It was 2 am
when Mannu looked at the time again and all he had was the Rs.500 note he had
borrowed from Nitesh. He couldn’t ask Vipul. From the announcement of the exam
dates Vipul had shifted to a senior’s room in third year. Nitesh had shifted to
Mannu’s room.
“Ask
Major for money...He may have...He brought new clothes yesterday...ask him bhai.” Nitesh suggested Mannu. A minimum
of two thousand rupees was to be kept. One thousand had still to be arranged.
In hesitation, Mannu went to Major’s room. He was the actual room partner of
Nitesh. It was dark and the only part illuminated was the area under the table
lamp. His gaze was fixed on his book, but his vision was flying somewhere in
the darkness of the skies.
“I need a
favour bhai...” Drinking in the drop
of shame, Mannu spoke to him, sitting on the bed kept next to the study table
where Major was still busy gulping the formulae.
“Ask my
bro... I’m always there for friends, even for foes.” He replied, lighting the
candle of hope within Mannu.
“I need
some money bhai...” Mannu spoke again
coyly and the next moment Major searched his pockets. Notes of all
denominations poured out from his pocket. Take it. He handed Mannu all the
money without event a count.
“No No...bhai I just need uuhhh thousand...not
much...I will return you next month.” In a surprised state Mannu kept the money
on the study table.
“Arey hazaar se kya hoga aaj ki date mein. Take
at least two thousand.”
“No Major
bhai...thank you just one thousand is
enough...I’ll return you next month”
“Accha..Accha...Then take one note of
five hundred...rest take hundred rupee notes.Chalega?” He offered with ease.
“Haan haan.” Mannu spoke, mesmerized with
Major’s financial prowess. He spoke as if the money had no significance for
him. Still all the notes were lying scattered on the table.
“And
return it when you are comfortable” Major spoke, closing the books and turning
towards Mannu.
“Bhai but how come so much money you keep
in the hostel? What if it gets stolen?”
“I don’t
care...waise bhi it’s not hard
earned...last week again uuhhh I bet on a cricket match. I won double on
toss...So this money comes and goes...I don’t care much for it yaar.” Major spoke, being insensitive
about the situation. Mannu felt helpless that he had to borrow money coming
from such a source. But it was the need of time. Asking for a thousand bucks
and having them was not a big deal, but the question was who had a heart big
enough to lend it. It was Major. He was turning out to be a master predictor of
cricket matches and that had made him famous in all the bad circles in and
around the college. Mannu had heard about it in the canteen, but he chose to
ask Major. The hear say was true.
“I’ll return it to you the next month.” Mannu
re assured him again. He had no other word or phrase to thank Major.
“It’s
ok...just help me with Physics before exam.”
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