|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 6 July 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
The lidless manhole
Anyway, I was not worried, for I was watching some impending disaster any moment before my eyes, for there was a lidless manhole just adjacent to the pavement and the main road. It was the rush hour and quite a lot of vehicles were speeding hurriedly leaving from work. A small car, I suppose a Suzuki, driven by a woman came rather slowly and drove pass the lidless manhole. What would have happened had the woman driver driven her car onto the manhole? Being a small car and driven rather slowly perhaps symbolic of her character traits, would have escaped a major accident. There came a motor cyclist with a woman on the pillion, rather fast perhaps trying to go home as soon as possible avoiding the traffic light signals ahead. He too had a narrow escape. Then came a rather hefty truck, unusual for the time of the day. The driver drove right on to the manhole unaware presumably of it. But being a heavy vehicle the tyres just made a terrific romp with a noise and went passed the manhole. The driver took no notice of the sound, perhaps as he was used to it for a long time. I thought that the truck driver would stop his vehicle, but such a thing never happened. But a young boy who was peeping the open door of the back of that through vehicle noted the sound and looked at road. Then looked aside as if nothing apparently had happened. Then he looked at me, as I was watching all these, in a very inquisitive manner. Several pedestrians were walking past me, taking no notice of the impending disaster. Just as I was pondering as to what I should do, a three wheeler stopped just at the edge of the lidless manhole. He seemed to have just escaped the disaster. He stopped the vehicle, and peeped out and shouted. 'Oh my god isn't there somebody who can take care of this manhole?' 'I think, we got to report this matter to the municipality' I said. 'Go and do it' and he drove off his vehicle. I just went on philosophizing on the lidless manhole. In a few seconds lapse, there drove a brand new luxury or full optioned car, so fast that the left front wheel got stuck in the lidless manhole, making a big noise. I was positive of the gravity of the accident. I was sure that the left wheel shock absorber was shattered. The driver who was well dressed, with a cellular phone, came out to see what has happened. Then he opened the other door to help the woman seated there to come out. I walked close to the driver and wanted to know what I should do. 'Did you not see the lidless manhole?' I asked. 'No. I did not see it. I got an urgent call.' I wanted to ask him 'Why do you want to use a hand phone while you are driving' but decided against it. Instead I said, 'It's always dangerous to use a phone while driving fast.' 'No I was not driving fast' he said. I kept silent. A crowd of people gradually gathered round the car, some of them were quite young and strong. 'Shall we all help this gentleman?' I said and made a friendly gesture to lift the left side of the vehicle. We all managed to do it and both of them got into the vehicle, thanked and waved their hands in a joyful mood. 'Luckily nothing has happened to the vehicle', one of the helpers said. 'I think they are newly married, and they are in a mighty hurry to go home' said another coming out of the recreation club. Just at that moment my friend arrived. 'Oh I am so sorry to have kept you waiting for such a long time' he said. 'It's alright I did not feel the lapse of time', I said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
I was waiting for my friend outside the recreation club conscious of
the fact that he will arrive at any time. But the time factor is always a
problem for most of us. Those who are time conscious arrive in time and
those who disobey this rule get late.
