THE IMPECABBLES

“Who am I, a bonded labour” almost yelling Prashant entered the restaurant. “It doesn’t matter whether the office was opened beyond 6 pm or not but my mind functions till 6 only at this salary” saying this Prashant cut the call, kept his phone on the table near the glass window and sat with letting out a big sigh of disgust from his nostrils.

A scared waiter came up to him with the menu, Prashant without checking out the menu ordered 2 aloo parathas with curd, 1 cheese omelette and 1 espresso. “Don’t bring in haste, make them good” said Prashant scornfully to the waiter.

He then scanned the restaurant for other people at 08:00 am in the morning, there was this old couple sitting quietly on the distant table in other end and a well groomed man around his age in proper formals sitting at a table’s gap alongside the window.

What intrigued Prashant more was the way the guy was having his breakfast, such elegance and perfection, Prashant couldn’t even have a simple toast without spilling crumbs on the floor and table. But look at this guy, its not only the style but the whole aura around him was mesmerising. By his haircut and fitness, Prashant guessed him to be in army, but since half his friends are having crew cut these days and going to gym, he was not completely sure about the professional origins of the guy.

Suddenly the guy got up from his chair at once, signalled something to the waiter and quickly left the room with the mineral water bottle, Prashant got curious wanted to follow him but then concluded that there is no pride in starting the day with stupidity.

He just shifted his focus on the television fixed on the wall, there was news playing on it. Then something outside the window caught his attention, the guy was helping an old labour to put back some fallen heavy loaded cartons on his cart. After he was done with him, the guy gave him the mineral water bottle he carried with him and a smile to make the old labour’s day.

He came back to the restaurant, thanked waiter for not clearing the table, finished his remaining breakfast and was about to leave. Prashant who has this habit of speaking out his mind, said “Bro, what you did there is commendable, but could have waited to finish the little left breakfast and then go”.

The guy just smiled and said “at least this time the probability of coming back and finishing the meal is much higher than the last time I left the meal in between and went for my duty.”

“You are in Indian army,” said a confirmed Prashant.

The guy didn’t say anything, simply nodded yes. The pride in that nod was more intense than the acceptance speech of any civilian.

Prashant’s hand saluted the guy and his face showed the utmost respect while the mind thought that the guy is not even on the borders and still called this as his duty, such impeccable character such humility, only Indian army can provide.

Prashant took phone in his hand, simply texted his boss “Sorry for yesterday, will come early and finish the files before office starts” and politely asked waiter to hurry with the breakfast as he has to leave early.