Short story (Fiction)

Four men wearing baniyan and shorts are sitting and playing caroms under the street light. The time may be around 8 pm. Two others are watching the game. Some TV dialogues heard from a distance, must have been an action movie. Its a narrow street with a stream of drainage water flowing on the roads. 2 kids of age 5-6 are playing near the water making water boats, both of them wearing dirty clothes, hair not combed, chit chatting. The 4 are sitting on small chairs, carom board on a small wooden stool, chairs are made of iron. A flight taking off from a distance and the kids watch it taking off, with the wheels folding back, and the flight disappearing into stars. The flashing red light under the flight, still fresh in kids memory.

One of the kids come running towards the four men playing caroms and says, “Dad, mom is calling you”. The one whom the kid is called is about to put the red coin in the hole. He does not pay attention to it and focuses on putting the coin. He puts it successfully, and gets up with joy. The kid says again, “Dad, mom is calling” and runs way to play. The dad notices untidy kid, his play in water, his clothes and expresses small disappointment, but he gets back to the joyous mode to resume the play to put the follow on coin. The game is over, every one leaves the table saying, we will continue tomorrow. One of the men, Arjun, comes home where his wife Reema is cleaning the utensils and arranging dinner.

Arjun: “How many times I told you to take care of Chotu? He is playing again in the mud and sewage water. I want him to see as a big officer with white car and red light on the top. One day he will take me around Mumbai in that car. He should study well.”

Reema: “Oh... come come !! The most responsible dad, how many times you have come home early to see your kid doing home work? Always, you, your friends, and that “Coin” game. Have you ever cared for the family?, do you have any idea of the situation at home? Its not easy as your game.”

Arjun: Its not coin game, its Caroms !!

Reema: “Chotu’s teacher asked for yesterday, she told not to let Chotu drop the school. He is studying well and one of the bright kids in the class”

Arjun: “What happened?”

Reema: “Its already 10 days late for school feel, he does not have proper uniform, no shoe and he can be allowed to school if we don’t pay in two days”

Arjun: “ I will kill those who don’t allow my son to the school”

Reema: “There is no point in shouting, Geeta was telling me that she makes 200 a day from selling vegetables. She takes the morning train, goes to mandi, buys vegetables for 500 and on the way back, she sells them for 750. After lunch and snacks, she saves 200 a day. She is home by 5 and she takes care of her son also”

Arjun: “Dont say it again, this is 100^th time I am telling you, you should stay at home and take care of family. Chotu should be sitting and showing me Mumbai in the white car”.

Reema: “ I am doing all I can, what else can I do? I wish you have a regular job”

Arjun: “Dont worry, I am meeting someone tomorrow”

Reema: Suspiciously, “Someone?”

Arjun: “Yes, an old friend of mine.”

Reema, curiously..: “Did he promise a job?, accept only if its a regular job”

Arjun: “You don’t worry about all those details... our bad days are over, we will be able to make Chotu a big officer”.

Part of my course work on "Exploring Organizational Processes through medium of Theatre"