Neel
I take in the good smell of the pillow which was half in my hand and half on my head. It smells really good, freshly washed it seems. Wait, how did that happen? My whole bed set isn’t washed from a long time and this Sunday I was going to wash it all. Did mom do it? Nah, she didn’t, I know that. Then I caressed the bed with hand and in blink I got that this bed isn’t mine. I quickly snapped out of my half sleep and then pang… a big throbbing in my head made me almost cry due to the pain.
Rubbing my eyes, I tried to move at the edge of the bed. My leg came in contact with something which rolled to the other side. By the sound of the rolling, I got that it was something made up of glass. When I finally looked around the room, it wasn’t mine. But it was great. On the table which was next to bed had a note which said,
“There are new toothbrush and rest of the stuff you might need in bathroom. Feel free to use. Going out to get breakfast, don’t leave before my arrival.”
I got out of the room and looked for the bathroom. Once I got it, I started doing the morning routine. By the time I was about to start to brush my teeth, I hear the voice of door getting opened and then getting closed. I crocked my head out of the room coming out of bathroom, not opening the door too much to see. I saw Dharm to turn towards the kitchen.
I went back in, brushed my teeth and came out.
“Good morning.” He greeted first.
“Morning…”
“I am making some tea? Want some or you are a coffee guy?”
“Both works for me.” I said and sat on the chair. He pulled another chair and sat, facing me.
“So, who’s Nick?”
I froze. Shit, how does he know about him?
“Geez, relax dude. You said the guy’s name when you were drunk. You were angry at him, but more than that you were sad.” He went to the stove to pour milk in tea.
“Yeah, something happened. But leave, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Well, talking about it might actually help.”
And then he brought two cups of tea and placed one in front of me.
When I inhaled the aroma of tea, my headache almost vanished. And when my lips touched the tea cup, the sip of tea directly sent me to heaven.
“My god, this taste amazing.” I said and took another sip.
“I am glad that you liked it.” He took a sip too.
I quickly finished the tea and I got up from my seat.
“Hey, I brought breakfast.” He pointed towards to paper bags.
“Thanks, but I can’t. I have to go for work.”
“Ok then, at least let me drop you at your home.”
“Please don’t bother. I can go, it’s not that far.” I said while searching for my jacket.
“Your jacket is hanged there…” he pointed out. I took it from the hook and started wearing it.
“You have a vehicle?”
“No, I came by walk.”
“Then definitely let me drive you at home.”
“Please don’t. It really isn’t required.”
“Well do you want people around you to know that you were heavily drunk?”
“What?”
“You stink of alcohol. Sniff yourself.” And when I did, I really smelled like alcohol. At first, I thought I will directly go for shop as it’s too late. But I can’t go like this.
“Ok, I will take the ride.” And then he stood up to put the cups in the sink.
“Let’s go…” he said while swirling keychain in his finger.
…
“Thanks for the ride.” I said while getting out the bike. I took the helmet off from my head and handed over to him. He dropped outside of home, even when I insisted, he could drop me on street before.
“Pleasure was all mine.” He smiled and took the helmet from me and took off his. And then I was looking at him. He was all in light blue. Light blue sleeveless t-shirt, light blue shorts, light blue slippers. His brown eyes and complexion were just popping out due to it. It was a sight for sore eyes. And I have to stop staring at him, so I pushed my mind and eyes and said,
“See you around?” I was the one asking the question, but my voice itself lacked confidence.
“Sure, I want to.” He extended his hand for a handshake which I took in a swift. He turned his face to look around.
“From here you can see most of the town.” He said while gazing.
“Yeah, as you can see the ground is little elevated here. So, I get to see sceneries time to time” I was saying without diverting my eyes from our handshake. His hand is neither rough nor soft. It’s just perfect to hold. He turned his face,
“I thought you were getting late.”
“Yeah, I am getting late.”
“So…”
“Oh…” I took my hand back and smiled. He smiled too.
“See you around” he wore his helmet and then rode his bike. I stood outside till he was out of my vision. I looked at my mobile, which showed its 11am. Damn I am late.
…
“Sorry uncle, I slept a little longer.”
“It’s not a big deal beta. I told you its fine even if you don’t come.”
