The movie was to start in half
hour. It is late evening and street lights have just been turned on. I had just
started from my room. I had to walk nearly 2 kilometers from my home to reach
the bus stop. From there it would take another half hour by bus to reach the
movie hall. My friend called me from the movie hall and calmly told me that he
won’t bother coming out of the movie to give me ticket if I was late. I
increased my pace. As always, when in a hurry, I felt, I forgot something. I
checked my pants pockets.
Wallet! Check.
Mobile! Check.
House keys! Check.
Oh wait! Did I lock the front
door? I pressed the rewind button in my mind. I saw myself coming out of the
shower, tripping while trying to put the pants on and to comb my hair
simultaneously, grabbing the keys from the holder and .. Blank. Damn! Just the
part I want to remember would get erased from my memory. What are the odds
somebody would try to steal on that one day when you forget to lock the door?
Aahh, I will take the risk. Well, it’s a Mohan lal movie and I don’t want to
miss any part. Especially, his introduction scene! That’s after all the
priority. I consoled myself thinking that locking the door after grabbing the
key would be part of my muscle memory by now and I should have locked the door.
It was getting darker with each
step I took. My leg muscles seemed to be pissed at having asked to work so soon
after cooling down in the shower and protested by small twitches, making it
harder to walk fast. Crickets were singing away without any inhibitions. I was
hoping for some auto rickshaws to pass by. They never come when you need them!
I kept checking my watch,
though I couldn’t make out the dial in the dim street light. What’s the deal
with these street lights anyway? They are placed at an interval of 100 to 150
meters and their light is powerful enough to just throw a halo around the bulb.
And some bulbs have not been working for a long time. Scores of insects are
merrily flying around each bulb. Wait, so, this could be the actual purpose of street
lights. To distract the flies from the headlights of two -wheelers’ and thus to
save a motorist, from in turn, getting distracted by these insects, smudging on
to their faces, when they are riding by. Hmm.. I should tell this to someone.
Just then I heard the
distinctive sound of a Bajaj Chetak scooter from a distance. Oh, it could be
that guy who lives near the bus stop. He is a veterinarian. He has got very
curly hair and sports a thick mustache. Crap, what was his name? I have
exchanged smiles many times when he has passed by my home. I have seen him wait
for the school bus with his kids in the bus stop when I used to ride my cycle
to school. We have attended marriage receptions of neighbours’ and have
exchanged pleasantries. Though not ‘immediate’, he is kind-of-a-neighbour. And
in a village like mine, everyone is supposed to know everyone.
The scooter was getting nearer
and nearer. He still had his lights on ’bright’ and it was flashing on to my
eyes. I couldn’t really make out his face. But could see the outline of the
helmet he was wearing. I waved my hand as a plea for a ‘lift’. He slowed down
and stopped a bit ahead of where I was standing.
“Are you going by the bus stop?
Can you drop me there? I need to catch a bus to the town.”
He didn’t take off his helmet.
But he turned his face to me. “Sure sure. Hop on.”
My eyes were still sore from
the glare of the bright light. So I smiled in gratitude to the area where I
presumed his eyes would be.
“Thanks a lot. I’m in a rush
and no autos were passing by.”I spoke loudly as I was sitting behind him. I
thought he didn’t hear it over the helmet but then he nodded. He resumed his
driving and I looked at my watch but couldn’t make out the time. It would take
at least five minutes to reach the bus stop. I was thinking whether I should
talk to him. Wouldn’t it be rude if I don’t? After all he stopped because he
recognized me. I still couldn’t remember his name.
“So, are you getting back
home?” I asked. Yes, pretty lame since he is going in the direction of bus stop
which is near his home. But it’s better than the awkward silence.
“No, am going to the medical
store. “He said and I noticed a distinct hoarseness in his voice. So that’s why
I couldn’t place his voice.
Since am going to medical
school and I guess he would know that, I thought it’s an obligation to give my
opinion. “Yeah, your voice is hoarse. How long has it been this way?”
“Three – four days. I thought
it would get better by its own. But it’s not improving”
I have been in such situations
before, where I should not talk like a lay man but give a reply worthy of a med
student and non committal enough, to not name a drug. “You should take saline
gargles and drink only hot water. You know. They say, if you take medicines,
you will get better in 7 days and if you don’t, then in a week”. I sat back and
straightened my back, smiling and admiring my own ‘coolness’ quotient. He just
nodded his head and gave an ‘audible’ smile.
Again the silence! It would
take another five more minutes to get to the bus stop. “So.. How are your
children?” I asked, in want of any topic to have a conversation. I really don’t
know his kids. I have seen them with him but never really noticed. I was
wondering if he had two or three kids, when he replied “she is fine. Exams are
starting next week. So, busy with that.”
Most of the middle aged people,
I have noticed, have their calendar based on their children’s academic
schedule. And they tend to expect everybody else they meet to follow the same.
Since I am now in college, it’s a different case. I don’t even know what month
it is now. Or even what day of the week!
“My neighbour, Mr.Gopal, he
have wanted to meet you. Something about his cows and the dung colour bein-“
“Do you recognize me? I live
near the bakery”, he said interrupting me.
“Yeah, yeah. I know you. What a
question? How many times have we met!” I said laughing. Many ask this the first
time they meet me after a long time like when I come home for vacation. They
know I haven’t ‘forgotten’ them, but they still ask anyway. “But are you
staying near the bakery?”
“I moved there, like, few
months back. I was in the north”, he replies. North! What does he mean north?
We turn a corner and I can see the bus stop. There are a couple of people
waiting. He slows the scooter and stops it near the waiting shed. I get down
and look at my watch. I have plenty of time left and wouldn’t have to hurry
anymore. I smiles at him and thank him. He takes off his helmet and a bearded
man smiles back at me. “I shall see you around” he says. I have never seen this
man before. He puts his helmet back on while I look at him with my mouth gaping
at him. He rides away and I can hear a bus honking to let us know its imminent
arrival.
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