Thursday, August 19, 2004
Curses and Prayers.
Some days just start great. Today was not one of them.
I got up late, spent extra time in the washroom, and by the time I got to my wardrobe, the clock was already showing the wrong side of half past seven. I almost decided not to go to the office, but it was the last day before that boss of mine resumed duty after his vacations, and I did not want him to be getting ideas. So, I got ready, albiet half heartedly.
Once I was through with my trying-to-look-good business, I grabbed the keys, the jacket, the copies of Baithak (MIT's newsletter) and rushed off to the car. It was hot and humid, and as I threw all the things in the back seat, I wondered when the weather would become more bearable. And then it came, the second surprise of the day - the car would not start. The ignition just went hisssss ... I cursed.
The battery looked alright, and the fuel guage looked as if it had had a tough day at work. So, I ran to the neighbours, who happen to be the in-laws also, and grabbed their car to get me a gallon of petrol. Huffing and puffing, I put the petrol in the car, discarded the gallon carefully, and got busy with the ignition. Hissss .... I cursed.
The old thoughts began to invade yet again. It was the riba at work. Today, of all the days, when the salary is to be transferred, the car decides to claim its monthly share - three days prior to the salary getting credited to my account. I should have stuck with Maersk. Thinking of Maersk reminded me of the folly I had to face every morning now ... the new job. The job I did not like one bit, but had to do because leaving it meant the company would put an employment ban on me, and debar me from entering the country. Not an option I could explore... I cursed.
Back to the day with the unenviable start ... tried calling office to let them know about the car trouble. No luck there either - was out of credit. So, I trudged to the shop at the corner and purchased a calling card. Sweating profusely by now, as I dialed the numbers I could already hear their sniggering and wise-cracks about the age of my car(s). Ramon answered the phone with the second bell, and laughed at my latest brush with car-trouble. Next, I called Anu Bhai, the Mercedes specialist. He promised to be here in no-time but arrived a good two hours later. I was catching up on lost sleep when I heard him honking outside. Hastily, I splashed some water on my face and ran to answer the door-bell. Anu Bhai tried to jump-start the car, but all he got was the hissss ... Then, Anu Bhai's assistant sat behind the steering wheel, put the gear in N, and started the car as if there were never any trouble at all... I cursed.
The rest of the day passed without an incident until Aziza walked out at the end of that meeting at FC, and refused to take my calls thereafter. I hope it was not me she got cross with. I hope it was not I who gave her that bout of depression - VGA said she was depressed. I did not curse this time...
... I prayed.
¶ 8/19/2004 02:05:00 AM I got up late, spent extra time in the washroom, and by the time I got to my wardrobe, the clock was already showing the wrong side of half past seven. I almost decided not to go to the office, but it was the last day before that boss of mine resumed duty after his vacations, and I did not want him to be getting ideas. So, I got ready, albiet half heartedly.
Once I was through with my trying-to-look-good business, I grabbed the keys, the jacket, the copies of Baithak (MIT's newsletter) and rushed off to the car. It was hot and humid, and as I threw all the things in the back seat, I wondered when the weather would become more bearable. And then it came, the second surprise of the day - the car would not start. The ignition just went hisssss ... I cursed.
The battery looked alright, and the fuel guage looked as if it had had a tough day at work. So, I ran to the neighbours, who happen to be the in-laws also, and grabbed their car to get me a gallon of petrol. Huffing and puffing, I put the petrol in the car, discarded the gallon carefully, and got busy with the ignition. Hissss .... I cursed.
The old thoughts began to invade yet again. It was the riba at work. Today, of all the days, when the salary is to be transferred, the car decides to claim its monthly share - three days prior to the salary getting credited to my account. I should have stuck with Maersk. Thinking of Maersk reminded me of the folly I had to face every morning now ... the new job. The job I did not like one bit, but had to do because leaving it meant the company would put an employment ban on me, and debar me from entering the country. Not an option I could explore... I cursed.
Back to the day with the unenviable start ... tried calling office to let them know about the car trouble. No luck there either - was out of credit. So, I trudged to the shop at the corner and purchased a calling card. Sweating profusely by now, as I dialed the numbers I could already hear their sniggering and wise-cracks about the age of my car(s). Ramon answered the phone with the second bell, and laughed at my latest brush with car-trouble. Next, I called Anu Bhai, the Mercedes specialist. He promised to be here in no-time but arrived a good two hours later. I was catching up on lost sleep when I heard him honking outside. Hastily, I splashed some water on my face and ran to answer the door-bell. Anu Bhai tried to jump-start the car, but all he got was the hissss ... Then, Anu Bhai's assistant sat behind the steering wheel, put the gear in N, and started the car as if there were never any trouble at all... I cursed.
The rest of the day passed without an incident until Aziza walked out at the end of that meeting at FC, and refused to take my calls thereafter. I hope it was not me she got cross with. I hope it was not I who gave her that bout of depression - VGA said she was depressed. I did not curse this time...
... I prayed.