“But it isn’t good that I am here and still you have to take care of the shop.”
“Such a stubborn kid you are…” and he laughed a little. He was rearranging the book shelves. By the time he came back he called chotu for ordering tea.
“Do you want one too?”
“No uncle, but I do want something to eat.” I don’t want the taste to be vanished of such a great tea I had. But now I was hungry so I need something to eat. Uncle ordered a cup of tea for himself, and two plate of puri-sabji.
“Uncle you didn’t had breakfast either?” I asked while I was through my Instagram.
“Nah beta, your aunt had a doctor appointment so she had to leave early. She didn’t have time to cook and I was not in the mood to start my day with a crappy tasting food made by none other than me.” He said while bowing down and both hands stretched either side.
“Oh, aunty is still having that leg pain problem?” and I stopped scrolling. I saw a group picture that was by Deepak. I was tagged in it too. In the picture all were there who were in the party. I was standing in the farthest right of the picture. And then I saw Dharm. In just adjacent left of Deepak, he was smiling in the picture. Well, everyone was smiling, even me but now I am smiling even. I am smiling by looking at the pic of him smiling.
Uncle was actually telling my aunt’s leg problem but I was so focused on the picture. I clicked the pic again, and I got to see all the usernames which were tagged. And Dharm ID was also showing. I clicked it and it redirected me to his profile. His profile was not private. He had 40 post till now, 300 followers and 450 following. That’s normal and way higher than comparing to my profile. I saw the blue button in which it was written “Follow”. Chotu put out our delivery on the counter and said,
“70 rupees bhaiya.” I quickly shoved my phone back into my pocket, took my wallet and paid him.
“Uncle, breakfast is here.”
“Finally…” and we both started digging in.
…
Time flew by chatting with uncle, selling books and I in dilemma to whether send him a friend request or not. Well, it’s just a friend request that’s all. Nothing less, nothing more and it won’t be. I looked at the clock that was hanging at just adjacent to the wall-attached bookshelf. It was 10 minutes to 9, and I saw uncle wearing his sweater. Time to close the shop, I told myself. I looked up again and my eyes went straight to wall-attached shelf. It was having one of Y’s novels, which reminded me of the fact that I have to prepare a list for novel purchase. I better get started on it.
“Beta, shall we close the shop?”
“Yes uncle we should.” I got up from my chair to and wore my jacket.
“Beta, don’t roam here and there today ok? It’s a little colder tonight and I think it will rain too. So, you better get home fast.”
“I will uncle.”
We closed the shop, said our goodbye and started striding towards our house. I looked at my mobile, its 9:10pm, Saturday. So tomorrow will be a holiday. I am already feeling exhausted by just working two day even though we didn’t have much work to do. How was dad able to do it 6 times a week for I don’t remember how long will never make sense to me.
/* what was his passion? That drove him to work every day? That too the same work? Or at first it was his passion, and then became his routine? And if the later is true, what drove him to continue the routine? If the answer is his family that consist of me and mom, that’s acceptable. If the answer is livelihood, food, shelter that’s true too, because these are appropriate reasons. And that’s where I am standing now, I need a reason too. The best reason my eyes have in front of it is survival. Because if I don’t run this last shop that is left, we don’t have any other income source. But should the things be done just for survival? Where most of you will answer yes, my question is why not no? Because I want to do something that isn’t solely dependent on survival, I need a reason. A reason that makes sense to me; am I making any sense to you? */
By the time I was mid-way to the house, it suddenly started raining. I turned my head to see for a place, but there weren’t. The path was lined with shops and houses, but they didn’t have a place to stand. I started running, and saw a bright lighted board of a café. The board glowed with NIGHT CAFÉ words written on it. It had a place to stand, so I went there and stood under it. And when I just took out my jacked to shake some water out, the door of the café opened.
“This day couldn’t get any better, can it?” the guy said, talking to himself looking straight. And I froze, because I recognize this voice. I turned my head to look at the familiar figure, the figure that dropped me at my house this morning. But now he was wearing maroon t-shirt, black trouser, white shoe, brown hat and a brown apron on him.
“Well, that’s a coincidence.” I said without turning my head. He turned his head and suddenly his lips stretched to show a big smile.
“It’s a good coincidence.” he said.
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