Letter to a Mechanic..!
This morning I sent my car to the garage and rummaged in my drawer to find a copy of the letter I’d sent to another mechanic some years ago:
Dear Abdul,
I was so happy when we met at the club last week and you informed me you also ran a garage. I knew at once the days of searching for a good mechanic were over and God had delivered you into my hands. I even hugged your mechanic when he came home and drove away with my car. He said he would bring it back the next day. I told him to take his time… and I think he did just that… I have learnt to be more discreet with my words ever since.
I must admit that in the last twenty days, you have kept my car I have braved treacherous weather, weathered the nastiness and insults of cabbies and bus conductors reminding myself it was all worth the sacrifice. Last week your man brought back the car. I was so happy I hugged him again and tipped him a hundred rupees.
I wish Abdul, I had tipped him less because the next day I had to tip my watch man, my sweeper and my maid’s elder brother to help push start the car. It has become increasing difficult after that to find them, as they seem to disappear whenever they are needed for this purpose.
You had mentioned you were also an air conditioning engineer and I thanked God that my sweaty and humid days were over. Yesterday I discovered they’d only just begun. Do not take it amiss, mistakes do happen but I think you’ve taken out my air conditioner and installed a heater there by mistake. Please help me as my expenses on prickly heat powder and deodorants are mounting by the day.
Coming to the suspension job you have done, I must admit it is very different. Whenever we hit a bump I go up so high I stay in the air till the car passes over the next two pot holes. This seems to be a unique suspension method, though again the supply of band aids I am using for wounds on my head are getting over and even my local chemist is running out of them at the rate I am buying his stock. Do you think our club can get them for me at a subsidized rate?
Abdulbhai I always suspected that you have a terrific sense of humour, but I never realized how good it was till I put on my windscreen wipers in the rain and got a spray of water on my face from the air conditioning duct. I know that we have shared many a joke a in the club, but when the spray also hits your co- passenger and that happens to be your mother in law…!!!
There are my dear friend other minor irritants that I really should not bother you with but what I’m worried is the phone call from your office this morning: Your secretary told me to pay the bill immediately or she would send a mechanic to take away the car. I am afraid that’s going to be slightly difficult. This morning my sweeper and watchman and the elder brother of my maid swept away whatever was left of it!
Till we meet again…. Goodbye..!
I hope this mechanic I’ve sent my car to this time, does a better job, I won’t be able to write to him, unlike Abdul, he doesn’t know to read..!
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