‘These days we are not safe anywhere!’ exclaimed Sheetal, dumping her bag on the floor, her face scrunched up in anger.
‘What happened?’ asked Deepali, as she opened her lunch box and the aroma of Chicken Curry wafted out.
‘Arre, gussa thook de (spit out your anger) dekh Deepali has bought Chicken Curry!’ pointed out Vanita excitedly, as she helped herself to a leg piece from Deepali’s box.
‘Did you’ll see that ward boy?’ asked Sheetal, as she opened her lunch box ‘Buddha, saala! (bloody old man!)’
‘Who? That Bhimrao?’ asked Deepali as she ladled out rice on Vanita’s plate, ‘What about him?’
‘Yes, Bhimrao that creep!’ Sheetal literally spat out the words.
‘Will you only glare or will you share what happened?’ Vanita asked with her mouth full.
‘Who gave him work, yaar? That too in the maternity ward? He looks away when you talk to him and when he thinks you aren’t looking he will look at you so cheaply, like he is undressing you with his eyes. Chee!’ Sheetal’s face was a bright red with anger.
‘Oh, that new ward boy!’ Deepali said ‘Arre, he has a problem re! Leave him.’
‘What problem?’ Sheetal cocked up an eyebrow.
‘He has a lazy eye, which is why he looks away when you talk to him. His eyes are all over the place so you think he is looking at you cheaply.’ Deepali explained as she spooned some rice into her mouth.
‘Accha? Are you sure?’ Sheetal questioned, taking a plate.
‘Haan re, the Head Nurse told me.’ Deepali placed a small bowl of chicken curry in front of Sheetal.
‘Dekh, he has come for lunch too’ nudged Vanita.
At the same time that the trio of ladies looked at him, Bhimrao was looking at them too. Seeing 3 pairs of eyes on him he quickly turned away, and taking his tray shuffled towards the furthest side of the hospital cafeteria.
‘Bechara (poor thing), it’s not his fault re. don’t be so harsh on him. He has got this job through some influence as he was kicked out from his previous job for the same reason.’ Deepali
‘Hmmm. Now that you say that maybe I am being harsh on him’ mused Sheetal.
‘I think you are’ added Vanita.
On the other side of the hospital cafeteria Bhimrao sat down with his tray of food. This was his 7th job in the last 15 years. He hoped it would be a while before he was forced to find the 8th.
He wasn’t very educated and what could he do about the lazy eye he was born with? Except use it as an excuse to leer at women, something he got a thrill out of doing.
I am attempting the Theme – The 7 Deadly Sins. This post is written for the prompt ‘The Fault in our Stares’ for the deadly sin – Lust.
I am participating in #Barathon a 7 day writing challenge with Blog-A-Rhythm
I like the way you have woven both the prompts so well into the tale- you are back to spinning stories- me likeys!!!! 😉
This is great Mayuri. I am glad you are writing fiction again. Already waiting for the next one. 🙂
Loved it M, this is lovely amalgamatiom of theme and prompts. A great idea and amazing thought reviving post. Stare – Lust we face it, brave it, ignore it, despise it….
Very well written Mayuri and I especially like the way you used the theme and the prompt!
Hey, I am doing the exact same thing….using the seven deadly sins along with the prompts and this is the best idea we could come up with! I liked your post because it shows a mirror to our society. Men and their stares..their lecherous looks and their attitude towards women…I wonder when it will change and when they will stop considering women to be an object of desire!
A really creepy weirdo! I liked the way you brought the seven deadly sins theme into the prompt. I’m guessing Life of Pie will be gluttony?
Hmmph! So he was a lecher after all! Most lechers have some genuine excuses and lies up their sleeve just to excuse their ‘inadvertent’ staring! Great take on the prompt Mayur, you got the perfect flow and feel of a canteen-room scene!
Wow.. you combine the theme and prompt.. thats ecstatic..
Looking forward to read more ..
Poor Bhimrao! I loved the twist in the tale..It wasn’t the usual what we would expect and that’s why it was so much more interesting!
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
A lot truer than you can imagine. We actually do have people with exactly these things at our hsopitals – getting in via influence, mild stutter/squint which evokes mixed reactions including sympathy… and being actual leches.
Marvel Movies Trivia: The 6 Infinity Stones and the Gauntlet
There are a lot of people belonging to this category I think! Nice take on the prompt!
A twist in the story… feel like boxing his eyes, what say?
Interesting take on the subject. Look forward to more. Co incidentally I am writing fiction too for #BarAThon
Nice take on the prompt. I started to feel sorry for him until the last line, so well done with that 🙂
You know this makes so much sense and I loved the take on this prompt. I once went to a doctor and was waiting for my turn. Meanwhile, a lady came in talking about a creepy man staring at her endlessly… she even stared him back but couldn’t do anything beyond that. When she informed the receptionist angrily about it, she learned that there was a problem in the eyes of the man and people assume that he stares them all the time!
Poor thing, I feel! Brilliant take on the prompt M!
Cheers
Ahh That twist. Damn that’s creepy. Loved your storytelling.
Interesting take on the prompt. And I love way you have combined it with the theme. Cannot wait to read the rest of the posts. 🙂
And poor guy, Bhimrao, feel sorry him.
Such a creep and there are so many like him. Interesting take on the prompt, Mayuri!!
Hey! Lovely write up and mixing up those prompts worked well for you. I thought of writing on the 7 sins too, but changed my mind. 🙂