When I tried to reimburse my nephew Ishu the amount he spent on online ticket, he vengefully said, “I shall not take it!” Upon further insisting, he retorted, “Shall you accept it from Dabbu [my son] too. That left me hamstrung. He once again endorsed how he valued relationship rather than cash values. An asset indeed, wherever he is!
During my visit to cousin’s home in Dehradun after a year’s gap I asked his seven-year-old son Ishu, “Can you recall me?” His prompt, categorical response was, “How dare I not, my Tauji [father’s elder brother]!” Quite loving and affable with inmates, from childhood Ishu was of a different mould, well caring for the guests on their minute, non-descript needs, an inherited trait. The welcoming posture of each member of the family attracted numerous local and outstation guests to my cousin’s home round the year.
The entire family lived on the ground floor of the double storied house. The upper storey with two rooms and a spacious verandah was earmarked for guests as anyone could vouch for. Rather than politely suggesting one to proceed to an isolated guest room after dinner as per norm of the day, on each visit to Dehradun, I don’t remember a single instance when my cousin didn’t share the guest room with me in the night, obviously to spend utmost time together. Like me, he also relished the candid discussions in tranquil, nocturnal moments that help better understand why people think, act, react and behave the way they typically do.
Ishu’s regard for relationships was also reflected a couple of years ago after puja celebrations in our interior village in Garhwal hills with a lone unmettled (Kachcha) approach road. I had to be dropped at the main road and the available vehicles returning back after celebration had no space for extra person. Spirited Ishu came forward and promised to happily drop me to the main road, some 14 km on the rough, undulating terrain, on his moped.
In the recent Corona era, one morning I reached Dehradun on errands. Since the job was done timely, I asked Ishu to get my return online reservation by overnight train. In the evening, when he gave me the print of the ticket showing Rs. 1250, not a paltry sum, I offered him the due amount in cash. “I cannot take it,” he asserted. On my plea that though retired, I was still earning, he retorted with a vengeance, “I am also an earner.” At my further insistence to accept it, he retorted in churlish tone, “Shall you accept the ticket amount from Dabbu [my son’s nickname] too?”
That left me hamstrung. Though I ever trusted the immaculate benevolence of his intent but didn’t think that mellowing of years had so catapulted his sense of relationships. An Ever an asset everywhere – why higher powers shall not align with the wishes of a true, benign soul that lays premium on relationship rather than cash values, I mused.
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Published in Deccan Herald (‘Right-in-the-Middle’ column/Edit page) on 30 January 2021.
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