Swades

Param waited patiently at the local municipality office with his son and his father for his turn. "Aaj ye flood relief ka kaam khatam karke hi jaataa hun" he mumbled.

Their town had witnessed heavy flooding recently due to a nearby dam overflowing.  He himself was quite well to do and had no interest in the flood relief which the state had declared for the residents.

"Areeee aur kitna time lagegaa sahib.Hum garibon ke pet mein laath mat maariye janaab. Poori kheti beh gayi hai aur ghar mein ek daanaa anaaj nahi bacha"
Param's attention immediately turned towards the commotion at a officer's desk nearby.

"Abbe Oye bhikari ki aulaad" The govt officer exclaimed "Jyaadaa shaanaa banega na toh saale nakli entry karke tere hisse ka anaaj aur paisa main le loonga. Jyaadaa hoshiyari na kar."

Just then as Param returned to his own file, He heard a thundering slap...

Sataaaaaaak...

The next moment though, the officer was on the ground while the farmer who slapped him stood there fuming furiously. Param immediately left the place..

On the way back in his car, he exclaimed to his son "Bade hokar tum aise kabhi ni karoge, Samjhe... Ye kisi sarkaari naukar ko maarna fully galat baat hai. Yaar kuch rishwat de diya toh kya ho jata.. ISS DESH KA KUCH NAHI HO SAKTA"

His father who was listening patiently interupted..
"Param, the last statement u made did hurt me a bit.
Tht poor farmer had nothing to fall back on. Only the govt money which he is rightfully supposed to get.. In a way, he stood up for his rights..For in his mind, tht was the only hope which remained."

When I was in the freedom movement I always had the option to choose... Either peaceful means or revolutionary methods... But all were directed in one direction... A Ray of Hope... Independence to my nation... Though our methods were completely world apart, at no point did we even think ki iss desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta...

"Badlaav aayegaa, aur tum hi ye badlaav laoge.. mujhe yakin hai"

Param smiled...It had been 15 years since that incident in the year 2013.

And his dad was as always Right... The change had indeed arrived... Though through tough choices... Neverthless....

-Shraviii