The Beginning Of My End

It was the month of January, and Delhi was freezing. By the time the train touched the New Delhi railway station, it was 7.40 pm, and dark. I am basically from Faizabad District in Uttar Pradesh, and had got a job offer in Delhi after a lot of effort. This was my first visit to the capital of our country. I am allergic to cold, and my mother had also advised me to keep myself protected, so I had covered myself from head to toe.

I was wearing a thick sweater knit by my mother, and a huge jacket over it. But to tell you the truth, I could still feel the chill. My face was covered with a muffler like a new bride covers her face in front of her father-in-law. I hope you have got the idea of how cold it must have been.

Apart from the two heavy bags, I was also carrying a smaller bag on my shoulder. Due to the thick fog, the breath that I exhaled appeared as if I was smoking a cigarette. Several auto-drivers surrounded me, and tried to lure me … I was scared as I had heard many frightening stories about the street-smart people of Delhi. I chose an auto-driver whose face was hidden behind a monkey-cap, but he appeared to be in his late twenties. I was 27, so thought he would give me a good company on the route. I waved at him, and without a second’s delay, he took the bags from my hand and adjusted them in his auto. As soon as I settled in the seat, he turned around and very stylishly asked me – “Where do you want to go, Sir?”

After a tiring journey in the packed compartment of the train, sitting in an open auto, and being addressed as “Sir” made me feel like a king. Folding my legs, I said in a regal tone - “Take me to Green Park”.

He started his auto and switched on a music player, playing old film songs. After a while it got boring, so I asked him to put the music off. It turned out to be a big mistake, for now he, unexpectedly, got switched on as a tape recorder….

He asked me – “You appear to be from outside Delhi?”

“Yes,” I said, “I am from Faizabad. Are you from Delhi?

He proudly said, “No Sir, I am from your neighborhood, Barabanki. By the way, what is your name?”

I replied “Avinash Sharma. and yours?”

He paused for a while, and said - “My parents had kept my name as Lakshmi Narayan, but it was too long. So I shortened it to Lallu.”

I found both the names very amusing, but I didn’t show my emotions. I asked him – “Tell me one thing… if you had to become an auto-driver, you could have done it nearer home in Lucknow… why did you come to Delhi?”

“You are right Sir, but I fell in love with a girl in Delhi. That is why I am stuck here.” He said with a grim voice.

I laughed and said “I have heard people become blind in love. For the first time in my life I am seeing someone who has become an auto-driver.”

He replied – “I feel happy when I see her. And when I have enough money, we spend some good time together.”

“And what are your marriage plans with her? I asked.

He replied, “That is the problem, already married”.

I was surprised “That is great. You love her, and got married, then where is the problem?”

In a sad tone he replied “You are not getting it…. She has got married. I am still a bachelor. One day I had called her number by mistake … and fell in love with her voice. Our talks started and we fell in love. Strangely, she never told me that she was already married and mother of a child. When I came to Delhi to meet her, then she told me. My heart was broken. But I was madly in love with her. We meet sometimes, and spend some good time, whenever possible. You are new to Delhi. Beware of Delhi girls. Here it is a fashion among girls to keep many boyfriends. Don’t fall in love… you might get cheated.”

I smiled. A person who was himself madly in love with a married woman was giving me these tips. Still, I empathised with him. Putting my hands on his shoulder I said “Oh… that is terrible. Why don’t you find a new girl for yourself?”

He thought for a while, and then said “I am trying for it… have sent friend request to many girls on facebook. Let’s see when I get lucky.”

I smiled and thought our country has really progressed. What better proof of the success of Digital India than an Auto driver who is looking for a girlfriend on facebook.

A little later we reached my destination, Green Park. Taking my bags out, I asked him the fare.

He looked at the Meter, and said “150 Rupees, Sir”

I thought, the train ticket from Faizabad to Delhi cost me 300 Rupees, and he was asking me 150 rupees for just a small distance. Maybe he was fleecing me because I was an outsider.

Very politely I said, ”Bhayya, I hope you are not over-charging me. We are from neighboring cities.”

