Scents and smells

(Caricatures)

Oh boy, this life is bad! You work your butt off to reach someplace and the next thing you know is that you are blamed for what you got.
The ingrates, I tried to help them too.

You see, I am not the complaining sort. I am pretty easy going, you can’t live spilling your brains all over the place you know, you need to be careful at all times. Nothing is what it seems, there are currents and under currents. Some of them would draw you under if you did not take care.

I am a very careful guy.

On this day itself, what do you think I did? My car was lying idle for the last few days. The occasional driver of the car was not to be found any where in the vicinity of the house. I should have taken it out. The driver hinted as much, the batteries and all, you know.

I had half a mind to do that. I got in, put the keys in, and unlocked the parking lock. Well at that moment a strange thought struck my brain.

What am I doing, I can’t be seen in the car. There are certain things- you know. None want you to prosper in life. The moment you have a few bucks to spare people become green with envy. They devise all sorts of schemes to get you in. You can’t trust any one anymore, not an occasional driver at all. Who knows where he was before this, might be a plant too. Why was he so insistent that I should take the car out. He did not say it in so many words. But there were all the necessary prods. Muththappaa, I would have been blind to the fact but for your help

I got out of the car and went back into the house. None were at home; the missus and kids were at school. Don’t, misunderstand me, the missus is a teacher not a student, and a pretty good one too, she even teaches me some times. Oh I don’t mind that, I told you I am a pretty mature guy. I don’t get easily flustered. Not by any one mind you. I have been through very bad times in my life. I stood them well. Why do you think that I have become some one now?

I rang up the driver. Everybody has a cell phone nowadays. The guy wouldn’t switch it on.

I smelled a rat, a giant one at that.

I hate rats. They undermine everything you do in your life. They have it easy; they don’t have to go through the grind. The moment you have scaled some steps on the ladder to the way up they appear. You can’t eliminate them, that is the problem, they are numerous for one thing and for another, it is too dangerous to do anything to such common rats, it just is not worth your while.
God why are there so many rats in the world?

I never keep much money on my person. Nor in the house, that could be damn dangerous. The missus is not overly bright. She might take some out, you know. That would be terrible if there is some mischief around. None of the guys who hand it over do it in the happy mood. They hate to part with money like you do yourself. Human relationships are tricky; you just can’t imagine who will turn on you all of a sudden. There are all sorts of weird mechanisms to get you. Not that they are that dangerous to the people in the know like me. I can handle the state guys. They are pals you know, they know it is not going make any difference if the money is shared around. Isn’t that the purpose of democracy?

If money can’t be shared among the citizens in a cordial manner why exactly do we need democracy?

I can’t call my friends over this phone. It is easy as hell to track you through the damn thing. I locked the door and went out to the street. Taking the bus would have been the wisest course. It keeps up the appearances.

“On leave? ‘The neighbor asked

Oh yeah, leave “I replied absently.

The bus stop is not very near. I had to walk a little distance to reach it. But that is no big deal. I like walking. The only problem is the shirt would get wet with sweat. I hate that feeling. I have this thing about neatness. I do not know how I got it. I used to be a pretty unmindful guy at one time. I have run through these very streets rolling an unused cycle tire, in my knickers. Those were hard times you know. You needed to supplement life with imagination. Every time I ran that tire over these roads I intensely desired to be in a car. I had to do some seating to get to that though.

That was worth it. But there are these hassles alright.

The stop was deserted. The rush hour was over. Every body would be at their work places hacking away. The bloody fools, I have it easy you know, can mark other duty on the register for as many days that I want. I got into the booth at the bus stop and called my man for the day.

“Where should I come to pick you up?

I gave him a place. It wouldn’t do to go near the office with him. Loads of money in their kitty, I had made enquiries. There are hawks all over the place.

These guys are decent too. Gave me some thing to scent me with. Not the usual stuff you know the brute and all. It has a fragrance of sandal in it. A little too strong perhaps. But lately I have this thing about smell too. I want to be strongly scented. If the scent is not strong I would feel as if I was stinking to hell. Why I don’t know. What strange notions come to the head sometimes?

