Stranger things.

OK, that title was just to get you interested. It’s nothing to do with that popular series. Here’s some strange things that happened to me yesterday.

 Fineapple Juice.

I slowed down near this pineapple/mosambi juice stall at the side of the road while he removed the red cloth from the manual juicer. Slowly I got down and when I was sure none of them from my area are nearby ordered a glass of pineapple juice.

While he started pressing it against the machine and turned the juicer handle, I observed a tired looking poor guy nearby standing with his back against the wall. I just felt sorry for that guy and thought why not order another glass for him. By this time my drink arrived and I sipped it. It was great. He had added more sugar to make it great but I was OK with it. All this while he kept looking at me

 I finished my drink and then approached this poor guy and politely asked if he would like to have some juice of his choice.

He smiled and asked which juice I would prefer if I was given that option. Not to sound rude I replied that if I had to buy again I would buy mosambi one as I already drank the pineapple one.

He shouted, “Chotu, ek mosambi bana dena”

I was happy coz he had obliged and just when I was about to pay they both saw each other and exchanged smiles.

It was then I realized that the “poor” guy was actually the owner of this stall and he was so touched by the fact that I was buying juice for some stranger , he decided to gift me a free one :)

This was God rewarding me at 5G speed.

“Tender” coconut

“How much for one?”, I asked pointing to the tender coconut .

Mannu showed 3 fingers and made sounds.

I realized he was mute but did not change my expression to sympathy or otherwise and just asked him to give one.

After drinking I took out two twenty rupees note and offered him.

He said , in his sign language , that he has no change.

I checked my purse again but could not find any . So just like that I signaled him to keep that extra ten rupees.

He kept it and just as I was about to leave he made sounds asking me to stop. Then he picked out a smaller one and offered it. I was quite sure he picked it from the Rs.10/- ones. I felt this was win-win. Drank it happily. To my surprise, it had as much coconut water as the previous one. I thanked him and left. As I turned my vehicle and went in front of his stall I gave him a glance of gratitude.

He smiled and the board from where he had taken that smaller tender coconut read:

Rs.20/-

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Traffic Police and Fatherhood

ಯಮನಿಂದ ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡರು ಮಾಮನಿಂದ ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳೋಕೆ ಆಗೋಲ್ಲ !!

(You can escape from Yama but not from Mama {police})

                            And on that fateful day, I was stopped by the traffic police. No, this time he was not hiding in some out-of-sight area to appear suddenly nor was that a deadline wala time for policemen. I slowed down, while my brain was working overtime to figure out which traffic rule I had broken.

Not wearing seatbelt!!!  No... I wasn’t in my car.

Not wearing helmet!!! No, I wasn’t on my bike too!!

Speeding?? No. Was slower than a passerby walking.

No license? NO NO NO... I was on my cycle!!

Then what??

I stopped beside him. He seemed busy easing traffic and asked me to wait. After what seemed like a decade, he comes slowly to me and says

“Nice Cycle”

“Thanks”

“Kids nowadays!!”

(Me rolling eyes, with a puzzled look)

“Gear gaadi naa?? “ (With gear?)

“Yes (proudly), 18 of them!!” (Though never used more than 3, ever)

“Cost??”

“Rs 8500/-“

“What?? So much of this piece of iron??”

(I stood there, clutching my hands, like a hero who is ready to hit a villain stands, refraining himself from hitting him, just because he has promised his mom)

“And your father happily bought it for you?? “

“Well, I bought it myself, with my own money, I do a job”

Suddenly his tone turned softer

“Oh really, good, Sorry for my remarks. It was not meant for you... It was my anger towards my son”

I felt good and bad at the same time. But it was not time for emotions. I wanted to know why I was stopped and how much “fine” he was expecting.

“What about him?" I enquired

“Well he wants me to buy him a cycle and you know our salary. I cannot afford a Rs.8000 wala . Also its dangerous cycling is traffic."

Now again I felt good and bad at the same time. But this time there time for emotions. I knew why I was stopped: to enquire about cycles.

Felt good as I was not to be fined that day. Die another day ;)

Felt bad as he was a bit helpless in this case.

“Why not buy him a low end cycle, without gears, it works out cheaper” I told

“That’s what I was thinking of, but you see I get bonus after 3 months only. Only then I can buy him one. Till then I don’t know how to face him?”

“What does he study? “

“8^th Std, many of his friends have it. So he wants one.”

He came towards me and whispered.” Keeps murmuring about his first love, So I think this is only for show off.. to her”

“Err, hmm.. “, I did not know how to respond.

I analysed the issue.

8^th std boy with a friend who is a girl.. First love.

Boy wants a cycle. NOW

Father can afford one three months later but is not able to convince his son to wait. Also he is worried about that “love”

‘What are you thinking?” he asked

“How much does he score in exams??”

“Around 60-65% . Why?"

“And how much he desires to own a cycle?”

“He never stops talking about it!! Would you please tell why you need this information?”

“Good. I think I have a plan. His exams will be in two months and results will be out in around three months. If you promise him to get a cycle if he scores 70% , there are many benefits.

1. You are not telling him you won’t buy one but now the ball will be in his court to “earn” it
2. Good marks are always good.
3. You get three months’ time.
4. And whatever marks he gets, since you were going to buy it anyways, buy it then.He will be thrilled.

100% WIN WIN situation. I patted my back for this genius idea!!  I was just born to help people !!

His face bloomed.

“Brilliant !!!" he said .

 He looked relieved.”That will keep him away from his love too.. atleast for three months!”

Thanks.

All this time people who were riding, driving, cycling, walking who had seen me talking to him must have been sympathizing me for getting caught. They would never know it was me who was sympathizing about the police.

Four Months Later:

                          I had forgotten about the incident until I saw the same Traffic police again. I was curious to know the outcome of my cunning plan. I stopped near him.He seemed disinterested.

I asked him about his son’s result.

“78 % “ he said, without looking at me.

I sensed trouble. But when curiosity killed the cat, would it leave me??

I asked... as I was riding away from him, slowly

“And what about cycle and first love”

“Well it turned out to be that the cycle itself was his FIRST LOVE and he worked so much for it that he got 78%, the highest percentage gain ever in his class.”

“Wow “, I was amused, “Then what’s your problem?”

And I left as he said this which made me feel good and bad at the same time.

“To encourage his effort on his percentage leap, school awarded him Rs: 5000/- . He bought a cycle for himself with it.”

And then finished his answer with a sad face.

“You just robbed me one of the most important joys of fatherhood, gifting his son his first bicycle!!”

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