Rajesh entered the home around 8.30 pm.The silence of the house welcome him. This gave him an idea about Suhani’s absence. ‘So Suhani has not returned yet from the art gallery’ thought Rajesh. He went straight to his living room and asked Shankar for a cup of coffee. By the time, he settled into the comfort of the room, the servant brought in his cup of coffee.
With coffee mug in his hand, Rajesh looked around. It was a big room but there was not much space in it. The various antique pieces decorated around covered much of the space.
At left corner there was a big bronze statue with sword in his hand .There was a huge glass table with three decorated legs next to it. All its three legs have different mughal art carved on it. On the right, there was a 13th century torso of a young damsel kept on one corner. Beside it was an antique gramophone with records along with an old looking wooden almirah with again some carvings.
Rajesh eyes stopped at the photo frame kept on the almirah. It was his and Suhani’s wedding photograph. Looking at the picture a smile came on his lips, his mind went back to the glimpses of past. Four years back the day he first met Suhnai…
Rajesh was doing his M.B.A those days. He had a strange passion towards old things, antiques.It was a Sunday evening and Rajesh went to an art exhibition of old antique pieces. There while exploring beautiful antiques of different periods he saw a beautiful lampshade of 16th century at one corner. With curiosity to have a better look, he went closer to it. While he was gazing at it, he heard a sweet voice-“oh wow! What a beautiful piece I would have definitely bought it to enhance my collection but it’s too costly”. Rajesh turned his head and saw a very beautiful girl standing there. “Even if you had money than also you couldn't bought it” said Rajesh and showed her a small slip with ‘SOLD’ written on it.Oh the girl smiled and Rajesh too.-“Hi myself Rajesh” he said “ I am Suhani” the girl replied . “So you also have habit of collecting old things”
Rajesh asked. “Yah I just love collecting them, even I am passionate about old things”. She continued as if she got her favorite subject to talk about-“I feel things become more valuable as they grow old, don’t you feel so?” she asked.
“Yes I do, even we share a common interest I also love collecting old antique pieces”.
This was their first meeting and then they started meeting each other. As they share a common interest so they went to places such as art galleries and exhibition together.Suhani was a final year archaeology student and was doing a course in jewelry designing also as a hobby. Slowly both of them started missing each other and they realized that they are in love. Within six months of their courtship, Rajesh got campus placement in a big American Multi National Company. Within six months of his job, Rajesh realized that now he is competent enough to take marital responsibilities .By that time Suhani also completed her studies and started working as a jewelry designer with a reputed jewel brand. Now as both of them have started earning good amount so their hobby for antique collection has turned into passion. Now they could afford to buy the things that earlier were out of their budgets. In the mean time, they also became popular among their friends due to their collection and craziness for antique things.
Finally, they got married and even their marriage became talk of the town, as it was an ‘Antique’ theme marriage. All the decorations were in antique style. Even the bride and groom also dressed like that. Rajesh dressed up like a 14th century king and Suhani also like a queen with special antique jewelry designed by her. Local media also due to its uniqueness covered the marriage.
After marriage, both of them got busier in their work. Rajesh got promotion so his workload increased; Suhani also continued to work, as jewelry designer in fact antique designing became her forte. Therefore, whatever free time they used to get they spend it in going to art galleries, exhibitions. Socially their status also increased so they have to attend parties even they also throw parties at their house where they proudly display their collection of antique things to their friends. At times even local media cover their parties whenever they have something unique to show.
Ding-Dong …the noise of doorbell brought Rajesh back from the memories of past to the realities of present.
He looked at his watch it was 10 o ‘clock .He heard the sound of door opening and then suhani’s voice inquiring about him...“Has sahib come?” she asked the servant. Then she came straight to the room, but she was on phone...“Yah yah I know about it, I have spoken to the journalist. No he himself asked me he was telling that he heard a lot about our collection. He actually requested me so I thought of calling him tomorrow. Yes he is coming, oh yes the exhibition was fine and I ordered that piece. Ok, fine I will talk to you later Raj has come, bye”
Suhani now turned towards Rajesh and hugged him-“sorry darling I am late actually the exhibition was so mesmerizing can’t explain you, you should have been there”. Rajesh looked at her and then replied “yah but office is also important”. “Let’s have dinner I am feeling hungry”.
