바카라You OK, Miss?바카라
Miss held back tears. Nodded a voiceless yes.
Watching the CN Tower from the passenger seat, she tried to blink but a drop escaped the khol-lined eyes, wiped carefully by a dainty finger.
The tower, at a height of 553.33 metres, dominated the jagged skyline, going up straight into the blue sky바카라a concrete statement of soaring hope and confidence.
The Ripley바카라s Aquarium, Rogers Centre and Toronto Railway Museum바카라full of the weekend crowd.
A cluster of iconic landmarks defining Toronto.
바카라Water?바카라 he asked. 바카라I carry a fresh bottle for the fare.바카라
She mumbled a soft 바카라No, thanks. I am fine.바카라
A few seconds later, his baritone echoed within the enclosed space, 바카라You remind me of my little sister, back in my country바카라,바카라his voice trailing as the lights changed.
바카라Is it? Your country?바카라
바카라Immigrants have no fixed country.바카라
She smiled, 바카라Agreed. We keep on rolling.바카라
바카라Well, technically, Myanmar.바카라
바카라Oh! In the news, of late!바카라
He manoeuvred the cab into the Gardiner Expressway.
A beautiful September afternoon바카라mild, with a hint of cold in the air rising from Lake Ontario, visible in rushed patches. Strollers, bikers, swimmers, walkers바카라the usual suspects soaking in the sun, enjoying the feel of the light breeze바카라complete the happy picture.
바카라You?바카라
바카라India.바카라
바카라We are neighbours.바카라 He remarked, slowing down.
바카라Yes. Your country is still under the Junta?바카라
바카라Power games, everywhere. Sometimes in the open or sometimes, hidden. Forms of control change. Poor citizens have to pay the price.바카라 He replied.
바카라What does your sister do?바카라
바카라PG student...trying immigration.바카라
바카라The young are coming in waves.바카라
바카라Trying to leave their hell, imagined or real.바카라
바카라Philosophical.바카라 Miss said. Checked the driver바카라s name: Thet. 바카라Your voice is measured and tone, calming. Sounds like that of a voice artist.바카라
바카라Name, justified. The calm one. Not an artist but a music buff. Watch a lot of the Bollywood films.바카라
She offered personal bits: 바카라Mala. Came on a student visa in 2018. Trying to get in.바카라
Thet said: 바카라You began crying. Got concerned. Sorry.바카라
바카라No problem.바카라 She answered. 바카라A sudden call from the HR. Brutal. It upset me.바카라
바카라Hmm.바카라 Changing lanes, the car headed towards the suburbs. 바카라The HR are the new monsters. No ethics.바카라
바카라They terminated me. Did not expect it바카라바카라 Mala replied, feeling bruised.
Thet kept his eyes peeled on the road but his tone remained gentle, 바카라I understand. Corporate world. It바카라s predatory.바카라
Mala sighed. 바카라Nasty. Imagine being fired over the phone? No reason assigned. No apologies. None! Heartless bunch! Unaccountable.바카라
The condos and plazas flew by.
바카라They have no decency left!바카라 she exclaimed. 바카라Dismissing a young worker over the phone! So casually!바카라
바카라I understand. Immigrants, young and female, are the most vulnerable here. Nobody bothers. No way of quick redressal. You are on your own in a new nation. What do you do?바카라 Thet asked, keeping her engaged.
바카라I work바카라worked rather바카라in a foam factory. Night shifts. Who will pay the bills now? Have no job or immediate fresh openings. Scary!바카라
Mala began crying softly.
Thet said, 바카라Please! Do not cry! It will make me cry. Tears move me the most.바카라
She tried to control herself바카라but the dam had broken.
Thet said, 바카라Tears are natural바카라but won바카라t help. Treat me like your brother.바카라
She smiled through hot tears, touched by the genuine concern of a stranger in an alien city.
She lived alone in a tiny basement.
How should she break this to her family back in Delhi?
Where should she find a new job?
바카라I will tell you a story, my story. Interested?바카라 He asked.
바카라Please.바카라
Any distraction would help.
Thet said, 바카라I arrived in Canada in 2017. Joined a warehouse as it offered quicker opportunities. Hard work but managed. Then, one evening, there was some argument over a safety issue바카라with the supervisor. Next day, on the way to work, I get this call from HR. And the bland order: 바카라Do not report for work.바카라 I was devastated바카라바카라
바카라I understand.바카라
바카라Thanks,바카라 Thet said, each word measured. 바카라It was a cold day. I sat down on the bench of the bus shelter. The bus came and left바카라I cried in the solitude of that shelter.바카라
She listened.
He said nothing for a long while.
The birds flew in the crisp air and the glass facade of the condo-apartments reflected a golden sun.
The highway was congested.
Mala sipped water, waiting.
바카라I sat there for long바카라blank, friendless, out of job in a city of almost three million then. Alone. crushed. Then바카라바카라
바카라Then?바카라 Mala asked.
