Curves

He loved curves. 

While others bumped and made fuss about the importance of everything being straight, he was clear. Curves challenge the whole experience. He knew the art - slow and smooth. Slower the better. 

But today, he seems to change the strategy. His friend was confused. Instead of just jumping over, he was waiting for the signal. He never waits for any signal. He just moves. 

The wait was stretching, yet not a hint to move. Hands steady, lips stretched marginally, eyes fixed on the hole and the curve surrounding it - he aimed his target. The curve was inviting, yet he waited with bated breath. The tension added to the already hot atmosphere. His friend started doubting his stud abilities, yet seems to keep peace till the moment is over. 

Then, just as the tension peaked, everything happened in a flash. The signal turned green, he rode his bike right over the curves of the hole, in a perfect dive accelerating steadily without even braking for a second, surprising the fellow bike riders with his maneuvering ability. 

And that's how you handle curves with potholes in a chaotic road! The friend sighed a sense of relief.

The Phone

There was this salesman, who I knew for some time. A wonderful and upright man.

Once, after knowing that I'm looking for a good quality mobile phone, he invited me to his showroom, which incidentally dealt with high end smartphones.  In a city which wasn't that familiar, a known invitation is always welcome.

Since I was aware about my own limitations, in terms of the ever changing smartphone technologies, the buying decision was completely placed on this known and trustworthy salesman, with just one rider - I want to make a good smartphone investment. He smiled, acknowledging the trust I placed on him.

He showed me just one piece. In the meantime, the owner of the shop tried to engage in a friendly conversation. He was all praise for my right decision to come to them. I was served the juice of my choice by a woman who introduced herself as the wife of the owner. They all made me feel comfortable and pampered, making me wonder why so much should be invested on a single customer? But then, I was the only customer in their store at that time. Reading my mind, the wife said that my friend salesman is their blue eyed boy and all his clients are given valued treatment. I ignored the skepticism and lapped up the attention. 

When hospitality was at its peak, a woman, probably of my age, walked in and complained about the handset she purchased couple of months back. The problem was, she lost the original invoice and remembered only the date of purchase. The owner and his wife rushed to attend her. They took out old ledger books and traced the duplicate bill. Wow... I thought. Such level of customer service! This is all too good to be true. 

My friend the salesman, insisted a particular piece for me. After paying a fortune for the phone, I left the store - content and happy with the homely experience! 

The phone delivered on every promise made, until the second month. It just stopped working. I can always go back to the store, after all they are such nice people - I thought.

Next day, I reached the store only to find it closed. The day after that, again I found it closed.  On the third day finding it closed again, I decided to ask around. The nearby shopkeepers said a store existed some time ago but is seen closed for the past one month. Panicked, I probed further and learned that nobody seems to know much about the store. All they knew was that it opened just a two months back without any formal inauguration, that it was a flashy store and the store people mostly kept to themselves. Mostly, a lady used to sit in the store. Occasionally a woman of my age visits the store along with two men and during such time usually someone will be seated in the centre of store. Reserving my feelings, I left the place. 

And the salesman? I actually hardly knew him and now I realized, I didn't even have his contact number.

As luck would have it, the very next day I caught hold of the salesman. Just when I was about to drag him to the police station, he fell on my feet and started crying. He said he was duped by the couple. That he was under the impression they were genuine and with that he expected his big break. He said he was cheated as well and now, he is living under threat from other customers. I asked him about the phone and he said in all probability it was worthless. 

Why sell a worthless phone to me for a fortune? He pleaded innocence and said he realized they were thieves only after the store closed. 

Why didn't he tried to inform me soon? He said he was confused and scared and was running around to find the couple. 

Who was the woman who walked in that day? He said, he didn't know her. 

Did he get any salary from them? He said, he worked for one and half months and was paid upfront for one month. Now, he is jobless and scared to move out, fearing other clients might hunt him down. 

I gave him some money and walked off.

Couple of months later.....

I was dinning in a posh restaurant. The man seated a few of seats in front of me looked familiar. As I tried to place him, in came the salesman, all smiles and rushing to hug the seated man. They were soon joined by two women. Addressing each other papa, mama, brother, sister - the family looked perfect and happy. I watched them for some time letting that feeling of uneasiness settle in. As they chatted and joked with each other, relishing on chef's special, I walked up to the salesman. While he froze seeing me, the other three gave a look of annoyance and ignorance. I looked at the salesman, straight in his eyes and said "nice phone".

#fiction