A Hundred Flukes

Letter

Chapter 9

Necessity often yields adventure entailing plain novelty of experience and freedom. Freedom that is a man's dearest accomplice. Khushi felt this freedom the moment she stepped out of her aunt's house with a yellow envelop that contained all that deemed necessary for applying for a particular job in a certain inventory. The very same moment she realized she could not survive without this freedom.

A black crow croaked in its raucous voice, why would it not, it was free to do that. Khushi walked to the post-office. It was a Thursday, her aunt would take longer than usual in the bath, there was just enough time for her to get a few things done.

"Sir, could you please deliver this as soon as possible?" she said giving the envelop to the postmaster sitting behind the window. The man read the address written over the envelop through thick glasses kept on his nose. He looked up at her a little confused, " In all my years of service, I haven't seen somebody sending an urgent letter by post to an address which is in the radius of a kilometer." he said.

"Lucky you. You saw it today." she said grinning. The post master re-read the addressee's name, "Hmm, Shyam babu, that lawyer? I know this chap, very nice fellow". "That he is." Khushi could not have agreed more. The postmaster thought for a moment and then called out, "Chottu", a thin boy, aged around sixteen appeared and lightly whistled looking at the Khushi. Khushi could not suppress a giggle. "Chottu, run fast and deliver this to Shyam babu who sits near the civil court." said the postmaster. "Is it yours?" The boy asked Khushi as he took the envelop. She nodded. "In ten seconds." he said winking at her and vanished the next moment. Khushi thanked the postmaster and quickened her steps towards home. She stopped in front of Bedi's garage which was facing Madhumati's house. Happy Singh, Bedi's oldest employee appeared. "How can I help you Khushiji?"

"Where do I get a new sim from? I needed a Delhi number." she said. He considered for a moment and went inside and came out a couple of moments later with a small white envelop. "I had got myself a new sim a week back Khushiji, but Bediji gave me his, so this is not being used. If you don't mind you can have this." he said smiling brightly. "Oh no, what if you need it later?" "Not at all Khushiji, I won’t need it, I am sure." he said, the smile never leaving his face. "Thank you so much Happyji."

*****

Anjali followed her marching brother, lifted up a flower vase from a table and dropped it on the floor. It crashed in a thousand pieces. "Not again di, how many vases will you break knowing well that this won’t stop me?"

"At least you'd listen to me," said Anjali, "somebody has been waiting to see you in the study. It's urgent. "

"Who?" asked Arnav turning to face his sister.

"Find out for yourself."

Arnav briskly climbed the stairs and entered the large study room where a middle aged man sat comfortably in a recliner. "I see you have been successfully dodging me for past six months young man." said the man.

"A clever selection of words Dr. Kapoor." said Arnav as he sat dutifully in a chair beside the doctor and wiped his finger with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol. Dr. Kapoor took his blood sample and tested it on the glucometer. "Your sugar level isn't exactly admirable but the diabetes is under control. You can live with it."

"I am living with it." said ASR dryly.

"I think you could continue with the present medication but before that a few usual questions and I'd like you to be frank with your doctor." Dr. Kapoor repeated the line that he had been saying for the last 25 years of his medical career. "How do you feel generally?"

"Good."

"Do you often find yourself under stress?"

"The only people in our profession who don't find themselves stressed at any point of time are the ones who have declared themselves bankrupt."