(This is the second part of the series that began here . If you like it, and would want to be updated whenever I post the subsequent parts, you might want to subscribe to the posts via email)
All of this I did not learn only by observing them, but also by listening to their talk that ranged from religion to philosophy to studies. But, now, my reader, I think I have told you enough about them, so let us get into the story mode, where it gets interesting.
My interest in them had began to wane, for they were nothing but two city born youth living the village life , not out of choice but by force. Most of the time they would be cursing their luck for bringing them into this sleepy village, while people their age were having fun in the cities. At times though they did thank their stars for giving them a learning experience like no other, not only professionally but as an individual. Being among the few well educated people in the village they were respected and no one passed them by without wishing them. Both of them liked this, though they never admitted it to each other, nor even to themselves.
So, as one day as I was thinking about moving on their conversation got interesting.
That day it was Rahul, Vikas and Ramesh, the bank clerk, sitting in the evening sun and just talking over a cup of tea. As usual it was Vikas who started the conversation:
“Wow…how peaceful and silent this place is. We could never get to see that in the city.”
“True, but after two years this tends to get a little bit boring,” Rahul replied.
“I never found it interesting in the first place,” said Ramesh.
Vikas looked at them with a frown on his face.
“Out of all the things here, what do you hate the most?” Vikas asked.
“I would love it if it was a little bigger and the things that we are used to were available in the shops,” answered Rahul.
“Do you ever say a bad thing about anything?” Vikas shot back. Rahul smiled but did not say anything in return. Then they both looked at Ramesh.
“I don’t think I like anything about this place. Is there anything to be liked here? I wonder. But since you have asked about the worst thing, I think it is the fact that at times this place gets totally cut off from everywhere else. As soon as the weather gets bad the phones go out, the lights go out and, as it is, there are so few buses to get out of here,” Ramesh said.
“If you wait till 2:30 in the day, there is no transport available to get you out of here, unless you have a car of your own or you get lucky and someone passes by this village,” Rahul added.
“That would make it ideal for thieves and robbers, rob something and make sure that all lines are out… get away with the loot before anyone has any chance to inform the police. On that note where is the nearest police station,” Vikas asked.
“I don’t know,” Rahul said.
“The nearest station is about 50 Km away and that too is a small one. The police authorities tried to set up a station here but the people were dead set against it … the authorities decided against setting a station. We have to know because we have to have the numbers of the nearest police station, just in case,” Ramesh said.
“Oh! as if anyone would want to rob your little bank,” Vikas teased.
“How much money do you have at one time” Rahul asked, a bit curious.
“Not much at any given time, but on the day of the annual fair and the pay day we have about a crore of rupees… but we don’t keep them here for long and it is transported to the nearest big branch as soon as possible. There is almost no security here and no bank manager is willing to take that responsibility”
“A crore is not bad, if it is as easy as you say to escape from here,” Vikas said, and then the conversation drifted to other topics, some interesting, some not that interesting. Well since there was nothing better to do, I just sat there and listened to them talking their way into the night.
…Contd.
What do you think?