On a government holiday Mr Iyengar sat pressing the buttons of the television remote. Nothing else being shown on the television seemed to attract the interest of his mind. He usually watched crime based movies and shows but his wife had to put a stop to that, fearing they had become an addiction.
“You know dad, you should try listening to podcasts. You might find something interesting for a change in them,” spoke Anish as he stared at the screen of his laptop while working, then he noticed something, “oh, it has started to rain again.”
Mr Iyengar closed the television and walked to the balcony to collect the clothes set out for drying. He took a moment or two to look out at the world around in the rain. The sound of the rain silenced the surrounding, nothing else could be heard and then suddenly the rain lightened and stopped.
“So, it has come to a stop already,” said Mrs Iyengar who had stepped out on the balcony, “I could use some help though.”
“Help with what?” asked Mr Iyengar trying to hold the clothes in a better manner to prevent them from falling out of his hand.
Mrs Iyengar took the clothes out of his hand and spoke, “There are a few things I want from the grocery store, please get them for me, I am a bit busy with cleaning.”
Mr Iyengar looked at Anish who had been staring out of the window until now, but suddenly started working on his laptop again.
With a grocery bag in one hand and an umbrella in the other, Mr Iyengar stood in the elevator which stopped with a soft clicking sound. As Mr Iyengar slowly walked out of the elevator, he saw a young man in formal clothes and a bag looking at him and smiling. The elevator doors closed and it moved on.
“I am sorry..” said Mr Iyengar
The man looked with a confused expression.
“I mean the elevator; you must be waiting for the elevator. I was in your way”
The man smiled again, “Oh it’s quite all right. I was on my way to see you.”
This time Mr Iyengar was the one confused, “Are you a delivery person with my package?”
“No, I am not a delivery person,” then the young man pointed to the elevator and said, “we can go to your apartment and talk there”
“You know who I am and where I live? What is going on?” said Mr Iyengar in a serious tone
The young man smiled, “Sir, please calm down. I am here to change your life for the good. Don’t you want it to happen?”
Mr Iyengar stayed quiet and started walking away, he could hear the footsteps of the young man following.
‘I think I know what this is. This guy isn’t going to best me today. I know all about what people like him can do.’
Mr Iyengar suddenly turned back, raising his umbrella.
“Listen to me carefully,” said Mr Iyengar, “I don’t want to hear, whatever it is that you have to say. So, kindly leave.”
The young man, although a bit startled, once again resumed smiling, a smile Mr Iyengar felt wasn’t a normal one. The rain sounded its arrival once more and Mr Iyengar looked at it through the opening of the passage and meanwhile the young man reached for something in his bag.
But Mr Iyengar was ready for him, he immediately sprinted forward swinging the umbrella, the completely startled young man fell down while attempting to save himself from getting hit and a paper fell out of his hand.
Mr Iyengar quickly picked it up and read, “Nature-Essence?” Mr Iyengar looked down on the paper, it was a list of herbal products made by the company. It was a product list with pictures of some products.
‘He is a salesman’ Mr Iyengar thought as he pretended to read through the list, meanwhile thinking of an excuse for his behaviour.
Shadows of Thought
Early Morning Memories 
One response to “Shadows of Thought”
Very nice.
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