This post is written by Jithin Krishnan for Asian College of Journalism.
Jithin can be reached at jinxxedout@gmail.com
(Jithin writes: I feel I should add an intro to this. Our assignment in writing class was to discuss in a group of 6 which of the following two ideas were true: ‘We’re all bonded to society’ or ‘We’re all free agents running around doing what we want to do’. At the end of the discussion, this is the piece I wrote. Thanks to my illustrious group mates for providing the inputs.)
The rain is pouring down mercilessly on the dimly lit city streets. Two characters are making their way to a meeting spot. One has a spring in his step. His head is uncovered and he puts his tongue out to taste the rain. He is Mr. Fre Eidgent. He is French.
To an astute observer, the contrast between him and the other man would have been unbearably hilarious. The latter skirts around the puddles almost as if they’d explode on his feet touching them. His head is covered. The rains have almost managed to soak through the first one among the five sweaters he is wearing to brace himself against the weather. He is Mr. Sho Shial.
“You’re late!” The admonition catches Mr. Eidgent unawares as he steps through the door. Mr. Shial is sitting at the corner booth. The 2 tall glasses filled up to the brim are a welcome sight for Eidgent. He hasn’t consumed since five minutes ago.
But he catches himself. The sardonic smile on Mr. Shial’s face throws him off.
“Why did you order for me?” he asks. The gaiety disappears all at once. He can’t believe this is happening. Every time!
Shial is enjoying himself. The very purpose of these “intellectual” fist-fights was to get the better of Eidgent. He knew that he had won the first round.
“I knew what you wanted. So I took the liberty of ordering for you. You can, of course, order something else. But I’m pretty sure you wanted this brand, this much, in this glass. You can order again, of course, just don’t expect me to foot the bill.”
Eidgent’s face lightens up. He catches himself before he can react aggressively.
“So? Either the bar will run on a loss today or I’ll wash some plates tonight. As if I really care! I’ll go to sleep tonight, smiling, either way.”
“Many have said that before. They always end up coming back to me. Always.”
“Maybe. But for those few precious days at least, I’ll feel like I stood up to the bully.”
“Bully? And here I thought I was doing all this for you! I provide, I shelter, I clean up after you. And I’m labeled a bully? Is it wrong to look out for someone else?”
“Yeah, it is if it’s unasked for.”
“You sure you didn’t ask for it?”
“Of course!”
“But somebody did.”
“Maybe those who were here before me. Those who needed the comfort of others to live their lives.”
“And you think you don’t?”
“I rather live by my own rules; my own ideologies and my own thoughts. I don’t need predigested ones.”
“Ha! Let’s see how long you survive on your own!”
“Which is exactly what I wanted in the first place if you’d care to remember.”
“But, Fre! I can’t let you do that. I promised your folks I’d look after you.”
“I’m not my folks. And I’m telling you that I don’t need looking after.”
Sho Shial smiles. “Everybody needs looking after Fre. How else did you think that we got so far? We got so far because we came together, hand in hand.”
Fre smiles. “Maybe I like reinventing the wheel.”
He drains his cup in one go and stands up. Sho Shial smiles again. “You can take off, it’s on me.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t. But I want to.”
It’s still raining outside as Fre steps out. He feels better for once. No more pestering phone calls or comments. At least for a while. With a sigh of satisfaction he heads out. Sho Shial steps through the door. He’s not content anymore as he looks at the fast fading figure of Fre. “I’ll be watching you boy!”
The rain is pouring down mercilessly on the dimly lit city streets. Two characters are making their way to a meeting spot. One has a spring in his step. His head is uncovered and he puts his tongue out to taste the rain. He is Mr. Fre Eidgent. He is French.
To an astute observer, the contrast between him and the other man would have been unbearably hilarious. The latter skirts around the puddles almost as if they’d explode on his feet touching them. His head is covered. The rains have almost managed to soak through the first one among the five sweaters he is wearing to brace himself against the weather. He is Mr. Sho Shial.
“You’re late!” The admonition catches Mr. Eidgent unawares as he steps through the door. Mr. Shial is sitting at the corner booth. The 2 tall glasses filled up to the brim are a welcome sight for Eidgent. He hasn’t consumed since five minutes ago.
But he catches himself. The sardonic smile on Mr. Shial’s face throws him off.
“Why did you order for me?” he asks. The gaiety disappears all at once. He can’t believe this is happening. Every time!
Shial is enjoying himself. The very purpose of these “intellectual” fist-fights was to get the better of Eidgent. He knew that he had won the first round.
“I knew what you wanted. So I took the liberty of ordering for you. You can, of course, order something else. But I’m pretty sure you wanted this brand, this much, in this glass. You can order again, of course, just don’t expect me to foot the bill.”
Eidgent’s face lightens up. He catches himself before he can react aggressively.
“So? Either the bar will run on a loss today or I’ll wash some plates tonight. As if I really care! I’ll go to sleep tonight, smiling, either way.”
“Many have said that before. They always end up coming back to me. Always.”
“Maybe. But for those few precious days at least, I’ll feel like I stood up to the bully.”
“Bully? And here I thought I was doing all this for you! I provide, I shelter, I clean up after you. And I’m labeled a bully? Is it wrong to look out for someone else?”
“Yeah, it is if it’s unasked for.”
“You sure you didn’t ask for it?”
“Of course!”
“But somebody did.”
“Maybe those who were here before me. Those who needed the comfort of others to live their lives.”
“And you think you don’t?”
“I rather live by my own rules; my own ideologies and my own thoughts. I don’t need predigested ones.”
“Ha! Let’s see how long you survive on your own!”
“Which is exactly what I wanted in the first place if you’d care to remember.”
“But, Fre! I can’t let you do that. I promised your folks I’d look after you.”
“I’m not my folks. And I’m telling you that I don’t need looking after.”
Sho Shial smiles. “Everybody needs looking after Fre. How else did you think that we got so far? We got so far because we came together, hand in hand.”
Fre smiles. “Maybe I like reinventing the wheel.”
He drains his cup in one go and stands up. Sho Shial smiles again. “You can take off, it’s on me.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t. But I want to.”
It’s still raining outside as Fre steps out. He feels better for once. No more pestering phone calls or comments. At least for a while. With a sigh of satisfaction he heads out. Sho Shial steps through the door. He’s not content anymore as he looks at the fast fading figure of Fre. “I’ll be watching you boy!”
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