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A Good Deed (3/4)

A GOOD DEED

- Utkarsh Sharma

3. Chawl No. 23 (3/4)

(image: www.flickr.com)

Even though my bag was lost. I tried to console myself with the fact that I was going to get a job. Which will bring an end to all my sorrows. With this in mind I headed towards the address Uncle Ramjit gave me.
I couldn’t take the train incident out of my mind during my way to the address Uncle Ramjit has sent. With a heavy heart and a sad face I reached the place.

‘Chawl no. 23.’

Uncle Ramjit was sitting outside in a chair with three other men.

‘Hi, Laxman!’ exclaimed Uncle Ramjit as he got up from his chair and gave me a tight hug.

‘Hello, Uncle Ramjit’ I said with a soft voice.

‘What happened, son?’ Uncle Ramjit sensed the aura of sadness I was surrounded by.
I told him everything in detail.

‘Oh! So the city of Mumbai has already introduced herself to you’ He said with a little smile consoling me.

‘Cheer up, now. What happened is in the past now.’

He pointed towards the three men who were sitting with him. 
‘Ratan, Sudhesh and Shankar are going to be your room mates for a few weeks. Ratan and Sudhesh work with me at the factory. Whereas Shankar works at a shop nearby.’

I nodded with a smile.

‘It can be a week until you will have the interview.’

‘An interview?’

‘Relax! It’s just a formality. You just have to show up there and the job is yours. I will be calling to notify you. But make sure that you reach at the factory as soon as I call you. My senior manager is picky and quite hard to please.’

‘Yes, uncle. Definitely’ I exhaled a sigh of relief.

So what if the starting stage of my life in Mumbai was not good. I still reckon that after I get a job, life would be better.

‘You may rest now. And remember if you have any problem do hesitate to contact me. But feel free to cause any kind of problems to these three men.’ Saying this Uncle Ramjit burst into laughter.
‘I am just kidding.’ He said with a broad smile on his face.

‘But it felt so real’ I said to myself.

Even though I repeatedly asked him not to, Uncle Ramjit handed me some money before leaving for his home.
I picked up my remaining two bags and entered the Chawl with Ratan, Sudhesh and Shankar.

(img: en.wikipedia.org)

‘Chawl no. 23.’

Ratan, Sudhesh and Shankar were really humble and unassertive. They were really kind and helpful towards me. Ratan and Sudhesh were from Jalgaon whereas Shankar was from Nagpur. All have come to Mumbai for the same reason. To help their parents and families financially.

It was Wednesday morning and there was very little to do at Chawl no. 23. Especially when you are the only one who was yet unemployed. Everyone was getting ready to go to work except me. Sudhesh who was ready to go and was waiting for Shankar and Ratan to get ready sat beside me.

‘What will you do today, Laxman?’ Sudhesh asked me.

‘Nothing, Sudheshji.’ I replied. ‘Will just stick to the phone and wait for Uncle Ramjit’s call.’

‘It’s already two days since you came here. Ramjit ji said it may take up to a week. Maybe even more. Why don’t you go site seeing in Mumbai? There are many places to see and visit in Mumbai.’

‘But what if Uncle Ramjit calls? He said I have to report urgently for the interview.’

‘Interview is just a formality, Laxman. The job is already yours. You can go visit ‘The Gateway of India’ and ‘The Marine Lines’. Moreover the factory is in ‘Masjid’. The very next station after ‘CST’. You can always reach in time.’

‘Yes. Sudhesh is right, Laxman. Spending time here alone is tedious. Humour yourself and go see the ‘Gateway of India’.’ Said Ratan who was also ready to go to the factory now.

‘Okay. I shall go site seeing then.’ I said with a gentle smile.

Ratan and Sudhesh left for work at the factory. Shankar headed towards the shop which was just two blocks away. And I left for some site seeing. ‘Chawl no.23’ was going to be all by itself today.

 For previous part (2/4)                                                                                 For next part (4/4)
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