A busy thursday afternoon

A busy thursday afternoon A busy thursday afternoon on Laxmi road, as most of the manufacturing units observe a weekly off it added to the bus(i)ness. Thanks to the rain gods, for showing some mercy, but this added to the chaos. Finding a parking place for a two wheeler on Laxmi road, especially on a Thursday afternoon is like finding needle in a stack of hay. As I was cruising on laxmi road with my 10 year old, both of us were totally drenched... just as I was about cancel my plans and head back home I saw a lady standing rather occupying or blocking (to be more precise) the parking place. As a gentleman I requested her to please move so that I could park my vehicle and proceed for my work. She said she is waiting for her buddy and so she is holding/blocking the spot for their vehicle. When I asked her where the vehicle was she said its coming and it is at a particular signal. As a regular on laxmi road, I understood that the vehicle is at least 2 km away and there are three signals on the way from the location mentioned by her. It would take approximately 20-25 mins on regular day and at least 45 mins on a day like this to cover the distance and reach the said parking spot. I requested her again saying I would be done in 5 mins, so please let me park my vehicle. In a very stubborn manner she said "no, I will not, do I look like a crazy person to stand here in rain". I replied "I don’t know... it must be your hobby..." On repeating that I would be done in 5 min she moved away and let me park (wow - one the few battles that I have won against any woman... obviously never against my mother, sister, girlfriends, and never against my wife... sigh!!!) As I was aligning my vehicle - she said "only 5 min" in a commanding voice. Trust me it hit me at a very wrong place... I replied does this place belong to you… or does your father or brother or husband own this road… She said “why did you lie to me, you said 5 mins and now you are going back on your words… don’t you have any manners” – I replied “I have them at home and I don’t carry them during the rainy season”… I could sense that she was fuming from – as all the road-side vendors, passerby and shopkeepers were laughing at her… and I was least bothered as I had already parked my vehicle. Showing her helpless-ness she noted down my vehicle registration number – I asked her do you also want my cell nos… When I was done with my work and returning to the parking lot – I came across the same lady and her “friend” entering the same premise where I had completed my work and was on the move… Fear struck me when various things ran through my mind – what if she has removed my vehicle from the parking and moved it to the no-parking area… and what if it was picked up by the cops… etc… etc… But nothing as such had happened as the vehicle was there at the same place where I had left…