One night at my office

It was the month of August 2018, the month of rains. That day it was raining heavily. As I went to home by bus or auto so I waited the office for the rain to stop. No one were left. When my eyes looked at the watch it was 6:30 pm. It was too late. Due to heavy rain the network had become very poor. So I couldn’t contact my friend at the hostel. No one is in my family, my mother died in my childhood and my father died few months ago due to cardiac arrest in his office cabin. It was thundering and lightning continuously so it was dangerous to go outside. So I decided to wait until the rain stop. But it was scary to be alone at the office. 

Half an hour later at about 7 pm, I saw a glimpse of a man near the main gate. I thought he was the security guard but when I went nearer I found that he was a stranger old man. He was totally wet in the rain so I asked him to get inside. He was shivering badly. I asked him for tea. As I was about to move towards the office canteen he went directly into it and started preparing tea. It was surprising as how could a stranger know where is the kitchen and where are the ingredients. 

Any how he made and we had the tea together with some biscuits at the common room where we used to have tea, lunch , movies etc. We had a long conversation. He asked me about many staff members, the manager and etc. I asked him, “ How do you know these people and how are you so known to this place? He introduced himself as Chandan Sahu and brief me, “ I worked as a peon in this office and served here for about 20 years. But one day I had to left this place permanently. I spent my good and bad days here, it was as like my own family” . Then I told him I am Riva Chowdhury joined last month.He kept his hands on my head and blessed me and said, “ Welcome to this family dear Riva”.

Thundering, lightning and raining were heavily continuing, so I didn’t dared to go outside the office. I was bounded to stayed there and my time passed with him listening many incidents happened in this office. It was a great time with him. I don’t how did I slept there on the couch in the common room . Suddenly a bright flash light fall on my face, I saw that man was removing the curtains. To know the current time I looked at the mobile but it was discharged. So my eyes moved at the wall clock, it was ringing 7:30 am. It means more than 12 hours passed. I thanked God for the company of that man whole night otherwise I couldn’t stay here alone. Few minutes later he brought the tea. We had tea and later on I don’t know what happened. 

As my eyes opened I saw the crowd of my colleagues and other staff members around me where I was sitting. They were loudly calling me. I stood up and asked them , “ What’s the time now? Is the office started?”. One of them, Sheela asked me, “ Why are you sleeping here? Do you stay here whole night?” Another one Amit Jain said, “ Why don’t you call any one of us yesterday to leave you at the hostel?” I told them the whole incident of last night and about Chandan Sahu. I showed the proof of his presence by the 2 tea cups kept on the table.

 One of them brought rushed to the documents room and brought an album and showed me a group photograph of Jan 2017.I found that old man Chandan Sahu in the picture. My colleague Shalini Sharma told me that the old man had died one year in this office due to brain stroke. 

Mr. Rakesh Singh, the manager said “ When I joined this office, before that he was working here. He was a hard working, honest and decent worker. No one was in his family so this office was his home and we were his family. So he couldn’t leave this place even after his death. His soul used to live among us and always in many forms he show his presence. Whenever anymore stay late at the office for some work he offered them tea, coffee etc. Initially we were scared but now we learn to being with him. For the new appointees it’s strange but he welcomed them and same he did with you. So never be afraid and he will always a part of our family.”

Now I got relief. It was a memorable moment. And gradually I got habitual with the old man and sometimes I knowingly stay late to have a good time with him.