Even Custom officers have a heart....by Rajvinder K.Heyer Dhillon
My aim to visit India this year was not to attend Weddings, shopping or visit places of interest, it was to update my Father S. Avtar Singh “Prem”s last Punjabi Book 'Marsiy' ( Eulogies ) which was published in July 1986.
After a few days when I arrived in India, the books arrived. Meanwhile, my nephew planned our visit to Mumbai for sightseeing and to visit his wife who is specializing in Reconstructive Surgery, and my sister’s classmate in Mumbai. I took a few books to give to them.
We had fun on the Marine drive, saw Bollywood Actors' villas, did some shopping, and had home cooked meals at my sister’s friends house. I was looking forward to coming back to deliver as many books as possible to my Friends, Relatives, and journalists.
As luck would have it, as soon as we returned my oldest nephew had a brain hemorrhage in the middle of the night, and he was admitted to Bathinda Hospital. My sister and nephew left right away and my Brother-in-law arrived from Delhi. I could not sleep either. I kept on thinking my father had conflicts all his life, now his book has created conflict in my life.
Either I spend all my remaining time with my Nephew, or deliver the books, whatever time was left. I could not extend my stay. I had a Tax deadline to meet Dr.'s appointment because of Covid it was hard to get. I thought he was in good hands, had the best medical facilities and a lot of people to take care of , his wife arrived with his children from England, and his brother arrived from Canada.
My sister, my brother-in-law, and his younger brother were there too, So I decided to stay for a few days to deliver the books in Chandigarh and surrounding areas to my relative's friends and journalists. Later on I was spending time with him, went back and forth to deliver the Books till my flight back to USA,
I got through immigration with the usual questions: how long did you stay, what was the purpose of the visit, do you have any sweets. When I was going through the customs I did not have anything to declare, I walked through there were two families in front of me they kept on walking.
White customs Officer stopped me, since I did not have anything to worry about I asked him why did you stop me not the people in front of me he said it is Random, then he started looking in my purse, whatever money I had I spent on publishing the book, then he was scrambling through my checked suitcase for the gifts now it is was time to go through my carry-on bag.
It was filled with my Fathers books, he started questioning me about the books he picked up one and looked at the title “Eulogies” open the book I showed my Fathers’ Picture with Democratic Governor Mark White from Texas , then he asked me does your father lives with you I told him he passed away in 1991.
This was the reason for my visit to India to fulfil my promise which I made to him 32 years back to publish his unpublished Manuscripts meanwhile my nephew had a brain hemorrhage. He looked up and said Oh?, his voice got hoarse. I wanted to take his picture then I thought I might be crossing the red line, picked up my luggage and walked away.
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Rajvinder K.Heyer Dhillon , The writer is a retired teacher based in California, US
raj@dhillonclan.com
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