1 Picture 1 Story Week #82: A Busy Holiday
My wife is also sleeping right now, and she knows that today is a holiday, so she will sleep till late today. There are many things we cannot do even if we want to. Just like we cannot stop inflation even if we want to. Yes, inflation reminded me—it has been two months since I paid the electricity bill because their servers were down.
If I do not pay the bill this month, they disconnect, so I thought I would get it done during this holiday. However, paying the electricity and water bills is also no less than a headache. On holidays, bills are paid only for half the day. Then there is such a long queue that it is not worth asking. I understand my half of the day will be spent on this process.
I look at the watch. It is seven in the morning. I leave my wife sleeping at home and go out for a stroll. Actually, in an effort to reduce household expenses, my wife stopped the newspaper, and now I go for a morning stroll and read the newspaper while standing at the tea stall.
However, initially, when I read the newspaper, the tea vendor always stared at me with contempt and would come and ask, "Sir, will you have tea?" When I refused, he would make a bad face.
Sometimes, it happened that he directly told me, "Sir, let the customers sit. It is business time. You will read the newspaper for free and go away. Our business will suffer."
I really felt very bad when he said such things. Because of this feeling, now sometimes I order him half a cup of tea or a cigarette, and in return, he lets me read the newspaper quietly.
At the tea stall, I first check my horoscope, then the weather. The horoscope says that today I will get some good news and I will earn money. I think that today is the twentieth of the month, so there was no possibility of earning money but only expenses.
The same is the condition of the weather. It says that the sky will be clear, but there may be light drizzle at some places. But here there are chances of heavy rain since morning.
The entire newspaper is filled with the statements of politicians and ministers. I sip half a cup of tea, put the newspaper aside, and think that now I should also give up smoking. This is a good idea both from the point of view of health and saving money.
I see that it is eight o'clock, and the clouds are getting dense in the sky. I have to go to the electricity office soon after bathing; otherwise, the rain might ruin everything.
I return home with fast steps. At home, my wife is making a fuss in the kitchen. This is her daily irritation, which comes out on the utensils in the kitchen, which I ignore like every day. But then her irritated voice comes—'The gas has finished. For so many days I have been telling you to get it booked... but you never listen..'.
'The gas prices have also increased,' I say.
'So?'
'So... so nothing. I have to go to the electricity office today to pay the bill'.
'First, make some arrangements for the gas.'
I go into the bathroom to take a bath. My wife's murmuring gets lost in the noise of the tap water. By the time I come out of the bathroom after bathing, my wife has prepared breakfast.
'A little gas came out by tilting the cylinder, but somehow arrange for gas from somewhere by noon; otherwise, food will not be cooked.
'It's okay... I will get it booked while going to pay the electricity bill'.
"No booking... gas should come today."
I do not answer and get ready and leave the house. It is ten o'clock. By the time I reached the electric office, there was a long queue of people paying their bills. It does not seem that my turn will come even within two hours.
The counter clerk is so lazy that he is taking ten minutes on each person. People are grumbling and cursing the laziness of the government employees.
I look at the clock; it is almost 11:30. There are still five to seven people in the queue. My anxiety increases. It seems that my turn will not come today.
Every moment is getting heavy. It is 11:50. There are still two people ahead of me. I am in a hurry—brother, please hurry up. The counter clerk looks at me angrily. There is a scorn in his scolding.
'I am just working. I am not killing any flies.' I know that there is no point in arguing with the clerk; otherwise, he will close the counter right away. Anyway, my turn finally comes. There are still five minutes left for the clock to strike twelve. As soon as I hand over the bill receipt to him, he gets up. I get annoyed at his action but am unable to say anything.
After five minutes, the clerk announces that the time is over; come tomorrow.
'I have been standing for two hours, sir… Please collect the bill… otherwise…
'Otherwise what? We have also been working for two hours; if you were in such a hurry, then why didn't you come early?
'Please, sir... I have come here with great difficulty... I would be grateful..'. There is such a humility on my face that the clerk starts to soften a little.
