15 January 2009

Chaooda Hajaar ka Mobile

Just a few paces from where I live, is a chat and paani puri (pucchka for the purists) stall. A small boy of around 10-12 years makes things like tikki chat, samosa chat, dahi puri and others in that kinship. I haunt this place regularly during evenings, and the boy knows my instructions (thoda dahi maar ke, imli paani zyaada). This is what happened today :-

He prepared my usual order and I began savoring it. He asked "Bhaiya, aapke paas mobile hoga" (god bless him for calling me bhaiya and not uncle!). I replied, with the chaat slurping in my mouth "Hai, kahe ko chahiye tereko". "Samosa khatam ho gaya hai, phone kar ke ...." something he said which escaped me. I took out my cell and opened it for him. He took it from me and deftly dialled the number. It rang and he spoke into the live phone in a tongue which I did not comprehend. After hanging up, he asked me with a humble smile, "Bhaiya, kitna hua call ka". I replied "Nahi, rehne do" and pocketed my instrument. The sensuous delight of the chat engulfed me.
I then asked him, "Bihar se ho?". "Nahi, UP". I smiled at him. He looked at me and sheepishly asked, as if he had been wanting to ask for long "Bhaiya, aapka mobile kitne ka hai?". His voice was incoherent, I guess because of the shyness and I blurted a "Kya" ; repeated he, "Aapka mobile kitne ka hai?". By this time I had paid him and was turning to leave. I replied "Chaooda Hajaar" in an affected Bihari accent. Instantly his face lit up and he exclaimed, pleased with himself and the eyes twinkling with excitement "Aaj maine chaooda hajaar ke phone se baat ki!". I didnt say anything, but if anyone would have captured my face, a beatific smile would have landscaped my otherwise desolate facial geography.

As I walked away, I looked back and saw him mashing the tikki, sprinkling the masala, crushing the pucchka into an assemblage of scrumptious snack in a practiced, error free routine. However, the ear to ear grin on his face as he went about this mundanity was something new. I had left him happy.

The chaooda hajaar ka mobile lies here in front of me as I write this. It has failed to ring happiness even once. Such is the sting called Life.

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12 comments

Blogger EQUINOX kuchh to bolti...

Nice... very well put! I sorely miss such interactions in life here.

10:45 PM  
Blogger Jas B kuchh to bolti...

"Dil hai chota sa, choti si aasha"
Happiness truly comes from the most simple of things! :)

And yeah, if my cellular phone ever decided to ring happiness, it would either be dead, or left at home or work or I would fail to find it in the black hole that is my handbag! :D

Excellent post by the way!

2:30 AM  
Blogger seriously_frivolous kuchh to bolti...

loved it! exactly the kinda read that brings a smile on to your face :)

10:08 PM  
Blogger Chica, Cienna, and Cali kuchh to bolti...

beautifully told tale, 666 :)

10:34 PM  
Blogger Unknown kuchh to bolti...

Life is all about those small moments..i do miss them severely . Well written 666.

7:46 AM  
Blogger Solitaire kuchh to bolti...

Aaj maine chaooda hajaar ke phone se baat ki!.........that really got a big smile on my face after long....n very well put 666

9:30 AM  
Blogger Unknown kuchh to bolti...

@ Equinox - Thanks. Yes such things can only be experienced in India. One of the 'fors' in my reverse migration

@ Jas - I have realized as we grow old and see more of life, such small pleasures and joys disappear. Thats one reason why I blog!! to preserve them.

@ seriously frivolous - Thanks!

@ Moi - Btw this was not a figment of my morbid imagination :-)

@ Yogsma - Thanks! and I wish you get to savour these moments as well.

@ Solitaire - Thanks! Glad to have brought a smile.

7:52 AM  
Blogger Neer kuchh to bolti...

ekdum khush kar diya!

10:20 AM  
Blogger Unknown kuchh to bolti...

@ Neers

Khush raho! :-)

5:36 PM  
Blogger Radha kuchh to bolti...

loved that little anecdote :)

6:13 PM  
Blogger NN kuchh to bolti...

Authentic Pani Poori - 10 Rupees
Stylish Mobile Phone - 14,000 Rupees
Satisfaction from smile on pani pooriwals face after using your mobile - Priceless.

10:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown kuchh to bolti...

@ Radha

Enjoy! and take care :-)

@ NN

Arre thanks for the guest comment. Havent seen you around for long. I am sure 'Houston, we have a problem'!!

6:29 AM  

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