Snippets

VALENTINE  BLUES

It was the day of love denominated by the Corporates. Unfortunately, I was unable to feel the divine breeze of love or sharing as they had projected, but could only see an excuse for lovers to hold and fondle the anatomy of physical differences. Maybe I didn't understand the latent passion of love that would have been buried and locked in the vagaries of harsh truth of life.

Well, that kindled my urge to search deep into me to find any rush of that latent passion and someone to share that passion. However, it was a futile effort that took me to a Bar nearby where I could relieve at least the heat by having a cold beer.

The bar wasn’t crowded as usual, obviously as it was noon time. I ordered for a beer with the greatest company to share the cold; with myself.

As I looked around, in the corner, I could see a middle-aged man sitting alone and asking the waiter for matches. The waiter didn’t have the light, so I gave my lighter and went back to have my moment of solitude. It unfortunately didn’t last too long, (precisely a minute) the guy called me to give him company. So saying a momentary farewell to my best mate, I joined him.

He looked anxiously sad and was desperately in need for a company to share his thoughts with someone. His name was Mr. Somebody, who in the conversation told me that he was Muslim, but also very much embraced in the beliefs of Hinduism. (As if it really mattered to me.)

                                                       He began his conversation, “My wife is expecting baby anytime from now. She is hospitalized for a week, and I haven’t had time to change my clothes for three days nor went home.”  (Well, that explained the nauseating pungent breeze of desperation.)

“Boy, I was working in Dubai for five years and when the date for delivery was fixed, I had to come back.  I am really sad that after working for these many years for my family and relatives, when my wife was admitted to the hospital, not even my parents were there to share the joy. I almost spent all my income for my only sister and brother in law. His business has flourished and now when I have settled and have a family to look after, they didn't even have the courtesy to pay a visit to hospital and check out how my wife is doing.”

That was a heck of one-sided conversation, and I couldn’t compete for two simple reason, one that I wasn’t married and hence didn't know the desperation of being a father and  I didn't care or carved for love of relatives. However, as he was emotionally down, I had to come into the equation.

I said, “Everything will work out fine and when the little one is born, they sure will rejoice in the happiness.” 

Well, he continued the conversation, “I am a muslim but I really believe in hindu deities and follow their religious rituals. I believe in astrology too and often visit the astrologer nearby. Right now it’s not a favorable time for me and I have to wait for another year. I have also offered a sum to a temple, if everything goes as planned. I believe that everything happens for a reason and its outcome sure will be good.  ”

I wondered what the role of God is in this conversation or in this World. A god that accepts bribes isn’t much different from the corrupted politicians or the astrologer whose future lies in these ignorant scapegoats.
 

I said to him, “The concept of God is simply man's imagination to instill fear and control the weak.”

He retorted back wholeheartedly, “God is there, and I have felt it in my heart. All the good things I have done sure will come back in one way or other. If you don’t believe in god, you will become violent (What he meant was, I think insane and description fits me right.).” 

I don’t know about becoming violent but without god, world will be less complicated and more human. 

He was unwilling to relent to my opinion as he gulped the brandy, “I am a god-fearing person, and I have helped everyone, but when I needed them most, they just turned their back on me. I am sure god isn’t blind and will show me the way.”

He was on the verge of breaking down. I comforted him by saying that “You have to take this as a stride to move forward in your life while keeping the goodness in you. Time could be testing but it sure will justify your action.”

I had finished my beer and really wanted to move on, but he insisted that I should have another beer with him for friendship sake, and that he will pay for it. I out rightly rejected the proposition (accepting favour leaves you with a burden worst than hangover), but this guy had half a bottle of brandy and the humanity of a drunkard was pouring in (Drunkenness invites humanity:P) . I told him that I would have a beer but with my own money but ultimately man with high alcohol percentage won the duel, and ordered a beer.

As we were sharing the beer, the subject of conversation turned towards his wife. He said, “My wife is a fool. She doesn’t know about troubles of life or how to be pragmatic. (Well I thought men were less pragmatic than women…hmmm) She used to call me every day when I was working abroad and when she got pregnant, she wanted me to quit the job and come back. ”  

I replied, “I would say you are a very lucky person to have a partner, who always cares and worries about you.”

He nodded in affirmative with a wide grin and said, “You are right friend, I am lucky to have her as wife. She may be ignorant but loves me very much.”

I interrupted and said, “Well you see after all this pain you have endured; you aren’t such an unlucky person…”

We finished the beer and it was time to say a really good bye to that somebody; somebody who really had met me in a really odd moment of life. He asked for my number and shook my hand with moist eyes. I told him to take care and wished well for his family and parted ways in blues.