Mango Fiasco

The mango season was fast receding at Rourkela, a city in eastern part of India where the choicest mangoes from north India is available from May to July. Swagat is very fond of mangoes but enjoy it most if it’s not from my his own pocket. He was given an ultimatum by his wife to bring “Chossa” mango or else things will take an ugly turn in the home front. “Chossa” being the costliest mango during that time, Swagat used to make some plea like better quality mango will come after 2 days or Neelom mango is only available or the market was closed as that was the last Friday of the month and so on and so forth so that he gets the excuse from his wife.

But this time there was no escape -he has to bring the mango of “her” choice .The lady of the house had enough information about the market position of mangoes. Due to distance factor she could not go to the market of her own.

While coming from the office our officer Swagat went to his known shopkeeper Laxman who supposed to be selling mango at a reduced price especially to him but infect he was charging more than others. Swagat is a peculiar character in the sense that he feels heaviness in chest when he goes to bring money from bank or spends money.
When he asked “Laxman” what is the price?
“Sixty” for you sir!
“Make it forty and give mango worth hundred.
“So it be”
The selected mangoes were weighed and packed in a polythene bag.
As Swagat put his hand on the back pocket the purse was gone. When he almost collapsed on the ground when some people came to his rescue and made him sit on a near by concrete bench marked by birds droppings. Swagat had the maximum money in his purse for the first time in life, the petrocard, payslips, newly acquired ATM card and the driving license.
Laxman asked a shocked Swagat “if he would call a taxi or he can go back home of his own?”

Swagat told that his pocket has been picked with very important documents and currency notes. He is not in a position to pay for the mangoes.

Laxman told “sir give it next time.”

With heavy heart Swagat went near the police station to lodge a FIR but there was no one to accept his complaint. So he came back home still sweating with a shrunken face. He was cursing himself for his negligence.

It was 2:30pm and by that time he would have been very hungry but the huge loss was a great shock for him. Brooding over the lost purse Swagat entered the house with the black polythene bag with the mangoes.
After removal of shoes he went straight to the bed room and laid down flat. His wife was puzzled by her husband’s behavior asked “is every thing ok?”
“Yes, yes” replied Swagat.
“Then why instead of asking for the lunch you have gone straight to the bed room?”
Swagat replied –am feeling dizzy, please give me a glass of cold water.
“That will spoil your appetite”
“Let it be, I don’t feel like eating”
“Is some thing wrong with you? Let’s go to hospital or I call your friend Dr.Parida?”
“Neither hospital nor a doctor could make me feel better except the time”.
Wife could smell that some thing is wrong with Swagat but could not make it out what it could be.

After half an hour Swagat left for his office and on the way took a chance to lodge the FIR but till then no one had tuned up in the police station except some hungry lockup youths were shouting for food.
Swagat finished his office work and it was time to go back home. Again he went to the police station for help. But he was asked by the I/C to prove that his purse has actually been picked then only they will accept the complaint. Another witness signature is also required for completion of the formalities. Swagat thought to him self with so much paper work and the uncertainty, it’s better to come next day with a friend known to these police people. He badly needed a certificate from police for the duplicate ATM ,driving licence & petrocard.
After parking his car in the garage he closed the gate when a smiling wife, with heavy makeup and a gorgeous sari greeted Swagat.
She broke the silence and said-
“Relax Swagat, why are you so tense?”
“You probably don’t know what ails me today?”
“Yes I know every thing”
“How come?”
After you left for the office a young boy came and handed over your purse with a letter written in Hindi, should I read it for you?”
“Yes”-replied Swagat.
The letter read like this “sir, sorry for the trouble, Munna picked your pocket near the car park. When he deposited the purse with me I saw your photograph and your home address, at once I asked the boy to return it to you. He did not know that you saved my life when I had brain malaria last year. Please inform me in future if there is any problem regarding theft or criminal threats to you to me in my mobile no 884564008.”

Swagat got so excited that he lifted his wife from the ground and told her “Criminals have also a heart”

Story by sanjoy kumar satpathy
B/188 sector 18.Rourkela, 769003