The Car

A guy was in jail where the only way he can look at the outside world is through a window in the room. Being a great admirer of nature, he stares through the window all day long looking at everything he possibly can look at. Everyday he used to see a beautiful car through the window. There was a security gate at the other side of the road and the car used to stop daily at the gate for routine checking. The checking used to take a maximum of 10 minutes and that was all he needed to devour the sight of his favorite car passing by everyday. He used to relive those moments all day long and would punctually be at the window side next day at the designated time of its arrival. This was his routine and this was his life. There was certain sanctity in his routine of gazing at the car. Numerous cars pass by that window everyday and many like the one he admires pass by each day. Even he is not sure what attracted him so mush to this particular car. Yes, it was his favorite color and yes, he would own it with his eyes closed if he can afford it but these were not the reasons. There were many cars with the same color and features but he wasn't interested in any of them. As a matter of fact he never wanted to own this car even if ever got a chance. All he wanted to do was to LOOK at it. He liked the way it drifted slowly past him everyday in the morning. He often wondered foolishly if the car would know that someone was looking at it with such devotion. He laughed at himself sometimes because of his absurd obsession but never for a single day he stopped looking out through the window at the time the car would pass by. One day he was notified that he would be released the following day. He was happy and sad the same time. Thought of being free was wonderful but at the same time the thought of not being able to watch his favorite car daily was depressing.

He could not sleep at all that night. He knew he had nothing to cherish about his past life. He would not have ended up in a jail if his life was any good. He did not have many friends either. He had spent most of life on road. He worked only feed himself and never looked to make acquaintances. He had himself and that is all he needed. He laughed and cried alone. He never believed in people. All he could see around him was selfishness and jealousy. So he never really cared and craved for other's attention. People used him for all sorts of works and paid very little. He was happy as long as he had enough to eat. Even when he didn’t have enough to eat what he wanted, he bought what he could afford but never complained. Even when on that dreadful night when he was arrested for sleeping on the park bench, he followed the police silently without protest only to find out later that he was arrested so that he could be framed for a misdeed some arrogant kid of a wealthy person committed. Even at that moment he accepted his fate silently. He knew that there was no point in fighting when you don't have people around you to celebrate your success. Even in the jail, he preferred living alone. Inmates complained about his passiveness and boycotted him. Nobody wanted to stay with him and he was shifted to the last room on the floor where he was left alone. He only came out to eat and quietly returned to his room. Everybody took pity on him but nobody knew that he was having the best days of his life by looking at that car through the window. Now when it dawned on him that he can no longer enjoy watching at the car in solitude from the window in his jail room, he could no longer take it. He cried all night and prepared himself for one last look from that window. He could never imagine that his life was going to change completely the  next morning.

Next morning, after completing his ritual of watching and admiring the car from the window, he got ready and went to meet the jailer to complete the releasing formalities. The jailer could not ask him if was happy about getting released because of the swollen eyes which were a result of crying for the whole night. In fact the jailer had been observing him from the first day he was brought to jail and felt sorry for him after knowing the unjust manner in which he was framed for a crime he didn't commit. For the jailer, he was an innocent homeless person. The jailer wanted to help him in any way he can and arranged for him to be left alone and not be disturbed while in jail. That morning the jailer had a surprise in store for him. He handed him an additional document along with his release papers. Knowing fully well that he was illiterate, the jailer explained to him that that was letter of employment. The jailer got him a job as a security guard at the IT park opposite the jail. he could not believe his luck. He got a job at the very gate through which his car passes by everyday. With tears in his eyes, he fell at the jailer's feet. The jailer was moved and was pleasantly surprised to see the look on his face after he got up. He was beaming with happiness. The jailer gave him additional money along with the amount he earned  by working in the jail and asked him to go and meet the superintendant at the IT park. He left happily not before touching the feet of the jailer reverentially.

He went and met the superintendant directly. It took an hour to finish joining formalities and he was briefed about his work later. He has to work from 6 AM to 6 PM. His job was to verify the identity of the employees entering the IT park and ensure smooth flow of the traffic. He was also given accommodation on the campus. Though it was just a bunk bed in a dormitory which he had to share with 100 other people, he was more than happy. He was elated and could not believe his stars and thanked heavens for all the love. That night he slept peacefully. That was the best sleep he ever had. Next morning he woke up very early and was ready at the gate well before the scheduled time of his shift. He was looking a completely different person, someone he never thought he could ever become. He started working and with a smile on his face asked for the identity cards of the employees coming in and greeted everyone warmly. He was waiting for that moment to look at his car from close distance. He knew exactly when to expect the car to come by so he went about his job without anxiety. But as it neared the time of arrival, his heartbeat started rising and he was sweating profusely. The time has come and he could see the car approaching from a distance. The car came closer and that was when he got the shock of his life.

The car looked completely different. As they say distance lends enchantment to the view. It had scratch marks all over and color was fading away on most of its parts. Though that was not what he expected, he was happy to be able to see the car from that close. He understood that it was driven as cab service for the employees of the IT park. The car dint yet reach the gate and he was admiring it from the little distance that separated him from his car. He waited patiently for the car to  move closer and got lost in its beauty. His incharge nudged him to move and check the id cards of the employees in the car. That was when he looked at the lucky people who sat in the car with envy. It didnot take more than a few seconds for that envy to turn into anger. Employees were smoking sitting inside the car without showing it any respect. He could not stand the sight of it. Infront of him was a car, he admired with reverence. Infront of him was the only source of true joy in his whole life. What he saw appeared like blasphemy to him. He could not take it anymore. He lunged forward and pulled the cigarette from the employees mouth and threw it out. What followed it was a commotion. Employees shouting the guards demanding and apology and the traffic came to a stand still. Amidst the commotion, he took one last look at his car and started running away. Knowing fully well that he cannot watch his car in that plight everyday to took to his heels and did not stop until he was exhausted and fell unconscious