The Operation

I got down at Bandra station after a long train journey from Church Gate. Today was one of the better days. The rains had lowered the temperatures significantly and I had avoided the rush hour by leaving late at 10 pm. Moreover, I had my ipod with me. I listened to some kickass guitar solos and that had made the journey passable. There was a semblance of quiet satisfaction in the atmosphere around the station, almost post-orgasmic in feel. There were fewer people around. They seemed to be walking more slowly than usual. Everything seemed effulgent in the afterglow of a lovemaking session. I realised I love this city only for the 9 hours from 10 in the night to 7 in the morning, when it slows down to earthly speeds. I crossed the road, and waved down a rickshaw.
'Turner Road', I shouted above Pink Floyd's psychedelic Echoes reverberating in my ears. It was the most mundane of my daily chores. Hailing down a rickshaw, shouting out my destination, looking around aimlessly for the next 7 to 10 minutes (depending upon whether I spent 3 minutes or 6 at the Linking Road-SV Road crossing) and shooing off beggar children along the way.
We had come to the crossing. There were 2.5 more minutes to go before the light turned green. There were 5 more minutes of Echoes left. I was happy with my life.

'Bhai Sahab..', I saw my rickshaw driver turn back and try to say something to me.

'Haan, tell me', I reluctantly removed one earphone.

'Bhai Sahab, is there such a thing as the surgery of the intestines?' He asked me earnestly, in thick, bhojpuri accented Hindi.

'What?'

'Surgery of the intestines...have you ever heard of the intestines being operated upon?'

'Well, I have heard of some surgical procedures relating to the intestines..but I am not a doctor so I cant be too sure. Why do you ask?',I had removed the other ear phone now. I looked at the guy. He was in his early thirties, tall and with impeccable features. Like one of those Indian princes of yore.

'Well..my wife..doctors have told that she has to undergo a surgery of the intestines'

'ok..'

'She had undergone a vasectomy operation two years back in Jaunpur..the doctor accidentally snipped off something inside the stomach...she experienced several complications..and then I got her operated again..then she remained fine for a couple of years. Now, the problem has resurfaced. Doctors say an operation on the intestines is necessary to sort out this issue..so Iwas just wondering whether this saala intestines can be operated upon'

The light turned green. I could not say anything for a while. I did not know what to say. Then a bromide escaped my mouth

'Dont worry. Doctors know best. I am sure things will work out fine'

'Yeah that is what I am thinking..He is a big doctor..he will definitely know..so you think I should get it done?'

'umm..I think so..where are u getting it done?'

'In the hospital at mahim'

'Raheja hospital?' I knew that was a stupid question the moment I asked it

'No no,', he smiled. 'Municipal hospital..actually Raheja would have been expensive..I cant afford it..it will cost about 10000 Rs in municipal as opposed to 60000 Rs elsewhere'

For the second time in a minute, I did not know what to say. He showed some mercy and said 'Waise the doctors there are good..so many people come there every day..but i am still surprised that yeh saala intestine ka operation...'

We had come to my house. I asked him to stop. I paid him and escaped to fresh air and some more Pink Floyd.