The city glimmers with the setting sun. The lovers sitting on the river bank were ignorant of this beauty of the city. A dog came sniffing around, peed on the rear wheel, garbed a red packet from the auto and ran away.
Tahu was a normal street boy like other street boys whose face you never remember but encounter everyday in the passing crowd. Dark complexion, skinny physique and dirty clothes. A friend of mine, of-course from a rich background, think that all poor look alike and same goes for Tahu. I never dared to point out but I always differed from him on this prospect. I met Tahu at several occasions when he was not busy with his profession and found him equally appealing as my friend however the dressing may differ. I wonder is it the profession of the poor which make them appear this way or is it the poorness itself.
However that day was a different day, Tahu was wearing the suit which he always wear on any big events and had a hair cut, which made it further special. His Amma was wearing her brightest saree which can glow with a slightest light. Someone on the streets said "Tahu is going to see a bride". The fat guy replied scratching his armpit " Its not possible, his demand for dowry is too high, he asked 2 lakhs in cash from a distant cousin of mine. Who will give that much for an auto driver". But by the evening, the smile on Tahu's face and the golden ring in his finger was enough to say that everything has turned out fine this time.
Next day the street was filled with gossips and Tahu's dowry was one of them. The fat guy said " According to Tahu's Amma, he is getting 2.5 lakhs and a motorcycle in his dowry”. Promptly the short one replied "She must be exaggerating, she always do". The fat guy replied "No, No, it might be right , the girl's village is next to mine, her father have a big farm with no son but four daughters, this girl is the last one left for marriage and least beautiful too". He continued " She got many rejections, I will not be surprised if her father sell his farm and give three lakhs for her marriage. I think thats why they got the engagement done on the day itself".
Dowry, however illegal in the country, is a highly socially accepted phenomenon and more you get it, the prestigious it is. This fact was clearly reflected on Tahu's face. He took two days off from his work to celebrate his latest accomplishment. On the third day he woke up late, had lunch, and head towards the bank to keep his ring in a safe. To be safe, he put the ring in a red bag and kept it in a tool box of his auto. But before he can reach the bank one of his faithful customer came in for an important ride which he could not turn down. That ride turn out to be longer than expected and he failed to reach the bank on time. While returning back to home the rear wheel of the auto got punctured. He got the wheel out and left in frustration. After returning, while putting the wheel back he noticed that his bag with the ring was missing from his toolbox. He got infuriated and spent rest of the day searching for it.
Late night when he returned back with disappointment he saw his Amma sitting outside the house holding her head with couple of women consoling her. As soon as her eyes fell on him she ran towards him. Tahu was confused and before he can understand she said with teary eyes "Your bride ran away with her lover, your in-laws called an hour ago". She took a breath and continued "I don't know what to do now, the girl has brought so much shame to our family". Looking in Tahu's sad face she consoled "Beta we will get a better bride for you and for her deed we will not return the ring as compensation for the shame she has brought to us". Listening that Tahu sat on the floor and started crying.
Next day in the streets, the news of Tahu's bride again hit the news. The short guy said "Poor Tahu, he was so wretched with the news that he started crying on the spot itself". The fat guy replied while grabbing a samosa "I knew that girl was having an affair with that tailor, he was from my village. She use to visit his shop everyday. I would have never recommended that girl to Tahu if he had consulted me ". Listening to the newly grown sympathy of people for Tahu, a thought ran over my mind, was it the bride or the ring which which made him cry? Whatever be the case you all might be wondering how I came to know about the missing ring. Its simple, the dog was mine.
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