part 26

Before Darren could say anything further, the waiter appeared with their order and began setting the table.

For the next few minutes, silence prevailed between them.

"So, where are you from?" Darren asked, waiting for the waiter to leave before picking up his glass and addressing Babu. "You don't seem like you're from Delhi."

"I was from somewhere else a few years ago," Babu replied, lifting his glass and thinking for a moment. "But then I ended up in Delhi."

"And then?"

"Then..." Babu took a deep breath and said, "Then that's it."

"So, ever since you've been here, you belong here."

"Delhi is the city of heartful people. Whoever comes here, becomes one of its own."

"Like you."

"Like me."

"Great!" Darren now turned to Baljeet. "And what's your story?"

"What story could I have?" he replied in a low voice. "The lives of the poor don't have stories, only suffering."

"Still... tell us something about yourself."

"There's nothing special to tell."

"If not special, then just something ordinary," Babu said this time. "There must be something you'd want to share."

"This driver's story can be summed up in a single phrase," the driver hesitated before answering. "I am from Punjab, but the search for livelihood threw me here, and I've been here ever since."

"That's it?" Darren, expecting to hear more, sounded surprised when Baljeet fell silent.

"Yes."

"Great," Darren said philosophically. "So, on a dark night, three wandering strangers found themselves together in one place."

Hearing this, Babu raised his glass.

Baljeet smiled, as if in agreement.

Thus, what started as a simple acquaintance gradually turned into a deeper conversation between the three recent strangers.

---

"Waiter!" Darren, who had been drinking since early evening, called out loudly.

As if by magic, the waiter appeared.

"Sir," the waiter said politely, standing with his hands clasped behind his back and bowing slightly.

"Repeat," Darren commanded in his intoxicated state.

"Yes, sir," the waiter, sensing the mood, turned and left.

Two minutes later, another person appeared at their table with the repeated order instead of the waiter.

"Good evening, sir," the newcomer said in an extremely polite tone.

"This is already night, dear," Darren slurred, swaying slightly. "And by the way, there was nothing good about that evening."

"Uh… yes," the man hesitated.

"I believe sir is asking for your introduction," Baljeet stepped into the conversation.

"Uh… Yes, sir," the man composed himself before responding. "I am the manager here."

"Good. Then leave this table and go manage your work," Darren said bluntly.

"Sir!" The man, who had just introduced himself as the manager, responded in a displeased tone. "I am here for that very reason."

"Proceed," Darren glared at him with bloodshot eyes. "And leave after taking our order."

"Sir, with utmost apologies, I must inform you," the manager replied firmly, ignoring the sarcasm, "we will not be able to serve you any further."

"What do you mean?" Babu, who had remained silent until now, asked in surprise.

"Sir, we are unable to continue serving you," the manager repeated as if translating his earlier statement. "It's time to wind up."

"You can't do that!" Darren pointed at the '24 Hours' signboard flickering outside the motel. "You can't just wind up in between."

"Sorry, sir," the manager softened his tone and replied, "you have to take a walk."

"How dare you?" Darren, still in the early stages of intoxication, took a moment to fully grasp the meaning of those words.

And when he did, he flared up.

"Sir," the manager stated firmly, "I have expressed my inability."

"This is insulting," Darren said, rising from his seat.

"I'm sorry, sir."

"Wait a minute," Baljeet, who had spoken only once throughout the conversation, now stepped in, trying to handle the situation. "One minute."

The manager turned his gaze towards Baljeet.