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Knock Knock....

This is a sequel to Water Day. Haru left about an hour ago after grumbling that he was paid less Rs.50/- "I had to buy extra 2 kg cement.It cost me Rs.50/-" I am a miser at heart though I appear not  After completion of the water pipe work yesterday today he put the mud on the trench. A short while after he left someone knocked. I assumed it may the postman or the courier bringing Durga Puja Greeting cards.Then I became "normal" .. No one sends greeting cards nowadays. Not that I used to get any. So it must be the milkman doing his "Puja Tips" round in the neighbourhood. Bakshish (tips) ... during Durga Puja adds up to over Rs.1000/- which I can ill afford. But I am a bhadralok(gentleman) and known to be an unmiser. The newspaperman,garbage collector,telephone man, cable guy, maid, gardener and all sundry workers directly associated with providing services to my home. Till now at least the doctor isn't asking for "bakshish"  Maybe next year he will also join the bandwagon. As you all know I am a 4th World War Survivor.My survival was quite unexpected but somehow people took pity on my disfigured self and agreed for a monthly dole.

Readers(if any) the knocker was knocked by a serious faced policeman.My already ailing heart skipped a beat reminding me that the battery of my pacemaker required replacement.After paying Haru not much was left from my dole. I'd have been happy if the battery would be fully dead freeing me from my daily woes.But God is not always good. He/She/They play mischief with people like me though I never ever aggrieved any God or Power.Then why did my pacemaker battery have to run out just when the policeman knocked a week away from scheduled date.

What crime did I commit ? I thought to myself. Repairing an underground water pipe was no crime  "Why are there mounds of earth in your frontyard?".... "S ..s..sir, " I stammered.My battery possibly was done for by now !! Soon I'll be free.They can never put a dead man into a jail... But no... my stinking heart still beat harshly against my brittle rib-cage.I was alive again..

I gradually calmed down and my sweating abated.I felt the rusty breeze of the noisy ceiling fan in the ramshackle front room."Sir.. I had had my underground water pipe repaired.There were holes and the pieces had to be cut off with a hacksaw and new pieces pasted to reconnect them" I think I must have been speaking in some foreign language because the stuffed policeman didn't change the authoritative expression on his face.I asked him to sit for a few moments and offered him a cup of tea.I made the tea and after the first sip or rather gulp spat it out on the dusty floor."Did you poison the tea ???" ...... "Wh... what Sir !! poison ?? No ! no Sir No poison Tea Sir.." "Taste your tea..." After taking a wary sip I gulped it down.It was the bitterest tea I ever made and that too without any sugar."I'm so so sorry Sir.... I boiled the leaves too long and forgot to add sugar.... I'll make you another cup if you have the time.." Seeing the expression on my dark scarred face.. I perecived a faint smile then a loud loud guffaw.His whole body was doubling up in laughter. "Anything wrong Sir?" "No..." he smilingly replied.I was laughing at your nervousness..Please show me the hrdware shops bills and I'll run off" I fetched the bills and he remarked "Glad that I live at the Police Quarters. Feel really sorry for you.Sorry to bother you" .

Tomorrow I'll have to get the pacemaker battery replaced by the "cheapest surgeon" I come across.First I'll ask him "Do I have to pay the base amount only or also "bakshish"!"