The Call

Manoj fidgetted as he watched the phone. He prayed hard slilently. “God, please, please, please. Let her say yes. I will do anything. I will break 3 coconuts”. He tried to recall the Ganesha mantra he had learnt at Bal Vikas. “Vaikunda mahagaya, nirviknam samapriya…. “. No. That wasn’t it. He wondered if Ganesha might be upset that he had said it wrong. And place an obstacle in his way ? “Sorry Ganesha, I promise I will learn to say it right. Please, please, please, help me this one time”.

The phone rang, jolting him out of his thoughts. He grabbed at it clumsily, causing it to fall. He cursed under his breath as he picked it up; but the connection was lost. He put it down wearily, and fidgetted again. Waiting for it to ring again. Surely she will call again. He waited for what seemed like hours. Maybe she thought I cut the call ? Maybe she is upset ? And then it rang again.

“Hello, yes, Vidya ?”

“Allo, Auntie irukkangala, Saroja pesaren..”

“Illa,” he slammed it down. Idiotic woman. Eppa ethapatthi pesarathunnu theriyama…
Then the phone rang again.
“Hello,” he was more cautious.
“Hello, Manoj?” It was Vidya!
“Yes, yes, yes, tell me, ok or not ?”
“Ok.”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, my dream has come true…. ,” in the excitement Ganesha was forgotten.
“It’s the midnite show, 4 tickets, box class.”
“Thank you Vidya, I will never forget your help for the rest of my life.”