Award And Other Stories

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 17

17 invitation and second while buying the Foreign Ticket by his own borrowals--- A very befitting punishment he was getting for these all-----
In the beginning he could not think and decide to what to do, He approached some of his real friends, but except for one or two who could arrange his performances and pay something, no one else came to his rescue. He halted at one of his new and kind friends small place troubling him helplessly, just to find out some paying performances so that atleast the expenses which he had incurred on the travel could be covered and he could return back soon to India. In between priyavardini had called him also twice asking his well being, but he did not disclose anyone in India what was his sorry state of affair----
He went on trying and trying in a hope to get something, but in vain. Fortune was against him, time was contrary to him--- These foreign friends had betrayed him to such an extent that it was difficult to come out of these deep waters.
One fine early morning he was sitting in his silent meditation at New York and a Trunk Call came for him. He got up to receive it with a hope of getting some program engagement But the time and destiny were running gravely against him. Instead of a program engagement, he got such an unusual and tremendously shocking message that he could not trust the incoming words of the Overseas Trunk Call, which said,
Mr.Prasesh ! I am Dr.Roy, your neighbour from India, “I am extremely sorry to inform you that there is a very serious happening in your family and you are to return here by first available flight".
What-------- What happened ? He asked Worriedly, "A very sad news--- Your daughter expired in a road crossing accident The shocking news broke out.
"Which daughter ?” He asked
"Eldest Priyavardini" and with these greatly moving words the phone was cut. Doubly broken paresh soon rang himself back to India, but his broken sobbing wife and other daughters could not talk to him. The neighbours confirmed the saddest news. He conveyed to them that he is catching the first available flight to return back. Though greatly and multipliedly shocked, his master's unseen inspiration gave him strength to return to India, to see the last sight of his beloved departed but yet smiling daughter Priyavardini, as if she was telling "Bapu, you should not have betrayed your writing table and your conscience." Sobbing broken paresh confirmed and realized his Himalayan Blunder more bigger than the Himalayan Betrayal of the overseas organizer.