ANKIT

It is a bright sunny morning. Winters are signing off and springs ushering. A group of final year hotelier students are cajoling, teasing and pulling legs of each other as they enter their college – an institute of Hotel Management.  Today in the class they are being briefed about campus interviews, which will be getting underway next week.  The dean amidst briefing tells the class about expectation of one of the hotel chain. This chain has informed institute that those students who wish to appear before their board have to make presentation on classical cuisine culture of India. The class disperses.

The students strolling in the corridors are discussing on how to figure out this topic which always remained greek to them.  Nidhi and Atul are close classmates, branch out in one corner of college cafeteria, pondering over what to do.  Nidhi is very restless. Atul tells her, if we understand that Hotel Management is basically understanding of culture, and then perhaps we will be able to find way for our presentations. Few pals in the meanwhile join them at table.  Nidhi and all have their eyes fixed on Atul. There is absolute silence. All eagerly waiting to hear what Atul has to say. He began telling them about his upbringing by his mother…..

Atul’s mother was teaching to middle level students in a reputed school. Her name was Rupa. Atul was enrolled in same school. He was a prankster in school even pulling legs of teacher and making mimicry.

He used to get scolded by Rupa, even in front of all class mates. Atul use to complain about it to his father Ajay, who was an executive in MNC. There use to be friendly war of words between Ajay and Atul. Rupa use to finally comment, I want you (Atul) to become good citizen on your own and not someone brought upon crutches of parent’s reputation and standing in society.

The days went on with Rupa inculcating cultural values, mannerism and their scientific orientation. Rupa had enrolled him at skating rink. Atul always cribbed about pain in legs (actually to avoid rink).  Rupa told him need to have strong legs to withstand pressure of life in future.One day a colleague of Rupa calls her for some work related matter. Atul picks up the phone and angrily says, whatever you have to talk finish fast, I want to talk my mother and don’t want disturbances.  The colleague is stunned. Rupa tells Atul about telephone etiquettes. He realizes his folly and start loving the caller.

One day a boy of his age in neighbor is crying. Atul bluntly comments “boys do not cry”. Rupa tells him one should first understand the reason why someone is crying. If we don’t know, then we should not comment. Also she tells him, crying is necessary for both males and females to release emotional choking at regular interval, otherwise it harms the person in long run.

As the vacation approached, Atul was excited. Ajay had planned trip to tourist places of knowledge importance. Ajay while explaining the places tells him no profession is superior or inferior. Every work is dignified job having work culture behind it. It is wrong to think certain professions call for more studies and some are less studious. They all need efforts concentration and dedication.

Ajay got posted abroad. Both Rupa and Ajay decided to put him in hostel and flew off. Atul went to meet them during vacation. The days were passing off. During holidays at senior school Atul got himself involved with NGO working for old people. He would do different errands for the inmates of old age home.

Upon passing out from school Atul got selected to this institute. When Atul was in first year, Ajay and Rupa were to come back for a family function. Atul was waiting for them at airport. The [lane landed but running down the runway it turned into ball of fire….

Rupa died in that accident, while Ajay survived with some injuries. This death dealt an emotional blow to Atul. Ajay recovered after a while and decided to go back.

Nidhi and pals were in tears and shocked to hear all this. Subsequently everybody parted off.

Nidhi joined an airline as cabin crew member. Her profession took her around the world meeting range of people from all walks of life.On one such flight Atul is passenger on board. Both exchange pleasantries.  After settling down Nidhi enquired about his career path. Atul took her back in the past. During one of trip back to India, rupa was describing the problem Indians face abroad regarding conventional food. She was talking of how nice it would be if we Indians got our food there just as we get continental, Chinese etc easily here in India.After parting from Nidhi other day at cafeteria, the memories of Rupa casted on him. He decided to make presentation on marketing traditional Indian food as tool of cultural exchange. The presentation did not cut ice with board, which found the idea as absurd. Atul did not get thru campus interview. 

He then joined allied field. About a year later he received a mail stating that chairperson of that group, who happened to be a lady, wanted him to make fresh presentation of his idea. He was not only offered job but soon made head of an overseas division. And was now out on one such trip.

Atul then straight looks into her eyes and asks her, would she be his life partner. Nidhi is awed. Atul tells her he had special feelings for her form college days but tragedy in family and subsequent professional fire never gave him time to express his mind. Somewhat angrily Nidhi replies, she too had liking for him, especially after he told about his upbringing but wanted him to take initiative……

The plane lands….

And they lived happily thereafter