The market was beginning to gain more crowd, as the day was coming to an end and more and more people were returning home from work.
Jai struggled with his grocery bags as he crossed the busy road and then the stream of walking people to get to the parking area. He put his things in the car and sat in the driving seat. He glanced at the screen of his smartphone to check the list of things he had to buy, and among them sat two things which had forgotten, dishwashing liquid and rock salt.
Jai juggled between thoughts of returning home and coming back after work the next day or getting the things right then and spare the effort the next day. The dishwashing liquid could be important and without it he may have to listen to the long list of anger filled words from his mother, along with how she would have done it herself if not for the knee problem.
Back through the stream of walking people, then through the busy road, the legs moved hurriedly back to the supermarket. Jai could see the long lines forming at the counter as he rushed to the aisles of items to get what he needed. That is when he spotted Mrs Johal.
Jai quietly moved to the next aisle before she could notice. He found the items he needed, meanwhile being aware of Mrs Johal’s presence around and just as he was about to head for the counter.
“Is that you Jai?”
Came the familiar voice, that Jai would have preferred not listen. Mrs Johal had retired a few years back as a school principal. The same school where Jai used to study.
Jai was an average school student, who was often caught among students who caused mischief in school premises.
“I am afraid this boy might not have a bright future ahead,” Mrs Johal had said the last time Jai was in the principal’s office with his mother. She had said that several times before too, and each time Jai’s mother would promise that Jai would do better. But this time there was a huge argument about the school and its staff’s capability if a student was not getting better and Jai’s mother decided it was time to change school. Things did become better from there onwards, the change of school turned out to be a good decision.
Mr Johal lived in the same area and purely by accident Jai would come across her sometimes and she would notice him each time and then the rain of questions would start, followed by indirect comparison of how other students in her school were doing much better and would have a wonderful future ahead.
Initially Jai felt it was a worry for Jai’s future, but as he began to mature, he began to understand the tone and expression. Even when Jai got into one of the top-rated universities in the country, she just stressed upon how the other universities where some of the students of her school had got admission were much better. He did not understand whether she truly disliked him that much.
These conversations never bothered Jai, it was his own hard work and also some of his parents that enabled him to forge a good future ahead. Now, what’s good can be debatable but this one was for Jai.
Jai turned to see Mrs Johal rushing towards him. This was the first time Jai met her after he had started working. After the exchange of the first few words of formality, came the obvious question.
“What are you doing nowadays?” asked Mrs Johal
Jai thought about it and to give her what she always wanted and he answered, “I work here”
“Here? At the supermarket?”
“Yes”
“Are you still studying?” asked Mrs Johal clearly not as surprised as Jai would have thought her to be
“I dropped out from college, I did some odd jobs here and there, recently I found work here, arranging the aisles, cleaning,” Jai said trying to remember what he saw the people employed here do
“Oh” said Mrs Johal and Jai may have caught the hint of a smile being stopped from appearing. She was finally content that she was right all along.
Mrs Johal had to hurry along and she left, but Jai knew she was going to get the word passed around and maybe eventually someone would tell her what Jai really did and once this had happened, Jai would like to meet her again, accidentally of course.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 