Born in Meerut, Adarsh as he was named, was a sober child.
His father was a sincere & shy man of few words who worked in the Army, Mom, was a sharp and witty Homemaker who had a hang of writing. Elder sister an intelligent sincere student since her childhood. This close-knitted family was well interconnected. Parents' life revolved around their two precious gems. Father would convey his love through teaching and explaining the concept of Mathematics and Science. Mom would shower it by cooking their favorite meals, serving hot chocolates in Winter and cold coffee in summer, She would stay to meet their demands. Their day would start with children and would sleep planning for their FUTURE.
Soon the sister (Shruti )moved out for her studies at NIT Durgapur. The three remained. Adarsh filled the void, he would teach his mother how to use WhatsApp and play badminton & other games with his father. Unlike children of his age, he did not make many friends, few but true, he wouldn't have late-night phone chats, hang around in Malls, or loiter on roads. Neighbors would envy the parents. His dedication earned him the best CGPA In 12th grade and he aspired to become a Computer Science Engineer. I missed mentioning, his father was a B Tech from IIT Kharagpur and had opted for Civil Services than grabbing opportunities in Corporates in the Country and Abroad unlike his friends who earned handsomely at these places. I have earned, he would say with pride, my two children.
Adarsh reached grade 11, though the father had mastered Physics and Mathematics, however, knowing that Chemistry is a scoring subject he let Adarsh join a coaching institute for the Mock test series.
The parents would drop him off every day at the Institute and on way back would treat him with Pizza or burgers, that's the maximum reward Adarsh would expect, for being the constant Topper. He would solve equations much before his fellow mates impressing all in the class.
His sister got married to an Engineer and the Brother In law became good friends to him, on their visits the 5 would play Ludo and Monopoly and laugh their bellies out. Simple living and love would bind them together.
2018-
Adarsh did exceptionally well on Boards, Be it family or outside his chanting academic records made all proud, scoring Gen rank 1395 in IIT/JEE. He opted to join IIT Ropar, for the rich Faculty background the Institution had & overall academic atmosphere.
Days passed, at a speed, the mother did not like, her Son was growing up, and spending as much time with him, and doing his odd jobs like ironing his clothes, and arranging his book rack was all going to end. It was time for him to leave her nest and fly. New clothes were purchased, a laptop, headphones, and all necessities were minutely observed by the sincere father and packed by the mother with tears in her eyes. They all went to drop him to IIT Ropar, on their way, he met all his cousins and maternal Uncle who was always proud of him and would boast of his success to all.
On return, the parents were quiet, there was no dinner, as the mom did not feel like cooking. They slept with half-filled stomachs and heavy hearts.
Adarsh's joining college had created a sudden vacuum. Mornings were unusually quiet after her least demanding husband left for the office, she would walk around the empty house, and then one day she expressed her emotions in a lengthy note in the family group, all were touched, and a few mocked, saying she is sad like a mother who has just got her daughter married and bid bye to her. It was difficult for others to understand the bond the mother n son shared.
2022-
4 years flew for Adarsh. Securing the highest CGPA in IIT he got placed at Goldman Sachs and returned home with cheer and pride to his parents.
He got his first posting in Bangalore, the family contended as he was going to work with a big brand and stay with his sister., who had moved to the city a few months back. While leaving, he touched his parent's feet, for the first time, and on his way he WhatsApped them to take care of each other.
The city and job both did not lure Adarsh much, he shared with his mom that he plans to quit and shift to Noida, closer to her, and work at Adobe, where he can ameliorate his skills.
While the elder sister and brother-in-law enjoyed their stay with Rishi (Adarsh), he had already decided to leave for Noida. Shruti knew her brother would take a wise decision, and the siblings exchanged mixed emotions, while she was happy about the reasons he was leaving, she felt the ache of not being able to stay together no matter how much she desired.
While his parents apprehended his decision to leave a big Organisation in a short span, they were happy within. Their son was an hour's distance from Meerut and could come to them every weekend.
He messaged all his friends that he was happy coming to Noida and happy for his mother. He set up his room himself. which was often taken care of by his mom. He joined his new office and spoke highly about all the benefits with his mom and sister.
12th August 2022, was Rakhi, he planned to visit his maternal cousins and then go to Meerut for the long weekend and be back by Monday for the Induction at Adobe.
