What Goes Around

Dev lost all appetite and charged out of the house, barefoot. He skipped down the three steps from the front door and raced to the main gate of the building compound. As a reflex, the security guard on duty stood up to help, but Dev was already on the footpath by then. There he turned right and strode to his brand new Opel Astra that was wedged between another sedan and a couple of motorbikes parked rather precariously.Fearing the worst, he began to walk around the car, examining each tire. It was the driver’s side front wheel that had its trim and hubcap missing. For a few moments, Dev stood staring at it, stunned. The colour drained from his face and then brimmed over to crimson as his body shook violently.

“O Shiva!” He cried out to the Lord, his hands raised to the sky. “Why me? Why now?”

The narrow street had all sorts of vehicles parked, with not much to spare. Some kids were setting up stumps at the end of the cul-de-sac, ready to welcome the cricket season.

“Hey kids! Do you know who did this?” he shouted out while stabbing his finger at the naked wheel, knowing fully well that it was a rhetoric. Surely, nobody was around when the theft occurred.

Some shrugs and indifference later, he made his way back to the complex gate, muttering: “No, no, no!”

“Saheb, what happened?” The security guard, who had been watching him, asked with empathy. He used “Saheb” as a title of respect, a relic of the erstwhile British rule.

“What happened? Huh? What happened?” Dev glared at the man, “are you asking me what happened? What were you doing all night? Had a good snooze, did ya?”

“Saheb, I came in only at 6:00 am.” pleaded the guard in a feeble voice, folding his hands.

“You guys are all useless! Completely!” Dev all but shoved the man aside and made his way back to his apartment. At the door steps, he bumped into his wife.

“What’s the hurry, Dev?” Urmi barely managed to steady herself.

“I could ask you the same thing, no?” Dev snapped back, “Guess what? Someone stole one of the wheel trim with its hubcap!”

“Oh no … so sorry! The special ones with the Ferrari logo?”

“Ya …” Dev’s voice trailed off.

“Now what will you do? Ask the watchman maybe--”

“Already did!” Dev cut her short. “He started his shift at 6:00 am.”

“Then ask the night watchman!” Urmi suggested and then added quickly, “I really have to go, okay? Bye.”

“Yeah, yeah, Bye! Don’t miss your yoga class for anything in the world!”

Urmi ignored the sarcasm and, instead, took it as a cue to leave. She rushed out the gate. Back in the living room, Dev went straight to the telephone. There he dialled the security agency’s number, each digit spinning back to its place with an ominous stutter. When the call was answered, he skipped the pleasantries: “Who was the night watchman at Seva Sadan Society yesterday … err I mean last night?”

“Sorry Sir, I’m not sure”, replied the operator, “But I can connect you to the boss.”

Dev repeated the question to the agency owner once the call was transferred.

“It was Subhash,” came the reply, “but may I know what the problem is? My boys never drink on the job and sure as hell, don’t sleep.”

“We’ll see about that! One of the wheel trim has been stolen from my car. What was the watchman doing all night?”

“Hold on, hold on, Saheb! Where was your car parked? Inside the compound or outside on the street?”

“Why?”

“The guards are posted inside the main gate of the complex. They cannot mind the street. At least not as part of their regular duty. Anyway, that alley is so full of vehicles …”

“How … how does that matter?” Dev’s impatience cut the other party off.

“Well, it’s hard for anyone to tell what’s going on, especially at night!”

After a brief pause, Dev stammered: “But surely he would’ve noticed if someone walked away with a whole wheel cover?”

“Not necessarily, Saheb. After all, visibility is not that great at night. The street lights are dim and often blown. Moreover, the guard cannot question any random person walking on the street. They are not cops, remember?”

“True, true” Dev admitted, “Not that the cops are much use these days, are they?”. There was no comment from the other end.

Dev decided it was futile to pursue the conversation. He dropped the receiver on its cradle, and himself on the sofa. He had been looking forward to the cricket due to start any minute. That plan had been ruined too. Just then, his son Ganesh came sauntering into the room, cheerful and fresh.

“Hey Dad, good morning!”, he greeted.

“What’s so good about it, son?” Dev’s tone of dejection made his son pause.

“What happened now? Is everything okay? I see you haven’t even finished breakfast.”

“Haven’t you heard? Some creep stole a wheel trim and the hubcap along with it.”

“Oh no, not the Ferrari ones! Oh Shi—” Ganesh said, “Have you reported it to the cops yet?”

“Cops? You must be joking! They will forever make me run laps to the station and back. Nothing will be done, and nobody will be caught. A waste of time, really!”

“How do you know that Baba?” Ganesh started wolfing down his breakfast.

“Of course I know!” asserted Dev, “This hair didn’t turn grey in the midday Sun. I do know a thing or two about the system. The cops are probably hand-in-glove with the thief, I guarantee you! Your generation is too complacent to the ills of our society.”

“C’mon dad … you’re being paranoid,” Ganesh protested.

“Am I? Everyone is so corrupt these days. Especially the public sector. Haven’t you noticed the traffic cops asking for a few rupees on the sly to ignore traffic infringements? Pathetic! Almost 50 years since Independence and all we have to show for it is corruption and crime!”

Ganesh wasn’t about to jump into a fruitless argument on the state of the nation, or the generation gap. So, he said: “Okay then, at least call the Insurance Agency and file a claim.”

“No use.” came the answer, “That will just cause the premium to skyrocket next year! They thrive on such thefts. I almost feel they are behind most robberies. It helps their bottom-line, you see?”

Ganesh wasn’t sure if the cops were in bed with the thieves or if the Insurance agencies were. He gave up: “So what are you planning to do now?”

“Let’s see. Not sure at the moment.” Dev replied, “Damn! Those were expensive trims!”

“Alright dad,” Ganesh had finished breakfast, “I can still catch my daily train if I leave now. Let me know your plan and call my office if you need help with anything, okay?”

With that, he left before Dev could reply.