Hostel

"Anjay , have we been discreet enough to leave Garv at hostel for coaching ?" Monika spoke nervously rubbing her hands , avoiding her husband Anjay's glance .

" Monika, wait a minute. What did you say ? we ...no . You need to mould your question .Have you been discreet enough to leave our son Garv at Chandigarh hostel ? It was your sole decision , you were under the influence of your colleagues ,their decisions regarding their offsprings." Anjay spoke while halting at the toll plaza to pay for their return journey to Shimla through Himalayan Express way , Shimla the queen of hills where they had initiated their blissful wedding life seventeen years back.

"Why have you suddenly become so sarcastic ? You don't have the slightest of the idea of the excruciating pain l have felt while parting away from Garv." Monika spoke while sniffing a tear.

"I didn't intend to comment on you . Actually ,l was not in favour of leaving Garv at the hostel so early. I didn't want him to fend for himself too early . I wanted to keep him under our roof for a couple of years more. But, now that the decision has been made you don't overthink . Sooner or later Garv had to leave home, he had to step out of his comfort zone." Anjay patted his wife's hand lovingly ,still doubtful of truth behind whatever he was saying.

Garv was their eldest child . He had been an extremely introvert child ,who always lived in a shell of his own making where even Anjay and Monika his parents had no access.

Garv was hardly two or three years old since when his parents had to guess what troubled him. Whether pain or joy he wouldn't share with anyone. He had been a source of infinite joy to his parents . He would never say or do anything that could annoy his parents and was always lost in the world of books. The only thing that troubled his mother was his poor eating habit. Though on one hand he loved milk, curd and fruits yet on another he won't eat vegetables or pulses. If ever Monika tried to force a morsel or two with vegetable he would vomit out everything. His poor eating style was the only driving force behind Monika's decision to leave apple of her eyes at the hostel. She had expected that Garv in company of other students will gradually start intake of healthy food items. More than academic benefits she yearned to see her child convert into a more confident and healthy person. At home Monika often cribbed when her children and husband depended on her even for their handkerchiefs.

Monika made sure to call Garv every day and enquire about his diet and studies. Her heart ached when mechanically Garv would say all was fine.

Monika , had taken a click of the hostel menu displayed boldly on the wall at the entrance of the mess of Aastha hostel . She had made a survey of The Elite  Coaching Centre and was so far satisfied with her search results. Aastha hostels were run by the Elite Coaching Centre which was like mushroom popping up throughout the nation, painting colourful pictures of  hundred percent success with their expert mentoring. She had surveyed a few paying guest houses and Aastha hostel before selecting the one for Garv . So far after weighing pros and cons of both she had concluded that it was wise to leave her child at a hostel . In total there were seventeen Aastha hostel buildings  in Chandigarh. After visiting a few of their  buildings she had finalized in the best accomodation,where Garv  got an AC room  meant for two students with attached bathroom and a balcony. The day when they had left Garv there all the parents who had come like Anjay and Monika were given a warm welcome and were invited to test and taste the food, which was going to be served to their children.most of the parents were satisfied.

But, Monika's sixth sense told her in a couple of days that something was amiss. Garv responded in the same manner , while at times the dishes in menu were not of his taste and Monika was sure that he won't touch them.

Monika was shocked when Garv visited Shimla after a fortnight he had  shed a few kgs of weight. Monika, tried to make up for the loss by frantically serving Garv with milk glasses ,fruit , this or that causing much irritation to Garv and bringing chiding for herself from her in-laws. Anjay tried to counsel her and asked her to wait for a month or two ,to give Garv time to accommodate ,to get accustomed to the new life . But her soft over- protective heart found no solace. In Garv's absence she would yell at her daughter and rest of the family members.

When Monika found no positive transition in her son even on his second and third visit to home, as he was constantly dropping a few kgs . She raised his pocket money,  though an educated working mom yet closing her eyes to the adverse effects of junk food and asked Garv to eat whatever he found palatable. For a couple of weeks, she was relaxed but then her soul began to ring warning bells . She feared the outcome of unhealthy food. Monika then in her desperation began to torment Garv again and again by insisting him to eat hostel food or to pick healthy food items.

Amid her concerns and worries she was a bit pleased also as during his hostel stay  Garv had become more confident as he managed to travel alone in roadways buses. Every journey became a learning experience for him . He would laugh off Anjay his father's advise to keep money at three four places till the day when his pocket was being  picked up. He had taken a sigh of relief in the fact that his purse was picked only after he had purchased his ticket to Shimla. Another welcome change was Garv had become vocal, he would share many things with his family.

