The boy in the blue shirt automatically
appears with a cylinder once a month.
appears with a cylinder once a month.
‘Thirty-rupee extra,’ the boy flatly asked
while delivering the cylinder.
while delivering the cylinder.
‘Why? You are a delivery boy.
You are paid by your boss.
Why do I pay you extra?’ I argued.
You are paid by your boss.
Why do I pay you extra?’ I argued.
The boy had a good look at me,
said nothing and parted from my door.
said nothing and parted from my door.
Next month, I made fifty calls to the office in vain,
and the boy did not receive my call for days, for weeks…
and the boy did not receive my call for days, for weeks…
My old neighbour calmly said,
‘Don’t worry. Kaloo is a kind of kin to us.
He is our bearer’s friend.
I argued over your valid point.
And he agreed in the end.’
‘Don’t worry. Kaloo is a kind of kin to us.
He is our bearer’s friend.
I argued over your valid point.
And he agreed in the end.’
The next day, the boy in the blue shirt again appears,
We exchange genuine pleasantries,
and I offer fifty extra.
and I offer fifty extra.
‘Six hundred increase in six years per cylinder.
Have I argued with the boy’s boss or the boss of the boy’s boss?’
I argued in bed.
Have I argued with the boy’s boss or the boss of the boy’s boss?’
I argued in bed.
Peace restored, mind relaxed,
and the boy in the blue shirt still serves with a genuine smile.
and the boy in the blue shirt still serves with a genuine smile.
