Episode 5: Panchimda’s TV

Rewind, Time: same day, 3:00 PM

Everyone loved Panchimda—he was Mr. Congeniality. The kids adored him, the staff respected him, even the snotty principal had a soft spot for him. He had been with the school for over forty years; the school and his village were his whole world.

Sure years ago when he caught the train to the city from Kolkata, he had dreamed of making it big. However, life wasn’t as glossy as the movies he had seen. Not everyone who worked hard made money. However, it never deterred him from his faith in honesty and goodwill. 

He never imagined having a family of his own, there were so many people out there that could use some loving and care and hence he made the world his family. It was no wonder then that when Pushpak needed money for enrolling in the coaching academy, he decided to help without a second thought. 

Pushpak always believed it was Nishi who had lent him the money but in reality it was Panchimda. He knew Pushpak would never take the money from him. Nishi, on the other hand, couldn’t get any from home—her father had somehow discovered the money she had been investing without his knowledge and had frozen her accounts.

And now Panchimda was in a bind. He had pawned his small house to the Seth for the money, and the interest had been overdue for the past six months.

Panchimda did not regret his decision. Pushpak had proven himself, and the money had more than justified its worth

Now, a new dream had taken root in Panchimda’s mind—to buy himself a Rolex, a small luxury he felt he deserved before he kicked the bucket. It hardly seemed possible, though.

Panchimda usually worked at the school until 4 PM. After that, he would head home for a quick cup of tea, play a bit of gully cricket with the kids, and then pedal his cycle tea stall down to Brigade Road. He parked it right in front of the electronics showroom—a bustling spot that guaranteed a steady stream of customers. Business really took off during ODIs, as crowds gathered to watch the live matches on the massive TVs displayed in the showroom windows, sipping chai and cheering along with him.

Presently, Panchimda was busy pinning up notices when Rahul and Yash bumped into him. 

“So Panchimda, coming for the party today evening” jested Rahul.

‘Who, me? What would an old guy like me do there? I am not into your hip hop,’ Panchimda replied, hopping from one foot to the other, arms flailing in wild, comically exaggerated dance moves.

They roared with laughter, doubled over at Panchimda’s ridiculous yet endearing hip hop impression.

They were just teasing Panchimda, and he knew it.

But his eyes couldn’t help but catch the brand-new watch on Rahul’s wrist.

“Rahul beta, new watch?” he asked.

“Yes, Komal got it for me for my birthday,” Rahul replied.

“Oh! That’s great, looks good. But you know what really makes a good watch…” Panchimda began.

“We know, we know—ROLEX!” Yash and Rahul said in unison, grinning. Panchimda had talked about his fascination with it a million times.

With a chuckle, Panchimda bade them farewell, reminding them to enjoy the party. Once the school was empty, he did a final sweep of the classrooms, locked them up, handed the keys to the administrator, and changed into his plain clothes before heading home.

When he reached his village, his heart sank. Broken utensils lay scattered across the yard, glinting in the fading sunlight, and shards of his TV screen reflected the chaos of the moment. The air carried the acrid scent of burnt wires and upturned soil. Neighbors delivered the Seth’s final warning, each word pressing heavily on Panchimda’s chest. He had hoped for a quiet evening at home, to finally watch Pushpak’s match in peace.

A bitter sigh escaped him. But maybe Brigade Road was better tonight. The streets would hum with life, the smell of frying snacks mingling with the chatter of customers crowding around his tea stall. There, amidst the clatter of cups and the cheers of cricket fans, he could proudly talk about his village’s hero, Pushpak, while the match played on. Even in the chaos, there was purpose, a small victory waiting to be shared.

Time: 4:00 PM