Sunil sauntered along the cobbled sidewalk. He was exhilarated. All around him were the sights and sounds of a magical fairyland. The whole area was resplendent in the Christmas decorations. The young people moved in groups, laughing and happy. Expensive cars cruised by, the occupants looking bright and happy. Flashing multicoloured lights and booming music. Sunil smiled. He moved to the music. He looked across the road. His friend Rajesh stood near the bus stop, waving to him happily. Sunil waved back. A group of girls saw Sunil, and waved back, giggling. Sunil grinned, and smoothed his hair.
And then he saw Mathavan alighting from the van. Mathavan had obviously seen him, and was heading his way. Sunil pretended not to have seen him, and moved along in the opposite direction. Now the group of girls were around him. One of them nudged him playfully, as the whole group burst into giggles. Sunil looked at them and smiled. And at that moment Mathavan caught up with him.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” He bellowed. Some of the people around them stopped and turned. The group of girls too stopped and looked back. Sunil cringed, and smoothed down his hair, looking down.
Mathavan caught Sunil by his neck. “You are supposed to be working, not merry-making. Now get going, and don’t let me catch you slacking again.” He shoved Sunil forwards roughly. Sunil stumbled. He moved on, straightening his orange uniform. He walked quickly along the edge of the cobbled sidewalk, sweeping bits of paper with his broom. The group of girls watched him for a few seconds, and then moved along, giggling and laughing. Soon the scene was back to normal.
Sunil looked across the road. Rajesh too was diligently sweeping his side of the road. He looked around. Suddenly, the scenery looked bleak and grey.
And then he saw Mathavan alighting from the van. Mathavan had obviously seen him, and was heading his way. Sunil pretended not to have seen him, and moved along in the opposite direction. Now the group of girls were around him. One of them nudged him playfully, as the whole group burst into giggles. Sunil looked at them and smiled. And at that moment Mathavan caught up with him.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” He bellowed. Some of the people around them stopped and turned. The group of girls too stopped and looked back. Sunil cringed, and smoothed down his hair, looking down.
Mathavan caught Sunil by his neck. “You are supposed to be working, not merry-making. Now get going, and don’t let me catch you slacking again.” He shoved Sunil forwards roughly. Sunil stumbled. He moved on, straightening his orange uniform. He walked quickly along the edge of the cobbled sidewalk, sweeping bits of paper with his broom. The group of girls watched him for a few seconds, and then moved along, giggling and laughing. Soon the scene was back to normal.
Sunil looked across the road. Rajesh too was diligently sweeping his side of the road. He looked around. Suddenly, the scenery looked bleak and grey.
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