SHORTCUTS....NOT ALWAYS

We all try for shortcuts to accomplish our day to day tasks. Success through shortcuts entitles one to be termed 'efficient'. But not always....

I had just 150 minutes to accomplish a task. Boss permitted me to be off the work for two and a half hours to finish my personal task. The task of travelling 30 Kms. to the nearby town, Guntur, participate in a community programme, return to Vijayawada and attend to official chores. In view of paucity of time, I decided not to go all the way to bus station, but instead park my scooter near a hotel on the Vijayawada -Guntur route, catch a bus to my destination from that point, so that at least 30 minutes could be saved. This decision would also save me from avoidable strain. Feeling proud about my decision I parked my scooter near a hotel and boarded the bus, reached Guntur and participated in the community programme on 'time'.

Soon after my work at Guntur, I boarded the Vijayawada-bound bus. I looked at my watch and patted myself for I was dot-on- schedule. I had to get down at the point where I had parked my scooter. But delicious and sumptuous lunch that I had at Guntur compelled me to take a brief nap, which got prolonged. Only the creeching stoppage of the bus brought me back into this world and I found that I had already reached the Vijayawada bus station. This meant that I ought to go back to the spot where I had parked my vehicle and from there reach my place of work. Definitely my schedule would go haywire resulting in chiding from my boss. Having no option left, I hired an autorickshaw, reached the spot where I had left my scooter, paid an hefty fare to the auto driver (he took advantage of my desparation) and started walking towards my vehicle.

Now the real fun started. I did not find the keys of my vehicle in my pockets. I remembered that I had taken the keys out of my pocket along with cash which I had to pay for my journey to the Conductor of the bus. The bus was packed with passengers, who were struggling to find seats and in this melee, probably , the keys fell on the bus floor, which I did not observe. What to do now? Watch started ticking faster. It happens when one is in a hurry. I looked around for a key-maker as a thirsty man looks for an oasis in the desert. Stars were bright. I found a shop which looked like a mechanic shed, but the paraphernalia found in that shop did not make an iota of indication that it was two-wheeler mechanic shop. Nevertheless, I narrated my episode to the shop-owner, who showered sympathies at me but denied any kind of help. I asked him to take a hammer and break the lock. Here again , my desparation was taken advantage of. He agreed to come to my rescue for a huge sum and started breaking the lock of the scooter. Even destruction takes time (or appear to take a longer time) when one is perplexed. I looked at my watch and visualised the face of my boss, which was red with anger. Finally the lock was broken. No security for my scooter now till I spend a couple of hundreds and fix a new lock. I thanked the mechanic and paid whatever he demanded, without a fold on my brow. Infact I smiled and thanked him once again. I looked at my watch and found myself to be behind schedule by more than an hour.

I started my two-wheeler , had a glance at my wrist once again and scooted my way to work place.With the bustling traffic of Vijayawada city on one hand and the scorching heat of Blaze-wada (a sobriquet of Vijayawada) on the other, it took 20 minutes for me to reach my work place. I looked at my watch again and again. Delay of 90 minutes. Oh My God !!!! Anticipating the ire of my boss I entered the office only to know that boss had left for a business trip and would be back only after a week. Thank God...but shortcut proved very dear to me in terms of money and stress.ha.. ha..ha..