Adarsh's friend in the meantime planned an outstation tour for Udaipur. They insisted he joins them, He was hesitant as he knew his parents would be waiting for him, but as his friends asseverated on their decision, he called his mom and told her about his plans and sought permission from them. '
Mom was a bit disheartened, she felt her son was giving more attention to friends now, but realising that he has always been around, no movies, no outstation trips, or bunking of classes, she felt the sudden guilt and allowed him for the trip. Excited Adarsh confirmed his friends, two boys other than him and two girls, he met his cousins in hurry, got the Pious Rakhi tied, filled his mouth with sweets, packed some randomly, and bid goodbye.
The group started their journey, The Instagram stories talked about their wonderful time, Rishi would often send pictures and talk about his memorable trip. He purchased a saree of his choice, Mom said the color is dull, and he said you will like it once you see it in person. It was his first purchase.
15th Aug 2022
15th night they were on their way back from Udaipur. Adarsh sent a message about his location and ETA to Noida at 1.30 am.
2am. The parents got anxious by not receiving a call from their son, and in haste, they called on his no. Two full rings, no response, with each passing moment, their heart skipped a beat. On the third ring, the call was answered, not by Adarsh but by the Police Man. He informed him that there has been an accident, and they are taking passengers to Gurugram Govt Hospital. He stood thunderstruck, Bewildered, he started calling his daughter in Bangalore.
Shruti, his father's voice trembled, Adarsh has met with an accident" He did not know what to say further the family stood aghast.
The parents wished to rush immediately to the hospital, but the father felt too weak to drive his Maruti himself to Delhi, his map instructor was not with him, he lay somewhere else in a state he did not know. They booked a cab, and in the meantime, Shruti dialed her maternal cousin staying in Delhi informing her about the accident, and requesting to leave for the hospital, she wanted her to reach before her parents did.
The 2-hour drive from Meerut this time appeared endless to the couple.
The cousin reached and staggered around the hospital to find the policeman, as she followed his guided direction, She was appalled at what lay in front of her. Her younger brother lay in the ambulance with two other people, none with any sign of wound or blood. They were silent and cold, and so were her feet, she threw up.
The phone kept ringing, she felt awful to break this news to them. the world seemed blank to her, wishing there was a delete button for the last few minutes, she stood, the parents reached, and father got down. There are few things no matter how bad they are but you feel them without even being told. By the expression of all the father stood in front of his boy in stupefaction. He didn't cry, nor did the mother. As if by each drop they shed, they would only confirm the reality. She dint see him, she dint hold him, she dint hug her boy whom she pampered like a baby, for her he was still in Udaipur, buying the Saree.
The world was over for the family. What followed next was rituals.
An overloaded trolly on the opposite road stumbled and stumped the Innova the friends were traveling in. Two boys and one girl and the driver lost their lives.
Adarsh-(Rishi) is Survived by his Father, mother sister, and brother-in-law- Pujith- The single child, is survived by devasted parents. Muskan is survived by an elder sister, father, and mother who considered Muskan as her "Chhaya " The shadow. The Driver is survived by his wife, 6-year-old son, mother & endless problems.
12 days - The seldom-speaking father would talk endlessly about his son to any visitor, talking bout how great a son he was, and that he was never scolded, he dint them the reason for being scolded, At the end of each conversation he would ask, why? why him? No one would have any reply.
This is a real story. It's 9 months and 3 days to this incident. The family is only breathing, their life is gone from within. They keep his photograph on the dashboard before driving, they have his pictures all over the house, and they keep thinking of his rebirth, the sister is trying hard to let her parents be happy but she is herself broken from within. Muskan parents talk to Adarsh's mom often and share grief as she believes only she can empathize with the situation. Pujith's mom is unable to accept and insanely keeps talking about praying and meeting Pandita to ask about the rebirth of her son. Muskan's mom misses the laughter of her darling daughter, whiles he has forgotten to smile.
Life is Ephemeral and we doubt this till it turns its face off us. By writing this article I am not blaming anyone, Not the Lorry driver who ran away from the site, nor the Policemen who hesitated to return the phone back to his parents, nor the people who stole belongings, laptops, watch, The Saree. These were not assets but a lifetime memory for a few. No, I am not blaming any authority or group here. I will rather mention and appreciate people who went out of the way to help, the friends who keep visiting their families, and the people who talk to them to keep them happy. This incident shook me, a close-knitted family full of love, with no ill intentions, careful and conscious of its activities, have suffered so much that it will take a lifetime for them to come to terms with this hard fact of life that their Son would never return to Meerut again.
Lets us all aspire to hurt a little less, to give a little more, to love, to forgive, to cherish, to thank, to laugh, to bless, to live and not to take life for granted. It's a beautiful gift and we should be thankful for the moment we are living, in because tomorrow may not be there.
