When I was climbing the stairs with that gentleman, each step brought new questions to mind: What will happen now? Will they insult me again? Will they help me this time or just push me out like before? These thoughts were spinning in my head as we arrived at the High Commissioner’s office. When he opened the door, I stepped in, and to my complete surprise, the High Commissioner stood up, gave me a salute, and welcomed me warmly: “Welcome to Canberra!”
I was stunned, wondering, Is this the same person who had thrown me out of the embassy in Italy? As I stood by the door, in just a few seconds, thousands of thoughts were racing through my mind: Could it be that he’s pretending to be friendly now but might slap me the next moment? Or is this all a dream? I instinctively rubbed my eyes, thinking, This can’t be real, can it? Then the High Commissioner called out again, “Come in, Mr. Madraswala. What are you thinking about?” I quickly snapped out of my daze, entered the office, shook his hand, and he invited me to sit down.
There were two other Indian officials in the room, and he introduced me to them. Then he asked, “So, Taherji, what would you like—tea, coffee, or a cold drink?” I chose tea, still uncertain if this was reality or just a dream. When I took the first sip, I realized this was truly happening. As I looked up from my tea, I noticed that the High Commissioner and the two officials were all watching me intently, so I smiled at them. The High Commissioner asked, “So, Madraswala, how has your journey been so far?” Gathering courage, I started telling him about my journey. But my mind was still restless, and I wanted to leave as soon as possible, so after a short conversation, I asked, “Sir, may I go now?” The High Commissioner, a bit surprised, asked, “Why? What happened? Why do you want to leave so soon?”
I hesitated, trying to come up with excuses, but he didn’t seem convinced. A little later, I asked again, “Sir, can I go?” Honestly, I was afraid of being insulted again and just wanted to escape. So, I came up with another reason, and this one was true: “Sir, today is Jumma, so I need to go back to the hotel to pray.” What the High Commissioner said next left me astonished.
To be continued…
Jyare hu a bhai sathe upar dadar chadi rahyo hato tyare ek ek pagathiyu chadhta chadhta mann ma ghana sawalo aawi rahya hata ke have su thase? Yaha bhi insult to nahi kare ne? Support karse ke nahi kare? Pachha dhakka marine bhagave to nahi ne? Aa badhu dimaag ma fari rahyu hatu tya to High Commissioner ni office aavi gay ane pela bhai ye jevo darvajo kholo to hu andar enter thaau a pehla to High Commissioner emni seat par thi ubha thai gaya ane mane Salute marine maru Welcome karta huva jorr thi bolya ke “Aaiye! Welcome to Canberra”.
Saheb hu to aa sambhli ne ekdam chonki gayo ke, aa su? Je vyakti ye mane dhakko marine Italy ni embassy mathi bahaar kadhyo hato aaje aa j vyakti mane Salute kare chey. Jyare hu tya darvaja pase ubho hato tyare thoda second ma to mara magaj ma hajaaro sawalo fari rahya hata ke evu to nahi bane ne ke atyare mara gaal par hath faravi rahya chey ne pachhi tamacho to nahi mare ne? Achanak maro hath mari aankho pase gayo ane mara hath thi aankh masalva lagyo ke aa koi sapnu to nathi joy rahyo ne? A j wakhate pachho High Commissioner no aavaz aavyo ke “Aaiye! Mr. Madraswala andar aa jaiye. Kya soch rahe ho?” Ane hu ekdam chonki gayo ne andar office ma enter thay ne emna pase gayo. Mara sathe ekdam garam joshi thi hath milavyo ane kahyu ke “Bethye yaha hamare samne.”
A vakhate tya bija 2 Indian officials bhi betha hata emna sathe maro parichay karavyo ane tarat puchhyu ke “Taherji bolye aap kya loge? Chai coffee ya cold drinks lenge aap?” Hu ye chai mate ha kahyu. Sachu kahu to a wakhate bhi hu a j confusion ma hato ke su aa badhu real chey ke koi khwab joy rahyo chhu. Pan jyare chai ni chuski leva lagyo tyare bas confirm thay gayu ke yes aa sachu j chey. Hu jyare nichu moh rakhi ne chai pi rahyo hato tyare achanak mari nazar High Commissioner par padi to joyu ke High Commissioner ane bija je Indian Officials hata a badha ek tak mara samne j joy rahya hata to huye emna saamne joine smile aapi tyare High Commissioner ye mane puchhu ke “Kahiye Madraswala. Yaha tak ki aap ki safar kesi rahi?” Tyare mara ma thodi himmat aavi kai bolvani ane hu emna sathe vaat karva lagyo. Pan a wakhate mara mind ma kai alag j chali rahyu hatu. Hu koi bhi hisabe yaha thi chhatakva j mangto hato etle thodi vaar pachhi huye kahyu ke “Sir me jaau?” Aa saambhli ne High Commissioner kehva lagya ke “Kyun? Kya hua? Kyun jaldi jana chahte ho?”
Tyare huye bahano banavyo java mate, pan a na chalyo to thodi vaar pachhi pachhu puchyu ke “Sir me jaau?” Hakikat a hati ke mara mann ma darr hato ke kai paachhu maru insult naa kare mate have huye java mate bijo bahano kadhyo je real hato pan bas mane yaha si bhagvu hatu mate a saambhli ne High Commissioner puchhva lagya ke “Kyun jana chahte ho? Kaha jana hai?” To huye kahyu ke “Sir aa j Jumma hai na isliye hotel par jaake Namaz padhni hai.” Tyare High Commissioner ye mane je kahyu a sambhli ne hu chonki gayo.
To be continued…