Eknath Lonekar Eknath was eagerly waiting for his friend to drop by, his eyes were scanning

the narrow walkway from the entrance of the park. Solekar his best friend was very punctual like him and was always on dot. In fact his friend was so much like himself in every respect, same back ground, the same interest as him. His mind went back to reminiscenceing the first time they met. He still remembered that fateful day, when he came to the park in that very agitated mind. The day started in the same old boring way, woke up at 5.00 am sharp. He finished with his morning ablutions. And watched the clock ticking away 6.00 6.30 7.00 when finally his daughter in law woke up and said good morning papa, all she received for her effort was a grumpy acknowledgement, and off she went to the bathroom it would be half an hour at least by the time she would give him a cup of those instant coffees. His son got busy skimming through the morning newspaper while sipping his coffee. Eknath made a tentative attempt to start a conversation with his son, hmm, haan and an occasional nod was all he could elicit from him. After a while Eknath gave up his futile attempts of engaging his son. His attention drawn towards his daughter-in-law. The harassed working mother was multi-tasking trying to rustle up some breakfast for the family, while at the same time trying to cajole her three year old daughter to eat her Kellogg, and all the while her eyes were furtively darting towards the wall clock. Muttering Deva re Deva hope I wont be late to office again, this will be her third offence within the week. Her sadistic boss was going to haul her over the coals. Shes too busy to talk to an old man he grumbled. He then ambled towards his grand-daughter and tried to strike up a conversation, but the little brat had made up her mind to find an excuse to skip her Kellogg, the moment he tried to convince her to eat, she started bawling Ajjoo is yelling at me waaaaah she wailed. The daughter in law gave him that look that said please old man leave her alone now, am I not in enough trouble already. Something suddenly snapped in him. Ok thats it if no one in this house cares for me, I will not give up I will find someone to talk to by God I will he muttered under his breath, and stormed out of the house in a fit of anger. He was sitting here on this very bench in an agitated state of mind. Oblivious of the chirping birds, on the gulmohar trees around the park. Nor could he notice the early morning joggers, or the strollers with their dogs. The deeper Eknath dwelled in his thoughts the more depressed he felt. His whole life played back in fast forward mode. Leela was just eighteen when they got married; she came from a very modest family and was in awe of the young clerk in the Nationalised bank. He was always meticulously dressed. His rise in the bank was slow and steady till he retired as the branch manager in the city of his choice, Mumbai. Apart from his job, he loved his hobbies, the badminton, and chess, in which he always represented his bank in regional and national levels and the cupboard, was brimming with the various medals he won during the course

of his career. His son Ravi and his daughter came in to their lives a few years apart. He was so thrilled in the beginning each of his progeny will inherit his hobbies he dreamt, but it was not to be. However hard he tried Ravi was only interested in the technology computers and all the modern gizmos. Janu showed her leanings towards poetry and fine arts. Eknath hid his disappointment with his children and continued to pursue his hobbies with renewed vengeance and shared his enthusiasm with his colleagues and friends. It came to a pass that he would cold shoulder people who did not share his hobbies and would not be interested in any other topic other than his pet hobbies and his office gossip. Leela the passive housewife that she noticed the growing divide between the children and father, but could only look on helplessly. Eknaths conversations at home gradually reduced to a few sentences with the family members over the time. Years went by swiftly Janu just finished her graduation and a distant relative came up with a good match for her. The boy had a decent family and a good job. Within the year, off she was to her in-laws house, contact with her a minimal courtesy call once a month which slowly fizzled to once a year. His son finished his engineering and got a job as a manager in a manufacturing company. He saved his parents from the trouble of finding a girl. He had fallen in love with a college friend of his and just declared he was marrying her, and he did, without much fanfare. Finally the day came when he had to retire from work. Leela his long time partner after a brief illness, decided to call it quits and off she went to meet her maker. His friends slowly one by one drifted away, as they found interests and calling other than badminton and chess. He too with great reluctance, due to financial reasons and social compulsions, had to move in to his sons apartments in Pune. His grumpy demeanor, in no way helped him make new friends. He could hardly find anyone to play with and even, the few new acquaintances found him boring and avoided him, as the only topic he was interested in was badminton, chess and bank gossip. He was still deeply lost in these thoughts when his reverie was broken when he realized someone standing in front of him. He opened his eyes to see a lean and tall athletic looking man in his early sixties. Quite similar to himself. He had a serious face and asked, Sir is it ok for me to sit on the bench next to you. You may Lonekar curtly replied. A couple of minutes elapsed before the stranger hesitantly introduced himself. I am Solekar, Ekniranjan Solekar a retired officer from Bharat bank. I was feeling bored at home and came to the park to spend some time he said. Slowly they warmed up to each other, and then the conversation picked up speed and as they kept talking they both realized they shared the common interests in sports in general and badminton in particular, they kept talking on and on, both feeling so happy and excited in each others company. It was almost noon when pangs of hunger, brought them back the reality of the life. They shook hands and bade good bye with promises of meeting up same time next day in the same place. Ravi noticed his morose father in a good mood that evening, and Eknath even made some occasional quips and jokes and was in good humor mostly. The good mood prevailed. Even his wife was happy, and confided in her husband about the change in old man. And his latest obsession to be ready sharply at 9 in the morning and would go out and come back by lunch from the park. Months passed by thus.

Today Ravi came home from office at ten, as he had to take the noon flight to Delhi on official work. He was waiting for Rao, his assistant to drop in and hand over some important documents. Rao promptly dropped in at half past ten and handed over the documents. Ravi could make out Rao was hesitating and there was something bothering him. What is it Rao he enquired. Sir he hesitated, yes Rao anything else? Ah sir is everything ok with your dad Sir, he blurted. Ravi was a little aback by this sudden personal question. Yes hes fine, in fact the last few months he is seems to very happy, why do you ask? Actually sir today while I was coming to your house sir, I saw him in the park sir, ok so? Sir he was sitting on the bench and animatedly laughing and talking to someone. Oh good! Ventured Ravi, he must have made some new friends. But Sir there was no one near about him Sir he was all alone Sir. Ravi was still trying to comprehend what Rao was saying when his attention was drawn by his daughters childlike squeals. His three year old daughter was animatedly talking and describing her new yellow frock and the matching yellow hair band her father had bought, to her new imaginary friend Susie. How happy she seemed.