Munna Kho gaya
Munna was born in 1973 in an oasis of peace and tranquility, which suddenly loomed, almost without warning, next to a small, rickety railway crossing next to the often deserted road, frequented mostly by passing goods trucks, cycles, tempos or, much before that, by the gentleman called Sher Shah Suri and his motley army.
Munna saw a lot of new uncles (alas no aunties!), come in one rainy morning and sprout around like those green grass blades and the soft buds on the trees swaying in the monsoon kissed air. There were uncles from all over the country, even from places whose name Munna had never heard from his people. These uncles themselves were young and wide eyed, green behind their ears. At once dreamy, enthusiastic but may be a little afraid about what lay ahead.
These uncles made munna's village their home for the next 5 years. Munna grew up in their company and gradually saw a mutual warmth and affection developing. Even though the Uncles were strangers to each other when they came in, gradually Munna became the common object of everyone’s attention and love. Munna would run along when these uncles went to the classes in the morning. He would wait expectantly in the evening to hear all the stories about class bunking, fundoo professors and boring afternoon labs. He would peep behind the doors when these uncles experimented with their still evolving youth and feel the buzz of young energy when these folks exchanged fundas about everything under the sun and more. Munna would laugh when these uncles pulled each others’ legs or sang full throated “Chalat Musafir moh liyo re…”. He would cry when he saw one of them depressed and feeling low in a fiza which occasionally became cold and uncaring. But he saw them coping with it all and growing up to face a tough life full of challenges and opportunities.
Uncles kept growing up and so did Munna. By the time the fifth year arrived, they had all become very fond of him and almost loathed the thought of parting from him but they were also excited about the new places and opportunities which loomed upon their consciousness. Some were going to Amrika while others were planning to become Maneejars by going to IIM. Yet others were happy to become trainees in various companies which were falling over each other to recruit them. Munna was sad at the thought of parting from these uncles but by now he understood that this is what they had come in for and they had to go out, earn their “Rozi-Roti” and do big things for the country which had paid with its sweat and blood for all their learning and growth. While leaving the uncles kept promising each other and Munna that they would meet him again.
For 25 years these uncles went far and wide and searched for their destinies all across the globe, armed themselves with swanky cars and houses, beautiful wives and smartly turned out kids while Munna gradually felt ignored and sulked in a corner. Though he grew in age but, at heart he still remained a child, waiting for his uncles to return and cuddle him.
And lo and behold… one fine morning he heard the buzz that his uncles were returning to find him again. Munna was excited and he ran from one corner to another… trying to spruce up the place and think of new ways of entertaining his uncles and pandering to their grown up esteems for now the uncles had become bara sahibs. And they were coming with the mem sahibs and baba logs. They had tasted the best in luxury and Munna was worried whether he and his house and small town location would meet with their expectations.
But the next four days zipped by happily. Munna saw the uncles, many with paunches and minus those curly hairs, drop all their sahibness and become kids again. They cried and hugged each other. They sang and slapped each other on their backs. The uncles had not forgotten Munna. When they saw him it was like…It’s yesterday once more. Munna was overjoyed and he too jumped up and down and ran around with them as if the 25 years had not passed and it was only an illusion. Come the last day and the uncles started parting one by one promising Munna that they will be back soon and also bring back those uncles who could not make it this time.
Now 5 more years have passed and Munna heard that uncles are planning to be back. But..what is this? Munna heard of the great debate amongst his uncles in the cyber space. Many of the uncles are finding Munna’s village too far, too difficult to reach, too boring. They are planning to go on a cruise or spend a .. weekend in a five star resort. Dance in Goa or play golf in Amby Valley. Some uncles are even planning to meet in the wonderful San Francisco in Amrika. Munna dreams wide eyed of all the cruise ships, five star resorts, hawai jahajs and swanky Amrikan cities. But he is afraid.. will the uncles take him also? Or have they forgotten him in all the excitement of spending their dollars and rupiyas on five star comforts and having a gala time away from the grime and dust of Munna’s village? Munna feels lost. He is scared that Uncles have forgotten him. Even though they remember that they promised to come back and spend time but perhaps they forgot what they had all wanted to come back for. Is it age related memory loss or have they really become too practical to withstand the pain and trouble of trudging to Munna’s village. He wants to cry…Uncles please come ‘cause this is where I am. Are you sure you will find me on those luxury ships and 5 star resorts? On Amby Valley golf course, in Goa or in Amrika? Munna is afraid that he will not be able meet his uncles and will be left alone. Or, if he ventures out will the uncles really find him in those unfamiliar locales? Munna milega unhe ya nahin?
