This is my 50th short story
published in StoryMirror
Laugh More Worry Less
Reading time 4 minutes
(A Laughter Short story)
By Vaman Acharya)
Ragavpur Anjana park is well maintained and surrounded by tall trees and a beautiful fountain. It was in the evening, a good number of walkers passing on the lanes meant for the purpose. Some of them were relaxing on the cement bench.
An old couple just retired from service occupied a three seater bench. Wife kept her vanity bag in the middle with the intention of not allowing others to sit. They were silent and observing the movement of people for some time. To break the silence, wife asked,
"Vikram, I wonder how our next door boy Ramesh got a job in Germany being an undergraduate?" Our daughter Vanita, even after getting distinction in B E, is unable to find a job abroad."
"Pushpa, I don't think it is your impression. Your friends from the ladies gossip club might have told you. I don't know whether to laugh at you or pity you for relying on time pass gossip. You don't know about his qualifications.?"
"Vikram, do not underestimate me. I am a post- graduate in Physics and retired as a head of the department in a local college, whereas you are just an arts graduate and retired as a head clerk in the bank," said Pushpa smilingly.
"Yes! Pushpa, you were also head and I was also head. Why do you think of yourself as a superior and me as an inferior? Why this discrimination?"
"Vikram, the word head may be the same. But I was heading a vast department, which needed a sharp mind and well studied about the latest developments on the subject. You were just a clerk exercising limited passing powers for which you were designated as a head clerk."
"Okay darling, why did you compare Vanita with Ramesh? He might have possessed the necessary qualification, special skill and ability to handle certain types of work."
They thought it was an unending argument and laughed loudly. The new topic was on how they got married in spite of mismatch?
"Vikram, did you remember, about four decades ago, when your name proposed to me for a marriage, what was my reply?" asked Pushpa.
"You rejected the proposal stating that your education, my education and your status and my status does not match. You compromised everything because you were so fat that you were unable to get up and your height was 4feet 5 inches. I was lean, and had a grand personality with an attractive look. Your parents thought nobody would select you as a bride and remain as bride forever and made me a scapegoat."
"Yes! Vikram, your makeup with scents spread on your shirt in gents parlor every time had an artificial good looking man that duped me."
This time Vikram could not control his joy and got up dancing like a boy. People sitting in other benches were surprised by the peculiar type of old couple. Some youngsters walking stopped for a while. One of them out of curiosity came and asked,
"Uncle and aunty, permit us to share in your enjoyment."
"My dear young man, may I know your good name? Do you think we are in a joyous mood? It is our normal talk and enjoyment both at home and outside. Just to engage ourselves and feel active, we choose a topic and start to discuss and argue and finally laugh," said Vikram.
"Sir, my name is Sharat Chandra. Last year I completed my MA in Philosophy and I am now preparing for IAS."
Other youngsters also introduced themselves and joined them in enjoyment. Young boys laughed together. Vikram and Pushpa got up and joined the boys in laughing.
The other walkers thought of it not as tamasha but as a real entertainment programme.
It was to everybody's surprise that Vanita and Ramesh arrived together with good news. The boys already gathered were friends of Vanita and Ramesh. The love birds have decided to marry with the blessings of elders and proceed to Germany together. Again there was a loud laughter, when Ramesh has clarified that he is not an undergraduate and holds an engineering degree in computer science securing highest marks and got a job in Germany. The friends wished the lovers a happy married life.
The watchman of the park alerted all the walkers to leave the park as the gates would be locked in just three minutes.
Vikram and Pushpa went to the exit gate fast. Vanita and Ramesh left separately on a bike and said goodbye to all the friends.
The old couple believed and followed 'laugh more and worry less.'
