Crossroads

His two years old son Needed treatment for stomach pain But he had no money His wife needed to pursue Her BA course He couldn't afford to I can't help he would say I must be happy with what I have He would say to himself Somewhat stoically But his days were otherwise happy Ferrying people between Two metro railway stations In his motorized auto-rickshaw The road was straight and bare Just earn and live from hand to mouth A youth of twenty with no anxiety The season changed One day after dropping the last passenger His eyes fell on a purse lying in the rear seat Inside it, he found some cards A bundle of currency notes One lakh Indian rupees That would amount to Around eight hundred dollars For the first time He was on crossroads The right-hand road he looked at The right brain itched Lucrative and lovely The left-hand one looked logical Take care it warned The left brain he scratched Folds on the forehead The choice was difficult Unlike Robert Frost Perhaps the purse owner Had withdrawn the money from a bank To meet some emergency He rationalized Rummaging the purse He got a useful telephone number He dialed it Answered a suave voice The caller narrated how he had got the purse The responder melted in gratefulness " I am busy in my office. My wife will see you in an hour. Do please visit us one day and have lunch with us" Handsome looking Auto-rickshaw owner smiled Looked still further handsome Mrs. Dasgupta arrived at the appointed hour He returned the purse A month later she gave him a return gift It was almost a love at first sight This time He was at a really difficult crossroads September 17, 2019 Crossroads Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Silent One