바카라God spoke.바카라
바카라God?바카라
바카라Yes. Through a squirrel.바카라
바카라What?!바카라 she laughed. 바카라You are a good raconteur!바카라
바카라No fiction. Kind of a revelation.바카라
바카라Go on, please!바카라
바카라I cried, unnoticed, for long in that urban desolation. Finally, I said, God , show me the light바카라바카라
바카라He responded? The Creator?바카라
바카라Yes. I saw a squirrel leap into an open bin and after foraging there, it moved across the road, a swift shadow. A motorist swerved to avoid crushing it. And바카라바카라
바카라And?바카라
바카라I got the divine message. Picked up the backpack, bottle and walked down to the nearest mall바카라 talked to a few store assistants, desperate바카라바카라
바카라바카라for openings?바카라
바카라Yes. Desperate and sad바카라like you are now.바카라
바카라What happened next?바카라
바카라They were sympathetic. Low in cash, I was ready for any job. Sent to a toy store by a friendly one바카라I landed the role바카라imagine바카라of an elf.바카라
바카라An elf?바카라 Mala laughed.
Thet chuckled. 바카라Yes. An elf. Believe it or not! They immediately hired me. Cash job. I donned the costume바카라and joined the fun. An elf entertaining kids. My voice helped.바카라
바카라You as the resident elf!바카라
With an impassive face, Thet continued, 바카라Initially, it was tough, pulling it off! A busy store. Playing elf for hours at a stretch, wearing a tight dress. But the money was good. I had no other choice. Over the weekends, it became a sheer joy.바카라
바카라How?바카라 Mala asked.
바카라Kids adored the elf. They beamed, giggled, squealed, followed me and held my hands. Believe me, it was like a joint family of kids, happy, screaming, chasing me across the aisles. Profits increased as the store바카라s footfall increased. Somebody made a YouTube video. It went viral, fetching more clients바카라and word-of-mouth publicity. Bosses were happy. I was giving happiness to lonely kids. Came to enjoy my new role slowly, ignoring the hardships, long hours, thirst, role-playing바카라all that.바카라
바카라Wow!바카라
바카라One day, a memorable event happened. A three-year-old kid got separated and walked into the store. After a few minutes, she began bawling. The female staff tried to soothe her. She cried even more. I picked her up and tossed her into the air. She looked at the green tights, pointy hat and shoes, gripped my nose and stopped bawling바카라바카라
바카라Incredible.바카라
바카라Yes. And fell asleep in my arms.바카라
바카라Really?바카라
바카라I did not stir바카라stood still for long, afraid to wake her up. Announcements over the public address system were repeated. Finally, the mother came to pick her up. When she saw the kid sleeping, the young woman sobbed and thanked me, saying, 바카라Kind elf!바카라 The kid clung to me. With difficulty, went to her mama바카라waved back바카라and바카라바카라
바카라⿒and?바카라
바카라바카라smiled바카라and I saw God smiling in those innocent little eyes. It was an out-of-the-world experience. Trust me.바카라
바카라I see.바카라
바카라I had decided to quit but the pull of the kids was very strong바카라바카라
Mala nodded.
바카라To supplement, I began driving in the evenings. Once I dropped a sick child to the hospital and realized my Ikigai바카라바카라
He paused. 바카라Some voice told me to go visit the wards as an elf. Patients loved the mysterious elf.바카라
Mala listened.
바카라I set up a website, theelf.com to arrange free visits to schools and hospitals.바카라
바카라Inspiring.바카라
바카라The world needs cheering. COVID has worsened things.바카라
Mala volunteered.
바카라Welcome!바카라
He handed over a card. 바카라Once my family got lost in the forest. My grandpa pressed on with the trail in the thick gloom. 바카라Keep moving. You will be led to the right path,바카라 he prodded, and we did find our way out of the jungle. Since then, it has been my mantra.바카라
Mala said, 바카라My grandpa once told me to find connections in randomness.바카라
He smiled. 바카라The oldies are right.바카라
바카라I remember him often. Wise words return as lost guides바카라
바카라The system sucks바카라everywhere. Pa told me: Ride the rough waves.바카라
She nodded.
The destination was nearing.
바카라It바카라s destiny,바카라 said Thet.
바카라How?바카라
바카라I was on leave today. Urgent work. Returning from a dental appointment, get this call and here we are바카라바카라
Mala smiled. 바카라Yes, destined to meet.바카라
바카라That squirrel I talked about바카라바카라
바카라Yes바카라⿒
바카라I still dream about her바카라a lame one바카라displaced바카라scavenging in a bin. Almost getting killed under the wheels but saved바카라a miracle.바카라
바카라Wildlife gets killed on the roads. Lucky it survived.바카라
바카라Random events. Connections. Lost in the woods. Finding new paths. Ha!바카라
The cab stopped.
As she stepped down, Mala said, 바카라An extraordinary day. Going shopping. Getting fired on the phone. Then, running into you.바카라
바카라That바카라s life! Full of contradictions,바카라 Thet remarked. 바카라Parting advice: Find your Ikigai. Take care, sis! See you soon!바카라
Mala smiled: 바카라I will cherish this drive with Mr. Elf, my Sensei, full of surprising lessons.바카라
Sunil Sharma is a toronto-based writer, academic and critic
