A GOOD DEED
- Utkarsh Sharma
4. The good deed (4/4)
I first went to the ‘Marine lines’. I walked the whole
stretch, mesmerized. The sound of the sea was blissful. Even though I was all
but captivated by the sea a little part of my attention was continuously over
my phone. After walking the whole stretch I headed towards The Gateway of
India. I could’ve taken a bus or taxi but I felt like walking. Moreover I didn’t
want to spend much before I start earning for real.
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| (image:https://en.wikipedia.org) |
The Gateway of India was the most crowded place that I
have seen in my entire life. There were people everywhere. I made my way
through the crowd towards the Gateway. The gateway was huge. I roam around it
for a while. It was then that I received a call. My heart jumped out. I was all
but sure that it was Uncle Ramjit calling me for the interview. I took the
phone out of my pocket. It was Aai, calling from Kolhapur. My heart was now
beating with a normal pace.
We had a normal conversation. I told her that I was up
for a little sightseeing. She gave me her blessings and our conversation was
over. My eyes were still on the monument when I was about to place my mobile
phone back inside my pocket. Then out from the crowd someone approached me.
‘Excuse me, sir. I have lost my cellular phone and I
need to make an urgent call back home. Can you please lend me your phone for a
moment?’
‘Every good dead
comes around’
Aai’s words echoed inside me.
‘Sure’ I Said while handling him my phone. As soon as
he had a firm grip on my phone, he pushed me and ran away.
I fell on the
ground and rolled over. I got back on my feet and yelled,’ THEIF! THEIF!’ I ran
behind him but the man was already lost in the crowd. The police personals
nearby came after my call. But it was a little too late. The police and I
searched among the crowd but in vain. I was thunderstruck. This was the last
thing that I could’ve expected. My legs were shaking and my hands felt numb. I
was not sure that I will be able to handle such a shock. There was nothing that
could be done. I was trembling with fear and fell on my knees. The police
personals helped me get back on my feet and took me under a shed. They offered
me water and filed my report.
Still dazed and trembling with shock I made my way
back to ‘Chawl no.23’.
I could not walk and so I looked for a taxi, which was hard to find. I was finally able to find a taxi when a man ran into me.
‘Sir, please! My mother has been injured in a serious
accident. She is hospitalized. I need to reach there as soon as possible’
‘Every good dead
comes around’
Aai’s voice was again echoing inside me. But it was
too early to trust someone again in the city of Mumbai. Still in shock, aai’s
voice prevailed.
‘Sure, I will pray for your mother’. I said while
stepping aside.
Without giving any look he hastened and took off.
Unable to find another taxi I opted to walk.
Back at ‘Chawl no.23’, Shankar was already there
reading the newspaper.
‘So, how was the site seeing? Were you mesmerized?’ He
asked without looking up. Still reading the newspaper. I remained silent. Not
getting an answer, he finally looked up and saw me in an abysmal state.
‘What happened?’ He asked.
I, steadily, told him everything in detail.
‘Why did this happen to me, Shankar ji. I reckoned I
was all prepared for this exam. I reckoned I had everything figured out. I was
about to get the job and everything was supposed to be fine. I would be earning
for my parents and there shall not a thing to be worried about. But it didn’t
go as planned, Shankar ji. It didn’t. I thought I was well prepared for this
part of my life.’ I said while a few drops fell down my cheek
‘Life is an exam, Laxman, where the syllabus is
unknown and question papers are not set. You may get some easy questions or
some hard questions. You may fail. But giving up is not an option, Laxman. You
should prepare yourself again. Only then you may pass this exam of life.’ He
said while consoling me.
The tear drops on my cheeks were still moist when
Uncle Ramjit entered ‘Chawl no.23’.
‘You imbecile! Why weren’t you picking up your phone?’
‘I was…’
‘It was supposed to be a formality. All I asked you to
do was show up in time! But no! Even this simple deed was too much for you, you
moron!’
Saying this Uncle Ramjit slammed the door behind him
and left.
‘Chawl no. 23 may have not witnessed a silence like
this before.’
I didn’t sleep that night. All was lost. Maybe I was
not prepared for this exam after all. Maybe I wasn’t destined to succeed here
in Mumbai. I made the decision of returning back to Kolhapur the next morning.
I bid adieu to Ratan, Sudhesh and Shankar next
morning. I asked them to give Uncle Ramjit my apologies. Then I headed towards
Jogeshwari Railway station.
The train was scheduled to take an hour more to
arrive. I was sitting on the staircase with my head down in pain and agony.
Everything still felt virtual to me when someone poked me.
I looked up. A man with a smile on his face was
standing next of me.
Every
good dead comes around’
‘Do you remember me?’ He asked with his smile going
wider.
I couldn’t recognize him very well.
‘My name is Rajesh. You let me have the taxi
yesterday. Do you remember me now?’
It was the same guy I gave up the the taxi for.
‘Yeah, I remember now. How is your mother?’
‘Thanks to you, I was able to reach the hospital. With
your blessings and your kindness my mother is going to recover very soon. I am
in your debt’
‘I hope she recovers quickly.’ I said before getting
lost in my own misery.
‘What’s the matter?’ He asked with his smile getting
faint.
‘I don’t feel like talking about it.’
‘Oh, please tell me. If there’s any way I can help
you, I will.’
Seeing him reluctant to leave, I told him about my
story.
‘I am sorry for what happened to you.’ He said consoling
me.
I gave him a mild smile.
‘Here’ He said handling me his card.
‘I started a small cloth factory a year ago. The
profit is small, but the orders I am getting are increasing day by day. I would
like you to come at my factory so that we can discuss the kind of job you are
suitable for.’ He said kindly. ‘I know this act is still so small to repay the
debt I owe you but please consider it. I would really like you to come.’
I was still looking at the card
‘I have to leave now but please do consider.’
Saying this he left me there with a tornado of
feelings.
‘Every
good dead comes around’
A couple of months have passed since I started working
for Rajesh. I was given my own flat where I reside now with my parents.
I was at my desk at work when I received a call.
‘Hello. Mr. Laxman?’
‘Yes?’
‘I am calling from Mumbai police station. You filed a
report of theft a couple of months ago? Dealing with a mobile phone?’
‘Yes.’
‘We’ve found the mobile phone. Please come at the
police station as soon as possible.’
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