the WATCH woman

 Just 3 more seconds to click my stopwatch at 10:10:10. With my tongue out, I was eagerly waiting for it, and at sharp 10:09:86- Bang!

A 9-inch cool Adidas ball hit my head and made me dash the wall. One hand over my head, I turned around impulsively and there stood Rishikesh laughingly displaying his half-broken teeth.

"Come over dumboo! we came to play, not to hug walls!"

I stood up. I prayed no one should've noticed me and looked around. There stood my watchman at the gate, smiling at me.

 I smiled back with half a spoon of shame and half a spoon of awkwardness.

Then the game began.  Its Saturday. The only day our school ground be seen crowded. Our school allowed the students to use the ground for playing on Saturdays. There were 3 rules to be followed :

1.Don't forget to bring your ID card

2.Sign in the register

3.Smile at the watchman

and bang! enjoy 6-6 playing.

We played for nearly 2 hours. The 12'o' clock sun actually took away all our energy. With sweat-drenched dresses, we came out. I was wearing a smile over my face when I saw the watchman.

"Had a good day it seems !" handing over the register he said.

I replied with a broad smile.

We all signed. Throughout signing, there was anxiousness in his eyes. He trembled and smiled at me whenever he saw me. I sensed something unusual. we took our bags and were about to leave. Suddenly a hand stopped me.

"Beti !"- hesitantly circling up his buttons, the watchman stood behind me with an anxious face.

"can I talk to you for a second?" showing up his index finger, he asked me. I signaled my friends to wait for me near the parking.

"Yes, Bhai! What's the matter?" I asked up.

He swallowed and spoke up.

"Beti... The watch you are wearing......ammmmmmm.... how much is it beti?"

"My watch?" I looked at him. He nodded. "Five-five" I said.

Eyebrows up he asked me"550?"

"5500 Bhai!" I said half smiling.

"It's costlier than me beti! I get paid only 5000 " laughing he said.

I smiled.

"Beti! duplicate of this watch is 250 only. It's exactly same as yours"- he said.

"Huh??"

"Duplicate beti! duplicate of your watch. It's actua......" he stopped midway and hit his head.

"Sorry . I'm blabbering something...Actually beti! I need help. Last month my daughter Ayana asked me where I work. I told her pappa is a watchman and told her about my work. After finishing my story, she hugged me and said 'pappa you are a hero'. 'You keep your school safe no pappa? If you find thieves you will beat them no pappa?'she asked me. She thinks as if I'm a police officer beti! " saying he laughed.

"Next day she came hugging and said 'pappa my friend said you not only protect the school, you also protect girls there' I was shocked. She said 'They said there will be bad boys sitting and every day you help girls to cross the road and they also say you keep them feel safe' saying she smiled again. 'pappa you are a hero! and so Ayana beti decided to give pappa a present'   " saying he stopped.

Slowly his high happy tone changed again to the anxious tone.

"And then she gave me a watch like you wear beti. She gave me saying 'pappa is a warrior'. U know? I cried that day. Every day I feel like a loser, but that day I did not! Maybe I lost in my life but to my Ayana, I'm still a warrior- a hero. That made me feel very happy. But .." he dragged.

"But what ??" I asked.

"But I lost the watch!" 

"What???" I reacted very instinctively which feared his saddened face.

"Sorry! You lost your daughter's gift, that too after saying this much?" I asked shockingly.

"Not purposefully! I donno to use that watch also, very digital -digital! I only used to look the time. I used to keep it in my pocket and ride back home! somehow somewhere it fell! after getting home I did not find it! I searched the whole day, still, I did not find that "

"Does your daughter know this?" I asked.

"No! she will be sad if she knows this. That's why I need your help " folding both hands he said.

I nodded my head.

"can you give me your watch for just one day? please."

"One day ?" I looked at him.

"Yes " she doubts that I lost it. From last week I am saying one one reason.  She cries. she says she wants to see it. If you give me your watch today, ill show it and calm her down and trust me I'm saving money to buy it! You said it's 5500, there is no way she could've bought it, maybe she could've secretly asked my wife and bought me a duplicate one. I'll ask my wife about the shop details and ill buy it. But today! only you can help me!" he looked into my eyes.

I smiled.

I unwrapped and gave my watch to him.

"Thanks, beti! "  he folded his hands.

The next day was the farewell day. Everywhere celebration and no one wanted to move away from school, but there was someone waiting at the gate to return back my watch. I walked to the gate and looked for him.

Beaming with glowing eyes, he stood near the gate with my watch in his palms. He came running.

"Thank you so much beti!" he said and gave me my watch.

Getting the watch I smiled."Ayana?" I asked.

"She is fine. she is here only, playing in the park"pointing to his 5 yr old daughter he said. "Farewell na! so I took her here. She'll enjoy!" he smiled.

"Ayana!!!!"  he shouted.

Ayana turned around.

"Come here, lulu!" 

"Meet her Beti! " he said to me.

"Pappaaaaaaaa! I'm swinginggggggg! wait!!" she shouted.

I laughed. 

"Let her play bhai!"

He half-smiled.

"Okay Bhai, It's time! I've to go. Bye. " I said smiling.

"Beti!!!" He hesitated to say something and then he stopped.

"Okay! beti, Ill come to cross the road."

"No bhaiya! I'll go. My papaji is here"  I smiled.

"Hoo! Okay then  Bye". saying he smiled.

And then I walked few steps then I heard someone running and heard a conversation.

Ayana: papaaaa! what???

Watchman: Haan come now lulu! she went. I thought of letting you meet a didi.

Ayana: who papa??....Pappaa! wait? you are not wearing the watch again?

Watchman: Lulu!! school time. students will look at my watch and they will cry, they want the same to their parents. Why beti?? I'll wear it at the home.

Ayana: Go, pappa! You don't even know what it's worth! Waste daddy!

Watchman: hahaha hah! Why beti! I know it's worth ! My lulu gifted na! how will I not know?

Ayana: No pappa, It's costly also. At least wear for that okay??

Watchman: hahah! Achhhaa beti! kitnaa?

I turned around and looked at Ayana.

" pappaa It's 55 rupeesss. Costlyyyy pappaaa." with wide eyes to his dad Ayana was talking.

The watchman dimmed his eyes-"huh??"

"five -five pappa," Ayana said.

The watchman turned shockingly toward me.

I smiled at him still walking. 

Looking at his father- Ayana turned and noticed me.

With wide exciting eyes jumping Ayana shouted-" Pappa! My friend! She was the friend I told!  " and waved her hand to me.

Still more shocking, the watchman looked at his daughter and straight back to me. He understood everything.  He didn't even blink his eyes.

Exciting Ayana still shouted "Actualy she gave me ..the.." she  stopped. 

Rising her eyebrows, putting tongue out she closed her mouth 

I smiled.  

I hushed to Ayana and walked away.

Your's presently,

Mr.nothing