16th May 2018
My daughters school is closed, so I was about to leave her to her Day care. It was around 10 am,, we were late from usual time, I had a meeting and a followup call. On a normal day when we were about to leave, most of the time the lift stops at floor 4 and Vinay get in. My daughter pointed out today... "Mummy hum late ho gaye issliye uncle nahi aaye lift mein?" I nodded and for a fraction of second I too thought of him..
It was probably 2 years when we shifted in this society. Few people make a mark on you the instance you lay eyes on them. Vinay, and Mridu his wife were those persons.
At first it was just a smile that followed our occasional cross over here and there in the society/ club house/ parking area. Until my daughter started schooling. My daughters school timing and Vinay's office timing were perfect match or it was a kids sixth sense that we 3 meet every single morning from Monday to Friday.
They have a perfect return timing also, I used to be a bit late or early at times to disturb this evening sync, but every single evening we will cross over.
This kind of meeting was awkward at first but we 3 got used to it, It would not be right to say that we became friends,,, we aren't ... but we came to know each other, a bit more than the neighbors who never talk.
I clearly remember him when I was in Kanchan's house and was about to go to Bhatinda for the first time. Kanchan and Vinay's family hail from Punjab, Chandigarh.. so I asked Kanchan about the road and safety. I had to travel alone and was wondering if its safe there or not... Amit (Kanchans husband) was logical but Vinay's answer brought smile on my face. I don't remember his words exactly but I do remember he can make anyone smile.
On one day I was waiting for the cab to pick my daughter to school at the society gate. Vinay was as usual driving out of the gate, he stopped looked back and gave a huge wave and smile to me. I waved back with a smile and a confusion... what is this?? This is a gesture one shows to their close friends or family when they meet after a long time. It was a distant gesture yet too warm.. That evening, i saw his wife, she returned home after 2 months.. I understood why he was too happy. I conveyed my feelings to his wife.... He was someone who was happy and joyous because his wife was returning back to him after 2 months.
I met him many times and our interactions grew a bit more informal every single day...
I like him as a person who has an attitude to make anyone smile, make anyone his own, live life for his family, shower love to everyone.
These incidents and many more flashed in front of my eyes when my daughter asked me about him today in the lift. I was smiling and replied to her "Yes , aaj uncle phele hi chale gaye" .
We were walking towards my scooty when I saw Sunitha aunty crying out loud in front of B building.. I was shocked and asked her what happened.. she said "Vinay nahi rahe".. Vinay,,, it cant be ... It has to be some other Vinay,,, But when I saw Mridu in the hospital... I knew I lost a friend today...
