The clock was already showing 5:45 pm and there was no sign of dada ji yet. I was waiting impatiently at the gate for my dada ji (grandfather) to return home from the court. He was a lawyer, a good one.. very famous and respected among the lawyers' community in Jaunpur. Everyone used to tell me this. Jaunpur, the place where I live. It's a small city in the eastern UP (Uttar Pradesh), 55 kms. from the holy city Varanasi. By the way, I am Abhishek, and I am 6 years Big. Famous for Imarti (a sweet dish), Itr (perfumes), Muli (radish) and Shahi-pul (emperor's bridge), Jaunpur is a calm and quiet place away from the hussle bustle of any big city.
Forget Jaunpur, let's focus on why dada ji has not yet returned from the court. He might have struck in some big or tricky case, involving some dangerous clients of his. Afterall, he is a criminal lawyer. I was in these thoughts only, and yeeessss, here I saw is his rickshaw coming. I could see shyam, my dada Ji's rickshaw-wala, comfortably talking and enjoying pulling the rickshaw. Shyam was average in built, but he had strong muscles. He used to hold me from his right hand and put me on the front rod of his cycle-rickshaw. I used to enjoy his company. He loved my dada ji and used to come daily to pick him up and drop off home. I imagined, it must be any other fight story at his village, that he keeps telling to my dada ji for his legal advice. Which dada ji never used to give, instead he used to just say, "sab theek ho jayega Shyam, chinta mat karo" (everything will be all right Shyam, don't worry).
As soon as the rickshaw reached home, I jumped on it and hugged my dada ji. He affectionately held me closely and kissed on my forehead, that he used to do everytime he saw me. Before he could ask me 'how was my school and what I eat in lunch and evening snacks, did I do my homework, and what I played with my bade bhaiya (elder brother)', any of these, I enquired with him about his being late today. He held his ears and told in apologizing tone, "sorry, sorry.. there was an important case for which I had to stay late as the case is running on fast track court. I told you about a notorious criminal who was on run from quite some time, after a big crime that made, he has been captured a few days back, and now I am fighting a case against him." I remembered dada ji told me about this case story last month. I nodded, but continued in my complaining tone, "let it be, but what about I waited far about more than an hour at gate for you, this is not done. I will not speak to you till night today." And I looked at other direction. Before dada ji could further explain anything, I looked at Shyam and told him in scolding tone, "and you, can't you pull rickshaw a bit faster, and without chatting.. you are very slow and keep talking all the time." Shyam also held his ears like my dada ji was holding, all the time while I was complaining and scolding both of them. "Okay, okay.. let it be, can we go to Jhagdu Ram now, or there is anything more that you want to finish, it's already very late," I told to dada ji without looking at him. He held me close again, kissed my forehead and told to Shyam, "chalo bhai Shyam, kitni dheere rickshaw chalaate ho tum.. jaldi chalo Jhagdu Ram ke yahan.. main to kab se kah Raha hu jaldi Ghar chalo, jaldi jaldi rickshaw chalao" (let's go Shyam, how slow you pull the cycle-rickshaw.. let's go fast to Jhagdu Ram..).
Jhagdu Ram was a famous sweet store in Jaunpur. And the best part is, it was just 100 meters away from our home. He made really tasty sweets like papdi, rasgulle, kala-jaam, thandi kheer.. but, my favourite was Gaajar ka Halwa. In the winters, it was my daily ritual to have gaajar ka halwa in the evening when dada ji used to return from court. Me and dada ji, both used to have one plate each, and then dada ji used to insist that I can have one more plate, as I was a young kid. I used to tell him that he could also have one more plate, as he is an old man. But, he used to tell me that I could also have his share, and go even for the third plate.. which I used to decline, holding my tummy. I used to settle on just 2 plates, daily. Dada ji used to tickle me on my tummy and we used to say bye to the son or the grandson of Jhagdu Ram (whosoever used to be on the counter) as we come out of the shop. By this time, Shyam used to finish his gaajar ka halwa, samosa and tea, too. Then, me and dada ji used to walk back to home, me telling him all the happenings of the day. And Shyam used to be on his way to his home singing his favourite song 'tum mujhe yun bhula na paaoge.. tum mujhe yun bhula na paaoge."
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