Old faces

8:15

I get out of rickshaw right on time as usual to catch 8:32 train . Walking briskly thinking about my exam which will begin in about 2 hour , I notice a familiar face walking towards me. Those "faavda" teeth (that's what I like to call them :P ) and oval face with big bald spot in middle are his trademark features . I am seeing this guy after 4-5 years and I call out ," Rajesh uncle .. hie remember me ?", with a super excited face to see him. By the way for many who don't know him, he was a bus conductor in my school. 

"Hie, Hetansh .. kem che (how are you) ?!" , being Marathi he can talk in quite a few local languages. I was actually surprised that he did remember me because I was changed beyond recognition after my school days . Wore lens , changed hairstyle ( I was like champu :P ) , voice and body and everything . He still recognised me where quite a lot of my school friends didn't when I met them after school , something was different about him.  He didn't had the opportunity to study much so he had to take this job. He knew me since I was about 4-5 years old . He was bit different from others , for instance he remembered everyone's name and their group of friends. He would ask about all of us and rather than shouting at us for stupidity he used to explain us and talk to us , laugh with us. Trust me talking to a 5 year old kid is boring :P If a person can do this he has a super cool mind with a lot of temperament . His means were extremely limited . When I was in 8th grade I still remember he asked me whether I can spare last year's text book for his daughter. I just couldn't bear someone asking me for something. At that time I felt like giving him a lot more but as I was a kid I had nothing much than a sentimental mind. 

Sometimes you come across a person in your life whom you want to give something, help him but do not know how to do so without hurting his self respect. I later came to know that he left the job of school after working for some 15 years. He said that school wasn't the same , management changed and the work wasn't same. They asked for qualifications and all . It was too much for him . He now does some government job . I never asked much . How much ever I grow up , I am always going to be his kid and kids don't ask their elders directly about how much they earn and what they do . I just hope he is happy , and he never loose that smile he carries with pride. 

8:30

Fuck .. My train turns to be a bit early and its going to reach station in just about a minute. I run down and catch in nick of time. While going to college , I am not at all worried or tensed about my exam , it will go just fine . Its something to do with old faces, they always create a positive feeling that everything is going to be good that day .

1:30

My exam does go great and I think whether is it luck ? I will surely dedicate a blog to him ...

Dedicated to ,

The Old faces : You are always remembered,

Rajesh uncle,

Thank You for reading,

From,

Hetansh Shah a.k.a Hetu :]