It was a cloudy day and the roads were quite empty with it being a working day. A woman could be seen rushing on the road. In her hand she held a grocery bag.
Mrs Bakshi was making an attempt to prevent a possible future occurrence. She walked through the gates of an apartment, wrote her name, number and number of the apartment she was going to visit in the register and then she headed for the elevator that was waiting on the same floor.
The elevator door opened again and Mrs Bakshi stepped out and walked to apartment 221. She rung the bell, she could faintly hear it ringing inside. Ms Chopra opened the door and smiled at the familiar face of Mrs Bakshi.
“Please, come in,” said Ms Chopra
“I will come by later. This won’t take much time,” said Mrs Bakshi
“I cannot figure out the new television, they say it was a smart TV, but all I can see is a whole lot of complexity on the remote. The show I watch it comes at 5 pm, it is 3:30 pm,” said Ms Chopra
Mrs Bakshi agreed to come in and help out, as she stepped in the apartment, she looked at the photographs on the wall. They were the first thing one would see when entering the apartment. The apartment belonged to Ms Chopra’s uncle. Ms Chopra did not marry, she held a good government job and her uncle and aunt had no children of their own. The apartment was left to Ms Chopra who was in her late 60s now.
Mrs Bakshi explained what the smart part was all about, meanwhile Ms Chopra heard with focus while mentioning a thing or two in the process deviating from the topic but Mrs Bakshi brought it back. Everything Ms Chopra needed to know was told, Mrs Bakshi even wrote down a few things on a notepad.
“Let’s have tea,” said Ms Chopra
“I am late, I just came by to return your eyeglasses,” said Mrs Bakshi, taking out the box from her bag and handing it to Ms Chopra.
“I was wondering where I had left it,” said Ms Chopra
“It’s good that you have an extra pair,” said Mrs Bakshi pointing to the eyeglasses Ms Chopra was wearing.
“Are you sure you can’t stay for a cup of tea? I will prepare it in no time,” said Ms Chopra
“I have to go, I will come by later,” said Mrs Bakshi getting up
Everyone knew of Ms Chopra’s habit of getting into long conversations that never seemed to have an end. People endured it, sympathetic to her life alone, but everyone has their own life to attend to as well. This wasn’t the first time Ms Chopra had forgotten something. Before the eyeglasses, it was a book that she was carrying in her bag and somehow, it came out of the bag and found its way on the table and eventually it was left there. Normally Ms Chopra would return for her things, but Mrs Bakshi thought it would consume less time if she herself made the attempt to return the item.
Mrs Bakshi asked Ms Chopra to take care as she left the apartment. Mrs Bakshi went down the elevator and as she exited the apartment building, she came across another familiar face, Mrs Desai. They both greeted each other and exchanged a few words.
“Are you on your way to meet Ms Chopra?” asked Mrs Bakshi
“Yes, she forgot her umbrella at my house yesterday. I also came by the day before to help her out with her new television,” said Mrs Desai
Written by Anuran Chatterji
One response to “It Might Not End”
A beautifully observed slice of everyday life! What stands out is how Mrs Bakshi and Mrs Desai quietly look out for Ms Chopra, each helping her in their own way. Beneath the ordinary exchanges lies a touching reflection on loneliness, ageing, and the small acts of kindness that make a community feel like family. Sometimes, returning a pair of glasses or helping someone operate a television is about much more than the task itself—it is about making someone feel remembered and cared for. I’m curious to see how this story unfolds!
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