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The car sped past the traffic signal before screeching to a sudden halt in front of the prized vacant parking spot on a busy Monday morning.
“I must have done some real good deed today,” murmured Vasant while glancing at the crowded parking lot occupied by cars of varying sizes as another driver searching for one such spot stared at him with envy; Vasant meanwhile exited the driver’s seat and walked triumphantly towards the large building, the one he called his office.
“Wow, great spot huh,” Raj remarked, his face shining in the sweat as he walked a few hundred metres after parking his car at a far-off place.
A large smile occupied Vasant’s face as he shook his head while trying to suppress the immense joy, he felt upon seeing how Raj couldn’t get the coveted space exactly in front of their office building.
Trying to hide his receding hairline by pushing the hair from the back to the front and setting them with his hands, he gestured before adding;
“I was lucky,” he tried to appear humble even though was exulting from the inside.
“Yeah,” Raj nodded, aware of Vasant’s real feelings.
“Want to have a quick smoke, we still have at least 30 minutes,” asked Raj glancing at his watch.
“Sure,” nodded Vasant, still as fresh as he left home, and now with his car comfortably parked in front of his eyes, he could afford to spend a few more minutes outside admiring the incredible spot he had been able to get hold of.
“Two cigarettes,” asked Raj; a young boy in his early teens flashed them in front of him as he also helped Vasant light up.
Vasant handed out the payment for the two sticks even as Raj pretended, he wanted to pay; ecstatic with his victorious experience, however, Vasant insisted on making the payment.
The conversation quickly turned political as Raj stared at the picture in a newspaper read by another customer waiting for his tea, of a young boy brandishing an AK-47 in the neighbouring war-ravaged country.
“What’s this shit,” he remarked snidely.
“Even 13-year-old boys are now working as soldiers,” he commented, in a concerned tone.
“Even kids, huh,” replied Vasant, stretching his eyebrows and nodding to agree with the concern shared by Raj.
They continued the discussion for a little longer on the situation of the kids there. The cigarette they were smoking quickly turned to ash prompting them to begin their walk back to their office.
“Sir, your change,” the boy shouted as Vasant turned to collect the coins from the youngster before rejoining Raj who was still waiting.
“We must do something for them,” suggested Vasant.
Another customer in the background shouted for a cigarette and the young teenager immediately complied while gesturing where the lighter was.
“What the heck,” muttered Vasant as they passed his car, parked right in front of the swanky tower.
“What happened,” asked Raj, as he glanced in the direction where Vasant was now walking towards.
“Some rascal hit it,” he murmured, staring at the scratched part, on the bottom of the trunk.
“Ohh, crazy people, huh,” added Raj, suppressing his pleasure as he watched a visibly upset Vasant staring at his car.
“The Mondays have never been good to me,” thought Vasant as he looked around, hoping to catch the culprit while Raj, advised he ignore and get to the office.
“At least we will be in the office on time,” he suggested. “Hmmm….” muttered Vasant, his mind, still stuck to the horrible images of his dented car.
deepak sharma writes 