on 40 rupees
but that was yesterday
today my wallet’s poorer
by 20
and i’m still at ease
got drunk, took a cab, to go fetch money to pay the bill at the local bhatti
not the smartest thing i’ve done since going to ma ku ney’s and mistaking his living room for an easel
to do my best graffiti
the atm was not my friend, not anymore
the cab’s fare was adding up to a number that i had never seen before
“473.60 rupees!”, he demanded
“man .. but the atm’s not my friend anymore”, i confided
“473.60 rupees!!”, he repeated
almost violently this time
there is something, there always is, i thought to myself
“do you take phone cards?”
with a tone to put his enterprise at fault if he didn’t
“what??”
“do you take recharge cards, you know, like namaste mobile?”
“i have an unused 500 rupees one, my only asset”, i said
“give it to me and get out of my damn cab!”
he was being friendly considering the look on his face
“thanks mr, you are kind”
as i tread the darkness that is kathmandu nights
and hear the ghantaghar strike 1
from kamalpokhari now
i realize
i’ve lost another good friend tonight
as the barks grow louder and life just wanes
this lightless city seems withdrawn
from all the hurt it has endured
thanks to all parties concerned
moon shines aloof, rato pool stinks
the homeless looks up to see no home
that’s when i feel the blade, on my back
it is sharp, with a teaser of pain
him: “don’t turn around, do as i say and i’ll let you live!”
i: “ok, but you’re not god, are you? coz i’m already dead.”
him: “wannabe poets! i’m freakking tired of y’all – shut up and gimme your damn wallet!”
i: “here man .. but i don’t think it’ll help your cause all that much.”
him: “why?”
i: “coz the ATM’s not my friend anymore.”
them: “shut up and give me your shoes!”
i: “but but that’s my only friend, goes where i go.”
i: “so .. spare my friend, friend?”
him: “wanna live?”
i: “yes.”
him: “off with them then!!”
i: “here you go.”
him: “now get running, and don’t look back until you get to gaushala.”
i: “can’t i just walk – i’ve been drinking ..”
i: “.. and i don’t think drinking and running is a good combo, what do you guys say?”
him: “i agree, but don’t know about jangey there ..”
jangey: “i agree too barulo, let the drunk walk.”
barulo: “ok fine – walk but don’t turn around!”
i: “can’t i just see my robbers? after all ,, .. um, this is my first time.”
i: “and not like the police are going to catch you or anything.”
i: “if i went to the gaushala police station and filed a complaint they’d put me behind bars, i’m sure.”
barulo: “why’d they do that?”
i: “coz to them i’m a drunk, that’s more than reason enough.”
jangey: “he’s right .. haha .. hey drunk dude, you’re right!”
barulo: ‘he’s right but what then after he sees us?”
jangey: “ok how about we let you shake our hands?”
i: “okay, i guess.”
after the handshake
i walk barefoot towards gaushala
and onto the oncoming barks
well
actually
same barks, i should say
just different dogs.