A car bumped on another. The car in front of it had stopped abruptly. Honking of the car all around has created a kiosk. Somebody shouted “What the hell is this?” The other questions “Who’s that bastard?” There was a sort of congestion in the street.
Somebody broke the signal. A car passes at a cruising speed; he cares for no body. “Who is he?” Everybody thinks.
It is John, who is behind the wheel of that disobedient car, a factory manager, a responsible father of two daughters, a loving husband, above all a good citizen and human being.
Today he cares for no body, it seems even God cannot stop him. But, where is he going? We don’t know and neither he! Something has gone wrong with him. He is the last person to break traffic rules and behave so irresponsibly.
Early in the morning, the situation was different. He goes for a walk with Boozy, his dog, to the city garden as a routine. He prepares for his office. He crosschecked his plan for the day, and then sat down for breakfast with his two daughters, Emily and Rosy. Emily is in six standards and Rosy still goes to the kindergarten. Margaret, his beloved wife serves the breakfast.
“Johnny, half yearly fees is due for Emily.” Margaret announces while serving.
“Yaah! I remember.” replied John.
“I heard there will be a hike this time.” said Margaret.
“Don’t worry” said John
“Papa, I need a new bike.” Emily shouted.
“I will get it for you, next month” replied John.
“Caroline comes with her new bike, I love that red colour” says Emily excitedly.
“Papa will give you a red bike next month” John smiled at Emily and then he turn to see Margaret smiling.
Rosy is busy fondling with the bread. Margaret notices it and started feeding her. John love that moment. He consider this moments as the sweetest hour of his entire day. He will be dropping his Rosy and Emily at school while going to his factory. He will not be able to see them until tomorrow morning.
John picks up his bag and calls both his daughter to get into the car. Rosy loves to sit on the co driver seat and the first one to arrive. Emily still has some last minute chat with her mother.
Finally, he drops Rosy and then Emily. John moves towards his factory. While on his way he thinks of the beautiful necklace, Margaret praised during the window shopping last weekend. He promised to himself that he would surprise her next month by gifting it to her. A necklace for Margaret, a red bike for Emily and then thinks of a gift for Rosy. Rosy did not ask for anything, and he is unable to read her mind. He curses his lack of acquaintance with his daughters. His job does not give him enough opportunity to spend more time with them. He also loves his job.
“A Barbie doll would be able to cheer up Rosy” he thinks and smiles. He was a happy father indeed.
He reaches his factory still smiling, until he saw a crowd in front of the factory. The main gate was secured. Factory workers cursing and screaming with slang words. He got down from his car and asked Anthony, the person who was standing quietly in deep thought.
John asked,” What’s the matter?”
The person looked thoroughly at his eyes “Haven’t you read newspaper?”
“No, I didn’t.” replies John.
“Our factory has shut down its operation today.” He lowered his voice along with his head as if offering it to be slaughtered.
“What!” astonished John holding his forehead.
“Yes John, we have no job and no salary and we will have no food for our family now” Anthony starts weeping now. “I learned no other skill but to work in the factory and there is no other factory to offer me a job in this city. John, I am ruined”
John had no way of consoling Anthony. His life has been shaken up by the news. He anticipated the news but not so suddenly. There was a fall in the sales of their products and such decision was inevitable. He knows that shouting in front of the gate would not lead to anything. He drives back home. His dreams are shattered. He will not be able to surprise Margaret with that necklace but he would certainly surprise her by arriving home so early. He will not be able to buy red bike for Emily, he will not need it either as he won’t be able to send Emily to school because he won’t be able to pay her fees. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. Only Margaret will be able to comfort him. He wants to reach her as soon as possible. He drives the way home every day but it seems longer today.
At last he reaches home and sees a car being parked in front of his house. He wonders who it could be. He parks his car and walks into the living room. Suddenly he turns pale by what he sees. He felt weakness in his knee like he never fell. His wife was making love with a stranger in the sofa. He did not know how to react to such a situation; the sight of it caused a kind of pain he could not withstand. He moved out of the room and ran towards his car.
John sensed that there was nothing left in his life. He wanted to go away from everything in his life. He wanted to go away from Margaret, from his home and everything. He cared for his family and for his wife but they didn’t care for him. Now he cares nobody, he would not be able to trust anybody; he will not obey anybody, not even the traffic signal.
Today, he drives to nowhere but away from everywhere.
Next morning, the newspaper read, “A fatal car crash, drive is dead and identified as Mr John Matthew.”