Munna wakai kho gaya hai. Kya uncle log use dhoondh paayenge?
Munna saw a lot of new uncles (alas no aunties!), come in one rainy morning and sprout around like those green grass blades and the soft buds on the trees swaying in the monsoon kissed air. There were uncles from all over the country, even from places whose name Munna had never heard from his people. These uncles themselves were young and wide eyed, green behind their ears. At once dreamy, enthusiastic but may be a little afraid about what lay ahead.
These uncles made munna's village their home for the next 5 years. Munna grew up in their company and gradually saw a mutual warmth and affection developing. Even though the Uncles were strangers to each other when they came in, gradually Munna became the common object of everyone’s attention and love. Munna would run along when these uncles went to the classes in the morning. He would wait expectantly in the evening to hear all the stories about class bunking, fundoo professors and boring afternoon labs. He would peep behind the doors when these uncles experimented with their still evolving youth and feel the buzz of young energy when these folks exchanged fundas about everything under the sun and more. Munna would laugh when these uncles pulled each others’ legs or sang full throated “Chalat Musafir moh liyo re…”. He would cry when he saw one of them depressed and feeling low in a fiza which occasionally became cold and uncaring. But he saw them coping with it all and growing up to face a tough life full of challenges and opportunities.
Uncles kept growing up and so did Munna. By the time the fifth year arrived, they had all become very fond of him and almost loathed the thought of parting from him but they were also excited about the new places and opportunities which loomed upon their consciousness. Some were going to Amrika while others were planning to become Maneejars by going to IIM. Yet others were happy to become trainees in various companies which were falling over each other to recruit them. Munna was sad at the thought of parting from these uncles but by now he understood that this is what they had come in for and they had to go out, earn their “Rozi-Roti” and do big things for the country which had paid with its sweat and blood for all their learning and growth. While leaving the uncles kept promising each other and Munna that they would meet him again.
For 25 years these uncles went far and wide and searched for their destinies all across the globe, armed themselves with swanky cars and houses, beautiful wives and smartly turned out kids while Munna gradually felt ignored and sulked in a corner. Though he grew in age but, at heart he still remained a child, waiting for his uncles to return and cuddle him.
And lo and behold… one fine morning he heard the buzz that his uncles were returning to find him again. Munna was excited and he ran from one corner to another… trying to spruce up the place and think of new ways of entertaining his uncles and pandering to their grown up esteems for now the uncles had become bara sahibs. And they were coming with the mem sahibs and baba logs. They had tasted the best in luxury and Munna was worried whether he and his house and small town location would meet with their expectations.
But the next four days zipped by happily. Munna saw the uncles, many with paunches and minus those curly hairs, drop all their sahibness and become kids again. They cried and hugged each other. They sang and slapped each other on their backs. The uncles had not forgotten Munna. When they saw him it was like…It’s yesterday once more. Munna was overjoyed and he too jumped up and down and ran around with them as if the 25 years had not passed and it was only an illusion. Come the last day and the uncles started parting one by one promising Munna that they will be back soon and also bring back those uncles who could not make it this time.
Now 5 more years have passed and Munna heard that uncles are planning to be back. But..what is this? Munna heard of the great debate amongst his uncles in the cyber space. Many of the uncles are finding Munna’s village too far, too difficult to reach, too boring. They are planning to go on a cruise or spend a .. weekend in a five star resort. Dance in Goa or play golf in Amby Valley. Some uncles are even planning to meet in the wonderful San Francisco in Amrika. Munna dreams wide eyed of all the cruise ships, five star resorts, hawai jahajs and swanky Amrikan cities. But he is afraid.. will the uncles take him also? Or have they forgotten him in all the excitement of spending their dollars and rupiyas on five star comforts and having a gala time away from the grime and dust of Munna’s village? Munna feels lost. He is scared that Uncles have forgotten him. Even though they remember that they promised to come back and spend time but perhaps they forgot what they had all wanted to come back for. Is it age related memory loss or have they really become too practical to withstand the pain and trouble of trudging to Munna’s village. He wants to cry…Uncles please come ‘cause this is where I am. Are you sure you will find me on those luxury ships and 5 star resorts? On Amby Valley golf course, in Goa or in Amrika? Munna is afraid that he will not be able meet his uncles and will be left alone. Or, if he ventures out will the uncles really find him in those unfamiliar locales? Munna milega unhe ya nahin?
Munna wakai kho gaya hai. Kya uncle log use dhoondh paayenge?
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