Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Ramakrishnan's angst.

Ramakrishnan, the gentleman who gives us our newspapers at the crack of dawn everyday, never misses a beat even on the grounds of personal discomfort. Last month, when both his ankles were swollen, he used to ride his bicycle, hobble with difficulty but had never missed out on a single day. When I'd asked him as to why he didn't take the help of his son, who's doing his graduation, he'd shrugged it off saying that the youngster would mess it up. And with a disarming smile, he'd said, "Sir, I'm not that bad." ..........Wonder what he'd meant then?

Last week, I'd an urgent requirement of a particular newspaper and I'd rung him up to find out as to whether he'd be able to give me a copy, along with the next day's newspapers. Within minutes of our conversation, he was at my door with the copy and it was getting to be sunset - a rare time for a newspaper boy to be visible. All of 55 yrs, he has a wiry frame and is simple in his outlook towards his life.

So it was surprising to see him off the beat since Sunday. Probably down with fever thanks to the heavy monsoon, I thought. The franchisee was delivering the newspapers himself, which was rather unusual and regrettably, the delivery timings had gone haywire! It was when I inquired with him on the unusual arrangement and about Ramakrishnan's absence when the sad story was told to me.

Ramakrishnan's son used to work with a local construction firm, on holidays, to make a quick buck to augment his personal expenditure. He didn't want to bother his dad on the issue. Last Saturday, he was doing welding at a store of the nearby temple where partially wet crackers had been shifted to save them from the rains - a fact, that was not known to very many, which resulted in the tragedy. In the course of the day's work, sparks from his welding unit had fallen on the unsuspecting bundle which led to an explosion causing over 90% burns to the lad and his two friends.

He succumbed to his injuries last Monday while the other two are still fighting for their lives in a hospital nearby.

RIP, Ramakrishnan's son! My tears and prayers for a young life cut short so brutally. May the almighty give adequate strength to Ramakrishnan and his family to tide over this tremendous loss.


Tailpiece.

The family is devastated. The Ramakrishnans are left with a daughter, studying in class 8.   

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