Vishal Ganshyam Jadhav

Why I am writing it?
I have seen most people complain for something or the other (including me), be it job, money, family, love etc. We occupy so much in these thoughts that we forget about the life we are living. Believe me there are many things that we need and be thankful for not have suffered to.

Why it all struck me?
As I have written, we always have something or the other to complain about. Even I complain (perhaps a lot). I happen to meet someone called Vishal Ganshyam Jadhav, who shared a practical example for me to think on how one can be positive inspite of all the other adversities. I thought of sharing it with all of you, as an example as well as with a purpose to bring out the life of Vishal, who till date has not been recognized how wonderfully he has led his life. I wish people like me who are around him and who read this text show more respect for him and for all what he has done in his life till date.

About Vishal-
Vishal is an office boy at Arcil and I happen to meet him at my recent engagement of due diligence there. Vishal was not able recollect his birthdate but was confident that he is 24 years old.

The Story-
I have been watching this Vishal for a couple of days now. He has a healthy physique (meaning a good blown belly) and looked a typical office boy in his uniform. He alongwith Srini and Thushar, was allotted the file organizing work. Each time I saw him he was involved in inserting papers in the proper files with Srini trying his own in his innovative hindi cum andhritie marathi to teach him how to do it.

As I sat at my chair listening him speak in marathi, I asked him- kya dost Maharashtrian ho?
Came back a reply… yes sir.

As opened my laptop and started working on my case Vishal asked me…sir tumchya laptop chi kiti kimat aahe? (meaning how much my laptop cost?)
watching my hired company laptop…I answered- yaar mera to 20k ka andar ka hoga par chaho to 100k bhi milta hai (don’t know y I need to mention a Rs.1 lac cost to someone who might not ever imagined that…might be trying to impress that I know more than you).

Hearing my answer Vishal said nothing and went back to his usual filing work.
Just to continue further, I asked Vishal- aur sir kya chal raha hai?? Kaam kaisa lag raha hai??? (although I knew he was doing not more than a shit work I just wanted Vishal to speak up)

But then don’t know how the topic went on… but the next fact that I got to know was that Vishal lost his parents some 8 years ago and he & his brother stayed together. Vishal continued to speak…

Sir, I lost my parents sometime back in the year 2000. Then I used to stay at Santacruz but which I had to sell for Rs.4.5L because of the trouble provided to me by my nephew, who used to beat us both so that we could leave the place. I sold the place at Santacruz without my nephews knowledge and borrowed 1 more lac to buy a flat at Nalasopara. Now we stay there.

What a daring?? A guy who barely today is of 24 years today sold his house to buy one after taking a loan. And now he is earning to to repay the same. Sitting at Arcil and looking at the NPL’s portfolio, I can imagine what would happen to its business if everyone take some thought from Vishal on repaying the loans on time.

Sir, my brother is studying, Vishal continued. He is learning something relating to the computers (about the course he has no idea). Some days before I saw him crying because he wanted to use friend’s laptop but was not allowed to touch it by his parents. I have decided to buy it for him and that is why I asked you the price of it.

I continued to look at him. How can some people be so ambitious? Now could I understand the seriousness of his simple question at the beginning of our conversation about my laptop.

He continued speak further… sir, there is no one for me apart from my brother to care for… I want him to learn more. I have already saved enough and I have earned about Rs 25k this Ganapati season by working as a decorator late night after my usual office hours and working on Sundays as sweeper for BMC (for which he earns Rs. 350 a day) I hope I can buy my brother a laptop like u have…(one more shock for me !!)

I dont think he considered my Rs 1 lac laptop seriously…but I am sure he even would have got that thing for his brother…

Sir, Vishal said, my brother once was very sick with malaria….I spent all my earnings I had and was left nothing but to pray for. Saying this, Vishal broke into tears…it all got too emotional… I could say nothing but to control himself…
I prayed (to a one of the South Indian diety on which Vishal now has now developed utmost faith) for my brothers well being and took a oath… first year I shall pierce my mouth through pins (he showed me the marks on his face)…second year I shall pull a car holding the rope in my mouth… (I cant recollect what he said for the third year…but going by the first two years, the third year also had some wild thing to do be done)

All of this was really a shocker…to understand life from a guy who apparently studied not more than his matriculation and whom we have made work to file papers in files because we have assumed him of that ability and not more… but then he is filing papers for people most of whom have defaulted in life….

PS: Soon Vishal is getting married to someone he was wedded in his childhood. The girl has apparently studied more than what Vishal has…Vishal before getting married had asked the girl whether she would be interested in marrying him…if not he is ok…but happily the girl has committed herself to him and soon will be settling with him…