The College of Self-education and Two Young Men.
The old woman understood what he said and said, "You please go, Babuji,
I shall sit here only. I will eat the eatables and then I shall move slowly."
Sudhakar felt a little releived. Slowly, he let go of her hand. As he walked towards his office, he somehow felt a man-one who had braveky done his duty.
On reaching office, he went to the wash-basin first and washed his hands thoroughly.
It was still early for the office time. He had free time of about half an hour at his disposal. Even ten minutes before the time, no one reached the office,except for a few attendants. The early comers would be in the
canteen. The ordeal of the train travel, usually in an overcrowded compartments, made one exhausted, even before the office routine commenced. And the taste of the canteen tea was always inviting.
Stretching himself comfortably on the chair in the canteen, Sudhakar remembered the idlis he gave to the old woman.
Normally, on such occasions, he would not take anything except a cup of tea in the morning. But on that day he ordered idlis also.
The bearer brought a plate of hot idlis and even as the steam was coming out of it. Venkat, a collegue and friend of Sudhakar, rushed in sayng,"Hail, idlis!" He winked at Sudhakar and the idlis, alternatively.
As usual, Venkat had a cigar in his mouth and was throwing smoke in all directions. A smoke and a smile were the permanent features of his face. His lips always held a burning cigar. His teasing and tormenting tongue proclaimed his skill in conversation and humour. He smiled and made others happy.
"You sit thinking before a plate of idlis? Strange, young man, what are you brooding over, by the bye? Want to have grey hair soon?"Venkat puffed out smoke, and gave a quick smile. The next moment, he put the cigar down, on the floor, and extinguished the stub with his shoe.
Sudhakar did not smile.That was an old joke of Venkat, though he had the ability to repeat an old joke in a new style. As Venkat threw the cigar, Sudhakar imagined that the fate of idlis in front of him was in peril.
"Sudhakar, the fact is that I have no money," apoloized Venkat, "I bought a pack of cigars with the last two rupees I had," As if to prove the point, he put the packet on the table. He took an idli and nprofusely dipped it in chatni.Within seconds, he gulped it.
Ssudhakar gave him company. He handled the cigar packet, and said,"When did yiou buy this packet?"
"Didn't I tell you?" I borrow, but I don't lie. As I got down from the train, I bought the packet from the railway stall. A rupee and forty paise for the packet and ten paise for the special match box. I am left with a coin now."
Venkat tossed the coin on the table, with a flourish.
"Is't a fact that a packet contains ten cigars?" asked Ssudhakar.
"Oh, what proof of your vast general knowledge!" commented his friend, sarcasticallky.
"Don't laugh you fool. You smoke four cigars already?"
"Four cigars? Well, it must be," said Venkat, hesitantly, feeling cornered, and added,"But, Sudhakar, I am really sorry for persons lkike you whoi don't smoke. And I wonder...."
"Shut up, you..." interrupted Sudhakar, "You literally burn money on your cigars. The only son of your father..".