(In the year of 1985)
You can handle her na?
Why should I? She would anyway be coming from school in few minutes, you deal with her..
You are her mom na? You talk to her, I can’t... she will blast me
Don’t forget, you are her father too... You too can handle her..
But…
If you don’t know how to handle it, then why did you nod your head, when she asked you?
I thought, it would be easy, I didn’t knew that would become too complicated for me...
I really can’t imagine her reactions when she comes to know about it…
Even I’m bothered... Oh god... Gone are those days, when kids used to get afraid of their parents, now we are dependent on them and we have to feel the pinch ever day…
Talk these logics after she is at home… I don’t know, it’s between you and your daughter, don’t pull me into this...
You were also there na, when she was demonstrating on the other day, atleast you could have done it right…
Don’t put the blame on me, I was just standing, you only nodded…
Ok, ok, our daughter has come, keep quiet, let me handle it...
Come Aradhana.. Wash your hands & freshen up, mamma has prepared hot Pakoda’s for you specially…
No, first let me hear it, then we can do the rest… where is it?
It will not go anywhere, first let’s…
Papa… give me a break... I said, I want to listen it first… where is the cassette?
Ah... it is... It is here…
Oh good, let me play it…
Aradhana… actually… that one...
What... I’ll hear you later, first I want to hear it... did you people listen it?
I am very sorry Aradhana, it didn’t get recorded...
Oh papa, stop kidding me, you know it’s not play time… if you are hungry you have your quota of pakoda first, I want to hear it first...
Aradhana, I followed your instructions, but I could not record because….
What? Are you serious? You really didn’t record my program?
I actually followed what you taught me the other day but…
Oh god, I just can’t believe this, you … please tell me na that you are kidding... I know... you are kidding only right… let me play it & see..
No ma, I am really sorry, I thought it was recording, but when I tried to play it later, I could not hear anything...
Papa… what have you done? Can’t you do this simple thing properly...? You know what it is meant to me?
Ya.. I know...
No, you don’t know... you are not really bothered… you just don’t care for my happiness…
Aradhana, why are you getting emotional, take it easy…
No, I can’t.. This is not simple for me, this is my dream… do you imagine what it means to sing in the Radio…
I know da…
No you don’t, if you have known, you could not have done this disaster... with great difficulty I got a chance to sing for All India Radio (AIR), I told you thousand times, they are airing it today and I wanted to listen it , come what may…
You first sit aradhana.. Don’t get emotional…
Don’t touch me… I told you that I would not go to school as I wanted to listen it Live, you convinced me that you would record the program in our tape recorder and make me listen later... Now what happened?
They will air it again da…
Oh papa... you are not even bothered to give explanation what went wrong today and you are talking about something which may not happen at all… I told all my friends that my program is coming in the Radio today and I have invited them this weekend to listen it.. now what face can I show infront of them..? You are waste papa.. You are total waste...
I am sorry da aradhana… don’t cry please...
Don’t dare to touch me again... Leave me alone... I taught you how to record the radio program using our tape recorder, and I asked you thousand times, if you have understood, did I ask you or not…
Yes, you asked, I agree… I actually followed your instruction properly, but somehow I don’t know what went wrong, when I tried to play it, I could not hear it …
Papa, please don’t talk any more, you have ruined my day and my happiness... you are not fit for anything... you can’t even do this simple thing for me, what will you do for my future….
Stop it aradhana, is this the way you talk to your father…? he didn’t do this knowingly, it just didn’t work…
(tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Hello!...
……
Ah, she is here, I am giving… Aradhana, the phone is for you...
I don’t want to talk to anyone, you do what you want…
Please ma, this is our Keshav, he will feel bad, please take the call…
You are irritating me to the core daddy… give me the phone…. Hello…
……
Yes Uncle…
……
Thank you uncle… thank you very much, you really liked it?
……
Ok uncle, all your blessings, bye…
(tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Hello…
………
Yes Aunty, Aradhana speaking…
………
I am very happy, you listened it...
