Cup of tea - Part 3

Forty minutes ago, i had started talking to an old man...sitting in my teashop...buying him a cup of tea has embarked upon a story telling session...he was telling me of his woes that befell him after his daughter's marriage.

(continued from an earlier post...click here to read that)

"until..?? until what??" i prompted him, not wanting to show too much interest in his plight.

"Globalization saar...globalization" he replied.

"globalization??" i was perplexed as to how globalization could have had anything to do with his job as a night watchman.

"The management went ahead and replaced me with a security guard from a company..with all their fancy uniforms and rifles...they wanted more professionalism..."

"hmmm " i had to stifle a laugh. Corporate image and downsizing comes in all packages and all levels i suppose. But i didnt dare to do it in his face, thinking not to hurt his sentiments.


" after that it has been one odd job after the other.. i tried to deliver newspapers but then the agent told me i had to get my own cycle and i couldn't afford the daily rent....then i tried my hand at a kirana shop but was told that i am too old ... it has been three weeks since i held any job...since i earned anything...so many days since i had decent food..." his voice trailed off.

"So ..where do you live now..i mean where do you sleep...why didn't you contact your daughter" asking the obvious question last.

" oh ..right now i shift between Santhome and Besant nagar.." talking as though he owned multiple apartments around the city "the police generally dont disturb me..and the beach air is pleasant at night...My daughter? i have been calling her ever since i moved out of my brother's place...earlier raju used to pick up and tell that she is not at home or sleeping..for the past one month, the phone keeps ringing and nobody picks up at all.."

He looked eagerly at the table expecting another cigarette packet to magically appear. I motioned to the master to bring another pack and another tea, ordering for him too.

He eagerly sipped his second tea and continued..."anyway, nowadays if i get lucky i get by the day with a  meal , temple feedings, etc.."

"hmm" i said , not knowing what else to say, waiting for what i know is coming. I mean , i know, all this time spent, the teas, the ciggies, this guy knows that i am a softie and he is going to touch me for some cash. I had been expecting such a "request" from the time the first tea hit the table...oh where is she...why isn't she calling me yet.

" anyway.." he prolonged..

Here it comes...the last touch...one last try to see just how much of a softie i am..i prepared myself for the request, mentally calculating how much cash i can give and still escape the scrutiny of my wife...

"anyway..." he hesitated..

"hmm" i prodded him, " life has its ups and downs. but it must go on..." . Did i just say that??? What wonderful words!!! i was disgusted with the way i was peddling out quotes about life." Is there anything i can do... money wise...??"

" No sir...you have been too kind...i just want to thank you for your time...for listening to me.. it has been quite some time since i talked to anyone...being poor is one thing, but having no one to talk to...that is truly poor."

I sat shocked at the statement that this guy had made. I watched as he stood up, collected his meager and dirty belongings and ambled away. I put back the amount that i had mentally "donated" back into the recess of my mind.

TRINGGG!!! TRINGGG!!! My cellphone vibrated. I picked it up. It was my wife. " where are you...have you reached?"

" yes i am standing outside the building now... will you come now"

" No i am not coming...you do it...you finish up and call me and i shall come and pick you up.."

" Rajesh, why are you being so tough about this...why cant you come...i know its not what you want, but its something we both decided right...i mean its the best for all of us...with the child coming, you know we wouldn't have the space to keep my dad at home...and this place is better than what they advertise...it has got such lovely gardens..a playroom..he would be happy here...with people of his own age around him"

" i told you before, darling, i have told you long before, this is just not MY CUP OF TEA"

I hung up the phone. I stared silently at the empty bench across me. " just not my cup of tea " as i lighted up another one.