JJ Meets His Match
Nina Varghese
23 October 2007, 12:20There was that dog again, jumping, jumping, jumping. Just yesterday, it had jumped on the postman and the day before it frightened the milk man, witless. Something had to be done, thought Jason Joeymon or JJ as his former B school batch mates called him.
The dog, in question, was a pedigree boxer called Cossack for which he had paid through his nose. Cossack lived on the farm with the watch man and his wife. JJ had moved to the farm after his life in Delhi had come to a rather abrupt halt. Just two months ago, he had arrived at his office a couple of hours late, as was his norm and found a card box of his personal effects in the reception. All senior partners were unavailable for comment or away at lunch. He knew that this was coming for some time. But he decided that he would not leave without a scene and then lost his lunch on the pristine floor.
He had another couple of drinks and went home to find the `Dear JJ’ note on the pillow. His wife had left. Taking the kid with her. Good riddance, he thought. She had cleaned out the apartment, the joint account and the refrigerator to boot.
Well, all that seemed a long time ago. Not that he cared. JJ never cared for anyone but himself. All he needed was his dear ole monk and mary jane. He lay back in the planter’s chair and rolled a fresh joint while he reflected on his life, when Cossack jumped on him again.
But now the dog was beginning to irritate JJ.
.
The next day brought mist and a slight chill. JJ loaded his golf clubs and whistled to Cossack to get in the car. He threw a couple of rupees to the watchman and drove away towards the jungle. A couple of hours later he was in the heart of the wildlife sanctuary. He parked his car at the side and opened the door for Cossack. The dog jumped out. JJ put it on the leash and led it into the bamboo forest. There he removed the leash. Cossack looked up at him, clearly puzzled. Go ahead, play, JJ said. So Cossack darted ahead and gamboled near the bamboo. The dog sighted a butterfly and was soon chasing it. JJ flung the leash in the bush and walked back to car. He got in and drove off. Through the rear view he could see Cossack abandon his playing and chase the car. JJ just accelerated away without another backward glance. He looked at his watch, damn, he would he half an hour late for his game in Ooty.
Nearing the check post on the border of the two states, he noticed a rather plump woman sub inspector standing on the side of the road. She waved the car asking for a ride to the check post. JJ decided that it was time to have some fun. He slowed down and stopped a short distance away. Through the rear view he could see the woman run up to the car, as she neared the car; he accelerated away, leaving the woman panting in the middle of the road.
It wasn’t as if there were a host of friends waiting for JJ in Ooty. That was all over a long time ago. Since JJ had exhausted his welcome in most of the homes in this hill station, he decided that he would eat at the Chinese joint near Charing Cross. After a leisurely but solitary lunch JJ drove to the Golf Club for a more solitary game.
He decided that some human company would be welcome. The bar was full, some sort of class reunion in progress. He sighted a former girl friend and a cousin and turned his head away. Just as he was about o sit at the bar, a uniformed bearer came up to him and said ``Sarry sar, new rule. No sweat shirts in the bar.’’
There was a momentary quiet at the bar before the babble started again. Cursing under this breath JJ walked out and decided to go back to the farm.
At the second hairpin bend, the car started pulling to the left. JJ stopped and got down to find that he had a flat. By the time he had changed his tyre the sun was setting. JJ was not a good night driver and the light from the passing cars bothered him. He desperately needed a drink. But that would have to wait till he finished the ghat section, he thought.
Driving slowly and extra carefully, JJ managed to make his way down the ghat road. After the ghat road he picked up speed and was soon making good time.
Just before the check post he noticed a line of cars had parked up. He drove past the cars without a care and soon was at the check post. The plump woman SI was on duty and the stopped the car with an imperious wave of her hand.
“Coming from?’’ she asked.
“Ooty.’’
And without further ado, she waved his car through.
Trouble started the moment he entered the wild life sanctuary. Smoke started coming out of the bonnet. He pulled up but made no attempt to open the bonnet. There was no point because he knew nothing about cars. After fruitlessly trying to start the engine, he opened the door and stepped out hoping to flag down a passing car. He closed the car door and stretched his hands over his head. His hands touched something rough and leathery. His last thought was `that’s why the cars had all parked up at the check post…’
eom