……
I am not sure, if they will air it again, if they do, I’ll let you know…
……
Oh ok… all your blessings aunty… bye…
Papa... did you tell that I am going to sing to Keshav Uncle & Eeshwari Aunty?
(tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. )
Hello?
………
Thank you so much sir… thanks for your wishes, I am happy that you listened to it...
……
Bye sir…
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Mom, don’t pick the phone, let it ring.. papa.. How many people did you inform that I am singing today on Radio…?
Sorry Aradhana… I was so happy that you are singing, so thought of telling it to few people whom we know..
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
I didn’t ask why you informed... I asked whom you told?
He has called up our entire colony people about it? He also went to the nearby booth afternoon and informed about your program to all our relatives living in Delhi.. I think they might call you after 9 PM as the STD charges would be less that time…
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Oh Mamma... Papa has called the entire world about my program today and… (starts crying)
Eh Aradhana, what happened, why are you crying now… I’m sorry da, first I could not record your program properly, now again you are not happy since I told these people about your program, I’m really sorry da… don’t cry… I can’t take it.. Forgive me please...
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Oh papa… please... How much you would have loved me that you wanted the entire world to listen to my program and I was just shouting at you for me not able to hear my own recording… I know how much it costs for each calls you made … papa you love me so much na…
Oh it’s no big deal da… why you are crying again…
Who asked you to make STD calls and all, so what if they don’t hear me…?
How can it be? My daughter is singing in Radio and I want everyone to hear it… You know what? you are the only one in our family, who could do it.. You know how much proud I’m…
Oh papa.. you are so sweet… (hugs)… mamma.. Where is my pakoda?...
Just 10 minutes, I’ll give you hot hot…
Okay no problem, till you come, let me teach my father once again how to record a program in our tape recorder… papa take your notes…
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.)
The End
(After writing this story, I thought "AIR" would be more effective if taken visually than through reading it - DT)
You can handle her na?
Why should I? She would anyway be coming from school in few minutes, you deal with her..
You are her mom na? You talk to her, I can’t... she will blast me
Don’t forget, you are her father too... You too can handle her..
But…
If you don’t know how to handle it, then why did you nod your head, when she asked you?
I thought, it would be easy, I didn’t knew that would become too complicated for me...
I really can’t imagine her reactions when she comes to know about it…
Even I’m bothered... Oh god... Gone are those days, when kids used to get afraid of their parents, now we are dependent on them and we have to feel the pinch ever day…
Talk these logics after she is at home… I don’t know, it’s between you and your daughter, don’t pull me into this...
You were also there na, when she was demonstrating on the other day, atleast you could have done it right…
Don’t put the blame on me, I was just standing, you only nodded…
Ok, ok, our daughter has come, keep quiet, let me handle it...
Come Aradhana.. Wash your hands & freshen up, mamma has prepared hot Pakoda’s for you specially…
No, first let me hear it, then we can do the rest… where is it?
It will not go anywhere, first let’s…
Papa… give me a break... I said, I want to listen it first… where is the cassette?
Ah... it is... It is here…
Oh good, let me play it…
Aradhana… actually… that one...
What... I’ll hear you later, first I want to hear it... did you people listen it?
I am very sorry Aradhana, it didn’t get recorded...
Oh papa, stop kidding me, you know it’s not play time… if you are hungry you have your quota of pakoda first, I want to hear it first...
Aradhana, I followed your instructions, but I could not record because….
What? Are you serious? You really didn’t record my program?
I actually followed what you taught me the other day but…
Oh god, I just can’t believe this, you … please tell me na that you are kidding... I know... you are kidding only right… let me play it & see..
No ma, I am really sorry, I thought it was recording, but when I tried to play it later, I could not hear anything...
Papa… what have you done? Can’t you do this simple thing properly...? You know what it is meant to me?
Ya.. I know...
