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The lucky coin

“What are you looking for?” the police constable asked, eyeing the young man crawling on his knees under the park bench. “My lucky coin,” the young man replied, still searching the ground. “Your what?” The cop’s irritation was evident. “My lucky gold coin,” the young man repeated, patting the grass around him. “Get out from under there before I have to use my baton,” the constable said sharply. The young man scrambled to his feet. The cop studied him closely, mentally matching his face to the local criminal mugshots. The young man was tall and thin, looking more puzzled than dangerous. “Care to explain what’s going on?” the cop asked. The young man began, “I live in a housing society as a paying guest. The flat number is B23. I share it with five other guys. We’re all preparing for various employment exams.” “So you’re all unemployed?” “No, I have… The lucky coin

A place to rent

We were on the hunt for a place to rent. The agent had told us about a house a few kilometers from our current flat, which was set to expire in a month. With rental agreements usually lasting a year, time was running out for us. Both working as software engineers at a small IT firm, we commuted together. The downside was our low salaries; even combined, they barely covered our expenses. We were looking for a rental in a lower-middle-class area of the city. “It’s ten thousand per month,” the agent said. “Ten thousand?” I asked, astonished. “Yes, ten thousand,” he repeated. My wife and I exchanged surprised glances. This rate was significantly below the market value; in this area, rents typically started at fifteen thousand. “Why is it so cheap?” I asked. “What’s the catch?” “There’s no catch,” the agent replied, then cleared his throat. “The owner is… A place to rent

I will be late

It is 10.15 a.m. I will be late. I did not hear the alarm. It was set for seven a.m. That happens when you go to sleep at 2 a.m. The project submission date is fast approaching. Late hours are the new normal. “I want everyone in the office by 10 a.m. sharp.” It was easy for my project manager. He lived right next to the office. The rent in that area was more than my monthly salary. He can afford it; I cannot.  I live on the outskirts of Mumbai. The local trains are always jam-packed with passengers. I usually manage to squeeze in. At my age, it is better to be sandwiched inside than hanging out of the open door. I have seen too many people spread out on the tracks to take that kind of risk. The platform is packed with commuters. The peak hours are from… I will be late