The two were proud to leave their rooms shipshape..and as when walking the passageway,met a few curious onlookers(who were later recognized as classmates or friends or acquaintances).When inquired Subrahmanyan said in a lofty elevated tone "Yes ...I am doleful over this.. I couldn't stay this week with you guys for the tech fest"...and just then came Abhishek's sardonic rejoinder "indeed,you were sobbing all night for a planned absence".
Rushing to the nearby tuk-tuk they placed their baggage and reached the Pilani bus stand."The trains should be on time and we won't buy a ticket this time..its cheaper to bribe the TT than shell 150 rupees at the counter" remarked Subrahmanyan in a self-assuring wobble.
Abhishek opened his wallet saying "tuh tera das baad mein de diyo".Its 50-50 you see and every rupee needs to be divided(even if the 50 paisas were defunct) to get even with the math of travelling and walked past the bus before the train.
Evidently,Subrahmanyan tried keeping pace with his portly friend with a faster gait except for when he stooped and exclaimed "Where is your laundry bag??"
"scoot.. scoot and catch the driver " and there ran Subrahmanyan as if somebody had planted a foot on his back.But the tuk -tuk was nowhere to be seen...spotting every automobile with yellow or black paint seemed the only recourse.
..yet Abhishek asked "After all what was the fortune concealed in that bag..you might as well forget the Trousers "..
"But.. But I fell violated when I lose a bag" said Subrahmanyan..(this was not the first time a bag was left to the mercy of stranger or a tuk-tuk driver who was referred as a "chauffeur" to signal an upper class suburban upbringing).But more so as it seemed opprobrious to lose a bag to mindlessness.The dreadful thought of being reminded "If you cannot keep your things in order,how could you possibly claim to have learned to live alone in a hostel for 4 years" at home, made him pursue his possession with dogged determination.The huff and puff in chasing autos to descry the driver turned fruitless.
Abhishek was raring to go and said "This is what happens when you act over genteel".
"I am catching the bus and you can find the bag and come late".
It wasn't very dignified to return but Subrahmanyan did.Careful not to be spotted by anyone who had met him while leaving..he slithered like a serpent into the hostel and disappeared into his room.The fitful afternoon nap was interrupted when it struck "Ohh I should have checked in cannaught(the Market place in the university )".Late reflexes are commonplace with Subrahmanyan and yet he relishes to welcome them like a hoped-for friend on a summer visit.
Reaching cannaught with autos parked with drivers chatting and fuming beedis made him look for the fateful "chauffeur" .Upon spotted, the guy was relieved to give back the bag and pronounce "I did not even open it" ..
It was nightfall before Subrahmanyan could trod towards the stand with an itchy feet to board the bus to Delhi.Thankfully this time ,he met no inquiring onlookers , acquaintances or friends.
