My Father Babuji

Posted by: Tanveer Rauf on: December 5, 2011

• In: parent
• 17 Comments

My Father (Babuji)

Being Railway employee Babuji was entitled to travel through out Pakistan free of cost even after retirement. He traveled mostly by train where ever he wanted to take a trip. He also traveled by sea when he went to Saudi Arab to perform hajj. But to travel by air was his first time. He was very simple honest and down to earth man with no complexes.
He was very concerned and worried that how he will board the plane when he can’t walk. Neither could he be convinced that a wheel chair can take him inside the plane.
However when my brother, I and Babuji got on board he was very excited just like a child. He got a seat beside the window and I sat next to him where as my brother sat some distance away.
Babuji was so fascinated by the lights, fan and the seat that he kept moving his seat forward and backward. He laughed himself at his childish actions. The other passengers also grinned and enjoyed watching him. He switched off and on the light button and turning the fan on either side, on his head above. Babuji had loud voice so he kept asking me childish questions about the plane, speed and altitude, time, fastening of the belt etc. The one most interesting question was, “see the huge waves, so white and beautiful” I was surprised so asked him where n how he can see the waves from so high up and far from the Arabian Sea. He got angry with me and loudly scolding me said” cant you see the waves outside the window?” I whispered in his ear that those were clouds in the sky not waves. But he wouldn’t believe me and insisted that those were big ocean waves. The children sitting in front seats burst out laughing at his remark.

He enjoyed the food he was served, just like a small child. Though he was not fond of eating more than his appetite and believed that not eating is not as harmful as eating too much. But in the plane he enjoyed every speck and morsel of food and all hot n cold drinks .The airhostess also enjoyed and served him happily. All the way Babuji kept talking and enjoying every moment throughout the flight. How ever he disliked the size of toilet. He said it was too small
My brother was happy that Babuji did not get bored.
No one cherished my endurance 
My sister in law had made delicious lunch for him. When she served sweet dish after lunch was over, Babuji got angry. He said that sweet dish must be served before not after. It has been proved that he was right.
Our servant Akbar was one of his kind too. He used to clap his hands and give a big smile before asking anything. Akbar did not to ride a bicycle but he always walked with it like walking with a dog when ever he went for buying anything. No matter how far he had to go or what to buy. He would go carrying his cycle not riding. He always returned when the guests left
On Akbar’s foolish gestures n behavior Babuji used to recite nonsense verse,
Insane in side, insane outside
Whom to be bothered of;
Insane servant insane every one
Whom to be bothered of
Akbar always smiled joyfully hearing this without knowing what it meant
Babuji sat all day under the shade of a tree. He loved to inhale oxygen till sunset. He knew that plants breathe out carbon dioxide in the evening.
He read newspaper there, offered namaz there, ate there, chatted with his friend there and got his haircut n shave there. What he was most interested to ask frequently was, time though he had his wrist watch with him. As soon as my brother stepped down his foot from his car in the afternoon Babuji called him asking what time it was. Though brother came from office at 1.30 p.m every day but Babuji had to ask time. Brother clenched his fists chew his teeth because he had no other option than to tell Babuji time. My husband was very smart in this regard. Whether he was reading newspaper or busy in something else he would always tell exact time like its 1.30 n 13 seconds. Obliged to my husband, Babuji sneered at my brother that how good was my husband who told him the exact time. My innocent father! I love you for your innocence.
I think I should end it up here requesting the readers to please pray for my father’s soul to rest in peace and forgive me. I just shared the innocence of him.

Tags: father, food, plane, waves, wheelchair