A friend in need - III

Note: If you reached this page through an external site, please start reading this story here

“Dinner’s ready,” interrupted Sheila. “Do you want to have it here or at the dining table?” she asked. “Serve it here only. We’ll have it here, like we used to eat in the canteen. Remember, Deepak?” Mohan stood up to clear the table of newspapers. Just then the door bell rang.

“I’ll get it. That must be the TV repairman,” said Mohan as he went to open the door. “Saheb, for TV repairing,” said the man.

“Yeah, come on in. You took a very long time,” said Mohan. “Saheb, I couldn’t find the building,” the repairman replied. “Oh ok,” said Mohan and pointed towards the TV. “Good thing you’re not working as a ‘pizza delivery representative,’ you'd be fired in just under 30 minutes,” mumbled Mohan.

“What, saheb?” asked the man, confused. “Nothing. Just find out what is wrong with the damn TV. And let me tell you it is still under warranty. So I’m not going to pay a rupee for any repairs,” warned Mohan. “No no saheb. We don’t receive too many complaints for our TVs. But I’ll check it up. It will not take a long time,” he said. He put his toolkit by the TV and started fiddling around with the TV. When Mohan sat on the floor by the table, he noticed Deepak again in a sad mood, nervously looking at the floor. Sheila had set up a couple of plates for the two of them. She said to Mohan that she would have dinner later. She served them both food and sat by the side quietly. She noticed Deepak eating very slowly and quietly. “Bhaisaheb, is the food ok? Should I bring salt for you?” she asked.

“No, no, bhabhi the food is excellent,” Deepak looked up and smiled. Mohan turned to Sheila and said, “Deepak’s planning to take a vacation for a few days. He’s asked for our car. I said that it won’t be a problem with us. But he’s worried that it will cause us inconvenience. But I told him that it will do him good to take a break from his hectic work.”

“Yes, it sure will be good. You can take our car. You are Mohan’s close friend. Why are you worried about the car?” Sheila said. “Thanks yaar,” Deepak said to Mohan weakly.

“Hey man. What thanks?! After all I’m your friend. Don’t you remember Roshni madam’s favourite saying? A friend in need is a friend indeed. She never got tired of repeating that to the whole class,” said Mohan and laughed loudly, almost choking on the food.

“Sahebji, I found out the problem. See I told you nothing was wrong with the TV. The fuse has blown in the stabilizer. You can never trust the electricity supply these days. But I have an extra fuse. Your TV will be working in no time,” said the repairman proudly, who had been working quietly and efficiently at the problem all this time.

“Oh, even my friend here could have solved the problem. He's an expert in electronics. I shouldn’t have called you,” grunted Mohan. He gulped down some water to clear his throat. “Right, Deepak?” he asked. Deepak managed a weak smile.

“Easy now, don’t swallow your food without chewing,” chided Sheila while she stood up to offer second helpings. “What is this bhaisaheb?” said Sheila when Deepak refused to eat any more. “You had so little. It seems that you didn’t like the food.”

“No it’s not like that. The food was lovely. It’s just that I’m in a hurry to go,” said Deepak.

“Go?! Where? Deepak, I’m not letting you go so easily,” said Mohan. “It’s been so long since we met, and you’re already in a hurry to go. What’s the matter?” “Mohan yaar, I know, but I’m in a hurry. I have some work to finish,” said Deepak. “OK, but I won’t let you go until you’ve had dessert. Sheila, bring out the ice-cream. I’m also done,” said Mohan while getting up. They both washed their hands and sat down on the sofa when the TV repairman finally stood up.

“All done, saheb,” he said. “Your TV will work now. Want me to turn it on? Which program you want to watch? Crorepati[4] dekhna hai? Ya CID?” he asked earnestly.

“Just turn on the damn thing and check if it is working properly,” said Mohan irritated by the obsequiousness of the repairman. The repairman turned on the TV, surfed through the channels randomly, and when he was satisfied, he finally stopped on a channel. Sheila brought ice-cream for both of them and stood behind the sofa. “Oh the TV’s working. Good,” she said. “Here’s your ice-cream,” she offered.

But Mohan and Deepak didn't pay any attention to her. They looked at the TV intently. The repairman stood by the side, remote in hand, looking smug and happy as if he had just revived someone through CPR.

The TV blared, “…was found in the bedroom by one of the neighbours. She seemed to be strangulated to death. Deepti Mehra was a house-wife and it is still unclear as to who could have done this. There seems no sign of a break-in or burglary. However, the police are on the look out for her husband – a software engineer, who’s still absconding. Neighbours said that relations between the two were very strained. The couple used to fight almost every night and there would be a lot of screaming and crying in the late hours of the night. This tragic incident puts a question mark on the relatively low crime rate in Pune and could affect its growing reputation as a major software city.”

The tray of ice-cream slipped from Sheila’s hand and crashed to the floor as she covered her mouth with one hand, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a scream. The TV customer support representative broke the silence. “What happened madam, are you not happy with the service?” he asked in a worried voice.

---x---

References:
[1]: What are call centres?
[2]: Ekta Kapoor's obsession with the letter K
[3]: Mumbai's local trains
[4]: Kaun Banega Crorepati - Indian adaption of Who wants to be a millionaire?


Please mail your comments through the Contact me link.