There was a fair in the town with rides of various forms. I do wish to one day see them put up those rides, the curiosity although not so strong, yet has consistently been there.
Apart from rides there were also stalls selling food, decoratives and various other items of presumed interest to people.
Fairs don’t happen that often anymore, with builders rushing to buy off every vacant piece of land they can lay their eyes on and place an apartment there with towering buildings which many question if they were actually needed given the cultural cost.
Nonetheless, fairs do happen once a year, scattered across different places. Though they have lost a lot of their charm maybe due to restrictive funding and falling popularity, I try to make sure I visit them, primarily because I am afraid this might be the last time it is happening and the next time, I would see construction of another apartment happening in its place.
I would like to mention that one might come across these fairs in all their glory toward smaller cities, but here towards the metropolitans this is their current ordeal.
The fairs initially had big sponsors, but are now largely dependent upon initiative by politicians who spare no effort to let people know that they are the ones doing it.
Now, the reason I mention the fair here is, that in the year 2023 one of my colleagues in office came across one of his cousins in one such fair and this was beyond normal in many ways given his cousin had run away with the girl which this colleague of mine named Amol was supposed to marry.
While Amol was yet to find a bride, almost always worried about his receding hairline and increasing weight, here was his cousin Virat with a head full of hair, looking fit and happy.
“That has to be the biggest coincidence I have come across. I mean that guy ran off with the girl who was supposed to marry you and what are the chances in the world that he would come across you at a fair,” I said to Amol after he told me about it at office
“Maybe my wish for an explanation as to why he did it,” replied Amol
“So, what did he say?” I asked
“Nothing for a while, then his expression changed into one that people have when they are in guilt and he said sorry and that he had made a mistake,” said Amol
“.. and then?”
“I don’t know which one happened first, whether he started stepping back first or I started moving ahead first, but soon I was chasing him through the fair with him trying to get away,” said Amol and I kept looking at him waiting for what happened next and then he spoke again, “obviously I lost him, he is in better shape, I had no chance.”
“Well… better luck next fair,” I said smiling and I don’t know why I did that, but I did feel a hint of genuine sadness for Amol and I hope he understood it
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 
One response to “To be fair”
Very nice
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