it's another day (part 4)

“But I can't make an entry in the system for such a request. Please try to understand.”

“I am ready to pay...what is the problem!”

"Sorry, sir. I am helpless.”

“Ridiculous! I have money...I pay for this additional cheese slice but you will not give me!"

The clerk at the counter kept silent asserting his stand. He twitched his face in anger and threw a hundred-rupee note and a coin on the desk. The coin hit the granite surface and, after bouncing once, it rolled over the desk to finally fall on the ground.

The clerk glared at this show of insolence and bent down to the ground to find the coin. He kept looking for the coin and could not find the metal object anywhere on the floor. After a few minutes the clerk reappeared in front of the desk without the coin and peevishly said, "Sorry, sir, I could not find it. You have to give me another coin." He snapped, "What? Another coin! Nonsense! I shall not give you a farthing. You search it out later and now give me the burger and other things that I ordered."

The clerk stood adamantly. "I can not. The price is hundred and five rupees including tax and I have received only hundred. I want the remaining five and then only you will get your Grill-fish combo. Is that clear?"

Suddenly his fuse was blown and he muttered under his breath, "You bloody waiter! How dare you talk to me like that? You are not even worth a single penny, and you are fighting for five rupees! Here! Take... take this! Take hundred... two hundred...three hundred! How much do you want? Take it.” Screaming hysterically, he pulled out three hundred-rupee notes and threw them on the face of the clerk.

The clerk did not react but simply turned and picked up one burger, one cold drink and a small packet of French fries. He arranged them on the tray along with the three hundred-rupee notes miserably crumpled and placed the tray on the desk.

He fumed in anger and grabbed the tray after keeping aside the notes on the granite platform. Before leaving the counter he sneered, "Keep the change."

He walked out of the air conditioned enclosure of the counter and stepped into the hot sun again. It was one of those extremely hot days in summer. There was an open air lawn with an overhead shed to protect the area from direct sunlight, on which chairs and tables were sprawled all over. He chose to sit at the centre to stay away from the scorching heat as well as to keep him out of the sight of the counter where the clerk would be standing.

He unwrapped the burger and started eating the succulent slabs of soft bread, fried fish and molten cheese smeared with mayonnaise. Theopen space was located next to a large stretch of barren land which finally raised itself to form a mound of stone and dry soil dotted with pale green shrubs.

Hot wind hurtled down the slanting surface of the hillock and tried to sweep away everything on its way. He was finding it difficult to keep the paper pack of French fries in place. Twice the packet was almost on its way to join the journey with the blowing wind. There were many other people taking a break, refueling their spirit as well as their vehicles. The aura was supposed to be of relaxation but instead the hollow dryness instilled a feeling of hopeless lethargy in the air. The dazzling glare of the sun forced everyone to stare at the horizon with their eyes squeezed to allow less whiteness within the limit of tolerance. The concrete road ahead appeared like a formidable challenge straining the nerves of the onlookers even before restarting their journey

He ate his food while reflecting back on his life. He would have to call her back anyway. Any default on that would further complicate his life. In fact, he wanted to call.

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