A Costly Lesson

No Car, Life Bekaar?

A mini-story by

SKT Nasar ‘Babul’

Kumar was engrossed in one file among a pile of 157 folders gathering dust and awaiting his immediate attention. His cell phone suddenly woke up with the familiar bang-bang ring tone. He glanced at his mobile screen. Raghu was the caller.

‘Yaar, finally I bought a car. You have for two years been telling me: No car, Life bekaar! Now I realise you’ve been right. Thanks for tutoring me to drive. And, apologies yet once again for thrice denting your car through the training. I’ll soon take you and your gorgeous wife on a long drive to ..’

Kumar interjected knowing Raghu would continue till eternity if not stopped.

‘Long drive to hell? No, thanks, Yaar! We’re OK on this planet. But, Raghu, be cautious while driving.’ advised Kumar. He added, ‘Don’t use cell phone when driving. Hang up now, you, my gorgeous wife’s brother.’

Raghu: ‘Yaar, no worries, I’m an expert now.’

Kumar: ‘Hang up, you idiot.’

Raghu wouldn’t give in. He continued. ‘Oo, la la. Yaar Kumar, she is beautiful. You know ‘no wife, no life’. If I could get her, my life would be jhing-a la la. Car and wife together would make my existence zing-a la la, yes zingggg!’ Raghu had spotted a bare back girl on the side walk. In tight jeans her buttocks rubbed like two footballs rolling half way over each other.

Kumar: ‘Bastard, hang up. You should be ...’

Raghu stopped talking but did not disconnect. There were sounds of clutters and groans.

Kumar spoke in anger: ‘Saala, dramabaaz!’, and disconnected the phone. Back to his dusty files!

Two hours later, his cell phone woke up again with the same loud bang-bang rig tone; unknown caller this time.

‘Hello! Who is this?’ Kumar asked with artificial politeness.

‘Beta, I’m Raghu’s father.  He met with an accident. He is in God’s Mercy Hospital.’

Kumar was struck by a 440 volt electric shock, literally.

Raghu was fast asleep on hospital bed number 420. He had suffered cracked lumbar vertebra. His lower limbs were paralysed. His recovery would take at least three months with intensive care at God’s Mercy Hospital, and with God’s mercy.

Kumar murmured: ‘Don’t use cell phone or look sideways while driving. It could be a costly lesson for any of us.’