The Swanky Bike

#rhituparnachakraborty

#Theswankybike

#completestory

##disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction. This story has no relation to any person or any entity living or dead. If something is relatable to someone or something, this is a case of pure coincidence.

‘The Swanky Bike’

Suman saw the swanky bike in front of the shop. ‘Royal Enfield continental GT 650. Aha’, she said to herself. After admiring the bike, she entered the shop. The boy sitting at the cashier’s desk was a young chap, must be in his mid 20s. Burly structure, curly hair, tattoo in entire left arm, right arm and a tiny gold earring on one of his ears, the boy resembled those strong rowdy villains of bollywood movies. Suman went ahead to the counter. Beside the cashier was an elderly gentleman who was busy reading a newspaper. Beside the elderly gentleman, sitting in a corner was a lady. She was wearing a simple salwar suit with a scarf covering her head. The salwar suit was plain. It was beige in colour. She had dark circles underneath her tired eyes. The breeze from the fan kept on blowing her scarf and she kept on pulling the scarf so that she can cover her head. She had long hair which was properly tied into a neat plait. Seeing her Suman felt as if that lady had forgotten how to smile.

Suman went ahead and asked a salesman in the shop, ‘Do you have turmeric of this specific brand? The salesman replied monotonously, ‘No.’ Meanwhile the burly guy at the reception kept on talking to someone over the phone. Suman heard him saying, ‘Oh yes, dad got this new bike for me. It’s so cool. It’s Royal Enfield continental GT 650 man. It’s super cool.’ Suman then asked the salesman, ‘Do you have cocoa powder?’ . The salesman scratched his head and said, ‘No Madam.’ Suman was irritated. She had come all the way to this shop because this shop used to have everything. How come there is nothing here today. She presumed the cashier and the elderly gentleman were the owners. The cashier was busy talking on the phone, while the elderly gentleman was busy with his newspaper. Suman was about to complain when she heard a soft voice saying, ‘Ma’am, here is the turmeric powder and here is the cocoa powder. Do you need anything else?’ Suman turned around. It was that simple quiet girl sitting in the corner. Suman was pleased. She grabbed her stuff and said ‘Thank you. I knew this shop has everything. I was sure the salesman was fibbing because he did not want to work.’ The cashier yelled at the salesman, ‘WHY DON’T YOU WORK PROPERLY??? I WILL SACK YOU NEXT TIME.’ The elderly gentleman kept the newspaper away but he was nonchalant. The lady in plain dress looked at the salesman and then she told the cashier softly, ‘Umesh is tired. He did not do it deliberately. He is managing the shop alone since morning. Hence, he might have forgotten that new stock was there in the storage room.’ Umesh, the salesman, looked at the lady in shock. He thought she would shout at him. Instead she did not utter a single word against him. Suman looked at the lady and said, ‘Thank you so much. My name is Suman. What is your name?’ ‘Urmi’, the lady replied. Suman said , ‘ Bye Urmi. Will come again very soon.’ Urmi smiled at Suman and said, ‘Please take my phone number. Call me if you need something. I can send your stuff to your home as well.’ ‘Oh that will be so wonderful’, said Suman. ‘I will call you soon’, saying that, Suman went out of the shop. The boy at the cashier’s desk was done talking on the phone. He then looked at his phone. It was 1 pm. He yelled, ‘Umesh, take care of the shop. I am going for lunch.’ Umesh replied, ‘Yes Sir.’ He went and looked at the groovy bike, touched it and said, ‘You are mine baby.’ He then realised he forgot to get the key from his dad. He went inside and told his dad, ‘Dad, you said that you will give the key at the shop. Can I get it now? I can’t wait to ride my bike home.’ The elderly gentleman got up from his chair and said, ‘Wait a minute my son’ and gave him a warm smile.’ He then called Urmi sternly. Urmi came. The elderly gentleman patted the boy’s back and said harshly to Urmi, ‘ When the hell will you understand girl? I am sick and tired of your thoughts and ideas.’ Urmi fixed her scarf on her head and bowed her head low. The elderly gentleman now brushed his son’s head and said, ‘Akash is my world now. Suyash is not here anymore. When you had decided to get married to Suyash, I had warned you. Didn’t I?’ Akash smirked. Urmi stood there standstill. The elderly gentleman continued, ‘You were never the right choice for my Suyash. I told you not to marry him and had asked you to go away from his life. Did you ever listen? In whatever situation you are today,it is all because of you. No one is at fault, but you.’ Urmi stood there. Tears dropped on the floor. The elderly gentleman continued, ‘ So what if you are an educated finance professional? You are a moron to marry Suyash. All he did was immerse himself in alcohol and smoke. He died. I knew he would die because of his habits. Hence I told you, not to marry him. As they say love is blind, you were blind in love too. Now, that we cannot do anything about it, I can certainly decide Akash’s future.’ Looking at Akash, the elderly gentleman said, ‘You are as irresponsible as your sibling was. I lost one. I don’t want to lose you. Henceforth, you will travel in public transport. You will not get any two wheeler or car because just like Suyash you might meet with an accident after drinking heavily. You will come to the shop and assist Urmi. Urmi is the owner of this shop from today. I have written it in my will as well. As for you, once you mend your ways, I will think what to give you.’ Akash stared at his dad wide eyed and said, ‘ But dad, who on earth will ride this bike now?? You cannot ride it at this age.’ The elderly gentleman replied, ‘ I bought this bike for Urmi. She loves riding bikes. Henceforth this bike is hers.’ Looking at Urmi, the elderly gentleman said, ‘Take that silly scarf off your head and from today onwards you will wear anything that you are comfortable with. Now please, let’s go home. Here is the key. You ride the bike. I will pillion ride.’ He then shouted, ‘Umesh get the helmets.’ After that Urmi and her father in law left for home in the swanky bike, while Akash boarded an auto rickshaw and left for home. ‘