Sending cards, instead of writing letters always saves time. Whenever need to write a letter arises, time always seems a precious commodity. What a high it is for me when I while away time in any card shop or hip and happening places. The feeling never leaves me that I have arrived! O yes, I belong to the group I always aspired for. I visited one particular Card ‘n’ Gift shop. The handsome hunk at the counter had just presented an item from the shelf to his girlfriend or rather one of his girlfriends. She was smile personified and her heart was brimming with love for the guy.
When that hunk packed off his female friend, while entering into the shop somewhere along the way he donned his business acumen. Perhaps shadow of Daddy Dear was lurking in the corner of his mind. He strengthened out his balance sheet. Of course, he charged more from us mere lambs for our items by levying “girlfriend tax”. It only cost us few rupees.
In such a swanky affluent shop how could we have protested for being charged extra personal tax?
The place was not far away from my home. Why not take a Rickshaw? No point in acquiring a tan, the Sun God was hell-bent upon giving each and everyone in that June afternoon. Getting a rickshaw was no problem. I was happy after my little shopping. The days always look bright and sky so blue after a little bit of shopping. I was jolted out of my happiness by rickshawallah. A thin line of sweat was underlining his left ear. Right ear was out of my view. His shirt was clinging to his back in this oppressive heat. I wanted to get away from the scorching sun as soon as possible.
“OK, how much?” No need to speak a full and proper sentence.
“Rs. _ _. __”
“How can you charge so much”?
“Madam, its very hot. And every one charges the same amount.”
“But I pay that amount from red signal.”
“Here take this, or I am going”. These cute little threats never cease to be effective.
“OK.” He simply resigned to his fate.
Wow! That was easier. This one turned out a lamb! Others were not so obliging. They kept on arguing till few interested neighbors peeked out of their balcony or window, from wherever they could grab the crumbs of this free show.
Entering into my room, I remembered that handsome hunk who charged me the same “extra” I saved from my rickshaw ride. I evened out my balance sheet too. I was happy with my smartness.
