Namaste New York: A Novel
Page 28
Chapter 9
Lucky was alone at the gas station the night that two men wearing masks ran up to the counter and demanded that he hand over all of the cash in the register. Lucky had never seen a gun before, and now one was being pointed at his head.
Lucky froze in fear while the men kept screaming at him to open the register. He knew there was nothing he could do; even without the gun, he was outnumbered and physically no match for the thugs. His hands trembled as he opened the register and gathered the cash, handing it over as warm urine began soaking the front of his pants and dripping down his pant leg, creating a small pool on the floor. The men left as quickly as they'd come, and Lucky stood motionless for several minutes, hyperventilating and praying that the men didn't return. He wasn't sure if the terror he felt was because of the robbery or because he knew that if the police got involved, he'd be arrested and deported for working illegally. Lucky decided to call the station owner, and after hanging up with him, he grabbed a roll of paper towels and bleach and tried to clean the floor, although he couldn't do anything about his pants.
Thirty minutes later, Aakash and his brother Dilip, the owner of the gas station, arrived. Lucky was still shaken up, and tears stained his face. He explained what had happened to the brothers, and Dilip checked the security camera to verify Lucky's story.
Dilip was extremely agitated. "I lost almost five thousand dollars! Why aren't the police here? When did you call them?" Dilip had a full beard and broad shoulders, and his anger was palpable. He hardly ever showed up at the station, entrusting the daily management responsibilities to his brother Aakash, so Lucky had no experience or relationship with Dilip, and found him to be extremely intimidating.
"Sir, I'm sorry sir, I did not call the police," Lucky replied softly, trying to hide the front of his pants.
"What? Speak up! You didn't call the police? Why not?" Dilip thundered. Lucky looked to Aakash for help, but Aakash remained silent in front of his big brother.
"Sir, I am foreign student. I am not supposed to work here. If the police come to know they will arrest me and deport me to India," Lucky explained.
"That's your problem! I want my money back," Dilip replied rudely as he paced the floor.
"Bhai?" Aakash pleaded, looking at his brother. Dilip shot him an icy look, and Dilip cast his eyes downwards, knowing not to interfere again.
"Sir, please do not call the police," Lucky begged. "I want to complete my degree. I cannot go back. My family has big hopes from me?sir?please." Lucky began to cry.
"Then who will find these thieves? If police don't file a report, then the insurance company will not pay me and I will lose all my money. What about that? Who will give me my money back? You?" Dilip shouted at Lucky, taking his frustration and anger out on him.
Lucky didn't know how to respond. There was no way he could possibly come up with that much money, so he just lowered his head and kept quiet like Aakash. Dilip turned to one of the shelving displays and kicked it hard, scattering Hostess cupcakes and packages of Twizzlers across the dirty, tiled floor. Lucky cringed. Dilip ran his hands through his hair and stroked his beard, then pulled out his cellphone and started dialing.
"Bhai?Who are you calling?" Aakash asked.
"Who do you think I'm calling, Aakash?"
"Bhai?please?Bhai?leave it," Aakash requested.
"No! I need my money. I can't lose it," Dilip replied, waiting to be connected to the 911 operator.
Lucky realized what was happening and dropped to Dilip's feet. "Sir?please sir, I beg of you, please do not call police!"
Dilip wouldn't even look at Lucky, but Lucky persisted. He was beyond the point of shame, and would do or say anything to convince Dilip to hang up the phone. He knew that once the police watched the tape, they'd want to talk to him, and he couldn't afford to have that conversation.
"Wait! I will pay," Lucky cried out. "I will pay that money to you?.mom swear," Lucky promised, his eyes turned upwards toward Dilip.
"911 operator, what is your emergency?" Lucky could hear the woman's voice over the phone, and tugged incessantly at Dilip's pants. He whispered to him again. "Please, sir. I will pay you every penny, I swear."
Dilip looked down at his feet. "Are you sure?"
Lucky shook his head vigorously. "Yes, yes, please?"
"Hello? Is anyone there? Please state your emergency?"
Dilip cut the call, and Lucky collapsed on the floor in tears. Returning five thousand dollars meant that he would have to work at the station for free for almost the entire semester. Lucky had no idea how he would he pay for his living expense or send money to his family in India, but he was still overwhelmed with relief. "I will work for you free for three, four months," Lucky said, wiping his tears and gathering his feet underneath him as he stood up on shaky legs.
Dilip eyed him suspiciously. "If you run, I will call the police and they will find you. Do you understand?" Lucky nodded. "Do you have a school ID?" Lucky nodded again. "Give it to me," Dilip demanded. Dilip made a photocopy, handed the ID back to Lucky, and left the station. Aakash stayed behind with Lucky, trying to comfort him, but it would be another hour before Lucky would stop shaking.