A chance meeting

One day*, while coming back from a photo studio, where I finally got passport size photo clicked for my enrollment to the bar, I took an auto for office. The auto wala was an old man, with white hair and elongated ears, and nostrils like two tunnels, just the way papa would have described them, had he seen him. So I sat down, and seeing that he was old, I offered more fair for the route. He agreed and we started towards my office. He must have seen my black coat, which was in my hand and my black and white ensemble, and commented, “aap lawyer hain kya?” Generally I don’t like to answer such questions, but well, I did have the coat in my hand, denying would have been very lame, so I replied that yes I am.

He said, “aapki awaz to kafi kamzor hai, lawyer ke liye”

“Woh to main aapse baat kar rahee hoon, isliye. Warna to mere awaz bahut tez hai.” I replied. I dint see any point in telling him that in any case, I don’t get to speak before a judge, yet.

“Haan hoga aisa hee, par aapko apni sehat bananee chahiye, tabhi to aap lawyer lagengi. Woh jisko customers’ dekh kar kahe, aaha yeh hai mere lawyer.”

To his reply I started smiling. This sweet old man, like many others who are of the opinion that I am too short to look like a lawyer, gave the same advice many others have given me i.e. to gain weight and look more mature. Probably the only thing i don't ever want to do to appear as a lawyer.

He then said, “aap huss kyun rahee hain, main seriously bol raha hoon. Aapka customer kitna khush hoga jab aapko judge ke saamne, our dusri tarak ke lawyer ke samne tez aur rouaab wali awaz mein bolte sunega. Kahega aaha kya lawyer hain mera. Aur aapke paas itne customers bhe aayenge. Aap to badi polite lagti ho. Aapko to sakth dikna chahiye.”

Now I got really happy, after all he said that main badi polite lagti hoon. And then, he just surprised me by saying the next statement. He said, “Actually I am retired. Earlier I used to work in the American embassy.” This old man, with long ears, and huge nostrils and driving an auto was speaking in perfect and accented English. As if sensing my confusion, he said, “I retired 8 years back. And have been driving this auto for the last six years. It is my auto and I drive where ever I can, from morning 10 to evening 7. I don’t want to sit at home and do nothing. At least this is a good way to pass time and I am not even sitting idle.” 

Now I got impressed too. But also started to wonder as to why in fact was he driving an auto, this old man. Probably family problems or necessity. And being me, I got kind of sad too. But this man was in top spirits, at least while he was talking to me. And then again gave me the same advice he gave me earlier, only this time in his perfect English.

By this time, I had reached my office. So I got down and gave him the money. He says finally, “do remember me, and it was nice talking to you.”

I said I definitely will, and thanked him and walked away with a smile on my face.

Well no moral attached to this story neither any emotional etc. effect attached. I was just so glad to meet this person and to talk to him, that I thought it was befitting that I note down, for future remembrance.

*September 11, 2008

I did eventually see him once more a few days (or maybe months) later, outside of the High Court, while i was waiting to catch an auto. On seeming him go past, for a brief second i thought he will stop once he spots me. But he just went past me. i have a feeling that he raised his hand, either to greet me or to mock all of us who were waiting for an auto in the heat while he just went past us. but i cant be sure now.