“A very
severe cyclonic storm is approaching and
may hit the coastal districts in two days .”
Declared the news channel. Mahesh
babu picked the phone and dialled his residence number.
“Hello”...Madhvi...did
you see the news ?
Arrey
..don’t worry I will manage everything. Just make a list of items required and
i will be ready. After all , if not now
then when will I use the power of my
chair ...Ha..ha..
Boasted
Mahesh babu. For few seconds he felt like those one in a million souls who are just
born lucky . Because in times of crisis if anybody is the boss , it’s the
govt.official .
He signalled
the peon to come in. Yes , Raghu take this money and go to the market right now. If someone asks , just say I have
sent you for some emergency work. And ya
, first go to my quarters , take the list from madam..and then bring everything
as she says.
Ok... now go..
Like a
dutiful employee , Raghu followed his master’s orders and marched ahead , like
a soldier marching towards the frontiers on the orders of his senior officer.
In the
evening , Mahesh babu returned home . Seeing him , his son came running and
hugged him .
Mahesh
babu took him in his arms and kissed his
cheeks .
So , what
did you learn at school today Subham...asked Mahesh babu.
With lots of
excitement , Subham replied I learnt
about types of houses. Pucca house and Kutcha house . Pucca houses are more
stronger than kutcha houses. Come sun or rain , we are safe in a pucca house.
But a kutcha house may break down , if there is very severe rain or storm .
“Arrey..wah”
! you have learnt so many things...my sweet beta... Mahesh babu said and kissed
Subham again...displaying his fatherly affection as well as pride. He thought to himself , if this small chap
can remember so many things today , then the day isn’t far when he can remember
more complex and critical concepts and secure a seat for himself in a
prestiguos institution . He was immersed in his own thoughts when his wife Madhvi came and pulled him back to
real life .
“What are
you thinking ?” she asked . Mahesh babu smiled
and said...”Fathers” ..you know how calculative they become about the
future .
“Ok”...leave all that and get freshened up
now.
“Alright..alright
...I am going”..
Just then
Raghu arrived .” Sir” , I have brought everything Madam ordered. Not just that
, rather I brought more than required . Who knows what will be the situation
next. Govt has declared high alert . So it’s better to be prepared. There were so many people in the grocery shop. Everybody was
trying to get hold of the stuff . But I succeeded in bringing first. As soon as
I told your name , the shopkeeper made a special packet for you sir.
“Oh!...Raghu
let it be...leave it now and go home ,
try to arrange bare minimum necessities.”
“Ok...Sir”..said
Raghu and left.
“What is a
cyclone ?...Papa” ...asked Subham showing his childhood inquisitiveness.
“Well...a
cyclone happens ..when wind blows at a very high speed ,breaking away
everything that comes in it’s way . And it may also rain very heavily .” Mahesh
babu tried to explain in a very simple way .
“So , will
it blow away our house also”asked Subham in a scary voice.
“Oh..no ..my
dear...your papa has a strong house . It won’t get blown .It will give all of
us a secure shelter. You were saying
naa..just sometime back about pucca house and kuccha house. Ours is a pucca
house. It will withstand every storm.”
Subham was a
bit relieved . But suddenly again he seemed worried .
“Papa , then
will Kanha’s house get blown away . If that happens then where will they live.
They have just one small kutcha house . Kanha was saying me yesterday .”
“Who is
Kanha ?” asked Mahesh babu a little perplexed.
“He is our
maidservant’s son. Sometimes he comes with her , in the evening and Subham
plays with him . So both have become good friends”...said Madhvi .
This thing wasn’t accepted well by Mahesh
babu. He asked his wife ,not to let Subham play with such people .
“Papa..papa...say..naa..what
will happen to Kanha’s house .”
Mahesh babu
got a bit irritated .”Don’t ask so many questions ..go and do your homework .”
“But..papa”...
“ No..just go .”
Subham
left..a bit dejected.
It’s raining
continuously since three days. The charge of the emergency light is about to give up . Most of the trees in the locality have got
uprooted bringing down the electric poles with them. There is no hope of
current being restored soon .
“Madhvi..Madhvi”..Mahesh
babu called for his wife .” Get the candles ready .I don’t think we can rely on
the emergency lamp for tonight .” Mahesh babu was saying this to his wife ,
when the light went out ...leaving them stranded in complete darkness .
“Oh..my God
..what do we do now ? “ “Arrey...don’t worry just light the candles.” “But..but”... “But ..what..Madhvi”... Asked Mahesh
babu..concerned .
“There is no
matchstick.” “ Ok..no problem . Light the gas ...and then light the candle. “
“Actually
..the lighter isn’t working . so I was lightening it with matchsticks How they got over I don’t know .I just forgot
to say Raghu to bring Matchboxes that day . In such hurry , I just forgot about it. What do we do now ?” Asked Madhvi
getting worried as well scared ,fearing her husband’s reaction .
Mahesh babu
was not able to figure out what to do . He was cursing himself for not having
rechecked the items .
And ...just
then Subham handed him a match box with a single match stick. Mahesh babu lit
the candle. He looked at Subham and asked him from where did he get it .
He replied..”
Papa...few days back when I was playing with Kanha , he had given me this as we
were making sofa sets for my school crafts project . When you and mama were talking about matchbox
and thinking how to light the candles , I remembered about it . Kanha had given
me some old match boxes and one of them had this stick. I asked him to keep
that match box with him . But he said ..what will he do with this one stick and
gave me back saying I should keep it ..who knows it may help me in some time of
need.”
Mahesh
babu...couldn’t say anything .He just looked at the candle illuminating his
home in the darkness of the night .
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