Everyday of Shambu started with safeguarding the people, you must be thinking “safeguarding? “ yes as Shambhu had been the watchman of one of the locality of Uttarpardesh from pass twenty years, and everyone in the society remained tension free as they knew there can be no better watchman then he is. Now it was winter time and to work as watchman in winter days has been always like a nightmare, chilling nights. Shambu was well aware of the fact that now starts the time when he would have to go to woods daily to get some small wooden pieces so that he can burn those to survive in biting cold nights. He never had enough money to buy some good clothes or log of wood which can last for a month for coldest month of January. we the growing age things were becoming more difficult to survive in such weather. Anapara was a small town of U.P all his life was spent in this small town. He had always ben loyal to his duty. Honesty was one thing which he never left, no matter what the conditions where. People often called Shambhu “shlaam shaab” as this was the way how he use to greet people.
Doing the duty of watchman at night time was never a easy job. Shambhu spent hours in woods looking for little wooden pieces which could be used at night. In the same way he was collecting pieces in the woods while he met one of his friend on the way Gopal, who was running a grocery shop, asked him “ what are you doing here”? Shambhu replied you know winter nights and duty of watchman at night. Gopal “ya I understand that why don’t you take a log of wood from me I have ample at home and I will give you one tomorrow just come to the shop tomorrow, you know with one log month would easily pass , and he went. Shambhu was happy hearing that much that atleast this winter is going to much comfortable then the rest. He reached back to locality as it was the time of duty in the evening. Temperature had fallen to 2 degree, to be outside at this time was killing. But Shambhu knew he needs to this so that he can survive as he was only one to earn in the family. As night started falling he burnt pieces of wood, but they just lasted for two hours so, then somehow he spent rest the night with the hope that tomorrow things are going to change.
Next day shambhu went to shop in the afternoon as gopal had asked him to come over there and collect the log. As he went there Gopal was handling the customers after waiting for long time Gopal said “ oh iam sorry I forgot about wooden log can you come tomorrow “. He went back disappointed as he had no option other then going back . he went to woods again and came back and followed the same routine. As the days were passing mercury was falling, so was the difficulty of shambhu increased. But seeing the condition of the family he never had any other option except this tough duty. He was 55 now the age factor was one reason of his increasing problems. After days he gain decided to go to the shop again he greeted gopal and reminded me of the wooden log, gopal said yes I remember that he asked his servant to go home and bring one long and give that to shambhu. Hearing his master servant went home to get the wooden log, while he was about reach home, kamla wife of gopal called him saying “ I need a new dress urgently as I have to attend a marriage tomorrow I need no excuse just get one now” Gopal sat thinking he called his servant “ don’t go to home now first you need to go to the market and bring a dress for Kamla” so he went there. Again Shambhu knew his hopes have shattered without saying anything he came back to his duty. Ihe was surprised to see people an be more cold then this weather, it was not that people of society where not aware of the problems faced by shambhu but nobody ever came for single help may be this the world we are living in surrounded by cold blooded people. He kept on doing his duty in such winter nights where it had become difficult to survive, days passed and he started to lose health by every passing day.
Shambhu felt very ill so he stopped going to duty no energy was left to go to duty. Condition of the home was worsening as there was no source of income it was difficult to even afford food of two time, then to buy medicine was just a dream. Shambhu and his wife were living alone his son had left him long back and was living in city, he was never willing to comeback not even to ask if his parents are alive or dead. Days were passing in misery. Ultimately he decided to go back and work coz sitting at home was not going to improve the situation and he knew that deep inside. Old routine started again going to woods coming back and giving night duty. Things had started to turn ugly. Wait for one log of wood kept his hopes alive though he never got one yet. Still with hope in eyes he continued. Looking at this world without mercy. One amazing thing about his character was that he never lost his smile he kept on meeting the world with the smile. May be this was smile that still made him survive, being strong at heart to face the challenges of the world. Where he knew things are never going to change but that never stopped him.
One night he was doing his duty as usual with whistle in his hand, trying to blow whistle though that energy in his voice was missing as it used to be. He completed the round and burned pieces of wood which as everyday lasted for 2 or 3 hours. He kept on sitting still. In the morning people saw that still he was there on same place sitting still. But for hours nobody went closer to have a look, gopal wondered that why he has not seen shambhu today, he was the one who always had excuses to ignore the demand of the watchman still he thought why he dint come. Kept on thinking but irony was never bothered to see why not? As it was dawn now, one man of society noticed he is still there, he went closer and saw a numb body a body without soul. Yes shambhiu was no more this was all he could have faced and this winter swallowed him. it came as shock for people how could that be possible when they only saw on his face was a sweet smile. Pain behind this smile killed him but world was blind to it.
At last his body was burnt into ashes and all the logs were provided by gopal. Provided so many logs then why not that one log which could have kept in alive. This incident disturbed me I thought maybe world is yours when you are no more exist .
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