I must say that I have become a reformed character for the last few years. It was a gradual change; I didn’t even know that I was changing. The missus was the first to notice it.

"Out to catch any woman now?"

I was confused. I am not into women in a big way, but I am a man too, and we have been married for some fifteen years now. There is a thing called ennui you know. We have to repeat the same unvaried procedure every time. Why our women never learn, I can’t understand. The other day saw some videos of the western ladies. Well well well. Not that our goods would come anywhere near it, but still. A man has desires.
There have been some recent adventures and many before too.

But I have always kept it very secret; there was no chance she would have learned about the escapades.

Then what was behind the interest? As a mater of fact I have a rather low opinion of the women’s intellect. Once they grab on to something, they would never let go. Other than that they seem to have little knowledge about the world.

But there is one thing. The moment there is a scent of a woman in the air they will sniff it out. Should have been useful as police dogs you know.

I knew attack was he best form of defense. So I barked

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

She was a little taken aback by the sudden show of anger.

“I mean, you spend money on shirts and things!”

Good god she was only alluding to something. I was immediately relieved. Women can be tricky you know. I felt pleased too. She is taking some notice of me at last. She usually had a neglectful way towards me. She is a good piece of flesh even now though I had my fill of it. She could still kindle my desires when in certain postures. Not that she would do it often. She needs to feel challenged for that. To a woman challenge always comes in the guise of another woman.

I bought her something that day. She was suddenly all love and desire. I loved her in my way too. She is mine and I am extremely possessive where everything mine is concerned.

At times she could be a ‘land mine’ too. You would not know when it would explode on your face. Honestly I like it when that happens. We normally have good sex afterward -Good, mind you not great. I have my fantasies on what great sex is. Well those are never going to be fulfilled, not in this life time anyway.

They were waiting when I reached the place. We left, the matter was a little tricky. The plot had several defects; the planned construction also violated many of the provisions in the rules. I did not hide it from them.

“You see guys; I can write some sort of a report favoring you. But it is doubtful whether those above would agree to it.”

I had seen a subtle point in the case. That is why I make money and some others don’t. They are deliberating now, they will come round slowly. As I was waiting, I itched for a smoke. I had quit it recently, found it a little restricting in my circle of friends. Smoking has become out of fashion now.

Just then FIL rang. FIL means father in law. We are pretty thick. In fact I could divorce my missus this day, but can’t do without FIL now.

He was his usual jovial self.

“Son, a bottle of Johnny Walker was inching my way one second ago!”

“Is it still inching towards you or disappearing”

“There was problem with the georgekutty”

Georgekutty meant money. Good lord did I not tell the old fucker not to mind money in such things?

“Don’t you blow me grandpa! What did you do with the money I gave you yesterday?”

I called him grand pa because of my kids. He is a widower. Like as hell he would have spent the money on some loose bitches.

“Look here gramps; I don’t care what you do. I am coming over to the house. I want to see something on the fucking table!”

He went into that loud laughter of his.

“My son, would I disappoint you. Have I ever.”

The old drunkard has a way of sweetening things up. I felt sure that he was trying to pull something on me. Not anything big I knew. He has this weakness for a certain type of women. His pension disappears on the way to the house from the treasury. Then he leeches on me, no I don’t mind it. He is very useful really. Does look after missus and children well. Gets the groceries and the liquor for me too

-Especially the bottles.

It is not funny standing in a queue for hours on end to get hold of a bottle of spirit. The damn outlets are all fronting busy roads. People laugh at those who stand in the queue. He does that for me. Very tough work you know.

Now the guys are approaching me. It is going to be a tough time bargaining. They look prepared for battle too. I may have to make them see what the real danger is if they don’t stick with me.

I don’t want you around anymore friend. It might even get personal sometimes. Making money in this world can be tough.