In my neighborhood, my neighbor Srivastava Ji is a truly unique personality. His greatest talent is finding new and creative ways to drive me up the wall. The neighbors often joke that if there were a competition for bothering people, Srivastava Ji would win a gold medal.
Every morning, his first task is to stand outside my house and discuss the weather. “It’s very hot today,” he says. I quietly think to myself that I could figure that out just by looking out the window.
One day, I was peacefully enjoying my tea when he knocked on my door. As soon as I opened it, he said, “Brother, your clock is five minutes fast.”
I replied, “So what should I do about it?”
He answered seriously, “You should fix it, otherwise you might reach the office early.”
I held my head in disbelief.
Another one of his habits is giving advice for no reason at all. If I sweep the floor, he says, “That’s not how you sweep properly.” If I watch television, he comments, “Too much TV is not good for your eyes.”
One day, I decided that I would avoid him completely. I stayed quietly inside my house. But soon I heard his voice from outside the door, “Brother, don’t step out today, the sun is very strong.”
I realized that his mission to drive me crazy was still going strong.
In the evening, I went to the park, hoping for some peace. But there he was again. “Today I’ve set a goal of walking 5,000 steps,” he proudly declared. “You should join me. Walking together is good for health.”
I thought to myself that there was no escape from this neighbor.
However, the truth is that Srivastava Ji is not a bad person at heart. He simply has an overwhelming habit of helping and advising others.
The neighbors say that only the lucky ones get such a neighbor—someone who irritates you but also genuinely cares for you.
And even today, I sometimes feel that the neighbor who drives me up the wall may actually be one of the most unusual friends in my life.
RAJEEV VERMA 