It was a much too typical evening on the 14th of May. The sun seemed unwilling to set behind the hills with the high raise '60 lac each' condominiums, wanting to catch a glimpse of the night sky - an unfullfilled wish since the dawn of time. The early stars were loathe to come out of their hiding. The birds may get the worm but what do the stars get for coming out early? The wind was racing through the city adding excitement and confusion to the already congested and maddening traffic returning home - just in time to watch their spouses watch TV. The warmth of the afternoon was receding and giving way to the warmth of the evening.
The motley crowd in the 'Biryani Joint' was noisy, but unintrusive in a way that only motely crowds in Biryani Joints can be. In a corner the soon to be graduates from the nearby business school were making back of the envelop calculation on how many 'Murgis' are killed in the twin-cities every day, a calculation which had become a tradition, having been done by every college group for generations.In the streets, families were haggling, trying their best to save their precious money from the street hawkers - so that it could be better donated to the poor undernourished cola companies.
The two balloon vendors had long since accepted each others competition. The urchin seemed to be all of 12 years old and the old man more like 120. They seemed to have an understanding of standing 8 feet apart and never poached on each others clientele. The boy sold his 'heart balloon' to the odd teenager who was eager but unimaginative in expressing his feelings. The boy was clever and realized that he could sell his balloons at a premium to the love lorn. The old man was all too content going the traditional way and selling his wares to the parents of bratty kids.
It could have been the cruel summer or even the fact that the theatre nearby was screening the latest blockbuster and near empty; There was not a single love struck couple in the street that evening. Children were in full supply though, tugging their parents like a Maruti 800 pulling a broken-down Amby. The old man was looking forward to finishing early and returning to his non-home. It was always a pleasure to go home with an empty staff - void of balloons which always burst at night spoiling his sleep.
To his delight, a rather tired looking lady with an army of lollipop sucking 'baby sat' was headed his way, the army chanting for his wares. The old man was trying hard to conceal his pan stained teeth, but just couldnt stop grinning.
The army camped around the old man, and the distressed matron was fishing through her purse while making a mental note to never again volunteer to take the kids out so that the family could relax. The transaction was about to complete, just as the old man was handing over the bunch of balloons, his young competitor 'accidentally' chased a mongrel at the old man and the army.
The crowd at the biryani joint could hear the balloons burst as the staff fell to the ground - a 21 gun salute for some phantom dignitary. The urchin was smiling from ear to ear, not just from the success of his plan but because the movie in the nearby theatre seemed to have ended. And young couples seemeed to be hovering around like locusts.
Shil Chaterjee had been planning this for about a month now. Not that he didnt have prior experience - but proposing to his 'latest' girlfriend was something he was looking forward to...it opened doors. A huge buch of 'heart balloons' along with the poem that his confidante had written in exchange for two beers usually did the trick.
In a matter of minutes - fortunes had reversed. The urchin was all set to go home with enough money to buy him a decent dinner.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew - carrying with it pebbles from the nearby construction site. Another gun salute! A smile reversed!
The crowd had finished its Biryani, but were busy witnessing this drama. Everyone applauded the justice metted out and went home happy at the thought of some supreme power which balances injustice.
That night, the urchin slept on the pavement accompanied by the old man and the rest of the homeless...hungry again.
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