Doodh Dude!

[Guest guest]

Doodh Dude!

" Gopal Bhaiyya, aaj ek litre. " said Mani ben.

The milkman was almost artistic in his movements. He swung his heavy milk

can with grace so that it made a soft landing in front of him. Then with a

swoop of his nimble fingers, he flicked off the stainless steel lid.

Twirling his shining ladle, he scooped out the milk in two half litre

portions into Mani ben's vessel. Then with a smooth gesture he slid on the

lid and triumphantly tapped it shut. Gopal is such an artist. A true

performer!

" Madam, from next month, milk will cost 5 rupees more per litre. " Said

Gopal.

Mani ben protested weakly, " But you increased the price just two months

ago! "

" What to do Madam, all the fodder prices are shooting up. And I feed my

cattle special vitamin diet. That takes a lot of money. " Whistling softly he

pranced off to his next customer.

I slowly released my breath, it was such an awe inspiring performance, and

asked Mani ben, " How much does he charge for the milk? "

" Oh, its double your packet milk charges, but it is worth the extra money.

You see, we get fresh milk every day. And God alone knows what additives

there are in that packet of milk that you get! "

I sagely nodded my head, quite apprehensive about my future. I left Mani

ben, wondering how many carcinogens I was ingesting along with my plastic

unwholesome packet of milk, instead of that pure unadulterated creamy stuff

that Gopal Bhaiyya doled out.

The next day, early from my morning walk, as I guiltily picked up a packet

of milk, I tried to see if there were any telltale marks on the packet

foretelling my imminent doom. And who should I see around the corner, hidden

behind a bench, but Gopal Bhaiyya. He was carefully cutting each packet of

milk and in his artistic style, pouring it carefully down his milk can.

Gopal is such an artist. A true performer!

-Kishore Shah