There is no god; god left us long time back but He left back one commandment which is the law of karma. This short story deals with this law of modern era where the result of our karma is instant like our instant coffee.
I usually get up late but that day was a big day and I was waiting for this day since long. I got out of my bed, no, I would say I jumped out of my bed and took my towel and was ready to take a shower. While bathing I was thinking of this lifetime opportunity that I had just chanced upon. I was an MBA and was working in sales with a small firm and a few days back, I had received a call from this company — a big name in the market. I was sure if I hit it right, my days would change for better.
In the past too I had missed some glorious opportunities but this time I didn’t want anything to go wrong and I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. Though I had faced umpteen number of interviews, yet I had butterflies in my stomach and was thinking of all the probable questions and their answers enacting out in front of the mirror. My excitement was at its peak for it was the company that I always wanted to work for.
I was going to face the best so I too needed to be the best. With this thought in mind, I wondered what should I wear for the interview. Well, the absolutely safest option was my favourite blue shirt and black trouser and of course, that tie which Tina had gifted me on my birthday.
I got ready, locked the door and was about to leave when I thought to myself and ascertained if everything was in order. I meant the lights and all for otherwise my landlord, Mr Sharma, would waste no time in calling me up and giving a good lecture on electricity bill. To avoid any embarrassment, I unlocked the door and was about to move out when I realised that I had not picked up my car keys. So I went back to pick them up.
Soon I was running down the stairs as I had no patience to wait for the lift. I reached my car, unlocked it and got inside. With a deep breath I started the car and pulled out of my building.
On the way, I decided to take a shortcut as this would save plenty of my time and I would reach the venue well before the interview and could relax and prepare myself. At that moment, I was only planning like a student preparing at the last moment for his exams.
But it seemed that the traffic and time had other plans for me. They kept me back and finally I reached the interview venue in the nick of time. Just as I was about to park my car in the only parking slot left, a car from nowhere suddenly screeched in and took the last slot.
This was the last straw and it made me furious. Where was I supposed to park my car? It would again take a long time to find a parking place and by that time I might end up missing the interview call. As this was going on in my mind, in a fit of anger and frustration I started shouting at the man, “What the hell do you think you are doing? Who do you think you are? Are you blind? Can’t you see that I was about to park my car and you from nowhere stepped in and took my space!” It was strange; the man was not reacting at all, as if he was not listening to me at all. This made me feel insulted and I held him from the shoulder so that he could come face to face with me. I pulled him by the collar and shouted, “Do you think I’m mad that am talking to you and you are pretending not to listen to me at all! You are insulting me and you can’t get away with this. I will make you pay for this.”
Saying this I made it a point that I note down the vehicle number so that I could teach him a lesson. Abusing him with all the words I knew I vented my anger but he slightly put my hands off his collar and went away without a frown on his forehead.
That arguably was enough to put me at my argumentative best and I was about to start off again but the man walked off without saying a word. I was not convinced but in the process I lost my mind and it took me a good lot of time to calm down. I was so agitated that in the waiting room too I was not able to sit at one place. I was pacing all over the place.
The lady at the reception requested me a number of times to be seated but I could not take this incident out of my mind and was wondering how could someone walk off like this so casually without a word as if nothing had happened! Didn’t he realise at all that because of him I could have missed my appointment?
However, at the back of my mind I was thinking about the way that man had reacted. I had abused him and told him whatever came to my mouth and even held him by his collar but he coolly walked off without saying a word or even resisting. It was rather strange in today’s world to not react where everyone is waiting for a small chance to pounce on the other.
(Contibuted by Paromita Chakraborty),
(To be concluded next week)
