Our neighbour, Raj, was a proud owner of the iconic Hindustan Ambassador. Bought at a company auction for a jaw-dropping Rs 20,000, it was his first wagon. A tried and trusted family companion over the years, the clan often used the automobile for going on long drives or just for taking a spin.
Despite its advancing age, the car remained in great shape. The original made-in-India motorcar was a status symbol. Flaunted by government ministers and the well-heeled, it earned the moniker, ‘the maharaja of Indian roads’.
But the ageing car forced Raj to put it up for sale and seek a new set of wheels. Word got around on the car’s sale. Soon prospective buyers lined up to check the ‘vintage beauty’. One odd gentleman not only showed extraordinary interest but pleaded with the owner to gift the heavy-duty waterproof cover that shielded the vehicle once the transaction concluded. The oyster-blue car and its hood of the same colour complemented each other well and bowled the buyer over.
The car provided huge boot space and luxurious comfort for a medium-sized family. Much-prized, it also had excellent resale value. The deal was sealed with the buyer agreeing to a Rs 20,000 price tag — the same as the cost price! But he sought some time to raise the amount and take possession. Raj also decided to gift the cover and asked the buyer to pay soon. A week passed, but alas, one morning, the canopy disappeared without a trace. A petty thief had whisked it away the previous night when it poured!
Days sped by, but the thought of the stolen hood bothered Raj. He wondered how he could keep up his promise to the would-be owner. Meanwhile, the burglar’s antics continued, and he stole trivial things such as buckets, mugs, pots and pans from neighbouring houses.
One day, there was a knock on the door. Raj opened it to be greeted by a cop in uniform accompanied by another lad. The policemen had stumbled upon the wrongdoer on their late-night rounds when the latter was busy with his robbery routine. They forced the arrested burglar to spill the beans and he consented to lead the cops to the burgled homes.
With the stolen canopy retrieved, Raj couldn’t conceal his glee. He heaped lavish praise on the cop and was generous in tipping him, but made some uncharitable remarks on the miscreant, though he also gave him good counsel. Thus, the car hood and its companion became united again.
It was a happy ending for Raj, as he could keep intact his promise to the purchaser. Later, a spanking new machine replaced the vintage automobile, but the family still recalls the thrills of riding in the magnificent Ambassador.