It was early morning while sitting on the train.  We were on our way to a suburb of Mumbai, to meet son Shivansh and daughter-in-law Ananya, after a long hiatus from Corona.  On this morning, on the railway tracks of the side, in the crowded local trains, men, women, and children were happily going to their destinations. 

 The train had stopped at one or two suburban stations.  The sounds of chai-chai and vada-pav were heard.  The next station was ours.  A few days ago Shivansh had told, 'A lot has changed where you used to go to the station.  New roads, crossroads, and markets have been built.  

I used to think that then what would have happened to my village friend Shankar and his mute daughter Lakshmi, where would they be?  I was remembering that time when his shop used to run well in that area.  Many people used to do Shankar Om Sai Ram while coming towards the local train.  His tea-biscuit work was also going well.  But it did not take long to change the times.  

Shankar's wife passed away from an unknown disease, and the son got engaged in a company and stayed away from Shankar and Lakshmi with his wife.  Shankar, now emotionally weak, was spending his days in sadness with his sixteen-year-old mute daughter. 

First, the trains stopped, the work stopped, then it went intermittently but his mind was disturbed.  He always worried about Lakshmi's future.  Lakshmi was intelligent in every way, but could not speak.  While returning from there last time, I came after explaining to him a lot.
 

Suddenly the train slowed down and I got out of my thoughts and the train reached the platform.  Our one or two days just went out eating and drinking, gossiping.  The next evening I reached my old place.  Really a lot had changed here.  After walking for some time, I was sitting on the bench, remembering all the old things. 

 When someone put a hand on my shoulders, I was shocked.  I could not believe it when I saw it, it was Lakshmi.  He pointed to the back, I looked there where in a shop it was written 'Lakshmi Vada Pav', Shankar standing in front was calling me by pointing with his hands.  I walked towards the shop with a miraculous little Lakshmi. 

 Shankar ran and hugged him and said, 'There are many things, which will not be completed in a day.  Just understand that all this is the result of Lakshmi's hard work.  In those bad days, it was Lakshmi who instilled enthusiasm in me, she learned to buy and sell goods online.  We both worked hard during the Corona period and the result is in front of you. 

 Now the rest of the things will continue later, eat hot vada pav first.  ' I could not find proper words on my tongue, I placed my hand on Lakshmi's head and gave blessings and praise.  Then the call came from her son Shivansh.  He asked, 'Where are you, father?  "I said, 'Lakshmi is coming to my daughter's shop, and yes, I am bringing vada pav to keep a stomach.

With Shankar and Lakshmi, promising to come again tomorrow, I bid farewell and headed home.  It had started and the moon of hope had come out in the sky.