The cabin was filled with murmurs and the sound of hitting keys. I was lost in my own thoughts amidst the working hours. I often wondered what I was doing sitting there, more than half a day acting along with the kafkaesque crowd. It was funny, looking back at how desperate I used to be to enter this society. I had been counting days to be in this position but nothing in this world is enough once you have your hands on it. Should I say it is rather in your hands if you get enough or not.
Madan was getting roasted for not finishing his task within the deadline. Fortunately, I usually do the job quickly, even though I act indifferent towards it.
"Ah, my head is banging!!", he fell into his chair.
"I do not understand your schedule which doesn't allow you to finish even one task on time."
"Don't you dare to start your nagging…", he frowned at me.
Regardless, it was none of my business. After work, I had to pick up groceries for dinner. I was still crashing at Anand's place. I recognised how big he was as a human while living with him. I would always be grateful to him for pulling me out of my misery. He purposefully came up with novel ideas to keep me engaged. When I had to just go along with his crazy-ass ideas, I forget useless thoughts which used to eat me alive.
"Do you need mushroom?"
"NOOO!!", Anand cried from the other side of the call.
"Oops! Don't you like them?"
"Pardon if you are a mushroom fan! But I can't stand it, dude."
"I see…"
"If you need it, you can buy and cook yourself."
"I'll take care of the rest.", I hung up the phone call and picked up the groceries and the toiletries for the month. I was privileged enough in that house to choose the needs of my own choice. I guess there are people who don't have any particular preferences, like Anand. I noticed he was carefree, not having any attachments with anything. He did not even bother to tell me which brand he used for toiletries, he asked me to take care of it myself. But the mushroom was the first thing he disliked. I was glad I asked just in case.
"Sir, do you wish to pay by cash or card?"
"Cash please!", the part-timer in the cash counter was new. The person who worked previously was a middle-aged man, he always had a fisherman cap with him. That made him stand out, I always imagined him without the cap but I couldn't picture him capless.
This new cashier was so young, maybe she was a student in the college nearby. My doubt was cleared as I noticed her backpack behind her from which I could see the tag of her id card. I couldn't see her name but it was an id card from the college at the next stop from there. She reminded me of my college days, I shook off those thoughts and handed in the cash. It was probably the first day from what I saw, she was so nervous the whole time.
"Take this!", I gave her twenty rupees. She bit her tongue, it made me smile.
"Thank you, Sir!", she was embarrassed about her silly mistake.
"Is this your first day here?", there were no customers, I chit chatted while I arranged the change in my wallet.
"Yes… sir…"
"It happens… Don't worry! The previous cashier was too perfect to be a human.", I collected the things I bought and left.
We had not a feast but what could be called dinner. Anand arrived home earlier than expected. He was already talking while entering the house.
"Mmm!!! It smells delicious… Do me a favour!
Marry me already!"
"In your dreams… Now wash your filthy self and assemble for dinner."
We had another not so quiet night, Anand took out his PS5 and demanded me to enjoy it with him. It was his routine. After dinner, he played every day like a ritual. I got some drinks for us since I wasn't into games, I just sat there watching him play. Meanwhile, I took out my diary to fill some spaces with my scribblings. I started writing,
"She filled—filed, claimed and demanded,
that this fragile heart is hers,
the twenty bucks and my luck
the walls around sheds."
"Mr Poet, what's this about?", he leaned in to read.
"Just scribbling…"
"Hmmm… I don't buy it… You're sus…", he nodded heavily, "You have been smiling grossly since this evening. Do you know?"
I covered my mouth and said, "What? Gross? Can't be grosser than you…", I closed my pen and diary and took them with me to my room.
"I read the one you wrote just now. It is not the same girl from the cafe, is she?", he shouted behind.
I opened the door I just closed and said, "It was just a casual interaction, man!!! Stop romanticising everything…"
"Rich coming from a poet!"