"It would last forever
bhai..."
Vivi giggled, then laughed, thumped
Mannu's back and kick started the bike.
Passing through the ditches and traffic jams
the bus stopped at a dhaba after
travelling for hours. Theloud call of the bus conductor awoke Mannu. He checked
the time. The mobile was silent for hours. Pia had not called since afternoon.
The dhaba
was a big, open land with a section for passengers. Tables and chairs lay scattered.
A man was constantly repeating the food items and their price. Passengers were
busy washing themselves, wandering in confusion, unable to decide what to
purchase for dinner in the limited time that was available. Families had
already occupied the chairs and placed the order. Mannu had finished the food pack in the bus
itself. He found a distant corner, went there and sang aloud at the top of his
voice as there was no one to listen. After trying hard to capture some magic in
his voice just like Bon Jovi and Axl Rose and dying out with futility he
took a glass of tea to mend the cracks in his voice.
The wind
was getting cold and the clouds were dark enough for the passengers to make a
move to their seats. Sitting on the broken chair Mannu had nothing to do except
wait for the driver and the passengers to make a move. The chai wala had still not returnedthe change. The mud on the thought of doubt was building
up layers. Mannu called Pia. He heard the engaged tone after one ring. She was
still awake and upset for that afternoon tragedy. Luckily, he got a call from
her after a few minutes. As usual, Mannu cut the phone and called back.
“Hello....”
Mannu spoke.
There was
complete silence from Pia’s side.
“Hellooooo....”
He spoke for the second time.
“Hmmmm....”
“My
darling baby is still awake?” He questioned to earn her love.
“I just
called to know where did you reach?” Pia spoke in a pretentious tone. It gave
him a clear idea that she was still upset.
“Ummm...
I don’t know. We’re at uh... uh... a dhaba.”
“You’re
really a big fool Mannu.... Do you know that?” She spoke in a firm voice this time.
“Yaa.Umm...
Mummy also says that.” Mannu replied, amidst a burp.
“Shut
up... I’m in no mood to laugh.”
“Why
darling? What happened?”
“You
really don’t know how to care for me.” She said and started sobbing.
“Uuufff....
Don’t cry baby... don’t cry...” Mannu tried to calm her, knowing the fact that
any word of consent won’t work.
“You gave
me the incomplete address... I’ll never forgive you.” She sniffed and sobbed,
took a deep breath and spoke again. “I’ll never forgive you if my gift doesn’t
reach you...”
“How can
you be so careless?” Pia questioned again.
Mannu
really had no answer. The gift that he had demanded from Pia was on the way to
college for the past two days, but there was still no receiving of it in the
reception.
“Jaan I gave you the complete address. It
takes time sweetheart and you know couriers don’t travel as fast as uh... our
lives.” Mannu said to equanimise her.
“But it’s
been two days. You’ll never know how I made it, that’s why you are least
concerned whether it reaches you or not. It’s lost. I hate you...Bbyee.” She
said and cried hard this time.
Pia’s
words kept Mannu silent for a while, but it wasn’t the right time to do so.
“Pia,
listen to me. Don’t cut the phone. It was Sunday today. It’ll definitely reach
me by tomorrow. Have patience... I never gave you an incomplete address.” Mannu
spoke aloud, not too sure whether he'll receive it tomorrow or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment