Aatmaram Patil

                “I cannot come home tonight, tell Pinky to mange for tonight, I am going to buy her a doll. You take dinner and sleep with no worry.” He disconnected the call before she could even say a word. A wireless said, “Crowd control on Marine Drive”. “Affirmative”, he replied. Smiling at his colleague he nodded to move ahead. The colleague started the bike. “Isn’t it good in a way? She will learn to enjoy without me. Her mother is so lovable.” He continued not to tell his colleague but to make up his mind. ‘Aatmaram Patil’,- he is not just a common man, he is Mumbai Police.

                The Ganpati festival is always on its peak in Mumbai. Especially, Girgaon Chowpatty is always crowded too much. It was 'Visarjan day'. The police department never gets public holidays so there isn’t any question about any leave. Aatmaram had just left from Gaodevi police station and had arrived at the sea shore. He reported his presence and got on to the work. It was about 9.30 at night.

                Aatmaram was not the only policeman there. There were more than 300 police personnel men and women. I went to cross the road; I asked the policeman if I can get a chance to take a photograph from the tower. I knew it was just for the media. He kindly told me to find another better place. Aatmaram was standing beside him, he didn’t speak a word. He neither looked at me nor was he distracted. He was quite and calm but doing his job right. Vishwas, his colleague put his hand on Aatmaram’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, celebrate her birthday tomorrow.” Now all those talks on the phone connected the circuit of their meaning. I found the reason of his awful mood. Aatmaram’s daughter was waiting for him to return home and was waiting to cut the cake with her father. I don’t really know how old his daughter is but Aatmaram looked in late 30’s.

                I just realized now this is just one story of those policemen. Every time a car is stopped on the signal we ask 'How much did you pay?' but we don’t ask them if they had license. We blame those who leave the joy of togetherness with their families just for others happiness and safety. You sit on fast, hunger strikes and they are the ones who have never had lunch or breakfast. They stay all day long to protect you. Blasts shiver the whole city and we talk about our security where is 'their' security? Remember this is just one Aatmaram, there must be many protecting you right now, leaving their family worrying at homes.