Shekhar stood admiring the marigold flowers of the potted marigold plants. They were here for the season, waiting for those with admiring eyes.
He took out his smartphone, took a few photos and then he got up to be on his way to work. As he exited the gate of his house. He saw a man, angry, irritated, mixed with a hint of pain. It was Vinod.
Shekhar had known Vinod since they were children, both were good friends, very competitive with each other in sports, studies, almost in everything that they could compete in. But that was all in the past, they were adults now, married. Most of the informal talks had died down. It was mostly about work and the well-being of families.
Shekhar quietly walked and stood near Vinod. Vinod looked at Shekhar and they both looked at the new car and dent on the car hood.
“This was intentional. The guy didn’t even make the effort to hide the stone,” said Vinod
Shekhar looked at the stone lying beside the black coloured sedan, he looked at the plastic seat cover still on.
“I had emphasised in the society meeting that cameras should be installed around the area,” said Shekhar
Vinod made a call to the car showroom again. The line was still busy.
“It will be fine. A dent can be easily removed and repainted,” said Shekhar
Vinod directed Shekhar to follow him to the back of the car. Where the bumper of the car was hanging.
“Who could have done this?” said Shekhar.
Vinod stood quietly going through the thoughts in his mind.
Vinod’s smartphone rang; he walked to a distance attending to the call.
One of the residents of the society, Mrs Jindal said she might have seen Shekhar smile looking at the car before he walked away on his way to work. She thinks it was him who did it, maybe he was still competing in his mind not able to accept how far Vinod had progressed in life, but another resident Mr Malhotra thought it was just a misunderstood assumption.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
