Promise Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

Promise

Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

It was the last day of the month in the peak of winters whose significance can be comprehended better by a government servant, as one or the other person laid down his or her service due to superannuation, that was a rule applicable to all without any discrimination except a few one of the higher hierarchies of administration who enjoyed the status of being more equal than others. Today Nihal Chand was retiring from the State Education Department after putting in ore than twenty eight years of service. Nihal Chand from the last couple of years was observing that retirement ceremony was becoming merely a formality and it was shrinking fast partly due to paucity of time with the people and partly due to the shrinking number or people who spoke reasonably and logically at such ceremonies. So as to keep his retirement ceremony reasonably well he had requested his friend Prema, who had retired a couple of years earlier to him to speak for him at the ceremony and this friend had not only agreed to it but also promised it. But unfortunately Prema met a tragic,untimely and sudden unexpected death in a road accident. As soon as Nihal Chand got news of his friend’s demise he got worried as to who will speak for him at his retirement ceremony.

On the morning of the last day of his job in the office, Nihal Chand observed that there was a dense fog, as the winter season was at its prime as it was end of the last month of the year. Suddenly he saw a dark figure with a grey track suit and a cap crouching under a tree. But as he approached the tree there was nothing except the fog dismissing dismal thoughts from his mind Nihal Chand felt that it was just a mirage created by the fog on a winter morning and then there was little time left to ponder over these things today as he had a number of things to do including looking after his friends, well wishers and relatives who had come to attend this ceremony. Suddenly his wife called him reminding him to fetch some milk form the dairy kiosk that was managed by an ex-serviceman who lost his leg when a splinter entered it maimed it for ever. Though he had only single leg but he always remained cheerful with a smiling face. After taking the milk pouches of requisite quantity and handing him the money Nihal Chand came back to his house and handed pouches of average standard quality milk to his wife.

After ensuring that his every guest had tea and breakfast Nihal Chand took bath, got ready , took his breakfast and reached his office at the usual time. After the formalities of handing over/taking over of charge was completed it was decided to hold the retirement office at 3.00 p.m in the evening. By that time peons started decorating the stage on the instructions given by the Secretary of the Staff Club. At the fixed time Staff members, and the family members and friends of Nihal Chand assembled in the hall so that the retirement ceremony could start.

As soon as meeting began everything on the microphone felt silent and even battery too was unable to provide power to the audio system. Suddenly there was a cool, comforting breeze in the room and then a sudden clear voice echoed in the room even though audio system was not working. The clear loud voice proclaimed , “ Don’t be scared, I’m Prema and my friends I’ve come to give my wishes and greetings to my dear friend Nihal, though it takes us a lot of effort to come back to your world by leaving serene, calm, and peaceful world, as it is very difficult to survive for very long in your atmosphere. I have violated the law of our world of Death in the same way as Orpheus had defied Pluto-the ruler of the death, and as Sati defied the rule of Lord of Death Yama to bring back the soul of her spouse Satvhan,just to fulfil my promise of attending your retirement ceremony . It is only the intensity of my affection for you my dear Nihal that has enabled me to come back to this world even after death. I wish for your prosperous, long peaceful healthy retired life. Now I’ll have to go back”. At the same moment power returned with the gurgling sounds in the audio systems and everything became normal and microphone was blaring normally though there was deep silence among the audience, it took a few moments to restore the normalcy and then followed the usual ceremonies and rituals of a retirement party.