Time flew for good or bad when one day Monika who was a bank employee was in for a surprise when Garv called her. It was for the first time when Garv had dialled her number as it was only she who bothered to stay in touch with him.

" Mom, I am not sure whether l will be able to come up to your and Papa's expectations. I have performed very bad in my two tests. I am not able to cope up with the stressful syllabus."

"Garv, give your hundred percent and don't have any distractions. Almighty will do what's best for you. Eat well and stay happy." Monika had ventured her best to uplift her son's falling spirits.

Hardly a couple of days had elapsed when Monika received another call from Garv. This time he was troubled  because the cook had refused to give him a spoon to eat pasta during breakfast . As a result Garv had to leave for centre empty -bellied. It was second time as earlier on one occasion when Garv and his roommate had come back after their doubts class they were informed that nothing was left for them in lunch.

Monika had ignored first time but this time her ire knew no bounds she dialled number of  Mr. Thakur ,a retired army officer,an awe -inspiring but Charming personality. He was in -charge of all the seventeen hostels.  Monika had almost done bombardment on Mr. Thakur who waited patiently for his turn. In a very polite tone he requested Monika to go through the Aastha hostel prospectus again where it was clearly mentioned that  the students had to bring a couple of items like mug ,bucket, spoons and tumblers from their respective homes. He also informed her that more than hundred spoons were misplaced from the boys hostel, while assuring her that he would take care that cook behaved nicely next time. Soon it became a routine that Monika would call Mr. Thakur for getting various issues resolved. Not only Garv but his other  hostel friends also approached her if they had any trouble at hostel related to laundry, sanitation or food. 

Hardly a month had passed when Garv again called her during her working hours.

"Mama , you must complain at the head office of Aastha hostel . Our warden Mr. Ajeet has asked to remove lights from our rooms. " 

"How can they do that ? You don't worry l will complain." Monika's spirits began to dip down. Her senior colleagues narrated similar experiences of deceit when their children were in hostels. The Rosey picture that these institutes painted on the first day when parents dropped their children was in reality a dark and dismal one.

Monika stepped out in her office balcony. She decided to call Mr. Thakur first before informing at the head -office as he always found solutions for the parents like her.

"Mr. Thakur .l want you to take action against warden Mr. Ajeet."

"Good morning mam, how are you?"

"Mr. Thakur there is no need of exchanging greetings."

"Ok mam, as you wish but kindly first let me know the cause of your annoyance this time ."

"What do you mean by this time? Your warden Mr. Ajeet is removing lights from our children's room."

"Madam , you are misinformed. Only fancy lights are being removed as hostel has incurred a heavy electricity bill. And secondly l am Ajeet thakur. Garv's hostel is under me."

"Your name is Mr. Ajeet. You never told me." Monika was so embarrassed that she disconnected the call. Everyone in her office began to laugh when they got to know about what had happened exactly. Their monotonous bank job gave them very less chances to laugh like that. Monika was advised to apologise if she didn't wish to have an image of a being a nagging woman.

Monika realising her blunder dialled Mr. Thakur's number from her second number from her dual SIM phone.

Mr. Thakur was as cheerful as he was always. He had a good  experience of handling parents like Monika.

Next day being the last day of month was a hectic day at bank. Monika's phone was on silent mode for a long  time . After half- day when she checked her cell phone she felt giddy to see twenty missed calls from Mr. Thakur's number. Her hands began to tremble , Garv's stress, her decision to send him away ,hostel issues all began to haunt her. She dialled Mr. Thakur's number a few times but he didn't answer her calls. Tears welled up in her eyes when one of her colleagues tried Mr. Thakur's phone from Monika's cell. This time her call was answered.

"Mr. Thakur, l hope everything is fine there." Monika spoke in a breath.

"May I know whose number is this ? Do I know you madam? "

"What do you mean ? On my phone there are twenty missed calls from your number." Monika roared indignantly.

"Oh ! Is this your number Garv's mom ?" Mr. Thakur spoke sheepishly.

Monika felt ashamed of her behavior ."I am sorry , sir I thought Garv is in some trouble.kindly accept my apologies for shouting".

" No mam, there is no need of apology . Actually, I hadn't saved this number of yours and I was trying to contact gas agency people as my LPG cylinder was finished. Like your number it ends with 70 . I mistook your number to be of agency people . And while you were only shouting l was abusing those people for not answering my calls. And by the way Garv is fine."

All the customers waiting for there work to be done in Monika's bank were amazed to see whole of  the bank staff bursting into the laughter.