The very first thing which I do after waking up is approach the shelf near by the window where tooth brush and COLGATE paste are kept. (Free advertisement of Colgate…:D). Since, the shelf is near by the window, sometimes intentionally, more often unintentionally, I look over the things going on outside the window. During weekdays, I notice an already watered small green plant just across the road and the closed FANTASY Mall. During weekends, such as today, I notice the same plant, the opened FANTASY Mall and additionally a juice wale uncle with a wooden stall along with his beach umbrella and a chair who get settles near by the small green plant.
I have been observing that Juice wale uncle since the time I have started living in this PG(For the ones who are confused, what does a PG mean, It’s abbreviation for Paying Guest). I am still not sure, what is it exactly different about him which made me write. He is an upper middle aged man with wheatish complexion and an athletic body with a height of almost 5’7”. The most weird or unusual thing I have noticed about him is that he never smiles. He comes with his stall at almost 9:00 AM every morning, opens up his beach umbrella and starts working. I have never seen him gossiping with the customers un- necessarily. That’s kind of weird, isn’t it? I mean I avoid talking to people whenever I am very sad. So, does this mean he is always unhappy and dejected from life?
Since, assuming things in life is not a good practice, I thought it would not be a bad idea to go have a glass of juice and in turn talk to him for a while. Let me tell you, though I do not hate lime(in hindi, it’s called Mausami ) juice but I do not like it either.. Luckily when I went to have the juice, he also had oranges in his stock.I asked for an orange juice. While, he was peeling oranges, I tried starting a conversation with him.
I asked “Uncle, aap kahan se ho?”
He answered “Banaras janti ho tum?Prayag ke pass, vahin se.”
I answered ”Haan Uncle, jaanti hun, mere ghar se jyada door nahi hai.”
As expected, he did ask the next question but without any interest, just for formality.( This is how I felt, I might be wrong..May be that would be the part of his nature and would be a no big deal for the people living with him.)
He asked ”Tum kahan se ho?”
I answered ”Patna jante ho aap?Vahin se..”
I did see a feeling of excitement though for not more than 1 micro second on his face while saying, “vo to hamare Varanasi se kaafi paas hai, nahi?”
By now, I had the orange juice in my hand.
I answered ”Haan Uncle, paas hai.”
Since we both agreed that our houses are very near, I should have called him to visit my home once, if only he gets to visit Patna ever. But never mind, I will do it next time.
I finished the juice and asked “Kitna hua?”
He answered” 12 Rupees.” Point to be noted, he said 12 rupees, he didn’t say, 12 rupaye. And, I don’t like people who start and even continue their conversation in English especially if they held up from a Hindi originated place. I tend to take it as a show off. Anyway, Juice wale uncle had not done anything as such to that extent; I tried ignoring his 12 Rupees answer. By now, I had finished my juice. I crushed the plastic glass, dumped it into the dustbin and came back.
Clearly, I couldn’t get the answer for my curiosity. In fact, I didn’t feel it would be appropriate to ask any such type of question to him, given that I was a complete stranger to him. I realized, in order to get the answer for my question, I will have to be a regular customer of his. So, I am just waiting for the season of oranges to come back…:)
