Eight Inches

Date: - 08-12-2012

‘Eight inches’

- Ashim Kumar Kar

Note: - This is a short story. Names of all persons, places, etc. are fictitious.

The circular was sent to all flat owners. The secretary of the housing society wanted all flat owners should attend the meeting. It was an urgent meeting. It was a special, urgent general body meeting of the Happy Co-operative Housing Society. The meeting was called by the secretary chairman and secretary of the housing society.

Even though the name is Happy Co-operative Housing Society, but everybody in this society was not so happy. Some members of the society were unhappy due to natural causes like, sickness, old age problem, etc. But few were having mind to create troubles. Thus neither they were living happily nor allowing others to live happily. But everybody were living in this society for long time, as everybody knows that buying or selling a flat in this mega city was not so easy.

The meeting was called on Sunday morning at 10.30 am. The subject of the meeting was not mentioned in the circular. Only a sentence was written ‘It is a urgent meeting. All flat owners are requested to attend the meeting’.

On Sunday morning the chairman, secretary and other committee members of the society were waiting for the other flat owners, so that the meeting could be started. As usual out of the 32 flat owners only 18 members came to attend the meeting. It was always observed that out of 32 flat owners only 15 to 22 members attend the meeting. Other members always find some excuses for not attending the meeting.

Even though the meeting was fixed at 10.30am, it started only at 11.00am.

The secretary of the society Mr. Gokhale addressed the gathering, “Good morning gentlemen. AS you all know we have gathered here to discuss an urgent topic.”

Everybody present in the meeting was very eager to know the subject of the meeting.

The secretary continued, “Two days back I have received a complaint from Mr. Shah, who is staying on the sixth floor, “a’ wing and flat no.-2. I request the chairman to read the letter.”

“Mr. Shah is a senior citizen and a much respected person in our society. In the complaint letter he has mentioned that his neighbor Mr. Doke is not co-operative” The chairman said.

Mr. Shah and Mr. Doke both were present in the meeting. Mr. Doke was surprised after hearing his name in the complaint letter.

He shouted, “Please tell me my mistake. I have no idea of it. Is my wife or son had done any mistake?”

“No, No … The problem is of a shoe rack.” The secretary said.

“Shoe rack?” Doke said.

“Yes, yes, sir … The complaint is about a shoe rack.” The secretary said, “See, you are keeping your shoe rack just next to your main door, ok.”

“Yes, sir” Doke nodded.

“Mr. Shah is also keeping their shoe rack next to their flat’s main door, but beside your shoe rack.”

“Ok, that I know. But where is the problem.”

“Now you tell me, how many members do you have in your family?”

“Three.”

“Yes,” the secretary asked, “Now tell me, how many members Mr. Shah’s family has?”

After counting in fingers, Doke said, “Sir, six members. Shah Uncle, aunty, their two sons and their wives.”

“Correct.” Secretary said.

“You are having three family members and Mr. Shah is having total six family members, ok. Now tell me, why your shoes rack is bigger than Mr. Shah’s shoe rack? You should keep a smaller size shoe rack.” The chairman tried to explain the point.

“Till now I had no problem. Now my both the sons got married. Their wives are finding shortage of space for keeping their sandals. As my daughter-in laws are having almost fifteen pairs of sandals, I shall have to purchase a new bigger size shoe rack. For that I do not find sufficient space.” Mr. Shah said.

“Uncle, you could have told me personally on this matter. Is it correct to call a meeting for this small matter? We could solve this problem our own as a neighbor.” Doke said.

“Yes, yes, it is absolutely correct to call a meeting. After all I am a senior citizen. Everybody in our society should know how a senior citizen is being harassed by a neighbor.” Mr. Shah told.

“Uncle, now please tell me in front of everybody, what you want?” Doke said.

“I want just eight inch more space on the floor next to my door, which I am not getting. If you change your big shoe rack with a small one then yhe problem will be solved.”

“Uncle, how do you say that? I am too having so many shoes. My wife is having so many sandals. My son is having so many sandals and shoes. No uncle I cannot change the shoe rack.”

There were some discussions among the members present in the meeting for some time. Later it was decided; all members will go to the sixth floor and try to solve the problem there only.

All members went to the sixth floor.

After reaching the sixth floor everybody was seriously discussing the problem and trying to find a proper solution. There was lot of hot discussions, altercations between the members.

“Ok, please, silence,” Doke said, “Uncle needs only eight inches of floor space. This is not possible. One thing we can do is, we both the neighbor can buy a very big common shoe rack. Then there would not be any space problem. We both the neighbor can use the same shoe rack even after ten years when our family members will increase.”

Mr. Shah thought for some time. He liked the idea. He agreed. All members present were also happy. They surprised how a person complains just for eight inch space.

After few days the old shoe racks were removed from the sixth floor and a very big common shoe rack as kept. In this shoe rack shoes, sandals of both the families were kept. There were still lots of space available.

After that day Mr.Shah and Mr. Doke were very happy and staying not like neighbors but like a joint family.

Nowadays they are singing a song, “I am happy, you are happy, all are happy in Happy co-operative Housing Society. …”

****** END *******