“I cannot hear any volume in my speakers.”
“Maam’ are you sure you have connected the green jack in its port behind the PC?”
“Oh no my son removed it last night, am I supposed to put it back in? Will I get volume then?”
… He couldn’t take it. Actually, nobody in his call centre could. People replied all doors were closed when asked if any ‘window’ was open, and then Bill Gates is also in US. People tore their hair out at this kind of intelligence of their customers. Everyone wanted to just run away from their lives. Sameer didn’t find a single person who wished to work there. Everybody was just stuck because they had nothing else to do. A few people had left to look for better, a few had started their business, a few tried share markets and basically everyone tried something before ending up there, but all of them came back, some on same wages and others on lower. Sameer had moved from his hometown a long time ago. He aspired to be a pilot then, but never cleared PABT of the IAF. He had some problem with his hand angles, so he was always rooted out in medicals. Then he did engineering and tried to become an air traffic controller. He was quiet intelligent and, no doubt, talented. He had made himself a Ham-radio at age of nine. He knew how the technology worked. He had an appreciable GPA in his college. But he never got what he wanted. He wanted to take a drop and try again, but circumstances didn’t want him to. So again he never got what he wanted.
His father was old now and mother was infirm. His elder brother, too, didn’t have a good job. The money he earned was just enough to feed his wife and children thrice a day and assure minimum things like school fees and electricity. The only time their family talked of savings was when he got a bonus. Sameer couldn’t take a break. He worked as a counter boy in local restaurant to meet his own expenses in college and joined the call centre job just after. He earned 15,000 of which he sent home 10,000. He had lied to his family that he earned much more. Frankly speaking, 5000 in a sub-urban town will not even pay for your residence. He lived with his three friends in a rented PG. He didn’t own anything, except a mobile (which he rarely used to make calls, he just liked the FM feature) and a bike. His bike, a third (or maybe fourth hand Yamaha RX 100), was probably the only thing that gave him solace. It was his, he owned it. He loved going on rides on his bike. He skipped dinner for two days in his mess and that let him save enough for a 50 Km ride in outskirts of his town. But right now, his bike was parked outside a building while he sat in the basement taking calls. He had his mobile FM switched on which he put to his ears between calls.
A guy from NY had called him. He wished to know if he could play his videos in nero that he had just installed.
“Yes Sir you can, it’s very easy to do that.”
“But dude whenever I double-click the video, you know double-click not a single click, I double click them, Windows media Player opens and I hate it.”
“What kind of videos are you trying to play Sir?”
“That’s none of your business faggot. I have just recorded my girl on tape. Why do you care huh? You prick!”
“Sir I just wished to know which format the video is of. To check if it is compatible with your software”
“I know what you wanted to know fool. Bloody Indians. Black small stinky guys. You suck! Know what dude, You suck big time! Connect me to your manager.”
Sameer switched off his PC and pretended that it had hung again. He just couldn’t take it anymore. With adrenalin flushing inside him, he closed his eyes and grinded his teeth to let go off the anger. He turned on the PC again and put FM to his ears while the windows started.
“Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose..Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag..
“Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose..Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag..
Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose..Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag..”
He loved this song. He wanted to run too. He wished if some aandhi could lift him off this place and put him somewhere else. Any place in this universe could do but not this one!!
He loved this song. He wanted to run too. He wished if some aandhi could lift him off this place and put him somewhere else. Any place in this universe could do but not this one!!
“Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose..Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag..
Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose..Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag..”
His ailing father and mother went through his mind. So did his poverty and insecurities. He had a girlfriend who was married now. All his friends had families, and if not a family, then fun for sure. “This version of windows is not genuine. Please go online to resolve the issue.” His PC popped. Damn his job man. Damn his PC. Damn his situation. Damn his Windows. Damn Bill Gates who made it. Damn the US which called. Damn India which listened. Damn his family. Damn every fu*king thing in world. Damn you. Damn myself. Damn GOD. Damn everything…
“Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose..Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bhaag..
Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose DK Bose DK Bose..Aandhi ayi hai….”
Yes there was storm. He pushed the monitor down on floor and laughed as it shattered. He picked up his phone & keys and ran towards the door. Everyone stood still and watched as he keyed his bike and went away. Somewhere he could live his life. He never returned to his mates, or to his family, not to the call centre, ever. I just wish he had an asylum of peace.
*Aandhi ayi hai* *Bhaag DK Bose*
*Aandhi ayi hai* *Bhaag DK Bose*
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