A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya

That day, he came down from the
office. The car didn’t start. Most people
had left. He started feeling helpless and
unsafe. People were passing by but nobody
was concerned in the least. Could it ever
happen in the plant? He had just to indicate
to anyone passing by, and he would have
stood there with folded hands, for carrying
out his orders. By now, tens of people
would have assembled. Besides, another
vehicle would have come quickly.
Seeing no other scope, he concentrated
on his engineering knowledge and started
checking the battery terminals after opening
the bonnet. He was always engrossed in
the intricacies of the huge machines of
the plant, he never paid any attention
to the car. Today, this machine is becoming
a challenge. Along with sweat, his patience
also started shedding. He also started
panting. Whom to approach for help? Till
now, people have been approaching him
for help. Now when he has come to the
state of seeking help, he realized the pain
of this situation.
He was not having the ear machine,
still it was as if he was hearing the loud
sounds of the laugh of people. Although
everybody was going his own way in a
detached manner, he was feeling as if
everyone was passing comments on his
helplessness.
From time to time, he was looking
at the passers by with the hope that on
eye contact, somebody might enquire, but
here everybody seemed accustomed to
avert such a glance. He was engaged in
the wires of the car. Theoretically, he
was grasping the snag, but did not have
the courage to open the distributor with
the spanner and screwdriver. Giving up,
he locked the car and asked the shopkeeper
in front— ‘Where can I find a mechanic?’
The shopkeeper guided him. He set
out in that direction pessimistically. He
was feeling awkward. Such a big engineer
of such a huge plant is dependant today
on a small-time mechanic.
‘It is the vagaries of times’, he consoled
himself. After crossing dirty lanes, he
enquired about the mechanic. He found
the mechanic in a thatch near the drain.
’The car is just not starting’, he said humbly.
‘I will check immediately; what is the
make?’
’Ambassador.’
‘Ok’, the mechanic heard and got busy
with his work. Two more people were
standing. After repairs, he started talking
to them. He kept on looking at him for
a few minutes. Then he started feeling
restless due to this neglect. Darkness had
also started spreading and a sense of
insecurity had started thickening in him.
‘That car...’
‘We will just go there, Sahib.’
January-March 2012 :: 99