“Raj said Suhani after dinner I have to tell you an important thing; a journalist is coming tomorrow here”. “Why have you announced an interview or what?” Rajesh looked at her with a smile “Be serious Raj actually there is a big photography competition organized by a national newspaper for all the journalists; the most unique and different photo will get a reward of Rupees 15,000 and it will be published on the front page together with the details of that photograph. Therefore, a journalist approached me today.
So what does he want? Rajesh said. “Well he wants to come and have a look at our collection of old, antique things, and click some photographs of them. I think it will be an excellent opportunity to display our collection at a higher level. I mean if his photograph wins than our antiques will be on the front page of a national newspaper together with our names. Thinking all this I asked him to come tomorrow. What do you say?”
.”I don’t know but I see no harm in it also .so if you think it is right then go ahead I have no problems or objections to it”.
“Oh thanks darling I love you so much” Suhani embraced Rajesh.
“I love you too” said Rajesh enclosing her in his arms.
Next day the journalist came on time. Rajesh and Suhani gave him a warm welcome .He introduced himself as Sagar. After their formal introduction Sagar started to do his work. He started observing all the antique pieces with great care. Both Rajesh and Suhani were accompanying him providing him with all the necessary in formations required. “You see such pieces are rare to found we have collected them with great difficulty,” said Suhani pointing to one of the old furniture piece. She continued, “We both feel such old, antique things are treasure in ones life, everyone should proudly cherish them. Me and my husband both feel that as things grow old they become more and more valuable. Our old memories of school days, old day’s photographs, old values, cultures even jewelry everything become important and unique with time.
“Yes I agree with you Mrs. Sinha, things really become of great value with time Sagar said clicking picture of an old palanquin. Now what is unique in this palanquin? It’s a simple palanquin used by villagers earlier, but what makes it unique is its old age. Now days it is a rare antique piece as it has not seen or used now. This is what makes it special and this is the reason of my being here and clicking pictures of all these old things. Their old age made them special”
“Actually they have a lot to teach us. They tell us about our past, our art, our culture, our origin. How can we progress without knowing about our past, our origin? Rajesh told now his point of view. “And that’s why collecting such things is more than just a hobby for us .We not only love collecting them but also cherish them and respect them” Their discussion was going on together with clicking of photographs when Shankar, the servant stepped in. He told something to Rajesh and Suhani. “Ok said Rajesh and then turned towards Sagar actually I am sorry some of our important guest have come unexpectedly so we just have to attend them.Most of the pieces you have seen, just have a look at other ones also. Shankar will help you if you need anything. Sorry for the inconvenience but we will just be back in 10-15 minutes.”
“Oh it’s absolutely fine.”Sagar replied.
So both of them left the room leaving Sagar and the servant Shankar behind
“Sahib I am here only if you need anything than please tell me”
“You do your work if I need you I will call you”
“Ok sahib”
Sagar was observing each and everything with great care. He was not clicking everything but only selected things which he thought would strike people and judges attention.
Suddenly his eyes went to a small passage behind the room. Something caught his attention. It was a big walk clock of British period with only one hand in it. This was something different so with curiosity to have a better vision he moved towards the passage. It was backside of the house.Sagar went close to the wall clock and clicked some photos of it. Then he looked around. This part of house was not in a good condition. Things like old newspapers and old electrical appliances in short waste unused stuff was all around.
There were two rooms in one corner. They looked like servants quarters. Sagar found nothing relevant their so he decided to move back. As he turned back, he stopped. Instead of moving forward, he stepped backward. Something stopped him. He was not able to believe on his eyes. He slowly moved two more steps towards that direction to confirm it. Yes, he is real it was not his imagination. ‘Oh God! I was not wrong; it is actually here. My god what a unique picture it would be’ thought Sagar and clicked some photographs. He then moved little more close to the iron rods of that window.
