“Mom, it’s broken.”
Sneha sighed, “What did you do today?”
Teary eyed Jai replied, “Nothing, mom. I swear. I was just riding the bike.”
“And, you fell?”
“No. I just got off and it snapped.”
“Just like that? But it’s only been a month!”
“I didn’t do it. Promise.”
“Fine. We’ll go back to the store and get it replaced.”
The clock’s hands touched 5.30 pm and the bell above the cycle shop clinked as Sneha and Jai pushed it open. In the back room, Mr. Dubey heard the sound and chuckled in glee. Right on time, as always.
Coming out with his most professional air, he listened sympathetically and nodded saying, ‘Yes, those damn foreign brands. Here’s a piece that will stay for much longer.
Sneha winced, ‘You said that last time too.’
Shrugging, Dubey said, ‘Hey lady. The best I’ve got. Take it or leave it.’
Ten minutes later, he sat there, his chubby fingers counting the crisp notes.
***
Welcome to the Bar-A-Thon, the blogging challenge over at Blog-A-Rhythm. I’m blogging every day this week and will be writing short pieces of fiction on each of the daily prompts.
I’ve also taken up the theme of the 7 deadly sins and will touch upon one each day.
Today’s prompt: Fragile lives
Today’s theme: Greed
I meant HEAR not here 🙂
Here this far too often. Nasty
Ah, the greed! Such a deadly sin. But then I think it’s probably one of the most prevalent ones in us humans, isn’t it? We always want more!
Good interpretation of the prompt, Shy!
That’s how everything is around us these days! You name any profession, store, work… greed is everywhere. Everything means business. Everything is commercialized! Sad state it is. Sigh.
I don’t really like greedy people. They are doubly sinners – greedy and selfish :-/
Interesting take on the prompt 🙂
Greed! How sad it is that people satisfy their appetites at the expense of others around them!
Dubey is a bad , bad man. Karma is going to bite him in the rear when he’s not looking!
Greed! I wonder how people in the Neanderthal Age fulfilled their greedy desires. Was it not evident because they never had to pay cash for anything? Or were they much more civilised than us in this matter?
I can only imagine the state of the poor girl, falling off her bicycle every time, only because someone else didn’t want to fall off the high pedestal of being rich!
Very apt in today’s scenario..well written post! 🙂
Ugh! I hate that man. I started out thinking this Jai is like H who never manages to make things last but it turned out to be the shop guy.
These crafty cycle walahs. We’ve all suffered at their hands. Now, I buy at Decathlon. Not sure if what they suggest is totally devoid of greed. Nice take.
I agree with the comment above there is something about how you used greed as the Sin for Fragile Lives. It just fits perfectly. We all always want a little more from life. Maybe we need to check ourselves.
The cycle-wala where my sons take their bicycles is equally crafty. Good one.
Oh dear! Now I know what happened to D’s cycle and why when the brake on his cycle handle snapped apart without even falling. This tale in the post is not fiction but real. Is it difficult to find genuine sellers these days?
I can well relate to your post, Shailaja !!! Greedy people ….. Fragile lives ……
This one of the reason I have lost trust in mobile phone repair shops. The phone you get back is never the same again… with one problem after another occurring every month. Greed has taken us so far away from Goodness.
Loved the story.
wow indeed what a terrible man! I love how you linked fragile lives to greed. There is something profound about that. I must think on this unexpected connection some more. 🙂
What a terrible man! The things Greed makes people do!
Loved your take on the prompt, and the idea of using the 7 Deadly Sins too.