Migration

Day 1 [Dalpat Singh Mertiya]

'And I hope not just yu but our whole country will keep that spark alive. There is smething cl about saying - I cme from the land f a billin sparks. Thank yu.' I said ending my mtivational speech at Tilak Hall. Varanasi.

The claps and whistles were my cue to leave. Security volunteers formed a human barricade and soon I managed a neat exit from the hall. 'Thank yu so much, sir,' smeone said right behind me.

I turned around to face my host/ "Mr. Mishra.' I said. ' I was looking for you.'

'Please call me Gopal.' he said. "The car is over there.'

I walked out with the young directr Gangatch College. Gopal Mishra. His black Merecedes whisked us sway frm the crowded Vidyapath Road.

'So you saw the temples and ghats?' Gopal asked. 'That's all Varanasi has. anyway.'

'Yeah. I went to the Vishwanath Temple and Dashashwamedh Ghat at five in the morning. I love this city.' I said.

'Oh god. What did you like best about Varanasi?'

'Aarti.' I said.

'What?' 'Gopal lked surprised.

'The morning aarti at the ghats. I saw it for the first time, all those diyas floating at dawn. It was out of this world.'

Gopal frowned.

'What?' I said. 'Isn't Varanasi's aarti Beautiful?

'Yeah. Yeah. it is... it is not that,' he said but did not elaborate.

'Will you drop me at Ramada Hotel?' I said.

'Your flight is only tomorrow morning/' Gopal said. ' Why don't yu come home for dinner?'

'Don't be frmal... ' I began.

'Yu have to come home. We must have a drink together. I have the finest whisky in the world.' he said.

I smiled as I shook my head. "Thanks. Gopal. but I dn't drink much.'

'Chetan sir, one drink? I can tell people I had s drink with "the" Chetan Bhagat.'

I laoughed. 'That's nothing t brag about. Still, say it if yoou want. You don't actuallay have to drink with me.'

'Nt like that, sir. I actually want to have a drink with you.'

I saw his intense eyes. He had sent me twenty invites in the last six months, until I finally agreed to come. I knew he cold persist.

'Okay, one drink!

I said hoping I wouldn't regret this later.

'Excellent,' Gopal said

We drove ten kilometer outside the city on the Lucknw Highway to reach GangaTech. The guards saluted as the campus gates opened. The car came to a halt at a gray bungalow. it a stone exterior that matched the main college and hstel buildings.

We sat in the living room on the ground floor. It opened out to a badminton cout-sized lawn.

'Nice house,' I said as I sat on a cushy brown velvet sofa. I noticed the extra-high ceiling.

'Thanks, I designed it myself. The cntractor built it, but I supervised everything,' Gopal said He proceeded t the bar cunter at the other end f the rm. 'It's the bunglow f an engineering college directr. Yu and yur frineds rainded one right?

'How do you knw? I said

'Everne knows We've read the bk. Seen the movie.'

We laughed He handed me a crystal glass filled with a generous amount of whisky.

"Thank You."

'Single malt, twelver year old', he said.

'It's the directr's bungalow, but you don't have a daughter,' said. 'You aren't evern married. The yungest direcotr I've ever seen.'

He smiled.

'How old are you?' I was curious.

'Twenty-six.' Gpal said a hint f pride in his voice. 'Not just the younest, but also the mst uneducated director you've met.'

Continue.......