cup of hot tea, he got into conversation with Mufti.
Mufti said, ‘The weather forecast says that the winter temperatures this year are going to be way below zero. That happens every year. But here is the real news. The State Government has started building a tourist center in the outskirts of our town. I talked to the supervisor who told me that a five-star hotel, shopping mall and new housing are being planned. The whole project is to be completed in 2 years time. This sleepy town will be transformed into a modern town after that.’
‘Mufti, are you sure of this or is it one of your daydreams?’ asked Anubhav laughingly.
‘Anubhav, it is not a laughing matter, go and find out for yourself if you don’t believe me’ Mufti walked away angrily.
Anubhav could not sleep for the next few nights. He felt that this was an opportunity to start a trade in the town and turn around the fortunes of the family. But for that he needed to have seed money and some business acumen to handle a business on his own. He had no savings and only ever done minor repairs of old appliances. In the end he decided to go to Srinagar and work there to earn and learn some trade. To realize his dreams he realized he would have to move to Srinagar for a year or two and leave behind his family in the care of his wife. But he was confident that Meera would somehow manage. He discussed everything with Meera, kept some money with her, packed his clothes and left for Srinagar. He promised Meera that he would return from Srinagar within a year.
His plan was to start a restaurant and a mobile phone shop in Shalina on his return. So in Srinagar, he took up a job in one of the Punjabi Restaurants ‘Sher-e-Punjab.’ The owner Jaspal Singh Wadhwa was business like ‘you can start working today itself. The work is seven days a week. The salary will be Rs. 7,500, meals and a place to sleep. If you agree, go inside and I will tell you the work.’
He had no option but to accept. He thanked the owner for giving him this job. He was put in charge of serving the customers, unloading of goods for the hotel and keeping the accounts. Gradually Anubhav got used to the tough life, and the lack of privacy. He had to sleep on the floor along with the other employees and eat left-over food. He very often remembered Meera, Rohini, his mother and his town. After a week of his coming to Srinagar, he sent some money to Meera with a message about his progress. Although Shalina was not very far from Srinagar, he decided not to visit his family till his goal was attained. Anubhav wanted to give his undivided attention to his job which was a training to set up his own business later.
Meanwhile in Shalina town, Meera took charge of the situation. Both her in laws were in fairly good health and taking care of Rohini was not a big deal, but she was the only person earning in the family. People of houses where she worked were very helpful. Also her father-in-law Kedar started taking care of Braganza’s house. Kedar also took more interest in helping out Meera, taking Rohini to school.
Behram Rustom was a kind Parsee gentleman running a Mobile Shop in Srinagar opposite the restaurant, which also had repairing facilities. One day Behram saw Anubhav peer at all the types of mobiles displayed and being repaired. He invited him in and asked whether he was interested to assist him in his repair work. For Anubhav, it was like manna from heaven.
‘Saab, can I spend few hours in Rustom uncle’s Mobile shop opposite our restaurant?’ Anubhav asked Wadhwa.
Wadhwa had seen many who came to his restaurant to work, leave him and graduate to better jobs. He did not come in their way. He readily agreed.
Anubhav learnt everything there was in mobiles and repairing. His final test was when one American brought his i-phone to be repaired. Anubhav took up the challenge and repaired it.
The months flew past and soon it was time for Anubhav to return to Shalina and reunite with his dear family. He wept while thanking Wadhwa and Rustom and fell at their feet requesting them to bless him for his future ventures. Meera welcomed Anubhav with tears in her eyes. Rohini was jumping with joy. Mother Parajika went in to make his favourite dishes. But it was his father that surprised him the most. He was looking well and had taken good care of the family.
Next month Braganza and his wife came to their ancestral house to stay. Anubhav and Meera went to their house and met them and explained to them their plans to start a hotel and a mobile repair center in Shalina in view of the Tourist center that had been built there. They wanted some capital, which they said they would return in installments. Braganza had no hesitation in agreeing knowing well the sincerity and honesty of Anubhav and Meera.
In no time Anubhav got busy starting a restaurant near the city center with his father’s and Meera’s help. He put them in charge. He acted as a facilitator and adviser. In the very next building he opened a shop selling mobile phones and he soon became known as the man to go to for repairs of all brands of phones. He called the shop ‘Rustom Mobile Centre’ and the Hotel was named ‘Sher-e-Punjab Restaurant’ to remind him always the people who had helped him.
One day sitting with his family around the fireplace, he recalled and recounted to them his sojourn in Srinagar. Kind people belonging to different religions had helped him. There was a Sikh, a Parsee, a Christian and a Muslim Mufti who had propelled him to rise and shine. Indeed he was grateful to the Almighty for everything. He thought to himself “Fortune favors the brave”.
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This story was shortlisted for the final round of #AWinterInStoryland Story Writing Contest. Read other shortlisted entries here.
Being a contest entry, this story has been posted in its unedited form.