Food for thought

In the buzzing city of Mumbai, Ajay was woken up by his boss to deliver some food to some youngsters at the beach. He had just finished 30 deliveries of the day, ran after a dog to only be scolded by the owner and get pulled over by the cops because the customer wanted him to go fast. 

Hesitantly, Ajay woke up in his small apartment. It was almost 11 in the night. He took his bag and helmet and climbed on his bike, and sped off to the restaurant, wondering where he'd went wrong in his life.

He reached the restaurant and waited for the food to be prepared, which took an too long. He got a phone call from the customer.

"Where is the food yaar? We have been waiting for almost 40 minutes."

"Sorry sir, the food-"

"No excuses. This is your job. You gotta do this. Lazy idiot." He cut the phone in a huff.

Ajay looked dejected. The chef handed him the food and Ajay paid for it. The chef said it was not enough. 

"Bhai, when I return I will pay."

The chef didn't look pleased, and scolded him for another 10 minutes. Ajay sped off in his bike to the location. He handed the food and the person scolded him. Ajay tried to tell him it wasn't his fault. The person threw the money at Ajay's face. 

Ajay returned to is office, and handed the boss the money. 

"1000 rupees. Here."

He handed Ajay 50 rupees.

"Bhai, what is this?"

"Money."

Ajay fumed. "Only this much?"

The boss sighed. "The customer complained about you. He said you were late, and the restaurant took money out of the pay too. So, 50! Now scat."

Ajay knew best not to argue. He went back home, and found his landlord in the stairs talking on the phone. When he saw Ajay, He cut the phone and walked to him in an angry scowl. 

"Where's the rent?"

Ajay's eyes were the size of laddoos. He completely forgot about the rent. He panicked and did the usual: Ask for more time.

"No, No, NO! You have the rent of 3 months to give, the total being more than 6 grand. You have to pay this time, or you can pack your stuff and get the hell out of here."

After relentless negotiation, the landlord gave in. Ajay promised he will pay. The landlord went, and Ajay went to bed.

He woke up in the middle of the night. He went to the roof of the building, which took a while. He dropped the coffee cup, and Ajay smiled.

He followed the cup to his death.

People gathered all around the horrifying scene, and the landlord found the letter wrote for him, and everyone.

"Dear brother,

I promised you rent. The truth is, I can't even afford food for me. People at my house are expecting money. I have to send them half my money, and I don't get anything. No food, no life. Still, I tried to get you the money, but I had to spent it on my job. As for my boss. You were amazing to me. You treated me like a son. But try putting on my shoes. You will never understand my pain. There are thousands of young men in this city, and we share the same fate. As for the person I delivered yesterday. Remember, it wasn't my fault.

Only if this world will remember people such as me, and those young men who go around the entire city, barely making ends meet. But we are nothing, and we will never be anything."

Ajay

The next day, the landlord sent the letter to a news channel, to make the shunned voice heard.