The Gardener Page #3

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for the sake of money

Whose letter is it?

- Alok's

lt must be the girl's pictures!

You're still such a kid!

''Let me see.

- Lovely girl, isn't she?''

Yes. Beautiful couple

l'm glad Alok will

settle down too

But you left no stone unturned

in making him what he is today

''No, Pooja.

l have done nothing''

This kid always had the spirit

to reach out for the skies

l have only encouraged his spirit

''lt seemed as if it happened

only yesterday, isn't it?''

On my mother's death anniversary...

the two of us were coming out

of the orphanage...

when a sweet little voice

made us freeze in our trail

''Sir! Want a shoeshine, sir?''

''Please, sir. l'll give it

a great shine for just one rupee''

''ls that your book, son?''

''Yes, sir. l want to study.

And study a lot too''

People say it's very necessary to study

to achieve something in life

''So l shine shoes.

Please let me do it, sir''

What is your name?

- They call me Chhotu at the orphanage

''But when l join a school,

l'll register myself as Alok''

Do you know what Alok means?

- Yes

''The manager says,

Alok means light''

''Who are you talking to, Chhotu?''

''You're still here, sir?

- Yes''

''This child shall henceforth

be called Alok, not Chhotu''

He wants to study and

do something in life...

and l'm sure he will do it

''Alok, come here''

''l'll have you admitted

to a school, son''

You can study there.

As much as you want to

''To do that, you won't need this''

Enough. Be happy

lt wasn't my feet. The child had

touched my heart that day

True. And he did what he wanted to

With his sincerity

and your loving support...

Alok has even gone abroad

for studies. And now...

Mother?

- Alok?

You'll live a hundred years!

We were talking about you

Set it down. Let me also listen.

- Mother...

''Ask her about the photographs.

- Yes, l will''

Mother...

- Ask her!

Ask her is she has

received the envelope!

''Mother, that envelope...?''

''Young man, are you asking us about

the photographs or the envelope?''

''Hello, father''

''l must tell you,

we've received both''

So what do you think?

''She's okay. Although the nose

is a bit small, she's plump...''

''and the eyes, Pooja...?

- Why're you teasing him?''

''Alok, he's only joking''

''Arpita is very sweet.

- Thanks, mother''

Don't delay the good deed.

Get married immediately

Without your presence?

''My son, think we are with you.

You have our blessings...''

but it's impossible for us

to be there with you

We'll wait for the day when you will

come home with our daughter-in-law

''Very well, father.

As you wish''

Bless you. May you be happy

What happened?

What did they say?

Why do you look so worried?

Why the sad face?

Tell me what they said

''They said, you appear to be a snob''

lf only your lips were...

it would be so good

Who said that?

Mummy said something

about being the snob...

and father spoke about your lips.

As for the eyes...

As for the eyes...?

They said...

- What?

They can see your heart

in your eyes...

with my picture etched on it.

- Who said that?

Both. Orders are to get married

at the earliest

''With whom...?

- You, of course''

''Never before...''

''was l in such a state''

''l've lost my sleep,

l'm losing my peace...''

''something surely

is happening to me''

''Never before...''

''was l in such a state''

''l've lost my sleep,

l'm losing my peace...''

''something surely

is happening to me''

''lt's the first ever feeling

of love...''

''how will l tell you

what my thirst is all about?''

''lt's restless,

it beats wildly...''

''my heart has found someone...''

''something surely

is happening to me''

''My beloved, l have found

on the path of love...''

''every desire of my heart

has been fulfilled''

''Let there be no distances

between us anymore''

''ln the shade of your tresses,

l'm going to sleep...''

''something surely

is happening to me''

''Never before...''

''was l in such a state''

''l've lost my sleep,

l'm losing my peace...''

''something surely

is happening to me''

Today's not a holiday...

so why's the bank so deserted?

What's all this?

''Mr Malhotra, today is your

last day at the office''

And everyone here says that it'll

be very lonely without you

''Raj, you are the one who shared

everyone's joys and sorrows...''

''you lent a ear to everyone.

But today, everyone will listen...''

and you will do the talking.

- What will l say?

lt's been 30 years.

365 days of a year...

and eight hours of the day...

l've spent a major part

of my life here with you folks

With your love and affection

l'm feeling sad about leaving

But that's the rule of life

One goes away and another comes

to take his place

''When l leave, someone

else will come here...''

''with a new name, a new face

and a new spirit''

''And l'll go away elsewhere,

take up another job''

There's my new boss

She's looking at me angrily

with the expression...

You'll never improve!

- Never

Raj Malhotra isn't one

who'll improve

''Malhotra saheb, we're all

very sad that you're retiring''

Why don't you take an extension of

another 2 years and continue with us?

Absolutely!

''Rawal saheb, in the mad rush

of our work...''

we treat life like a morsel

of food had in haste

''The rest of my life, l want to

take it easy and enjoy myself''

With my wife and kids

''Should you ever have the need,

do please remember...''

that the doors of this office and

our hearts are forever open to you

Pooja...

''What happened?

- You ask, what happened?''

''Will you fix this tie, please?

- Where will you go then?''

''Mr Malhotra, maybe

you're forgetting...''

that l have retired?

So what if l've retired?

''A tie, l will wear every day.

And that too...''

as usual

Actually you're right

Where will we go?

What will we do?

''l've read the newspaper

four times over, watched TV...''

''had my breakfast,

but things are so boring''

''l think l must visit Mr Rawal

tomorrow and say, l'm joining duty''

You're going back on your word now.

- Why?

You're the one who told Mr Rawal

that you will live with your children

Didn't you say that?

''Oh yes, l did''

''Dear son. Lots of love

to all of you''

''Your Mummy and l miss you all

very much''

''l miss you a bit too much.

Because l have all the time now''

''l have retired and want to take

some decisions for the future''

''We want you to help us

take the decision''

''Holi is coming up next week.

lf you could come over...''

''it would not only brighten the

festival, we could have a chat too''

''Lots of love.

Your Papa''

''Hello, brother. Sanjay here.

- Yes, Sanjay?''

''Have you received Papa's letter?

- Yes, l have''

So what have you decided?

- Your sister-in-law says...

we must all go there.

Dad has retired...

he must have received the money

of his gratuity and provident fund

We must talk to him about what needs

to be done with such a huge amount

We'll even celebrate

Holi there

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