It was a drizzling month of July 1988 , All bags packed and
set to leave his beloved Bombay, Jimmy a banker was migrating with his family
to Australia leaving his mother in tears and making his father feeling proud
that his son is on his path of making a better career. Jimmy who grew in a city
of dreams and loved this city so much was in a depressed mood that he will miss
this wonderful city for a long time. Those greenery of Hanging Gardens , Sands
of Chowpatty , lovely streets of Flora fountain will be now memories as he was
not sure when he would turn up. “6 Months Mamma-Pappa you will be with me
watching an Opera in Sydney’s Opera House”..Jimmy told very confidentally. With
a happy smile father replied “My dear son you make your best in your life , such
opportunities are very rare , we will be happy watching movies over here at
Opera House Charni Road , it is not that we will not come but to settle there I
wont be convinced”.. Large bags to move downstairs was a bit challenge as the
floors of Banaji Building were quite narrow and half cracked so carefully Jimmy
loaded all the bags in an Ambassador taxi called specially by Fali Uncle. There
was no stopping for tears , Jimmy’s mother cant hold her emotions to the fact
that their son is going seven seas far.
All formalities done with the custom officials Jimmy with
his wife Peenaz was all set to board his flight to Sydney. Looking from a gate
Jimmy bid farewell to his city not knowing when he will turn back. Hands waving
towards Jimmy that was a moment when he broke down but the thought of the
opportunity forced him to move towards the Air India flight. The announcement
was made and the seat belts were tied. “Ladies and Gentlemen welcome on Air
India flying to Sydney , the journey would be completed in 17 hours , I hope
you will enjoy the flight”..There would be a new beginning in the next 17 hours
for Jimmy. The flight was disappeared in the clouds the tears were now dry and
the hope that their son will do well and successfully return back.
Time and tied waits for no one, there was no turning back
for Jimmy . Letters , greeting cards of Pateti Mubarak were the best gift for
Jimmy from his parents. Few of the times Trunk calls would allow Jimmy to have
a emotional touch with his parents in Bombay. Days and nights gone by Jimmy was
busy with his banking work slowly was promoted to a Sr Investment banker in one
of the reputed banks of Australia. Jimmy now only speaks the language of
dollars. Peenaz was busy handling the responsibility of the family with their
children studying in a convent school and are no longer considered as Indians
but only from an Indian origin..Aussies we are..Jimmy always maintained the
distance from the Australian culture though ofcourse he was an Indian by heart.
But situations force to adopt the culture sometimes when you need to grow among
them. Jimmy always had discussion with his father on the cricket matches played
between India and Australia. “ You guys lost the match on your own home ground
, your team is a waste”..Jimmys father use to tease him whenever Australia lost
to India. In defence Jimmy always made his point clear that he is an Indian
more than an Aussie. “I am proud of you my son”.. That makes Pappa happy. But
Cricket was not only the part of discussion between father-son duo ..Years
passed on Business trade news , Government policies were always a part of discussion between
father and son through letters. Jimmy paniced and it was night of March 1993
when there was long trunk call happened to his parents to make sure they are
safe. ISD sooner started making life more better for Jimmy.
It was a time now for Jimmy to get his children attain the
Zoroastrianism and do their childrens Navjote. “Why can’t we do their Navjote
here in Sydney , we all have our friends here”..Peenaz said. “What about your
Mom “?? Jimmy replied as Peenaz father passed away when she was very young. “
What about my Mamma-Pappa”??.. “ We will call them here “..This was a moment
when Jimmy was ecstatic as he will be seeing his parents back after a long long
time. Now there were series of calls made to Mamma and Pappa from Sydney to
Bombay.. “ Don’t call it Bombay its Mumbai now” .. Pappa said. That was year of
1995. Time to stand in a long queues of passport office , give some chai-paani
to the officials to get the passport done quickly so that a long waited parents
can meet their beloved son. “ It will take 2 months for a passport to come but
there were series of documents you need to submit” said an Passport officials.
