Survival of the Dearest

The story is about a family who living in a village and that village is nearly 18 Kms from the main city, which is a Hill Station. The climate there was very chilling and the landscape is, obviously, attractive as any hill station of India has. The family is generally remains happy, but all the members of the family including a 11 year old boy had to struggle a lot for their daily routine. In simpler words, they were happy while struggling for their survival. That family comprises a couple and one 11 years young kid. However, lady was expecting to introduce another new born life in to their struggle for life. Well, if the parents ready for another introduction then this is no one's business to comment on this.

That village has total population of 23 families and most of them are running on the hill station's tourism business. That hill station was been declared as the most best sighted place in India. So, opportunities like still photography for the tourists, small time vendors, some local handicraft items and so on were unfurling.

So as the father of that 11 years young --Hari was also in similer kind of business. Hari's father was popular among the community as Raju. But his actual name was something like Rajvender Singh. And Hari's mother was Rakhi. Story's major attraction is Rakhi's love towards her family.

As anyone can interpret that how a person can earn his livelihood in any small town specially if it is a hill station. Earning could be more difficult if someone is totally illiterate and have no financial backup as in case of Raju. His family had lot of crisis in their daily life as they had to struggle with each and every component of life. Specially in the form of sunlight in winters.

Those were the days when, summers were over and winters have started their way towards that chilly hill station. It was actually the period of early November. Hari was a studying in class 4th and was not a brilliant student, but an average student. His mother everyday religiously gave hard lectures on how should take up his studies and blah blaah. Each day, Hari had to listen his mother's music, unwontedly he had no option as he was not very popular among his friend circle. Hari was basically an introvert child and always preferred to stay at the back side of the mainstream.

Like any sensible young boy, Hari use to ignore those hard words which were transferred by his mother on his academic status.

Actually it was nothing but just the visible indication of how much she is frustrated about her husband's earnings and bad habbits. From bad habits it means that Raju was always ready to help others even if it is related to some financial help.
The earning status of Raju was also not so good as he was engaged in time bound activities. These activities includes selling of local handicrafts, taking people to local sights and still photography. In winters when peak season was on its spree, he preferred to work as still photographer. But past seven to eight months Raju was very sincere and dedicated towards his family. He was also very keen towards his job as he was in the knowledge that there will be another member of his family who is waiting to come.

So it was around 10 months since Raju hadn't changed his job and was enjoying the fruits of still photography. Even lot of local tourist's joints had started recognizing Raju as one of the best photographer of town. His interaction with various owners of photo developing centers also mae him the popular guy around. One of these owners was Mr Kamaldeep, and an admirer of Raju's work.

Days went by and mother's pressure on Hari, which had continued to get heavier and heavier due to exams. Ultimately, Hari had made his mind not to study as he was aware that his examination results would going to be an issue for his mother to give more harsh lectures. Along with the sense of disappointment, after the exams, Hari was also looking for some opportunity to earn in that near by Hill Station.

In one evening, when all the members were together, Hari expressed his thoughts about his future plan. They were having dinner, while this news was been floated. As expected, his mother shouted on him and said, "Why are you trying to hide yourself from realities of education. If you know that this time again you are going to show us a second division report card then tell us directly. There is no point that you should earn." But there was no statement been given by Raju. There was a sense of satisfaction in Raju's mind as he was seeing that time had came for his son to work for their livelihood.

While Hari was listnening the harsh lectures of his mother, Raju suddenly said, "There is nothing wrong in it, Hari tomorrow you need to come along with me. I will tell you something about still photography."

Those words, accurately, motivated Hari and he spontaneously said, "Thankyou, I will become a very good photographer. Better than anyone else."

So, Hari was motivated not only by his father's word but also because of the fact that his mother- Rakhi had conveyed some of the very de-motivating facts about Hari. And Hari wanted to prove all of his mother's litigations wrong.

next day morning, Raju took Hari to one of his admirer- Kamaldeep.

Kamaldeep was owner of a small time restaurant cum tourist's shop. Basically he was the one who usually gives business to photographers like Raju. While getting the introduction, Hari was amazingly wachting photographs which were hanging in Kamaldeep's shop. The shop owner recognizes, Hari's act. After listening from Raju, Kamaldep directly gave attention to Hari and asked him to sit with him. Kamaldeep questioned Hari by asking, "What does fascinates you in this business? How much you know about photography?"
Hari was hesitating while replying but he replied in a positive mode by saying, "Photographs really fascinates me. I know about the landscape, that how I reply to your second question."

The shop owner gives him a - �thumbs up' sign and cheered him up and gave him an old camera. Notwithstanding, Kamaldeep also asked Hari to wait for a while till any new customer comes.

After 20 to 30 minutes of waiting, there was a couple from down South India came to the shop. He shop owner handed over those customers to Hari as his first assignments. Hari clicked several snaps of the couple and for the full day Hari remained with the couple. Since the couple was very experienced Hari cannot managed to impress themselves with his newly professional snaps. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, the couple not only refused to give money to Hari but also complained with the shop owner. This entire episode disheartened Hari. However, Kamaldeep even after listening complaints about the picture quality, boosted Hari as it was his first day at work.

