The bright sun shone over the yellow board standing on the platform, covered with moss & ‘Biswan’ written on it. A man with a light blue kurta and a dhoti sat on the yellow bench on the platform beside his son, waiting for the train to Lucknow.

The man was in his fifties and his son was twenty-five. In those days of the British rule, Mukesh was one of the fortunate who was going to a college to learn further. They sat on the bench with Mukesh’s luggage beside them.           The station master came out of his cabin and asked“ Lalaji, where is Mukesh going?”“ Going to Lucknow masterji, for his higher studies.” said Lalaji. “God bless him” said the station master and he went ahead.

After some minutes, the train to Lucknow arrived and Lalaji took Mukesh's luggage to his berth. Lalaji alighted the train. Mukesh touched Lalaji’s feet for his blessings.“ Ayushyaman bhavaha. Study well. Keep good friends and write to me frequently.” said Lalaji. “Yes father, I will.” said Mukesh.  The train left and Lalaji saw Mukesh proceed to his dreams. After the train went out of the sight, Lalaji returned to his house.

Lalaji, involved in his farm work would not get time to send letters to Mukesh, but he frequently received letters from Mukesh.  Having harvested the crop, Lalaji would always remember to send telegrams or letters to Mukesh.

Two years passed very insignificantly and in the third year Lalaji realised that he had not been receiving letters from Mukesh. He was worried as he had Mukesh as his sole support after Mukesh’s mother passed away.

Lalaji could not stop thinking that Mukesh was in a bad condition.  This left him restless and hence could not toil in the farm with utmost attention.  His crops failed to fetch good market and thus he was left in losses. He took loan from the zamindar, and started working in the fields with new zeal. That year Mukesh’s telegram arrived stating, “I am married and settled in Lucknow, and will not return to Biswan ever again.”  This left Lalaji heart broken and his zeal broke to nil.  His crops that year too failed.  He was left in debts and bankrupt.

Lalaji now lived by selling articles of his house. Years passed by and Lalaji was living a life of a loner when one fine day he received a telegram stating,“ you have got a grandson now.  You can come here if you wish to see him.”  Though living a life of bankruptcy, this news rekindled his desire to live with a smile. He decided to leave for Lucknow, but the zamindar asked Lalaji for his money. Lalaji sold all his property to the zamindar knowing that Mukesh would allow him to stay along with him. Lalaji begged to the zamindar for some money to reach Lucknow.

Lalaji reached Lucknow and was received by Mukesh at the station.  They reached his house and was welcomed by his daughter-in-law and his grandson. After having a good dinner, Lalaji sat to have a talk with Mukesh. Mukesh told Lalaji that he had fallen in love with a muslim girl and could not think of living without her. This came as a great shock to Lalaji and asked,“ Mukesh, how could you do this?”  This enraged Mukesh and he angrily said,“ If you do not approve of this marriage, leave us alone and never come back to this house.”

Lalaji left the house and thought that he had lost the race of life.  He was penniless and had to live in the slums of Lucknow.  He had to work everyday to earn his Bread and butter.  His health deteriorated, he could hardly have one time meal. He was in his seventies, his vision reduced and slowly lost his vision. He was now a burden for himself. His neighbours helped him to live, but at the back of the mind they thought as to when would he perish.

One day, when he was bed ridden a man in his fifties approached him,“ Lalaji, take this soup.”  This voice was new to Lalaji, he asked, “I have never heard you before, who are you? What are you doing here? Do I know you?” “ Ask questions later Lalaji, first have the soup.” He helped Lalaji get up and made him drink the soup.“ I am Rajan. I came to this slum just yesterday. I heard about your condition today and came to help you. I will take your care hence forth.”“ I think I know your voice, but my aged ears cannot recognise your voice.” said Lalaji,“ I never saw such a heart in anybody, not even my son.” Hearing this, the smile on Rajan’s face shirked. He said,“ Forget your son Lalaji. We should not remember people who did bad to us.” And Rajan left.

From then on Rajan did what ever he was capable of  to keep Lalaji healthy and happy.  But Lalaji was growing old.  He was not a person who was immortal.  One day he called Rajan and all other neighbours.  Lalaji was sure he would not see tomorrow’s rising sun.

He spoke to Rajan, “Rajan, you have taken my care as a son cares for his father.  My son abandoned me but when I met you I stopped regretting the truth. Now I give you your respect.  You will carry out all my last rituals and this is my last wish.” Rajan fell on his knees and prayed to god to save Lalaji. But Lalaji said,“ He Himself has called me and I should take your leave now.” As Lalaji said this, he joined his hands, and ………he took his last breath. He had left the earthly life.

Rajan called for a Pandit to perform the last rituals. The next day, when Rajan was sitting in his hut, his thoughts rushed through the past memories. He remembered how he had thrown his father out of his house and also how he had faced the wrath of the people in his surrounding when they came to know that he had married a Muslim girl and in the fury had burnt his house down and thus he had lost his wife and his only son. This made him feel how his father must have felt when he had thrown his father out of his house, and vowed on that day that he would search and find his father.

His thoughts were interrupted by the question’ Why did you care for Lalaji as a son would care for his father?’ the people of the slum asked him. Rajan’s eyes were filled with tears, and he said,“ He was my real father. I am Rajan but my real name is Mukesh.” After narrating what he had done to his father, Rajan alias Mukesh was lost in deep thoughts about his late father as the evening dipped itself in the dark, but assured a bright ray of tomorrow’s sun.