Companion

Seated at a round table placed in the middle of the brimming restaurant, Atta looked at his wrist watch as the clock in the restaurant struck one. His eyes chased the waiters who were already very busy serving others. A waiter, who had visited Atta's table few times already since Atta walked into the restaurant about an hour ago, observed him from a distance. After following the other waiters, Atta's eyes finally made a stop at the counter.

The waiter who had been looking at Atta for a long time now, let the counter go off his arm's grip. He took a notepad and started walking towards Atta's table. "Hello, sir. What can I get you?", he asked. Atta returned the greet, "Umm hello, actually I was waiting for someone." "Oh, I can come back in ten minutes?", the waiter said. "No, no. A friend was supposed to be joining me for lunch. I may start ordering. Let us see. What all do you have?", he checked the menu card. "Would you like to start off with a refreshing drink from our bar, sir?", waiter asked. "Ummm. No. Had enough water.", Atta pointed towards the half filled glass on the table.

"Half rice, one fried chicken, one bread and one mutton curry.", Atta ordered. The waiter repeated after him and said, " Would that be all for now, sir?" "Yes. Enough.", he replied and returned the menu card.

After the waiter left to get the order ready, Atta looked at the entry door, then the watch and again the door. He put his hand into the inner pocket of his coat and took out a bundle of Rs 100 and Rs 50 notes. He counted the money, shook his head and put the money back inside.

Atta rested against the back of his chair and noticed all kinds of people, mostly rich, sitting in the place. Some had come with families, others with friends and some with their beloveds. There were tables for two, tables for three, tables for four and tables for more. Atta was the only one sitting alone at the table for two.

He looked at the people , not stare. They were all well suited and booted. Wore expensive dresses and jewelleries. All fancy shoes in there.
Atta looked at his coat and smiled. He put his hand in the side pockets and thanked God for the clothes, he wore, that kept him warm.

Atta looked at his shoes. He had cleaned off the mud before walking onto the well furnished and crystal clear floor. It had been raining for second day today.

Atta did not like rain. It would spoil his clothes and shoes. Also, the rain water got into his friend's house and make him sick. The thought of the rain reminded Atta of his friend. "Did the rain make him sick again? Last time I remember we had fixed the ceiling of his house. What if rain got in again?", he thought to himself.

Atta went to see his friend every second day but he had not seen him for last three days. Atta looked around for the waiter. He was taking orders from other tables. As soon as his eyes contacted Atta's, he nodded. After he finished taking order from that table, he disappeared into a cabin.

Atta again looked at his wrist watch and compared its hour with the clock in the restaurant. The waiter returned with a tray in two minutes. He walked to Atta's table and placed each item one by one, "Rice. Bread. Chicken. Mutton curry. Sir?". "Ummm. I hope the curry is not too spicy. My friend doesn't like spices.", Atta said. "No, sir. The spice is just favourable. Sir will like it. Any news from sir? Will he be joining?", the waiter said. "The rain. It won't stop.", Atta replied. "Yes, sir. Must be the rain. Enjoy your food, sir.", waiter replied and left.

Atta took the rice and curry. He finished rice. He stared at the chicken for a while and then, took a leg and the breast out. He was done eating in not more than 15 minutes. Also, ate some bread and kept the left out in his side pocket. He started looking for his waiter again. The waiter was standing near the counter. As soon as Atta raised his head up, the waiter arrived. "Can I get you anything else, sir?", he asked. "Umm. That would be enough.", Atta replied. "Seems like my friend won't be joining after all. Can I get all this packed?', he continued. "Sure, sir.", waiter replied. He cleared the table and came back with the packed food in 5 minutes. "Your food, sir.", he said. "Bill?", Atta asked. "Yes, sir.", the waiter said and went to the counter. He came back with the bill. Placed it on the table and left.

Atta took out that bundle of money and turned over the bill. Rs 1156.45 said the bill. Eight notes of Rs 100 and eight notes of Rs 50 did he place in the booklet and gestured the waiter to take it. The waiter returned with the change. Atta took out four Re 1 coins from the book and left the other change there. "Have a nice day, sir." "Nice day.", replied Atta, took hold of the bags and walked towards the door.

Atta opened the door to leave and saw few puppies sitting under the shade of the door. He saw the sign board at the door which had a picture of dog crossed and said, "No animals allowed." Atta smiled at the puppies and said, "I got lucky. I am a social animal." He took out the loaves of bread he had saved in his side pocket and left those near the puppies. He watched as the puppies, who had probably not had anything to eat all day, fought each other to get the biggest share.

Atta opened his umbrella. The umbrella had been hanging by Atta's left arm all this while. He ran to the other side of the road. The muddy water climbed upto his waist. He walked along the footpath and finally stopped by a house. This house belonged to some 'Mr. Siddiqui', so said its name plate. The house was not very big. The roof of the house was so built that all the rain water fell down at a distance from the door of the house, at the footpath, making everyone who passed by wet. The stairs were dry. Atta cleaned his muddy shoes with the rain water falling off the roof and climbed the stairs. He sat down at step two and called for his friend. The window of the house opened and a kid peeped out. "You seen him?", Atta asked. The kid nodded his head in denial.

"I got him food.", Atta said and took out the packed boxes. He opened each box and smelled the food. "Such delicious food. Call him, will you?", he talked to the kid. The kid closed the window and ran downstairs. He opened the door and sat close to the old man. "He is here.", the kid said.

"My boy is here.", Atta said. He started serving the food as he noticed a shadow near by. "I was afraid my friend might have fallen sick. Did the rain wet your house again?", Atta asked. "No, I keep a check in your absence. The roof you built is very strong. It doesn't let the rain in.", the kid replied.

"Good. I am glad I could help the homeless.", Atta ran his head over his friend's head. After the food was finished, Atta got up and said, "Time to go home." The kid walked to the end of the street with Atta. "Don't fall sick. You are the only friend the man has.", Atta said and let Peter into his home.

Atta and Peter had been friends for three months. The kid had been witness to this unusually strong friendship all along. Peter was a strong built, well muscled black (not anymore) stray dog.