The trip started on a wrong footing -
- We chose to go by train to Patna when flights were available - my sister, Asha and I had decided on the train journey as we felt that the flight to Patna would be an unwanted expense for our younger sister, Rina. This seemed stupid when we saw how Rina's husband, Ashok pooh poohed the idea of expenses. I believe they are doing well financially and do not require their NRI relatives to look down on them financially. Good for them.
- Coming back to the beginning - the choice of going by train was wrong - Delhi station was very crowded, the weather was hot and humid, the waiting rooms were overflowing with people, the fans on the platforms were not working, the tracks next to the platform were full of human filth and bad odour, the wait for the train to arrive was too long. The sea of humanity, the filth, the bad odour and the delay was a big letdown after we had heard so much about what laloo Yadav was supposed to have done for the Indian Railways.
- The train was a dissappointment as well. The sheets, pillows provided were unclean, there were cockroaches is the coach and we were not allotted seats together and although we had thought it would be fun with all 10 of us travelling together it never materialized. I could not sleep well as I feared that my snoring would disturb the others and although the AC worked fine, I do not think I can say that the train trip was enjoyable.
- We reached Patna in the morning and were happy to see a less crowded station. The station also appeared cleaner than Delhi. We were joined by Shailesh, Asha's husband. This was a surprise as he had told us that he would be on a business trip in Dubai. He is a fun guy and I was happy to see him. We stopped over at his parents house in Patna. This place in Sri Krishna Nagar is supposed to be a posh area with the CM of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, having a house in the same colony, but the surroundings were a disappointment. There was a vacant plot nearby which was being used as a garbage dump by all residents in the vicinity. I fail to understand how people ignore the threat of disease that this kind of garbage disposal invites. The pothole in front of the house gate was as big as a inflatable kiddies swimming pool.
Do you think this is bad. Well this did not actually disappoint me enough as the memories of the house in Darbhanga was keeping me in good spirits.
- The journey to Darbhanga by road was torturous. The state highway was under construction and the lesser we talk about the better. But once we reached Darbhanga the spirits took a dip.
- We took a narrow path along the Raj Darbhanga fort. - A fabulous construction in red, ignored and unattended. It would have acted like an oasis in the middle of a desert if they had taken care of the beautiful structure created many many years ago. Unfortunately the surroundings are inhabited by a set of people who have ideas about cleanliness that is matchless. Used to broad roads in Kuwait and reasonable roads in Jaipur we felt it was a miracle that the path along the Raj fort could manage a two way traffic.
- Anyway, the tower chowk, Uma and Society cinema which have a special place in my memories were also a disappointment. They remained untouched by any caring hand for the last 25 years. And then finally I reached the Lal Kothi - my grandfather's abode, a place I have always associated with buccolic charm. Oh God! what a disappointment.
- The kothi has crumpled. Only 50% of the frontage in broken state is still standing. The lovely frontage is spoilt by several changes. The grond in front has been raised to reduce the steps to the verandah from 10 to four. The rose garden in front of the house is a weed infested open ground, the agricultural patch beyond is also weed infested and the small pond at the end remains just a pool of dirty water.
- I enter the house and go inside - the inner aangan looks beautiful except that the rooms around it have all collapsed. The Tulsi still stands but I do not think anyone prays there. The house with 36 rooms is now a modern structure with just three rooms at one corner. They say that my aunt was hit by a falling brick in the old room and they had to hastily build the new rooms to escape further calamity. I cried inside and I am sure my grandfather who was so proud of his house would be crying as well.
- Is there a chance to redo it. No none. None as it would be expensive. None as it would not be worth it. None as the will to do it is missing.
- I had plans of doing something for the house, but then I heard what my relatives had to say and I got scared.
I am giving it time though and if and only if things can be sorted out legally will I take the next step. Till then I have no option but to regret the tumbling of my childhood memories.
- Darbhanga is a disappointment. The population has multiplied, the land has remained the same.
- Darbhanga is a disappointment. People have moved out and have come back with the same narrow minds.
- Darbhanga is a disappointment. The village setting has been forsaken to create concrete structures without the supporting infrastructure.
Luckily, three trees, the jalebi tree at the far end of the agri plot, the coconut tree on the left and the lovely tree with flowers we used for prayers on the right still stand. Gives me hope, but is it hopeless I wonder.
I had hoped that with so many relatives gathering we would be in a position to think on some positive lines. No one talked about anything, group photgraphs were taken, hugs were exchanged but I feel that the under current of ill feeling towards each other is too strong to fight against.
Dear God prove me wrong. I am ready to be corrected.
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