Episode 1

One evening in January a well-groomed young man having walked up Davis Road to the Mall turned to Charing cross.

His hair was sleek and shining and he wore side burns. His thin moustache seemed to have been drawn with a pencil.

He had put on a brown overcoat with a cream coloured half opened rose in his button hole and a green flat hat which he wore at a rakish angle.

A white silk scarf was knotted at his neck. One of his hand was slipped into a pocket of his overcoat while in the other he held a short polished cane which every now and then he twirled jauntily.

It was Saturday evening in mid-winter. The sharp icy gust of wind struck like steel, but the young man seemed to be immune to them.

So, while others were walking briskly to keep warm, he was ambling along obviously enjoying his promenade in the bitter cold.

He looked such a dandy that tonga-wallas on catching sight of him, even from a distance, whipped up their horses and raced towards him.

With a wave of his stick he turned them away. A taxi also drew near him and the driver looked at him enquiringly. He too was turned off. This time with a...

" No thank you."

As the evening advanced the cold became more intense. It was a cold that induced people to seek comfort in pleasure.

At such times it was not only the profligate who ranged aboard, but even those who were usually content to live with their loneliness, emerged from their hide-outs to join the gaiety of the streets.

And so people converged on the Mall where they amused themselves among the variety of hotels, restaurants, cafes, snack bars, each according to his means.

Those who could not afford the pleasures inside, were content to gaze at the coloured lights and brilliant advertisements outside.

Up and down the main road there was an unending stream of cars, buses, tongas, and bicycles while the pavement thronged with pedestrians.

The young man seated on the cement bench was watching with interest the people passing on the pavement before him.

Most of them were wearing overcoats which were if every kind from the Astrakhan to the rough military khaki such as are found in large bundles at the second-hand clothes' shop.

The overcoat the young man himself was wearing was old, but it was cut and the material was good quality. The lapels were stiff and sleeves well creased.

The buttons were of horn, big and shiny.The young man seemed to be very happy in it.

A boy selling pan and cigarettes with a tray of his wares passed by.

"Pan Walla"

"Yes, sir"

"Have you change for a ten rupee note"

"No, sir, but I'll get it for you."

"And what if you don't come back?"

"If you don't trust me sir, you can come with me. Anyway, what do you want to buy?" .........

...----------------...

to be continued.........

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***