“Sahib doesn't go there” the voice of Shankar interrupted him. Sagar turned back at this sudden interruption.
“What are you doing here sahib?” Shankar asked nervously.
Sagar being a journalist easily caught the fear in his voice. He understood that what all information he needed, this man could provide him. Therefore, he asked him in a strict manner “what is that?”
“What sahib? What are you asking? I do not know anything.
“I am asking about that,” Sagar said pointing his finger to window of one of the rooms there.
The window was slightly open. It was an old style window with big iron rods and large space between them. Behind the rods was an old man sitting. He was looking blankly in the space as if his eyes are searching something. His eyes were sunken deep in the big dark hollows. His face was full of wrinkles. His skin has shrunk due to the wrinkles .He has disheveled white hairs. His face seemed expressionless. It seems as if he has not smiled or said anything from years. He might be of 70-75 years but he looked like 100 or above. That was actually, what made him a marvelous photograph for Sagar.
“Who is he and why is he here?” Sagar again asked Shankar.
“I don’t know sahib”
“Tell me honestly otherwise I will call your masters and they will throw you out of the job.”
“No sahib please I will tell you what all you wish to know but don’t tell my masters anything” Suresh pleaded.
“Ok fine, Sagar said now tell me about this old man”.
“He is our Bade sahib Rajesh sir’s father. I take care of him as he is ill and there is no one to look after him”
“But why he is father of a rich man. Rajesh and his wife both are financially strong to take care of him”
“Rajesh sir and Suhani madam both are busy in their work and their visits to art galleries or their meetings and parties at home. They do not have time to take care of Bade sahib as he demands time and is ill. Therefore, they have shifted him here and I have to take his care, an extra work for me.”
“Why are they not paying you enough to take care of their father?”
“Earlier they were not but one day I told them that I wont do this extra work then madam told to sahib “pay him extra na, there are already so many old pieces in the home to take care of ,I don’t want an extra responsibility ”. and then they started paying me extra”.
“Do they come here?”
“Very often that too when I tell them that his medicines are finished or he was not well last night”
“Was he like this only I mean so quiet, expressionless?”
“Earlier he used to speak and asked for things and for his son and daughter-in-law but most of the times they both were not at home or if at home they just formally visit him just to know whether he needed anything. They never had time to sit with him. Slowly he also understood, after that his condition deteriorated, he had stopped speaking, and coming out of room .Actually, he had no one to speak to. Now he sits silently like this and gaze blankly for hours like this only.
“Oh I see” Sagar said and smiled sarcastically and looked at the old man again.
“Sahib Lets go its already late and please don’t let Rajesh sir or Mam know about your encounter with Bade sahib or what all I have told you.”
“Don’t worry, let’s go”.
Then they reached the room within two minutes Rajesh and Suhani also came.
“Sorry for making you wait” Suhani said apologetically.
“No not at all Shankar gave me a good company, and my work has also finished. I got what I wanted”
“So you had clicked all the photographs you wanted” Rajesh asked.
“Yes and within two days the winning picture will be seen on the front page of newspaper .So lets keep our finger crossed who know it will be one of your antique collection.”
“Yes why not sure” Suhani said excitedly and looked at Rajesh.
“So I take your leave now and don’t forget to check newspaper. Thanks for your cooperation”Sagar said and left.
For the next two days, Rajesh and Suhani waited eagerly. They want to know whether their name would be in the winners or not.Suhani got up early that morning newspaper had not come by that time. After half an hour, Shankar came with morning tea and newspaper. By that time, Rajesh had got up. They opened curiously along with a little nervousness the front page. Their eyes widened as they saw the big picture with its description on the front page. They looked at each other as if do not know what to say. They were standing like statues holding newspaper in their hand. The old man in the picture was staring blankly at them behind the iron rods with boldly written over it the title-ALIVE ANTIQUE and the name of RAJESH and SUHANI SINHA as the proud owners of that antique.
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By
MUDITA SRIVASTAVA
