Stressing stress-busters

"Our truck met with an accident. No cigarette stock will be arriving for atleast two days from now", said the dealer through phone as I opened the shop. Cold sweat ran down my spine. "I have stock to manage till today evening. What am I supposed to do after that? This month has been crucial", I thought as I ripped each packet of milk and poured them in a vessel. The weather was hot. It was not very surprising, considering it was Tamil Nadu.

Hours passed and it was quarter after eleven. The college students were writing their exams and it was their practice to smoke some cigarettes after they finish.

"Dude! I am surely failing! You?", "I might pass", "You see this question? I knew the answer and I wrote it too, but for a different question! How stupid am I?", "I wrote pretty well, I will pass"; these were the random murmurs and discussions I heard after the end of every exam for the past one week. I kept aside three-fourth of my stock for them. They trusted me everyday as the dealer of their "stress buster".

In not less than fifteen minutes, there was a huge crowd outside my shop. I had to deal fast to clear the crowd and simultaneously remember to take money from them for the cigarettes or tea or any snack they bought, as some do not care to pay. As I told you, this month was crucial. As I saw Farhan coming towards the shop, I got an idea. He seemed happy, maybe because he would have written his exam well.

"Anna, one Classic Miles cigarette", he ordered, as he placed the coins on the table. When I gave him his cigarette, I enquired " How did you write? Will you pass?". With the cigarette in his mouth, he muttered, "Super!" and flashed a thumbs up. He continued to talk to his friends while I dealt more cigarettes until I was left with just two packs.

"Should I ask him? Can I ask him?" I thought. Farhan has been my customer and friend for a long time now. He came to college from the town everyday on his bike. I treated him like family  and have often advised him to quit smoking. One day, he said, " I buy cigarettes only from you, so you have to shut down your shop if I must quit". I stopped advicing since that day.

"Farhan!" I called. As he turned, I signalled him to come. "Tell me, Anna. What happened?" asked Farhan as he stubbed his cigarette on the floor.

"I am out of cigarettes, Farhan. I will give you money and an address, can you pick up 2 cartons of Classic Miles cigarette from there? I will pay for the petrol too". He looked at his watch and asked, "Where is this shop? If it is at the beginning of the town, I can pick it up because I have to drop Gopal there and come back here".

"THANK GOD!", I thought. "Yes! It is at the bus stop! Can you please do this for me?" I requested. He asked for the address and the money and within minutes, Farhan had left on his bike. I felt relieved, thanks to Farhan.

"Done! My god, too much tension near the bus stop. Later I realised, it was because of a car-bike accident." said Farhan, as he handed me the two cartons of cigarettes. He had come back within an hour, just at the right time.

"Thank you! Oh! Anyone got hurt?", I asked him as I opened the cartons. "I do not know, I did not stop to check" he said, as he zipped his bag close. "Here, take!" I offered Farhan the last pack which had 2 cigarettes. He had agreed to help at the right time. He laughed and took them. "Thanks Anna! See you tomorrow!" he said and left.