With four breads in hand, I really have to make it quick in order to reach college today.
“Happy Independence Day!!!”
My Dad greeted me seeking something respectful in return.
It just reminded me it’s not a usual weekday. Today is Independence Day. Wow!!!
I blatantly said, “Thanx for reminding me…”
“Such a shame on this next generation. You people just don’t value the sacrifices of our ancestors”, my father said angrily.
“Yeah, as if we asked for a favour”, I said thinking of myself as the only-smart-ass in room.
“You people are disgusting”.
That’s really a nice way to end the conversation because if you say something after that, then its going to be used against you only later. So better be quiet.
I hurried bidding bye to mumma and picked up my bike. As usual I looked into the mirror on the right handle of the bike to see if I am looking cool like any other guy in here’s-the-dude fashion despite the fact that I was getting late.
I finally started off for my college. It takes almost half an hour to reach there, if no traffic obstructs you. I expected less traffic today as it is a government holiday.
But I forgot to consider one thing. There may not be people on bikes and riding cars but there are rallies with hundreds of people walking even slower than a tortoise.
Road is jammed. I better walk than pulling the bike using my legs not the engine. This is pathetic. The rally included people wearing kurtas in saffron. They looked like supporters of Bajrang Dal or some lookalike organization.
By the time, they were passing ahead till the next poll light, where I could turn my way around to another road and surpass them, I was thinking something.
It’s not customary when the process of thinking starts in my brain. But when it really does, it stirs a hell lot of questions which the biggest of unknown forces might fail to answer.
“Why? Why are they really doing this? Just a part of formality or do they really mean to achieve something”?
Something caught my eye. I looked around. Two men in those colorful kurtas from the rally were beating a man standing by a car. I enquired. That man in car said something to them which they apparently didn’t like. He had asked them to move aside as he was in some hurry.
The fight was really getting interesting. A big man from the rally saying to other, “Stop!!! That’s enough. He may die of your punches.”
But other was really serious while beating him. “No, we should teach this asshole not to mess with us. Hey, you motherfucker, are you listening to me? Huh…. We will burn you to ashes in seconds. You don’t know us. You don’t know our power. Even police can’t dare to touch us.”
What I can say is he was really scary bullying man. The rally cleared the road in a while. That man was still lying there helpless. I was getting late. But out of curiosity, I just wanted to know what he said to those big guys that got him in a real mess.
I went closer to him only when those big guys have made their way. That man has been beaten black and blue. He was spilling blood all over. There was a girl about fourteen years old in his car lying in the back seat.
“Please help me. She just had an attack. Take us to a hospital”, he pleaded.
I could not deny. He really needed somebody. I parked my bike nearby.
“It’s Independence Day. At least I am doing some good, if not for the whole nation then at least for its countrymen. Sorry countryman”, I said to myself.
That man’s nose has been bleading for a few mintues. After cleaning himself for a while, he told me that the girl is his daughter and is having brain tumor. She suffered a panic attack and went unconscious. She immediately needed a doctor. He asked those kurta guys to move aside but they didn’t hear him. It irritated him and he shouted at them and the next moment, he is lying on road thrashed by those guys.
“So this was their agenda. Not to help society but to be a nuisance to them”, I murmured to myself commenting on those bullies.
We reached the city hospital that was closest. It was a government hospital.
“This girl suffered a panic attack and is unconscious. She needs a doctor right now”, we asked at the reception.
“Sorry, nobody’s on duty right now”, said the receptionist.
“What? Not a single doctor. Are you kidding me?”
The girl’s father waved a 500 rupee-note in front of her and said,” It’s urgent.”
“If you insist, but Dr. Sharma won’t be able to examine her. You check yourself”.
I went along with them. And next scene was horrible. The doctor laid drunk on his chair and a bottle of desi daru kept on the table. I could not dare to go even close to him. He smelled pungent. I pitied India. This nation is going through horrible time.
I knew I was not of much help to that father who had hopefully visited the hospital but got nothing than regret.
I came out and took an auto to the place where I had parked my bike. On the way, I thought what the hell is government doing?
Auto stopped at a petrol pump to refill his tank. Then I noticed something which made it clear to my mind what our government is doing. Don’t you notice the hike in petrol price, LPG cylinders including eatables too like dal, vegetables etc.
The social groups like the one we met today have so much to worry about like the land acquisition in Ayodhya. They don’t have time to think about common people and their problems. Our country is really making progress but its people especially the poor and middle class are getting retreated.
I finally reached the place where I had left my bike. I paid auto its fare. My purse just lost its weight. Inflation has really taken a poll on our pockets.
Alright I’m here but where’s my bike. After asking some people on kiosks nearby I came to know that it was parked in No Parking area and has been lifted to the thana nearby.
“My father will run after my ass if he comes to know about it”, I said to myself standing there helpless.
A strong kick like some hardcore metal band jolted my ass.
“Wake up you bastard. Its 11 am in morning. Don’t you have anything else to do except sleeping”, my father said furiously.
“Oh my God, it was a dream!!!”, I exclaimed.
“Yes. Katrina Kaif must have been kissing you. Right? And I disturbed you. Come on now, fresh up and I will take you to parade”.
“Oh no…” I said like a pessimist.
“Yes. I want you ready in 10 minutes”.
It’s a cold morning, raining since last night. I am feeling so dizzy. I looked down the window near my bed. It was a rally. They were celebrating Independence Day but only in a literal sense. People have forgotten the true essence of it. We are not independent. We are still being ruled not by the outsiders but by our very own people. Independence Day has lost its meaning in the race of chair and political conspiracies of Indian, so-called leaders. Now, it’s not so special. It’s just another day in India for me at least.