Clearing dirt from his ear, he said “Look at the Meter, Sir. I am not overcharging you. I don’t have to buy a Jaguar.”

I teased him, “You don’t need a Jaguar, you need a lover”

We both laughed. I paid him the money and he went away.

I was feeling a bit tired now, and badly wanted a cup of tea. I looked around and found a tea-stall across the road. I crossed the road to find a very old man preparing tea on an oil-stove. He must have been around 70 years old. I politely asked him to make a fresh cup of tea. He looked at me, even as he pumped the stove, and pointing towards a chair, asked me to sit down.

Handing me tea, he asked if I would also have biscuit. I replied in negative. With every sip of tea, I felt recharged. Can’t say whether it was due to the tea or something else, but I was feeling much better. Taking out money from my pocket, I asked him “How much?”

He said “10 Rupees”

Handing him the money, I asked “Uncle, do you know of some cheap room on rent, or PG (Paying Guest) accommodation nearby?”

He pointed towards a lane and said “Go in that lane… On the left hand side, the sixth building is known as “Sharma Building”. There you will find the cheapest room.”

I was glad I had bumped into the right man. I picked up my luggage and started counting the buildings as I walked inside the lane. Soon I was in front of the sixth building with a huge board outside which read “Sharma Building”. As soon as I entered the building, a big rat welcomed me. In my entire life I had never seen such a giant rat.

Inside the office I saw a Nepali looking man, age around 45, sitting in a chair and smoking Beedi. I was sure this guy couldn’t be the owner. In front of him a young boy was standing, who left as soon as I entered the office. On seeing me, the Nepali took a puff from his Beedi, and asked me “What do you want?”

I said “I want a room. I had enquired outside and was told that we get the cheapest rooms here.”

He again took a puff and said “You are right, we have the cheapest rooms, but no room is vacant as of now.”

My heart broke like a boy’s heart breaks when a girl refuses his love proposal. I tried once more, but he again refused. I asked him if he was aware of any nearby place… and he rudely said “Go out and find on your own”.

I realised that he was a very cunning person. I lifted my bags, and with a heavy heart, started to leave. But now the bags seemed much heavier, perhaps, due to my broken heart. I decided to look for another place.

With headphone in my ears, as I was walking, I suddenly felt as if someone was calling me. I turned around and found the Nepali was running towards me. I was surprised and thought maybe I had forgotten some stuff in his office. Breathing heavily, he stopped near me and said ”Are you deaf? I have been calling you for so long.”

Taking out ear-phone plugs from my ears, I said “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you because of these.“

He looked in my eyes, and said “Do you want a room?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I said “Yes. But you said you don’t have any vacant room”

He said “There is a room on the terrace. Will that suit you?”

As soon as I nodded in yes, he said “The rent is 7000 Rupees. Can you afford it?”

This was way below Rs. 10,000 I had expected. But afraid that he might increase the rent on seeing me happy, with a straight face, I said “Yes. I think I can afford it”

He happily turned around, and I followed him. Now my bags seemed much lighter. We reached his office and settled down.

“What do you do?” he asked.

“I have got a job in a company nearby.” I replied.

He took out a Form and asked me to fill it, and also asked for a photograph to stick on it. I hurriedly filled the form, and took out several photographs from my purse and began looking for the best ones.

 “We don’t have to garland your photograph… why are you taking so much time?” He sharply reacted.

I knew he was rude, but never thought he could be so offensive. I was very angry, but without uttering a word, I handed him a photograph. I had realized that this man was very important for me now. But I was really repulsed when I saw him sticking the photograph on the form with his spit. It was disgusting, but I kept quiet.

Handing me the keys, he said “Go to the top floor. And yes, the doors won’t open after 12 at night. You will have to return before that.”

I asked “I hope there is no problem of water or electricity”

He again made a face and said “There is no issue of water, but electricity goes, sometimes. Don’t expect a five star hotel in this rent.”

Seriously, he was a crooked person. In my heart I was abusing him, but overtly I smiled at him, and started walking up the stairs with my bags.