Wednesday afternoon: The boy is found

The time is almost seven o'clock in the morning! Place Naranpura four roads. Since it was rainy season, the whole area was empty. Time for me to go for a walk. Thus, none of the four paths was seen moving. A rickety car passes by saying 'zooooo…mm'. It was Sunday, so there were no morning school boys. Suddenly I had to stop the car. A 3-4 year old child was standing in the middle of the road. A very lonely and rosy baby. No one can be seen around, so after seeing it, awe and anxiety arise….Emerge! After getting down from the car, I went to the child and hugged him. It didn't cry, it didn't smile. 'Where have his parents gone?' I kept it open and stood in the middle of the four roads and looked around. No one was visible. It was natural and necessary to get angry at his parents. But where to express? Such a small child should not even be asked, why are your parents not visible? Wasn't it a concern every year, otherwise wouldn't you cry? But what should I do? At least, if he cried, his mother would come running after hearing his voice, but this one was just touching my cheeks…hands….didn't cry that much. 3-4 minutes passed, but no one came, so I got tensed. Not knowing where to look when coming, so I started looking from the ground to the surrounding bungalows and flats, where are his mom and dad visible? Some couples were going on one or two scooters, but if they were stopped and asked, 'Is this goods yours?' Now my tension had increased that, mom and dad are hot, but what should I do with this? Normally, the way to play with such a small child is well-known, to put him on one hand and pat the other one and keep him 'Hulululu', but if he cries, should I 'Hulululu'? I got into tension, what is the end of this story? How long do I have to 'Hulululu' with this? Luckily, a 75-80 year old ba came out and I asked him, 'Ba, is this babo yours?' oh He will be from Kathiawadi, so he told me in Kathiawadi full of enthusiasm, 'My Roya, Sarmato not… My boy is so small?' Instead of listening to all that noise, I started walking. It was not possible to move further than five-ten feet and it was not possible to leave the scene. Baa kept on going but this tree still didn't cry, so my patience was running out. If you don't cry, why don't you make me cry? But if his parents did not come in five to seven minutes, we were bound to cry. I have spent half my life in Naranpura, so I know a lot of people! Dimplo or pimples do not come out in the morning. If a virgin is going, she should not be asked, 'Is this child yours, son?' Another smart old man, seeing me, turned his finger on Baba's cheek and asked, 'Ashokbhai, are you saying something? Babo came? Hakiben did not call…!' oh At my age, even a ready-made father does not come, how can Baba come there? I laughed quite wrongly, but as I was leaving, Aunty gave me a six, 'Ashok bhai… I didn't tell you this time… but tell me the good news next time…!' I was surprised that I didn't ask about my ex's good news, so why is he asking? Are they not itchy? What kind of parents would this be, if the child is registered and not examined? I saw a couple coming from a distance and my life came alive. It came close and both of them could see, Taniya's face was kept towards them. I also gave them both a kind smile… hoping that they would cheer me up and thank me! 'Why is the life going out with such a small child in such rain?' Ben kept pushing me. 'One has become a father at such an old age and has no place to take care of the boy.' My mouth was a sight to behold. The teeth were clenched in such a way that they were not visible. Finally, a young couple drove by with a speeding car, as if I had stolen their boy. He snapped and pulled the child from my hand. 'Where did you get this from? Lol….got my pontidu…this lulullu…you cried didn't you? It's okay, we went to Ponchi on time… otherwise Ram would have sold it anywhere!' I immediately got angry, what do these people think of me? I said, 'Ben, talk carefully. One to–' 'Shut up… one to pick up someone's child every now and then, what do we have to say about it..?? Listen… hand it over to the police.' 'O Ben… I have been looking after your child for half an hour and I am waiting, when will his parents come… and from above I—? I call you a boy-thief?' Without any formality, both took the child and sat in the car. Back in the car. A beggar child looked at me through the window of the car and pleaded, 'Hey Shayeb…give me a rupee!' I said, 'Hut.' and killed the car. Sixer our relatives come at the wrong time every time… when we are!

Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).