Let me begin by saying that folks with relatives (especially with older relatives, or younger squeaky ones also qualify) in teh colleges where they study are to be much sympathized with. Take my case, for example:
I was in college for rehearsal of our esteemed departmental play and feeling a bit weak due to lack of nutrition. I needed something more fortifying than milk and toast. Much more fortifying!! In other words, I was in desperate need of a fag. Entering college and finding neither of the gate 4 cigarette shops open, I made a beeline for Milon da's who, understanding the JU nesha and the subsequent hunger pangs, thoughtfully keeps his canteen open during the holidays.
Approaching, I was about to enter when........I stopped in my tracks. A certain aunt who teaches at a certain department in JU was having her belated lunch there. There was no way to avoid contact. I swerved and made for the back entrance and finding Milon da in person made a polite request for 2 Classics and a coffee and a hundred-buck note changed. He acquiesced, but I would have to be served at the front counter like everyone else, not escape from the window with my booty. I dithered and dawdled, wondering how to pull off an incredible sleight-of-hand from under the nose of my aunt ( otherwise a very sweet and nice aunt, I might add!).
Well, in I had to go, so desperate was the need for a life-reclaiming inhalation of the smoke of fine tobacco. You can understand the feeling, I'm sure! I smiled at my aunt and we lapsed into conversation and banter. She offered me dalpuri, I politely refused saying I was in a hurry for rehearsals. All the time I was edging towards the counter trying to make sure the fags would be hidden by my body when Milon da decided to reveal them and thinking up a wild story of how I had been forced at gunpoint to go and buy them for a very strong friend whereas normally I wouldn't
dream of touching tobacco products of course!! Milon da served the coffee on the counter and then much to my surprise, silently drew my attention to the 2 Classics waiting, deftly hidden behind the laddu-jar! No doubt, he had added 2+2 and obtained the unsurprising 4! I gave him the warmest smile I could muster, swiped the fags into my pocket and nonchalantly picked up the coffee, confident my aunt could not have seen anything. I smiled at her in farewell and strode out into sunlight with my faith re-affirmed in the sensibilities of the peoples of this world.
Conclusion:- Milon da is a dude, accustomed, no doubt to loyal customers who sometimes have the misfortune of falling into potentially scandalous situations and saving their lives in return for continued patronage. Patronage he will continue to have, most certainly, and a heightened confidence in my tackling any such future incident.
