Benji’s life was this monotonous cycle of waking up, getting prepared for his tedious work of guarding the ATM, eat whenever he finds time, and getting back to his little place in the nearby alley, which does not give the air of ‘home’. But what else can this old guy expect after spending most of his youth frittering away in lost cause, due to his lack of knowledge in the concept of ‘employment’. Of course, one day, Mr. Roy noticed Benji and decided to give this guy a chance to put his sentry skills to use.
It has been years and Benji has come across several types of people, of different nature. People who come to draw the cash, who pass by the ATM every day, some in the hope of being promoted, some in the hurry to catch the metro, some in the silence of unknown, some babbling to their partnersabout matters which Benji could never comprehend its significance in life. He had some faces which he comes across every day and he gets quite agitated if they do not walk by one day. One among them is Nora.
Oh Nora! Benji has no idea what her actual name is but she is one of the rare souls that acknowledges strangers like him with a smile when made contact. It is not much but enough to sustain the day. Afterall, a little acknowledgement and validation can give hope to sustain any being no matter what kind of shrivelled life they live.
She lives in the small three storey old building near the ATM.Sometimes she evens gives him some extra food that she had leftover, some days of the week. A pleasant gesture or an act of charity, nonetheless Benji believe that even an ounce of such mannerism deserves gratitude. It was a silent relationship they shared with irregular exchanges of gestural acknowledgment.
Benji has seen Nora with a nimble mood, or sometimes with a weary expression, sometimes in a panic mode which maybe cos she would have been late to her work. What made Benji startle on a gloomy day, was, when he saw Nora was walking on her way back with tears in her eyes. He was confused on what could have possibly made this nice woman sad.
The next day, he did not see Nora, and to be plain, Benji was bothered. He sat, outside the ATM like everyday but today the difference was, his attention was undivided on the old building. But he saw no Nora. Then after few days, there was Nora walking with no expression on her face. She did not acknowledge him this time. With an overt look of anticipation that she would look at him but to no avail.
Again, the same day, Nora was seen with tears. This time she looked like she was to burst out crying loud. He saw few men laughing at her and calling out words he had never heard in his life.
This made Benji wanted to go behind her, but then what is his significance to make this move. Nevertheless, Benji stood up and ran after the goons who had the nerve to make the lady cry. A little ferocious barking made the bullies ran head over heels. Nora looked back with a smile and not going to lie, it made Benji’s heart flutter. Mr. Roy, on his guard duty in front of the ATM, pulled Benji’s collar saying “Calm down, Benji boy! Few treats and you become the transgender’s shield now. God knows what she was up to, that she got them running after her.”
Benji understood nothing Mr. Roy said, but all he wanted to see Nora smile at him and share some food. Perhaps some kind pats. He sat down wagging his tail and went back to watching people walking past, oblivious to ways of humans. Afterall, in his world, humans are simplistic.
Or is it the other way?