Finally a bell rings on a third floor of Barucha Mansion with a postman smiling
“ Congratulations sir I have brought your passport”. This was the news which
made an old parents so happy that the time has come to see their son. “ We are coming to Sydney son” Pappa with his
excited tone and glass of whiskey to toast a cheers and thanking Ahura Mazda. All set to fly it was a again Fali uncle to
called for a taxi to Sahar airport.. “ Hasta Ramta Aavjo” (Go happily and come
Happily)..Fali waving to the most awaited parents whose wait is gonna get over
today. It took again 17 hours for one
mother who was going to get welcomed by his son in tears of happiness and 17
hours for a father who was a proud to have his son reached on the level of
success. There was a happiness all over Sydneys airport and a sigh of relief
for a son that his parents are hale and hearty. Corridors of Jimmy’s home were
eagerly waiting to welcome his parents. With a broad chest Jimmy’s father
entered the house earned by his son through his hardwork. 10 days of happiness
passed away so fast that time came for them to return back to their motherland.
Showering blessings on the newly Zoroastrianism attained children Jimmy’s
parents returned back with a happiness and tears in their eyes to India.
Years passed on and the world entered the millennium , Jimmy
got so busy with his new position of a CEO and now the distance came in between
Sydney and Mumbai. With E-mail , Skype , Gtalk and more technologies coming
into existence the distance was getting bleak. It was Ronnie Fali Uncles Grandson
who got connected with Ray , Jimmy’s son whose real name was Raiyomand but
Aussies prefer Ray on Facebook. Pictures
of Ray with his parents during the parties and other celebrations were
published on Facebook ..But now the old eyes did not have enough vision to see
clearly their darling son grown on a top position with his grayish hair.. IT
WAS A NIGHT of August 2012 when Jimmy’s new Samsung Galaxy Grand vibrated and
this was the call which made Jimmy completely broked , being a top CEO of a
multinational bank Jimmy collapsed like a hungry popper who don’t have a single
penny in his pocket. “ Your Dad is no more” said Fali uncle in a very sad and
sorry mode. Jimmy’s father was suffering from a heart problem and that morning
he bid this world a goodbye forever. “Where is Mamma”?? a curious Jimmy wanted
to know. “She is in a shock and completely alone”.. Jimmy hang up the phone and
lets leave now , a concerned Peenaz who never saw her husband in such state.
Qantas was the only option available rest everything is booked. Jimmy was in
not a state of mind to wait for a agent to get him a best deal. Jimmy left
immediately to say final goodbye to his friend,guide and loving Pappa. Those 17
hours again was the worse hours which Jimmy had… Jimmy’s Plane landed on the
runway of Sahar Airport . “ Do you have anything to declare”?? asked the custom
official.. Jimmy with his grim face gazed at the officer and replied “Nothing”..
Jimmy and Peenaz came out of the Airport and were escorted by a cabbie with
their luggage. As they drove towards Colaba there was a huge jam reason , jimmy
was loosing his patience as his Fathers dead body was waiting for his sons
arrival. As the cab moved further heavy rains welcomed Jimmy . The traffic was
moving slow as the jam was due to the bad roads which Jimmy was surprised to
see. But the bad roads didn’t bother much as Jimmy was awaiting to reach Tower
of silence. After a long wait Fali uncle came towards Jimmy as his cab took a
halt at Tower of silence. “Where is Mamma”?? Jimmys curiousity was increasing ,
he rushed towards her to give a tight hug of consolation . After the rituals
Jimmy , Peenaz and all bid a final farewell to the departed soul.
“Nothing doing Mamma , now you are coming with us “?? Jimmy
made his point very clear that he is not going to leave his mom alone anymore
in this city. Jimmy Mamma was pretty silent as still she was not completely
recovered from the shock of loosing an important person of her life. Now there
are four days left for Jimmy he didn’t wanted to lock himself in a room of
Barucha mansion. He decided to be alone for few hours and go for a small stroll.
JIMMY GOES ON A STROLL… Coming towards the main circle he was eagerly waiting
for bus No 66 to come where in he can take a small ride in a Double decker bus
. Jimmy recollected his old school days where he use to race with his friends
to win the front seat of the upstairs bus deck where the wind gust would hug
you in its cool arms for a second and force to close your eyes . Awaiting for
few mins 66 Bus came to an halt at the stop but to Jimmy’s surprise the top
deck was missing. He let it go , awaiting for another one his eagerness to take
a ride in a Old Bombay’s Double decker bus was shattered. He asked one
gentlemen standing next to him that there where is the vintage bus of Bombay to
his curious query the reply “ Woh to bund hogayi”(It is no more in function)..
