Day: April 22, 2008
A man (Rajesh Uncle) in his 40’s has 3 kids (jyoti, gini, kunal), mother (maaji) and wife (Sunita) as dependent. He is just another man but honest, dedicated, trustworthy, kind and God-fearing. He is younger out of two siblings. They both own a flat and are separated. His brother is well educated, smart and financially rich. But, He sits near to poverty line. He is not educated well and drives autorickshaw for living. But, he wants his 2 daughters (jyoti, gini) and 1 son (kunal) to be well-educated and happy in their 40’s. He works hard for them and his wife supports her as his second hand. His wife is home maker and his mother is a heart patient and her medication is going on. It doesnt matter, But ppl may ask, How do i know him ? Am i asking for money or help, blah blah ? No, Rajesh Uncle is in our neighbourhood (@ my mother’s place).
Same Day, Morning Time: He gets up at 5, after daily chores, He drops his jyoti, gini at school. Elder one is in 5th std, younger is in 3rd std. Comes back, cleans the auto, enjoy breakfast with kunal, sunita auntie and maaji. He leaves for his work around 8ish. He drives the autorickshaw throughout the day,
Same day, Evening Time: He comes home at 7′o clock, talk to his kids, wife and mother. But today is Tuesday, so Rajesh uncle, Sunita auntie, and Kunal leaves for Hanuman Mandir (a Temple). Every tuesday, they go to temple if not all, atleast uncle goes.
Same day, Night, at 8pm: They are at temple, praying to God and making offerings. They get prasadam and they leave. As Uncle started his auto, kunal asks for ice-cream, “ek ice-cream dena bhaiya” (give me an ice-cream bro) Uncle said. Kunal is jumping with joy… so as auntie and uncle, to see him happy. And …everyone head towards home.
Same day, Night, at 9pm: I am talking to Ma, about how will they go to my in-laws place on saturday to meet them before they leave for US. She said, ” that’s not a problem beta (daughter), I will speak to your Rajesh uncle tomorrow, for saturday, if he can give us ride,”. We generally hire him when we need auto, as he is good driver and we pay him little extra, though he never accept but Ma is elder and swears him…
Same day, Night, at 10pm: They are on their way to home. Everything is going so smooth, financially they may not be strong but their moments of happiness, moments of sharing, moments of his care toward family, is what makes him going and hence the family. Everyone is happy, Kunal is feeling bit sleepy. Home is just 15-20 mins close, so it is fine. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Sunita auntie gets a hit on her head, Kunal started crying, Rajesh Uncle is rolling towards one side of road and auto is on the another side, shattered.
It was an accident, a high speed car just banged the auto @ red-light, it was green for Rajesh uncle and red for that car. It was blood everywhere. Immediately police arrived (not usual in delhi), and took all three to hospital, doctor said there are minor fractures, uncle should be home tomorrow morning. His brother was informed, he took Sunita auntie and kunal to home and went back to hospital, making sure that no one panics at home. Sunita auntie is brave lady, she dint cry so as not to panic the children. She took them to sleep and sat near to maaji and waited for the call from his brother-in-law.
Following Morning, 4am : Everyone from Sunita auntie’s mother side reaches home (her mother ’s family, her mothers’ sister’s (2) family, mother’s brother’s (4) family….around 200 ppl). Everyone knows but not sunita auntie. She is told but she is not accepting the fact.
Rajesh Uncle is dead.
Life throws at you unexpectedly the never expected things…
what will happen to Sunita aunite, three kids and maaji ? They say God is there for us, when we need. It is wrong, Was there a single thought about their food, education, clothes, need for father… while God was making this plan ? This was not fair from His side.
She was energetic, fun-loving, outgoing, shopping spree…..she used to bring life to the conversation.