On way down; stopped at Herculean Pillar for a snap; it was 5pm still sunny so had to look for angle to avoind too much of sun. A 'Namaste' surprised me and turned back to find this 60+ firang gentleman;
greeting me again with Namaste. He asked me if I want a photo with pillar; he can shoot that for me with my camera. Was happy to hear hindi in a firnags mouth; allowed him; 
then took his 2 photos with pillar with his cracked film camera.
Curiosity forced me to ask how he knows hindi; on way down he told his story which is defintely a sad story of a child who born in a well off family and some political and greed turbulence called World War II took away everthing from this child even CHILDHOOD and right of EDUCATION.
A Poignant Story of Tom whose father used to be a high rank officer with British India; got killed during WWII Monte Casino battle ; his mother married cousin of his father; who abandoned them soon without anything from his fathers savings. Tom and his mother had to move to engalnd after indian independance; tom had to give up his comfortable lifestyle and studies; had to take up work for daily meals.
Few years back he managed to Visit India; went to dehradun where his father was posted before went to santa monaco battle; all his childhood memories of St Thomas school people around and there house that time which now hosts brigader of army just flashed back. He went and spoke to brigader Singh explained him on his father and it used to be there govt provided house; Mr singh checked records and allowed Tom to stay there for a night; Tom literally wept that night for all the things he lost during WWII period Father Family Life Childhood and lovely dehradyn and people around. He visited his school; spoke to current principal and bought icecreams for 5th class students as he was in 5th class when they sailed for england.
He was emotional and had tears in eyes when he was talking about this deharadun visit and time spent there.
He was on rock to visit it as well as has father had stopped at gibraltar port as per one of his last mails; he was trying to feel his fathers presense there; with his meagre income he cannot visit all the places his father would have took enroute to santa monica; so he is saving money and visitng possible areas for last 30 odd years now. His mother is too old and not keeping well much; He couldnt eat in casemate square restaurants as 7GBP fish-n-chips for him was too expensive with most of money gone on travel and he was going to walk and cross to spanish la lineua city for less expensive food.
Tom is sure trying to visit places where his fathers memories exist(he showed me small rock with him from rock as memory of his father) and trying to understand what was his or his families mistake to go through all they have over last decades.
Though a cash broken guy; but that cheerful face of his made me walk with him all the way to casemate sqaure; on main street Tom was greeting jews out for prayers with a Shalom and other with a Hello. Never say over attitude type.
Am sure there are so many Toms orphaned in true sense by political greed and bloody wars fought.
Tom my friend I hope you manage to visit all places en route to santa monica ur father travelled; and enjoy his presence.
For question on what was mistake of you or your family or thins thing called Wars; no ones got a answer dear friend.
Take care.
