The Souvenir

Dusting my good old clock,I tried winding it to the past,but it moved forward,even faster....It was just like my grandfather,who had given me that clock,scolding me to forget the past and to live for a better future.

I was the only child of a military officer and a busy doctor.Every morning,since my childhood,they used to leave me with my grandfather and go for their daily work.My grandfather and I were great friends.We used to go together to every place that you could imagine.I was not a very bright student.I hated studying by heart and so always got low marks especially for Social Studies.Science was comparatively better as I scored good marks for problems in Physics and Chemistry.I was brilliant in Maths,Hindi and English and loved literature.Social Studies was always my nightmare.

Once,my teacher put a test on the "Mughal Empire" about which I knew just nothing.I was sure of failing in the test and afraid of my father,I tried to copy.I was caught red-handed.When I reached home,my grandfather told me that he had heard my father murmuring many a time soon after he received the phone call from my Principal.I couldn't imagine what my task master father would do.I was prepared for the worst.

My heart skipped a few beats.I was half-dead.But,my grandfather consoled me.He also told me that my father would be late from his office and so i should sleep before his arrival and that I might be spared.I thought it was a good idea and quickly tried to sleep.A few minutes later I sprang up suddenly with the lash of my father's belt.I pleaded with him and begged him to forgive me for the last time,but of no avail.I cried with all my heart and my grandfather woke up,rushed in and cuddled me to himself just as a hen would do to her chicks against an eagle and in the process he received two or three barbaric slashes which were aimed at me.I couldn't bear that and I shouted in protest.My father was red with anger.He went in and came back with a big rod of metal and before long he had my skin twined to that metal rod.My grandfather cried more than I did.

Years rolled by.I received my eighteenth birthday gift from my grandfather-a beautifully furnished clock.I felt it was the best gift that could be given to an eighteen year old who would now be able to understand the value of each second.I felt guilty that I had never bothered to buy anything like that to my grandfather on his birthday.

At 21,I received my first salary as a working man and decided to buy my first gift for my grandfather the very next day.Thrilled with the thought,I rushed home that evening only to find a crowd of mute spectators around my grandfather's lifeless body.The world stood still and the sun set on my life's horizon.

The next day morning I bought him the gift-a red shroud.When a woman in the crowd told me he died whispering 'DEVA'-a name I was given when i was born,all my pent up emotions suddenly burst out.

Now,I do feel the presence of my grandfather through the clock he gave me,which I almost worship.He guides me through the clock reminding me of the value of each second of my life.It has now become a true souvenir of my past.