—'Okay, bring it... but everyone else, please come tomorrow.' I feel a little relieved. Finally my bill is paid, but I could hear people behind me, "Please, sir... Please, sir..."
I left the voices behind.
The rain has become even more intense outside. The clock is showing 12:30. Now I have to rush to the gas station immediately, or else food will not be cooked at home. By the time I reach the gas station, it is 1:30, but the rain does not stop. I am more than half drenched.
On reaching the gas station, I came to know that today was a holiday. 'Oh God, what will happen now?'
I ask people around. No one was sure, but just then a man came to me.
'Do you want gas?'
'Yes.'
'You will pay thirty percent extra.'
'This is too much.'
'If you want to buy it, then say yes or go.'
I remember my wife's face filled with irritation and frustration. I immediately said yes.
'How much will it cost?'
'Seven hundred rupees.' I search my purse. There are only five hundred rupees in my purse. I hand over five hundred rupees to him.
'Will you deliver the cylinder home'? I will pay the rest at home.'
'It will cost fifty rupees extra to deliver the cylinder home.' He is taking advantage of my helplessness. I say, This is too much.'
'It is not too much. First of all, it is a holiday, and on top of that, he is looking at the weather.' I get irritated, but I can't do anything. I ask him to deliver the cylinder to my house and go with him.
It is two o'clock. Somehow I reach home with the cylinder. It is already half past two. I pay the gas man and send him away.
My wife also gets the cylinder placed in the kitchen without saying anything to me and starts cooking. The whistle of the cooker and the smell of the food increase my hunger even more.
Meanwhile, I start making plans to pacify my upset wife. By half past three the food is ready, and I sit down to eat quickly. The food is looking a little more delicious today. I switch on the TV to watch TV for a while in a relaxed posture, but there is no electricity. These days there is a power cut of seven to eight hours.
I go back to bed and lie down. But I can't sleep. I keep looking at the clock; it is already half past four. I think of ways to convince my wife and get up and go to the kitchen where she is making tea. This poor lady does not get any rest even on a holiday except for sleeping a little longer in the morning. I take her in my arms from behind. She gets irritated.
'What are you doing... leave me; the window is open; someone might see us.'
'If someone sees, let them see.' I was in a romantic mood.
'What, are you in the mood for fun?' There is mischief in my wife's eyes. Her anger has disappeared. I like this style of hers, as all the problems disappear in her smile.
My wife lovingly scolds me, 'Now leave your childishness and come and have tea.' I take a cup of tea and come with her to the drawing room. By now electricity has also come. We start drinking tea while watching TV.
It is 5:30 in the evening. My wife asks me if we should go to the market. I don't want to spoil her mood. However, I start calculating the expenses incurred today.
'Well... the weather is pleasant, and I don't want to spoil my holiday.' I think and immediately start getting ready for the market.
We are in the market. It is 7 in the evening. Darkness has started to set in. The market is glittering all around.
'It has been so long since we went to the market in such good weather... right?' My wife says, and I nod in agreement. While walking, we come in front of a shopping mall. The mall is glittering in colorful lights and is teasing the entire city with its grandeur and splendor.
Anyway, there is a long line of vehicles in front of the mall, and the people boarding and alighting from them are creating a feeling of inferiority in me. They seem to have come from some other world. Their pockets are full of money, and there is no sign of any sorrow, trouble, or difficulty on their faces.
Inside the mall, amidst the glittering lights, there is a whole market of goods on which their price tags are attached. Here everything is branded, and the brand has the price. People here buy things according to the brand, not according to their need.
I saw an ultra-modern girl standing next to me quickly pick up a pair of jeans and a top and go into the trial room to try them on. Two minutes later, she comes out, makes the payment with the credit card, and walks out of the mall carelessly.
My wife is looking at all the things there with greedy eyes, then gets disappointed after reading their prices and quietly puts them back in their place. After buying some essential items, we come out of that world of glittering lights. It is 8:30.
After eating street food on the way, we return home with all our unfulfilled desires. After all, I have to get up early for the office in the morning.
I invite @sur-riti, @senehasa and @josepha for this contest by @suboohi
https://x.com/simaodev11/status/1910491914501259363