DUI (fiction)

"Please pull over", screamed the Cop on top of his wailing siren and flashing lights. I had jumped the STOP sign at the intersection of Custer & Lake, and the ever vigilant Evanston Police had caught me breaking the law. One ginger cosmopolitan too many, and this could actually be a case of Driving Under Influence (DUI). I wanted to pinch myself and believe that this was dream or worse just drop dead, but instead I was greeted by "Sir, Can I see your license and registration please ?". A "flash-light" and "drunken-walk" test later, I blowed into the breath analyser only to be found guilty of drunk driving. The gravity of the situation became clear only when my license was taken away and the cop hauled a cab to send me home.

When I woke up the next morning, my first thought was to dismiss the event as a bad dream, but the ticket that sat on my desk was for real. I deliberated how to broach this subject with my family. My dad would have thrown me into the jail even before the cops could have got a sniff of the events. My mom would have wailed for months, and my friends probably would have made fun of me. So I decided to confess to the only person who I thought would understand me and not reprimand me.

"Grandpa, I have something to tell you", I looked at my grand dad with guilty eyes.
He probably realised that I had some bad news for him and he just stared back at me. He was wearing a brown kurta and a dhoti, 'vibhudi' on his forehead and seemed fresh from a bath.

"You see...I was....I was ..I was caught by a cop yesterday....I was actually drunk...very little though.. when this incident happened...they took away my license and fined me 500$", I stammered.
Grandpa had lived most of his life in India, but had lived long enough in US to know the consequences of DUI. However, he didn't bat an eyelid as he kept staring back at me, waiting for me to finish the story.

"I know, it was very stupid of me....if only I could reverse the time....I would never have done this.....What do I tell mom and dad know....what will happen if our neighbours come to know of this", I started sobbing like a kid.
On normal days, I would have expected Grandpa to put his arms around me and console me, but today I would have been stunned if that had happened (though I desperately wished he would hug me). Grandpa maintained his upright stance on the chair. He looked at me through his glasses, as I lowered my gaze to the Chicago Tribune and the 'dowra of filter kaapi' lying on his table. Still no word from him - but I went on rambling my confession

" ....Will you help me in breaking this news to Daddy.....will you prevent him from taking strict action against me...I swear I will never touch alcohol again in my life....I will drive very carefully.....I shall take up an extra job to compense for my hefty fine.....", my lips trembled and my voice cracked - I couldn't go on any further. Still, grandpa didn't yell at me. He maintained the same stoic expression that he was holding at the beginning of my confession.

" ....Grandpa....Please forgive me....I have commited a huge mistake....please dont scold me.....I know that you are the only person, who will understand me....please grand pa....please forgive me...."

But this time, I didnt look back at him, instead I knelt down to pick up the garland which had fallen from his laminated portrait. Grandpa would have been 86 today, and he surely would not have been happy with what I did yesterday night.