Jimmy decided to walk and thought to revive his old memories
as he was not anymore sure now to return back to this city taking his Mamma to
Sydney. The walk in the lanes of Flora Fountain were not that good as there was
a huge rush of public gushing towards their work. “My God so much of rush have I landed to some
wrong place”..wondering the city has completely filled up with no place even to
walk comfortably. The heat was increasing as the rains took a small break ,
Jimmy came towards the circle where he known there was a Gola wala (Ice Candy
seller) keeping that hope of having the chiller he saw a Mcdonalds restaurant
where there was a huge crowd sitting with their meals. “How stupid I can be ,
it is not necessary that the seller would be here again , but he was very good”..
He walked ahead and cames towards the Heritage Victoria Terminus (Now CST). Come on lets meet my good friend Burjor who was
a operator in a single screen cinema. I am sure he is must have become very old
. Jimmy remembered the days when Burjor use to give him free tickets. Jimmy
rushed towards the hall and to his surprise there was no presence of his good
friend Burjor , the gate which opened happiness to all the movie watchers was
closed completely. This is shut down sir , a pan shop owner with a pity in his
voice. Where must be my friend?..He thought to go to his house and check at
Princess street. Jimmy’s stroll start becoming little faster with a curiousity
to know the whereabouts of his good friend. He cames towards the gigantic Azad
maidan , which was looking now more of a Battlefield than the olden days
cricket grounds . The difference which Jimmy found out was in those days every
youngster playing on this ground wanted to become Kapil Dev or Gavaskar , now
every youngster is using this ground to learn the tricks and trades of politics.
There was a huge chaos and all cops were gazing their eyes to make sure that
nothing turns up ugly. “ THIS IS NOT MY BOMBAY”…Jimmy muttered to himself.
Looking depressed he decided to walk further , the feeler he
got after watching the old Xaviers college was something refreshed his
memories. Jimmy had a Girlfried named Melissa Pereira who was from Xaviers. But
that was a infatuation stage which passed away. A smile but again a curiousity
about Burjor forced Jimmy to take a further walk. Now he was close to Princess
street but there again there were only few things which Jimmy could stop
refreshing his memories after seeing them. Metro cinema which is now a
Multiplex . Jimmy and Peenaz watched so many movies in this theatre after
leaving from their offices. A cup of Tea and pudding at Kyani and Co. Still few
things were existing for Jimmy. Looking
for his old friend Jimmy reached Madina Mansion where his friend Burjor was
staying. KNOCK KNOCK ..” Who is there”??
an Old voice came behind the door.. “Its me Burjee , your friend Jimmy Vatcha”..
An old man wearing Sudra and Pyjama with a big glasses which can help him to
have a better vision saw a polished man standing on his doorsteps. My dear
friend Jimmy where were you, I missed
you a lot replied the good old Burjor.. The House was completely messed and
there were quite big rats in the house. “ I got the news of Uncles death ,
sorry for that I couldn’t come”..”Whats wrong with you Burj? We are of same age
and what happened to you , you look weak , and broken” Jimmy replied. Burjor
replied “ My dear friend Jimmy , its been years now that you have left this
city where we shared all the happiness and sorrows of our young life. You left
the country but I never gave up though today I am collapsed but this city has
given me bread and butter. My son left me and went to USA and its been now
almost a years he has not come back. I am surviving on trusts help. Theatre is
closed but still I am alive with my old memories. No one speaks with me but I hear
a voice of this city every moment and feel that every person in this city is
talking to me. Things have changed my dear friend and change is inevitable. But
we have to live ”…
Jimmy leaves the house and the day comes when he has to now
return back . Jimmy knows that now all
these are lovely memories which he refreshed during his stroll and now he will
never return back to his loving city as his mother was now with him. He only uttered few words when he was
boarding his Flight “ My dear Dad and My dear Bombay you will be missed
completely”……..
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