Facts and Fiction, Humor, Issues in India, Ooty, P U Krishnan, Short Stories

Help yourself – No formalities!

In a crowded street where there was no footpath as such, a lean, young chap of medium height was looking at every person who came across him. He seemed to be desperately in need of some help or looking for some one who went missing! At last he spotted the right person. He was a middle-aged person who was walking fast. The young man approached him and said, “Sir, Sir, Can I have your pen for a while?” The elderly chap took out a pen from his pocket rather reluctantly. The young man wasted no time. He almost snatched it and ran away. The elderly Person shouted “Hey, you stop there” but that strange fellow had already merged into the crowd. None in the crowd seemed to be in a helping mood, for they thought it was his head ache. (I too was watching the fun!). The elderly person just cursed that chap and moved on. Incidentally, I happened to see that elderly person near a petty shop where I had gone to buy certain routine items. He came there to buy a pen. The shop keeper asked him, “What happened to the one you bought a little while ago?” “One chap snatched it away…” Just when he was narrating the incident, the very same young chap came running and put the borrowed pen in the elderly man’s Pocket and moved on without saying “Sorry” or “Thanks”. Then he turned back and said, “Been to the Post office”.

Author: P U Krishnan

First things first. I am one of those retired chaps who are young at heart. I watch cricket matches and jump for joy when Tendulkar scores yet another century. I read newspapers and books too, though I am not crazy about them. I think I have a mind free from hatred and I owe it to the wonders of nature and music. I scribble something now and then and call myself a writer! Though I have settled in Ooty, a lovely hill station in Tamil Nadu—I must emphasize the fact that I was born and brought up in Tellicherry in North Kerala and studied in the good old Government Brennen College. Of and on, my mind goes back to my ancestral house at Tiruvangad in Tellicherry in front of an ancient Sri Ram temple. I am indebted to this wonderful place which inculcated in me a love for cricket and literature. But all said and done, I am an Indian first.

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