The morning was both cloudy and windy. The winter had almost come to an end;
still a sudden spurt of rain had made the air chill again. The sky was overcast
with clouds turning everything into a shade of grey. I had my old black
windcheater on just keep the wind out. At 7am in the morning the street was
almost empty and the shops are yet to open. Only the central road chai walla had open his establishment.
I came every day to the central
road tea stall just opposite the Hanuman temple as a part my morning ritual. I
stop here for a cup of sugary tea,
brittle toast biscuits and my daily dose of local politics. I never buy
my own copy of the local newspaper.
Why buy when you can read it for
free.
The newspaper at the stall is free, But there is a catch, Whoever comes early has
first dibs on the paper, everyone else has to wait. Early bird catches the
news.
However, today Nag babu had beaten me in the newspaper race,
He was here early and now he is enjoying the News as I stand in waiting. Nag Babu is a retired
government employee. One of those who have lots of time and not much to do. Its
not that I disapprove of his leasure, I just envie him. Retired people have no work;
he could come read it anytime .There is all the time in the world for him. Therefore,
I decide to pursue my urgency.
I put on my best
pleading voice and said, “Can I have the paper, please”.
“Can’t you see I am reading you will have to wait” Nag Babu replied and
mumbled something about the young being impatient.
First attempt failed but I was not about to give up. I knew Nag Babu could be stubborn. But, I too
had a few tricks up my sleeve.
Nag Babu’s dearest possession recently is an IPhone, a gift from his
NRI son. He keeps the mobile phone in a pouch that goes around his neck. He
talks to his Son, grandson and daughter in law in America; he can see them
while he speaks something called space-time or was it face-time. One day he got
the call from America while sitting in the tea stall, Nag Babu made everyone
present and sipping say hello and wave
at the phone. Even the chai wala had his image broadcasted into the land of
America for 3seconds.
But today the phone was not at its usual place around Nag Babus neck. So
I decide to dig a little deeper.
“Uncle where is your phone?”
“None of your business, anyway I don’t have balance”
No, no uncle I don’t want to make any calls from your phone, I said, I
just wanted to know if ur son and his family was safe?
“safe? What do you mean safe? Why would they not be safe?” said nag
babu, his voice is a pitch higher than usual.
“didn’t you hear the news?”
“What news are you talking about fella?”
“Oh, It’s not in the local paper. I read it in the times of India this
morning”
“What the news tell me?”
“oh it was all over the news, TOI ran a full page story,I subscribe to
times of india at home. Noting like a full page report”.
“for the last time boy, what is the news?” nage babu was now like a
loaded cannon, ready to go off any moment.
“America was
hit by earthquake” lots of damage and loss of life, al power lines are down, roads
have developed huge cracks, flyovers and bridges have fallen. Heavy damage to
property uncle, it is a very bad situation. (I learned that when you lie make
it grand, its more convincing)
Hearing this
Nag Babu jumped up and raced towards his home. A feeling a triumph filled me
along with a little guilt. I had lied to an old man but it was a harmless lie
no real damage done, I thought to myself. By the time I picked up the paper all
my guilt was replaced with glee and I sat contend reading the paper all by
myself. I will have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow. But that’s a battle for
another day.