Days were going in their speed, Hari's mother was again and repeatedly discouraging him on keeping the study material aside. Anyhow, Hari managed to go regularly with his father and started assisting him while he was with tourists. That was Kamaldeep also ordered.

Winters had now entered and weather was becoming ice cold. So as Rakhi's due date had also approached and she was not in her best fit. One day when, Hari's mother was not in a position to cook for her family, and was very crying for being into severe pain. Raju, asked Hari to go alone in the city market and try to get something as he wouldn't be able to go as he was taking care of his wife.

Hari happily accepted the offer but realized the responsibility on his shoulders. He thought if he returns unhappy, then his family is going to suffer or there wouldn't be anything to eat in the evening. On the way to the city market, these thoughts were hitting the mind of Hari. But luckily and very decently, Hari managed to win over these negative thoughts and embarked into the city with very positive frame of mind.

It was actually a re-entry of Hari into the world of money, responsibilities and survival. Hari didn't have much knowledge of the photography it was just two -three factors that were driving him towards photography. One was his need, another was his eagerness to show off his caliber to do something and thirdly his understanding of picture.

Anyhow, Hari went into the shop of Kamaldeep. Gazing at Hari, he understood that there must be some problem in his family as Hari was alone. The clever though helping shop owner, gave a lead to hari about a group who was staying in that city's hotel and who was looking for a good photographer.

That group was having members of niche hi-fi society. Hari had to spent three full days with them. Hari was very much under pressure but was confident enough to tackle the situation.

The group had some people who became admirers of Hari even before he started clicking their pictures. So, that had motivated Hari to kill pressure on him and come up with enhanced confidence. This time Kamaldeep had acknowledged the confidence level of young boy as he embarked for the assignment.

Hari Spent one full day with the group very successfully and gained their confidence. Kamaldeep was also very satisfied with the kind of feedback he received from the group co-ordinator.

In the evening, Hari completed his job for Day 1, and he was all set to return back to his place which was around 18 Kms from the main town. Suddenly, Kamaldeep shouted on Hari as he wanted to have Hari's proper attention. Hari stopped, and acknowledged the call from his old friend.

Kamaldeep gave Hari a very surprising news about red alert being announced by the local administration in that entire locality. Hari was surprised by this news. However, Kamaldep also asked Hari to stay in his shop as it would be a risky affair to go alone in that area when red alert been announced, that too because of some terrorist threats. In addition to that, Kamaldeep told Hari, "Since you have to attend your clients tomorrow morning, so it would be better if you can stay here only," with these words, the young photographer didn't argued much and stayed at the shop only.

Next morning, the environment of that hill station was completely changed. There were not many pedestrian on the streets, not all the shops were open. Very less number of Auto rikshaw walas were there on the roads.

Notwithstanding, bad environment, Hari was all set for the Day 2 with the group. So as the group itself, they had taken that red alert factor as least important.

After two and a half hours there was a unusual thing happened. The entire locality had heard a huge noise of explosion.

That was the first bomb attack in that area. With that noise, not even Hari but all the group members were threatened. After a few minutes, there was another explosion with the same kind of noise. Everyone was panicked at that point of time, when Hari realized that he had one of the most interesting thing in his hand. Actually, at that point of time Hari thought to capture the entire event in his camera.

By that time there was yet another explosion with same kind of intensity. Moreover, Hari had embarked himself towards the explosion sight, geared up with his camera in hand. And look who was giving support to his daring acts, was no other than the co-ordinator of that group. His name was Saabir Ahmad.

So, Saabir along with his group went deep into the crisis area and started helping those who were in need of that help, for that particular tough moment. The local market where two explosions happened, one was near to Kamaldeep's shop and after knowing this fact, Hari and his team was anxiously searching for Kamaldeep. Although, he was missing, but his shop has no major losses, apart from few damages on the glow sign board and some other.

Keeping all the things aside, Saabir was getting very active in rescuing people who were grabbed by the malba of the remains of the blasts. However, the most interesting part was hari's effort to rescue people. He was having his camera on his Hands and he was not leaving any single moment to catch that in his camera.

Hari was clickling his camera after a every one minute. In that particular hurry, Saabir came towards Hari and called him. Saabir introduces himself and said, "Look, Hari I am a photo journalist working with India's leading publication. Tomorrow, before I may leave you need to hand over these pictures to me." With these words, Hari ran towards the nearby shop and managed to get some picture rolls.

This continued for gthe whole day till late evening. Saabir, along with his friends and Hari struggled with the damage made by some unvisible enemy.
In the evening, Kamaldeep also joined the rescue group and he had also met with some minor injuries. Saabir saw that well experienced shop keeper joined his group, he approached Kamaldeep, and said, "This young boy Hari has shown very professional attitude towards his proffesion. From now onwards I want him to work for me and he will get Rupees 2,000 per month for his pictures.

With such happy note, Kamaldeep asked one question to saabir, "Sir please forget me if I am wrong, being a Muslim, what is your opinion on such bomb blasts in the middle of such peace loving small hill station?" Saabir smiled for few seconds and replied, "It is just because of misscomunications."