Auction of Seema Patel by Chandan Sharma

“Youknow how the market is these days…inflation is at its peak. People don’t have money to buy even tomatoes, and you want me to do this!”

He put his index finger straight into his right nostril, desperately trying to catch something there. His facial expressions imitated a hunter, who concentrates on his prey through the binoculars of his rifle. The circumference of his eyes reduced, which suggested his focus. After a struggle of two minutes, his expressions changed to normal. He took out the sticky extract of his nose and started rolling it in a perfect round shape. And this was exactly after having dinner with Manish on that table.

Ranjit, 42, suited perfectly like a gentleman, had an anxious look on his face. He was short, 5’2’’ in height. He had a mole on his right cheek, and he was very sensitive about it. He didn’t like anybody staring at it, which is exactly what Manish was doing.

Manish, 38, was also suited to perfection. He knew that Ranjit hated anybody looking at the mole, but somehow he could not resist it today. It looked bigger than ever. He shook his head and tried to see elsewhere for a moment, but soon his gaze turned towards the mole again. It was disgusting.

“But I did everything you said. I have worked so hard for this.” Manish finally uttered something.

“There are no definite rules for this. I told you those things 3 months ago…you know how important it is to abide time.”

“I am almost on time. It happens sometimes, not everyone is a cakewalk. There are difficult people too.”

Ranjit took out a packet of ‘Lucky Strike’ cigarettes, and put it on the table. He fumbled into his pockets one by one but couldn’t find a lighter, or even a match stick. A wicked smile appeared on his lips, which looked similar to that of Charles Sobhraj, and was perhaps cautiously practised.

“Lucky Strike‘s taste is unique, distinctive, rich, smooth, and satisfying. They are almost free of additives and taste completely natural, but without a lighter… it’s worthless. Same is the importance of timing in this business. You missed the occasion of the elections. Now the rates are down. I can’t help you.”

“Ranjit,” Manish used his polite voice to frame him, “I need the money. I am in deep debt. I have worked for you, for years. I did whatever you wanted, gave you exactly what you wanted. This is a hard time for me, and I am banking on you. You have to help me with this.”

It was chilling outside. The white bed sheet of fog had covered the entire parking area. The cars parked there seemed like they had been unmoved for months. The whole place gave the impression of a dump-yard.

***

She woke up in panic, convinced she had heard something very odd. She opened her eyes with difficulty. Her head was pounding with pain. She drank too much last night. In the dim glow peeping in through the window of the car, she saw outside. The car was parked and she could see no sign of Manish. She tried to open the door of the car but it was locked, she tried another, but that was locked too. She looked here and there. She could see two men from the window of the restaurant in front of which the car was parked. Probably it was Manish sitting with his friend, who was supposed to provide them with a house to stay.

‘Maybe he locked the doors because I was sleeping.’