No, you don’t know... you are not really bothered… you just don’t care for my happiness…
Aradhana, why are you getting emotional, take it easy…
No, I can’t.. This is not simple for me, this is my dream… do you imagine what it means to sing in the Radio…
I know da…
No you don’t, if you have known, you could not have done this disaster... with great difficulty I got a chance to sing for All India Radio (AIR), I told you thousand times, they are airing it today and I wanted to listen it , come what may…
You first sit aradhana.. Don’t get emotional…
Don’t touch me… I told you that I would not go to school as I wanted to listen it Live, you convinced me that you would record the program in our tape recorder and make me listen later... Now what happened?
They will air it again da…
Oh papa... you are not even bothered to give explanation what went wrong today and you are talking about something which may not happen at all… I told all my friends that my program is coming in the Radio today and I have invited them this weekend to listen it.. now what face can I show infront of them..? You are waste papa.. You are total waste...
I am sorry da aradhana… don’t cry please...
Don’t dare to touch me again... Leave me alone... I taught you how to record the radio program using our tape recorder, and I asked you thousand times, if you have understood, did I ask you or not…
Yes, you asked, I agree… I actually followed your instruction properly, but somehow I don’t know what went wrong, when I tried to play it, I could not hear it …
Papa, please don’t talk any more, you have ruined my day and my happiness... you are not fit for anything... you can’t even do this simple thing for me, what will you do for my future….
Stop it aradhana, is this the way you talk to your father…? he didn’t do this knowingly, it just didn’t work…
(tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Hello!...
……
Ah, she is here, I am giving… Aradhana, the phone is for you...
I don’t want to talk to anyone, you do what you want…
Please ma, this is our Keshav, he will feel bad, please take the call…
You are irritating me to the core daddy… give me the phone…. Hello…
……
Yes Uncle…
……
Thank you uncle… thank you very much, you really liked it?
……
Ok uncle, all your blessings, bye…
(tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Hello…
………
Yes Aunty, Aradhana speaking…
………
I am very happy, you listened it...
……
I am not sure, if they will air it again, if they do, I’ll let you know…
……
Oh ok… all your blessings aunty… bye…
Papa... did you tell that I am going to sing to Keshav Uncle & Eeshwari Aunty?
(tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. )
Hello?
………
Thank you so much sir… thanks for your wishes, I am happy that you listened to it...
……
Bye sir…
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Mom, don’t pick the phone, let it ring.. papa.. How many people did you inform that I am singing today on Radio…?
Sorry Aradhana… I was so happy that you are singing, so thought of telling it to few people whom we know..
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
I didn’t ask why you informed... I asked whom you told?
He has called up our entire colony people about it? He also went to the nearby booth afternoon and informed about your program to all our relatives living in Delhi.. I think they might call you after 9 PM as the STD charges would be less that time…
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Oh Mamma... Papa has called the entire world about my program today and… (starts crying)
Eh Aradhana, what happened, why are you crying now… I’m sorry da, first I could not record your program properly, now again you are not happy since I told these people about your program, I’m really sorry da… don’t cry… I can’t take it.. Forgive me please...
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring..)
Oh papa… please... How much you would have loved me that you wanted the entire world to listen to my program and I was just shouting at you for me not able to hear my own recording… I know how much it costs for each calls you made … papa you love me so much na…
Oh it’s no big deal da… why you are crying again…
Who asked you to make STD calls and all, so what if they don’t hear me…?
How can it be? My daughter is singing in Radio and I want everyone to hear it… You know what? you are the only one in our family, who could do it.. You know how much proud I’m…
Oh papa.. you are so sweet… (hugs)… mamma.. Where is my pakoda?...
Just 10 minutes, I’ll give you hot hot…
Okay no problem, till you come, let me teach my father once again how to record a program in our tape recorder… papa take your notes…
(Tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.. tring.. Tring.)
The End
(After writing this story, I thought "AIR" would be more effective if taken visually than through reading it - DT)