Clicked by Arushi Tanwar, Bharati College, University Of Delhi
Delhi has finally managed to have a beautiful cold day from its scorching heat. It is drizzling when Shishupal, the supervisor guard of Bharati College, Delhi University, is sitting on the stool by the entrance gate of the college; watching around people and checking their IDs before letting them in. From a distance, he looks like an energetic person who is in some hurry to check the IDs with great focus. This is not something new. This has been a routine for this seventy-three years old watchman for the last nine years of being part of Bharati College.
It was very noisy around, and one could wonder over sitting amidst this noise of honking cars and engine purring, but Shishupal seems unbothered by this sputter. This place, where he is sitting right now used to be filled with clusters of students chattering and roaming around the college, giving it a life, but during the lockdown, there was nothing as such. It was all silent. And this time of the pandemic was a little hard on the old man.
Shishupal is sitting all happy and gay with excitement on his face to finally see some students coming back to the college after the lockdown. Earlier when he used to be approached by the students for an entry into the college; he alertly used to say "Beti ID?!". Now the same can repeat. By now, this has become his 'catchphrase', every time he sees somebody entering the college, he says this. He has become very famous in the college for this catchphrase. But, this alertness and happiness are surprising, knowing that he lost his young son in the lockdown.
"It happened a few months ago when my second son died due to kidney failure. He was on dialysis for a long time, beti". His face is mildly sombre and confused. "I put all my wealth in his treatment. I did not earn as much as I spent. It cost me around eighteen lacs. Who says that money can bring you happiness? It didn't bring my son back to me, beti. It is a huge loss to lose a young married son, who had his own boy of fourteen years old".
Shishupal's family of twelve members lives here in Virendra Nagar. They are natives of Bidayu, Uttar Pradesh, his wife and kids arrived along with him in the city more than thirty years ago in the search for a better living and have been living in this city since about that time.
He shares with the Redstockings Chronicle, "Life's been a struggle. When we arrived; we had barely known the city. I was lucky enough to get a job and feed three children. However, now, I'm happy to be a part of this college. I used to cross this college every day when I was working in Dwarka, and one day, I got this job. I am very serious about my work. I helped students vacate the hostel after the very next day of the announcement of lockdown. I have not taken any leave in this whole lockdown even for a day, I come every day to the college at five in the morning and leave by seven in the evening after making sure of the security, cause I'm answerable to the authorities. This college has been the only distraction for me especially after losing a son leaving behind his weeping wife and son. She's very young and strong as well. She has suffered a lot", he says while looking around and occasionally picking up the stick that is lying on the ground.
"One must help the other in need, beti. This is what I learned during the lockdown," he muttered.
Someone cried out his name from the college building, "Shishupal" to which he alarmingly replied, "yes, sir!" and picking up the keyring from the corner table went inside the office. The place was all silent again.
Latika Thakur, Editor
The Redstockings Chronicle
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