“Surely this
is not one of your jokes?” we asked Dad.
That morning
as Dad got ready to go to work, he announced casually that Aamir Khan, the
Bollywood star, was going to visit his school.
It was the
year when the star’s first blockbuster, Qayamat se Qayamat tak, was a rage
among youngsters.
“Daddy, will
you get his autograph for me, please?”
I pleaded
and pleaded but Dad said that all people are human and we should not idolise
them.
When Dad
returned in the evening, happy with the day’s events, I pestered him with
questions and more questions.
“Does he
look the same as he does on screen?”
“Did you
shake hands with him?”
“What did he
say to you?”
“Did the
children at school ask for his autograph?”
I was still
upset that Dad had not brought the star’s autograph for me. I had wanted to
show it off to my friends.
Dad came to
wish me goodnight and explained gently, “He was my student and I am very proud of him. Now he is famous because
he is an actor. Famous people are just normal people like you and me. It is
their hard work and destiny which has made them who they are. I want you to always remember
this.”
....
Since that
year, Aamir Khan regularly visited his alma mater to meet his teachers.
After Dad retired,
he was honourably invited to the school on these occasions.
“D’Cruz Sir,
you must sing for us today” Aamir Khan requested last year.
Dad
soulfully sang one of his old Hindi favourites – “Halke halke chalo sanvare...”
And Aamir
Khan clapped.
(Our Dad,
Edward D’Cruz, will turn eighty tomorrow. He enjoys life and sings all the
time.)
